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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1016_Code Enforcement Issue Citations=c`TUTulsa County Clerk - EARLENE WILSON Doc # 2012113143 Page(s): 3 Recorded 11/16/2012 at 11:18 AM ~kCgHOMPt Receipt # 370951 Fee $17.00 CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA ORDINANCE NO. 1016 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PART 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS, CHAPTER 1, USE AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CODE, SECTION 1-108(F), GENERAL PENALTY, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA. THIS ORDINANCE AMENDS PART 1 OF THE CITY OF OWASSO CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING THE SECTION NAMED ABOVE TO BE CODIFIED AS SHOWN BELOW. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO- WIT: SECTION ONE: Part One, General Provisions, Chapter 1, Use and Construction of the Code, Section 1-108 (F), General Penalty, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma, shall be added to the Code as follows: CHAPTER 1 USE AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CODE SECTION 1-108 GENERAL PENALTY A. TRAFFIC OFFENSES: The maximum fine or deferral fee in lieu of a fine for traffic-related offenses relating to speeding or parking shall not exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). B. ALCOHOL OR DRUG RELATED OFFENSES: The maximum fine or deferral fee in lieu of a fine for alcohol-related or drug-related offenses shall not exceed Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00). C. OTHER OFFENSES: For all other offenses, the maximum fine or deferral in lieu of a fine shall not exceed Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). D. Each day or any portion of a day during which any violation of this Code or any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense. E. Any person who shall aid, abet, or assist in the violation of any provision of this Code shall be deemed guilty of an offense and, upon conviction therefore, shall be punished in accordance with the punishment provided for violation of the provision such person aided, abetted or assisted in violating. F. The director of the Department of Community Development, and his designees within that Department, may be sworn and authorized to issue a citation for violations of the Zoning Code of the City of Owasso as adopted in Section 12-201 of the Owasso Code of Ordinances and for violations of Part 5, Building Regulations and Codes, Part 8, Health and Sanitation, Part 14, Streets and Public Works and Part 15, Traffic and Vehicles within this Code. The citations shall state the date and location of the violation, the section number of the ordinance or Zoning Code regulation that has been violated and shall direct the defendant to appear in the Owasso Municipal Court on a designated day or pay the required fine by the designated court date. The citation shall state that if the defendant fails to appear within the time specified or pay the fine for the violation, a warrant for failure to appear may be issued, which may result in the defendant being arrested. SECTION TWO (2): REPEALER All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict only. SECTION THREE (3): SEVERABILITY If any part or parts of this ordinance are deemed unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective, the remaining portion shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION FOUR (4): DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE The provisions of this ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from the date of final passage as provided by state law. 2 SECTION FIVE (5): CODIFICATION The City of Owasso Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as shown above and codified in Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 1-108(F). PASSED by the City Council of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma on the day of -2012. -„71,;-7-,- -.I _ --17„ Sherry Bishop, (SEAL) nebrake, Mayor APPROVED as to form and legality this 611day of NOV. , 2012. Laa 4ucy Juli Lombardi, City Attorney 3 PUBLISHER'S AFFIDAVIT ORD NO. 1016 PUBLICATION DATE(S) 11/15/12 CASE NUMBER: ORD NO. 1016 AD NO: 00153496 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY OF Tulsa SS I, of lawful age, being duly sworn, am a legal representative of Owasso Reporter of Owasso, Oklahoma, a weekly newspaper of general circulation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a newspaper quali- fied to publish legal notices, advertisements and publications as provided in Section 106 of Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes 1971 and 1982 as amended, and thereafter, and complies with all other requirements of the laws of Oklahoma with reference to legal publications. That said notice, a true copy of which is attached hereto was published in the regular edition of said newspaper during the period and time of publication and not in a supplement, on the ABOVE LISTED DATE(S) eajjl~~ Representative Sig ure Subscribed to and sworn to me this 16th day of November, 2012. Notary Public 2,~1 '4 NANCY CAROL MOORE My commission number: 06011684 My commission expires: December 8, 2014 Customer 00000779 Customer: CITY OF OWASSO Publisher's Fee: 148.40 NANCY CAROL 11MOORE NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF OKLAHOMA COMMISSION NO. 06011684 EXPIRES 12-8-2014 153496 Published in the Owasso Reporter, Owasso, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, November 15, 2012. CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA ORDINANCE NO. 1016 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PART 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS, CHAPTER 1, USE AND CONSTRUCTION OFTHE CODE, SECTION 1-108 (F), GENERAL PENAL- TY, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA. THIS ORDINANCE AMENDS PART 1 OF THE CITY OF OWASSO CODE OF ORDI- NANCES BY ADDING THE SECTION NAMED ABOVETO BE CODIFIED AS SHOWN BELOW. