O 097 C.S.
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ORDINANCE NO. 97 C.S.
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AN OJUjINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE AMENDING THE ARROYO GRANDE
MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 11 TO TITLE 4 OF THE ARROYO GRANDE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROVIDE FOR THE ABATEMENT AND REMJVAL AS PUBLIC
NUISANCES OF ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED, OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLES
OR PARTS THEREOF FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY OR ,PUBLIC PROPERTY NOT
INCLUDING HIGHWAYS, AND RECOVERY OF COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION THEREOF
AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION '22660 OF THE CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE.
THE CITY COUNGIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Title 4 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code is amended by
adding Chapter 11 relating to the abatement and removal as public nuisances of
certain vehicles to read as follows: ...,
Section 4-11.01. In addition to and in accordahce with the
determination made and the authority granted by the State of California under
Section 22660 of the Vehicle Code to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or
inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances, the City Council of
the City of Arroyo Grande hereby makes the following findings and declarations:
The accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or
inoperative vehicles or parts thereof on private or public property not
including highways is hereby found to create a condition tending to reduce the ,
value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite \
plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance
creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create a harborage
for rodents and insects and to be injurious to the health, safety and general
welfare. Therefore, the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or
inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, on private or public property not
including highways, except as expressly hereinafter permitted, is hereby
declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated ,as such in
accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
As used in this Ordinance:
(a) The term "vehicle" means a device by which any person or property
may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, except a device moved by human
power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(b) The term "highway" means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly
maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Highway includes street.
(c) The term "public property" does not include "highway".
(d) The term "owner of the land" means the owner of the land on which
the vehicle, or parts thereof, is located, as shown on the last equalized
assessment roll.
(e) The term "owner of the vehicle" means the last registered OW1'Ierand
legal owner of record.
Section 4-11.02. This Ordinance shall not apply to:
(a) A vehicle, or parts thereof, which is completely enclosed within a
building in a lawful manner where it is not visible from the street or other
public or private property; or
(b) A vehicle, or parts thereof, which is stored or parked in a lawful
manner on private property in connection with the business of ,a licensed dis-
mantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a junk dealer, or when such storage or parking
is necessary to the operation of a lawfully conducted business or commercial
enterprise.
Nothing in this section shall authorize the maintenance of a public or
private nuisance as defined under provisions of law other than Chapter 10
(commencing with Section 22650) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code and this
Ordinance.
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" Section 4-11.03. This Ordinance is not the exclusive regulation
of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles within the City of Arroyo
Grande. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory codes,
statutes, and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the City or any other
legal entity or agency having jurisdiction.
Section 4-11.04. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
provisions of this Ordinance shall be administered and enforced by the City of
Arroyo Grande's Chief of Police. In the enforcement of this Ordinance such
officer and his deputies may enter upon private or public property to examine a
vehicle or parts thereof, or obtain information as to the identity of ,a vehicle
and to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be
a nuisance pursuant to this Ordinance.
Section 4-11.05. When the City Council has contracted with
or granted a franchise to any person or persons, such person or persons shall be !
authorized to enter upon private property or public property to remove or cause
the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to
this Ordinance.
Section 4-11.06. The City Council shall from time to time
determine and fix an amount to be assessed as administrative costs, under this
Ord inance .
Section 4-11.07. Upon discovering the existence of an
abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on
private property or public property within the City, the Arroyo Grande Chief
of Police shall have the authority to cause the abatement and removal thereof
in accordance with the procedure prescribed herein.
Section 4-11.08. A lO-day notice of intention to abate and
remove the vehicle, or parts thereof, as a public nuisance shall be mailed by
registered or certified mail to the owner of the land and to the owner of the
vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers
are not available to determine ownership. The notices of intention shall be
in substantially the following forms:
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN
ABANDONED. WRECKED. DISMANTLED. OR INOPERATIVE
VEHICLE OR PARTS THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE
(Name and address of owner of the land)
As owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the
land located at (address), you are hereby notified that the under-
signed, pursuant to Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Section 4-11.07,
has determined that there exists upon said land an (or parts of an)
abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle registered
to , license number ,
which constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of
Arroyo Grande Municipal Code, Title 4, Chapter 11.
You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal
of said vehicle (or said parts ofa vehicle) within ten (10) days
from the date of mailing of this notice, and upon your failure to
do so, the same will be abated and removed by the City and the costs
thereof, together with administrative costs, assessed to you as owner
of the land on which said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) is
located.
As owner of the land on which said vehicle (or said parts of a
vehicle) is located, you are hereby notified that you may, within
ten (10) days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request
a public hearing and if such a request is not received by the Arroyo
Grande City Council within such 10-day period, the Arroyo Grande
Chief of Police shall have the authority to abate and remove said
vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) as a public nuisance and assess
the costs as aforesaid without a public hearing. You may submit a
sworn written statement within such 10-dayperiod denying responsi-
bility for the presence of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle)
on said land, with your reasons for denial, and such statement shall
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be construed as a request for hearing at which your presence is not
" required. You may appear in person at any hearing requested by you
or the owner of the vehicle. or, in lieu thereof, may present a sworn
written statement as aforesaid in time for consideration at such hearing.
