AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE
 

 AMENDING to permit City Inspector to establish prima facia violation of unsightliness portion of weed and debris ordinance, with ten (10) day Notice-of-cure, non-emergency unsightliness after which municipal ticket may issue, being new Section 8-135 of said code.

 WHEREAS,  the city has been blighted by unsightly debris, specifically including household furnishings not designed for outdoor use, the city council has adopted the following procedure for violation of this ordinance, prohibiting household furniture and furnishings not designed for outdoors use to be prohibited from open space front and side yards:

1. Upon the City Building Inspector or his staff finding that there appears to be an  unsightly dwelling by reason of debris or the presence outside of home furniture or furnishings, not designed for outdoors use, he shall issue a ten (10) day Notice to Cure by leaving a copy of the same at the door, or by certified mail, and transmit a copy to the police department.  After ten (10) days, including weekends and holidays, if the Inspector’s re-inspection results in the same determination, then the police department shall issue a ticket for the unsightliness, in the same manner as other tickets, EXCEPT no arrest is authorized.  The complaint shall be signed by the Building Inspector.  The Defendant is then subject to Municipal Court appearance docket as in other complaints.
2. Any occupant of the dwelling is the person deemed subject to the ticket.  A water service recipient shall be prime facia evidence of the identity of the occupant and responsible party.  The term “unsightly” includes weeds and debris definition found in Title 11 Section 22-111, O.S.A., and also included household furniture and furnishings, not designed for outdoor use, located in the front and side residence yards.
3. Upon conviction for unsightliness, the occupant shall be punished for $20.00 court cost and a $20.00 fine.  Upon the second conviction, the fine is raised to $60.00.  Upon a third conviction, the fine is $90.00.  A ticket shall not be issued at less than at ten (10) day intervals.
4. If the property has no tenant or occupant, the notice and ticket shall issue to the owner receiving tax statements from the County Treasurer’s Office.
5. In the event the ticket is not paid, the amount may be posted as a judgement in the County Clerk’s Office against the named occupant.  Further, a City Warrant shall issue, and the conviction reported to the Department of Public Safety as in other cases.
6. The effective date of this ordinance shall be June 1, 2002.