Title 7 - Health and Sanitation

7.20.110 Purpose, Objectives, and Findings.

1. A.
   The purpose of the Weed and Vegetation Enforcement Act is to:

   1. 1.
      Prohibit the growth of Noxious Weeds, Uncontrolled growth of Invasive Species, and encourage the preservation, planting, and maintenance of Native Plants;  
   2. 2.
      Require reasonable Control and action to:

      1. a.
         Prevent the Excessive Growth of Vegetation;
      2. b.
         Eradicate Noxious Weeds;
      3. c.
         Eradicate Poisonous Plants to the Touch; and
      4. d.
         Prevent the growth of Invasive Plants that are not properly Controlled.
   3. 3.
      Provide a method of enforcement of violations of this Chapter;
   4. 4.
      Provide procedures to notify the Owner, Occupant or Agent of the property that a violation of this Chapter exists and to allow for self-abatement by such Persons;
   5. 5.
      Provide the Owner, Occupant or Agent an opportunity to be heard concerning violations of this Chapter;
   6. 6.
      Provide procedures to allow the City to abate the violation should the Owner, Occupant or Agent fail to timely act;
   7. 7.
      Provide a method of assessing or collecting costs for such abatement by the City; and
   8. 8.
      Establish that violations of this Chapter are unlawful and to provide penalties for enforcement through the Municipal Court system.
2. B.
   The objectives of the Weed and Vegetation Enforcement Act are to:

   1. 1.
      To enhance the City's environmental health by promoting plants that are native to the region; 
   2. 2.
      To protect the City’s environmental health by prohibiting plants that are likely to cause environmental harm or harm to human health;
   3. 3.
      To require control and action to prevent the Excessive Growth of Vegetation, eradicate Noxious Weeds, and Poisonous Plants to the Touch, and prevent the spread of Invasive Plants.
3. C.
   The Governing Body hereby finds that:

   1. 1.
      Excessive Growth of Vegetation;
   2. 2.
      Noxious Weeds;
   3. 3.
      Poisonous Plants to the Touch; and
   4. 4.
      The growth of Invasive Plants are all a public nuisance that degrade natural and maintained landscape areas, displace native plant species, increase erosion, destroy wildlife habitat, and/or adversely affect public health, safety or welfare; and that allowing them to proliferate creates short- and long-term impacts on the area including the diminution of property values and the integrity of the neighborhood; and interferes with the orderly development and use of property in the City.

(History: Ord. NU-3437 §1, 2023; Ord. NU-2939 §2, 2011; NU-1376 §1, 86)

Effective on: 1/1/1901