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HomeMy WebLinkAbout006 - Weed Control ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO , 6 TO: Department Heads August 31 , 1978 FROM: Lee Kraft , City Manager ;41� SUBJECT: ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON WEED CONTROL , This order is to give effect to Ordinance No . 1972 (Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 12 . 12) , the tree and vegetation control ordinance adopted July 10 , 1978 . This is the new ordinance that not only pulls together all of the weed control regulations , but also covers trees , shrubs , and other vegetation , The new ordinance makes several noteworthy changes over prior code regulations . The most significant is that the abutting property owner is made responsible for all nuisance vegetation on that portion of the public right-of-way which abuts the affected property owner' s property , This applies to undeveloped , as well as developed rights -of-way . It also applies to parking (planting) strips which now are the responsibility of the abutting property owners , whereas formerly the Parks and Recreation Department had the responsibility for maintaining these strips , Under Section 2 of P , M , C , 12 . 12 , 020 , the Manager is given authority to designate the department or departments he feels best can administer the provisions of the ordinance , Pursuant to this authority , the following assignments are made for the type of enforcement as indicated: PARKING (PLANTING) STRIPS : The Director of Parks and Recreation , or his designate , is assigned responsibility to administer the new regulations as they • concern these strips , Periodic inspections of these strips are to be made by the Department during the growing season for vegetation , and violaters are to be notified to abate any nuisances relating to vegetative matter as spelled out in the Administrative Order on - 2 - Weed Control August 31 , 1978 new ordinance . The Department will use the procedure for abatement as specified in the ordinance . Other City personnel , especially the Environmental Control Inspector , noting violations relating to parking strips or receiving calls about alleged violations , are to refer these complaints to the Director of Parks and Recreation for investigation and remedial action as necessary . The Park Department shall also be responsible for sight obstructions at intersections . OTHER RIGHTS- OF-WAY , DEVELOPED OR UNDEVELOPED: The Director of Community Development , or his designate , is assigned responsibility to administer the new regulations as they concern these areas . Periodic inspections are to be made of these areas during the growing season , and the abatement process is to be applied against the offending abutting property owners . All complaints concerning these areas are to go to the Department of Community Development for investigation and remedial action . VACANT LOTS : The Director of Community Development , or his designate , is assigned responsibility to administer the vegetation controls over both public and private vacant lots . Periodic inspections during the growing season shall be required so as to identify offending properties . This suggests the preparation of a master map showing the location of all vacant lots and tracts , together with the identification of the names of the owners or those people controlling the property , and their addresses . This will expedite communication when offenses are noted by our City inspectors . sy Administrative Order on - 3 - Weed Control August 31 , 1978 The applicable standard for vegetation control , as stated in the cited ordinance , is that weeds , brush , or other uncultivated vegetation growing to a height of 12 inches or more , is deemed to be a menace to the public health , safety and welfare , of our City . Accordingly , the City can require the cutting of the offending vegetation and can require its removal or destruction to avoid further nuisance . Where voluntary cooperation from the offending property is not forthcoming within a reasonable time , then the ordinance gives clear authorization to abate the nuisance and to charge the cost thereof against the property by filing a lien against the property . A resolution must be adopted by the City Council before the abatement/lien procedure can be consummated . Keep in mind that any bill which is to be involved in a lien procedure must be itemized as to the type of expense (labor , rental , etc .) entailed . FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITY: The Fire Department has overlapping responsibility with all the other departments named herein for vegetation control in terms of fire hazards . This grant of authority comes from the Uniform Fire Code which the City has adopted by reference , and from P . M . C . 12. 12 . Whenever possible , it is the intent of this regulation to require the Fire Chief , or his designate , to coordinate closely with the named departments so that our enforcement actions carry the full weight of the law behind them , so that whenever possible we can call an offense a fire hazard as well as a public nuisance . Whenever a violation of P . M . C . 12 . 12 constitutes a fire hazard , the Fire Department should use the enforcement power of this Chapter , because it has a lien procedure that is superior to the Uniform Fire Code , The City Manager will expect the affected Department Heads to develop a mechanism that creates this kind of coordination on a continuing basis .