Notice Mailed s/
(date) (Chief of Police)
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN
ABANDONED. WRECKED. DISMANTLED OR INOPERAT,IVE
VEHICLE OR PARTS THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE
(Name and address of last registered and/or
legal owner of record of vehicle -- notice
should be given to both if different)
As last registered (and/or legal) owner of record of (description
of vehicle - make, model, license, etc.), you are hereby notified that
the undersigned, pursuant to MUnicipal Code Section 4-11.07, has
determined that said vehicle (or parts ofa vehicle) exists as an
abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle at (describe
location on public or private property) and constitutes a public
nuisance pursuant to the provisions of Arroyo Grande Municipal
Code, Title 4, Chapter 11.
You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal
of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) within ten (10) days
from the date of mailing of this notice.
As registered (and/or legal) owner of record of said vehicle
(or said parts of a vehicle), you are hereby notified that you may,
within ten (10) days after the mailing of this notice of intention,
request a public hearing and if such a request is not received by
the City Council within such 10-day period, the Arroyo Grande Chief
of Police shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle
(or said parts of a vehicle) withmtt a hearing.
Notice Mailed s/
(date) (Chief of Police)
Section 4-11.09. Upon request by the owner of the vehicle
or owner of the land received by the Arroyo Grande Chief of Police within ten (10)
days after the mailing of the notices of intention to abate and remove, a public
hearing shall be held by the Arroyo Grande City Council on the question of
abatement and removal of the vehicle or parts thereof as an abandoned, wrecked,
dismantled or inoperative vehicle, and the assessment of the administrative
costs and the cost of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof against the
property on which it is located.
If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying
responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his land within such ID-day
period, said statement shall be construed as a request for ,a hearing which does
not require his presence. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed, by registered
or certified mail, at least ten (10) days before the hearing to the owner of the
land and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition
that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. If such a
request for hearing is not received within said ten (10) days after mailing of
the notice of intention to abate and remove, the City shall have the authority
to abate and remove the vehicle or parts thereof as a public nuisance without
holding a public hearing.
Section 4-11.10. All hearings under this Ordinance shall be
held before the Arroyo Grande City Council which shall hear all facts and testi-
mony it deems pertinent. Said facts and testimony may include testimony on the
condition of the vehicle or parts thereof and the circumstances concerning its
location on the said private property or public property. The Arroyo Grande
City Council shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence. The owner
of the land may appear :In person at the hearing or present a sworn written state-
ment in time for consideration at the hearing, and deny responsibility for the
presence of the vehicle on the land, with his reasons for such denial.
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The Arroyo Grande City Council may impose such conditions and take such
, other action as it deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the
purpose of this Municipal Code chapter. It may delay the time for removal of
the vehicle or parts thereof if, in its opinion, the circumstances justify it.
At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Arroyo Grande City Council may find
that a vehicle or parts thereof has been abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or is
inoperative on private or public property and order the same removed from the
property as a public nuisance and disposed of as hereinafter provided and
determine the administrative costs and the cost of removal to be charged against
the owner of the land. The order requiring removal shall include a description
of the vehicle or parts thereof and the correct identification number and license
number of the vehicle, if available at the site.
If it is determined at the hearing that the vehicle was placed on the land
without the consent of the owner of the land and that he has not subsequently
acquiesced in its presence, the Arroyo Grande City Council shall not assess the
costs of administration or removal of the vehicle against the property upon which
the vehicle is located or otherwise attempt to collect such costs from such owner
of the land.
If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying
responsibility for tho presence of the vehicle on his land but does not appear,
or if an interested pa.rty makes a written presentation to the Arroyo Grande City
Council but does not appear, he shall be notified in writing of the decision.
Section 4-11.11. Five days after 'adoption of the order
declaring the vehicle or parts thereof to be a public nuisance, five (5) days
from the date of mailing of notice of the decision if such notice is required
by Section 4-11.10, the vehicle or parts thereof may be disposed of by removal
to a scrapyard or automobile dismantler's yard. After a vehicle has been
removed it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or made operable.
Section 4-11.12. Within five (5) days after the date of
removal of the vehicle or parts thereof, notice shall be given to the Depart-
ment of Motor Vehicles identifying the vehicle or parts thereof removed. At
the same time there shall be transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles
any evidence of registration available, including registration certificates,
certificates of title and license plates.
Section 4-11.13. If the administrative costs and the cost
of removal which are charged against the owner of ,a parcel of land pursuant to
Section 4-11.10 are not paid within thirty (30) days of the date of the order,
such costs shall be assessed against the parcel of land pursuant to Section
38773.5 of the Government Code and shall be transmitted to the tax collector
for collection. Said assessment shall have the same priority as other City
taxes.
SECTION 2: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty
(30) days after its passage, and within fifteen (15) days after its passage
it shall be published once, together with the names of the Council Members
voting thereon, in the Five Cities Times.Press-Recorder.
On motion of Councilman Talley, seconded py Councilman Millis and on
the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmen Talley, Millis, Wood and Mayor Schlegel
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilman de Leon
the foregoing Ordinance was passed
ATTEST~..A-rM~
CITY CLERK
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. I, Ines A. del Campo, City Clerk of the City of Arroyo Grande, County
of San Luis Obispo, State of California, do hereby certify that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 97 C.S. is a true, full and correct copy of said Ordinance passed
and adopted by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande ata regular
meeting of said Council held on the 22nd day of January, 1974,
WITNESS lilY hand and the seal of the City of Arroyo Grande affixed this
23rd day of January, 1974.
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City Clerk of the City o Arroyo Grande
(SEAL)