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO-WIT: SECTION ONE: Part One, General Provisions, Chapter 1, Use and Construction of the Code, Section 1-108 (F), General Penalty, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma, shall be added to the Code as follows: CHAPTERI USE AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE CODE SECTION 1-108 GENERAL PENALTY A. TRAFFIC OFFENSES: The maximum fine or deferral fee in lieu of a fine for traffic-related offenses relat- ing to speeding or parking shall not exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). B. ALCOHOL OR DRUG RELATED OFFENSES: The maximum fine or deferral fee in lieu of a fine for alcohol-related or drug-relat- ed offenses shall not exceed Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00). C. OTHER OFFENSES: For all other offenses, the maximum fine or deferral in lieu of a fine shall not exceed Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). D. Each day or any portion of a day during which any violation of this Code or any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense. E. Any person who shall aid, abet, or assist in the violation of any provision of this Code shall be deemed guilty of an offense and, upon conviction therefore, shall be punished in accordance with the punishment provided for violation of the provision such person aided, abetted or assisted in violating. F. The director of the Department of Community Development, and his designees within that Department, may be sworn and authorized to issue a citation for vio- lations of the Zoning Code of the City of Owasso as adopted in Section 12-201 of the Owasso Code of Ordinances and for violations of Part 5, Building Regulations and Codes, Part 8, Health and Sanitation, Part 14, Streets and Public Works and Part 15, Traffic and Vehicles within this Code. The citations shall state the date and location of the violation, the section number of the ordi- nance or Zoning Code regulation that has been violated and shall direct the defendant to appear in the Owasso Municipal Court on a designated day or pay the required fine by the designated court date. The citation shall state that if the defendant fails to appear within the time specified or pay the fine for the vio- lation, a warrant for failure to appear may be issued, which may result in the defendant being arrested. SECTION TWO (2): REPEALER All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict only. SECTION THREE (3): SEVERABILITY If any part or parts of this ordinance are deemed unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective, the remaining portion shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION FOUR (4): DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE The provisions of this ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from the date of final passage as provided by state law. SECTION FIVE (5): CODIFICATION The City of Owasso Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as shown above and cod- ified in Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 1-108(F). PASSED by the City Council of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma on the 6th day of November, 2012. /s/ Doug Bonebrake, Mayor /s/ Sherry Bishop, City Clerk /s/ Julie Lombardi, City Attorney 0 The CitM~ - V y Wit out Limits. APP.RaV4D BY COiJNCR 06 [U jL TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Owasso FROM: Karl Fritschen, RLA, AICP Community Development Director SUBJECT: Proposed Ordinance No. 1016 Enabling Code Enforcement Officer Ability to Issue Citations DATE: November 2, 2012 BACKGROUND: The process of code enforcement involves a sequence of steps. When a complaint is made regarding a potential violation, staff first investigates the issue. If it is determined that such a violation exists, the property is worked as a violation. In most cases, code violations follow the following process: 1. The individual is sent a courtesy letter stating the violation and he has ten (10) days to correct the violation before further action is taken. 2. If after ten (10) days the violation is still not corrected, then a certified letter is sent to the individual, which informs him that he has ten (10) days to address the issue or further action will be taken. This letter also sets an abatement hearing date with the code enforcement officer and hearing officer (usually the Community Development Director or his designee) and provides options to the individual such as going before the Board of Adjustment. The hearing allows the individual to explain why he cannot meet the deadline or correct the violation. 3. If the individual does not appear at the abatement hearing, a 48 hour notice is posted on the property. 4. If after 48 hours the violation is still not corrected, then a citation can be issued. Currently, this involves the code enforcement officer locating a police officer to accompany him to the property where the police officer issues the citation. The citation sets a court date at which time the violator will appear before the judge. The judge usually will set the amount of the fine. This memo focuses on step 4, issuing citations. As noted, the code enforcement officer must seek out a police officer to issue the citation. Staff proposes to amend both the zoning code and municipal code to allow the code enforcement officer the ability to issue a citation. ANALYSIS: Currently, the code enforcement officer must seek a police officer to issue a citation for any violation. The proposed change will improve the efficiency of the process by allowing the code enforcement officer to issue the citation. There is also a safety perspective that must be considered. Currently, whenever the code enforcement officer approaches a property, he frequently encounters individuals upset about the situation. Our code enforcement officer currently has no means of identifying himself. There have been situations in the past, where code enforcement officers have been met with resistance and uncooperative people. A badge that is prominently displayed gives a little more authority to the individual, which in turn can yield more cooperation from the offender. The current process lacks efficiency, as it requires taking manpower away from the police department to issue a citation. Staff believes this change streamlines the entire process and better utilizes city personnel. Staff research also verified that the City of Owasso, when compared to other communities of similar size in the region, is the only one without a sworn code enforcement officer who has the ability to issue citations. Therefore, staff has drafted an ordinance which would authorize code enforcement officers to issue citations for certain violations of the law. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Ordinance No. 1016 authorizing code enforcement officers to issue citations for violations of the following sections of the Owasso Code of Ordinances: Part 5 - Building Regulations and Codes Part 8 - Health and Sanitation Part 12 - Zoning Code Part 14 - Streets and Public Works Part 15 - Traffic and Vehicles (limited to abandoned, inoperable, dismantled or improperly parked vehicles) ATTACHMENT: A. Ordinance No. 1016