Chapter 19.08
DUTCH ELM DISEASE CONTROL
Sections:
19.08.040 Inspections and entry on private property.
19.08.050 Declaration of public nuisance.
19.08.060 Contents of resolution.
19.08.070 Number of streets which may be included in the resolution.
19.08.080 Notices – Manner of posting.
19.08.110 Time of notice posting.
19.08.120 Hearing of objections.
19.08.130 Decision or objections – Acquiring jurisdiction.
19.08.140 Decision of city council is final.
19.08.150 Order to abate nuisance – Form of order.
19.08.160 Urgency – Cut and stored elm wood.
19.08.170 Entry upon private property to abate nuisance.
19.08.180 Removal of elm wood by property owner.
19.08.010 Finding.
The city council of the city of Rancho Cordova has determined that there are many elm (and zelkova) trees growing on public and private premises within the city of Rancho Cordova the loss of which would substantially depreciate the value of public and private premises and impair the safety, good order, general welfare and convenience of the public. The city council has determined that the health and life of such trees is threatened by a fatal disease known as Dutch elm disease. The city council hereby declares its intention to control and prevent the spread of such disease and the insect pests and vectors which carry such disease and declares the Dutch elm disease and elm bark beetles which carry such disease to be public nuisances. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(A)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1, 1976].
19.08.020 Definitions.
“Administrative regulations” means regulations promulgated by the director and approved by the city council of the city of Rancho Cordova, specifying procedures for the removal and destruction of elm trees or portions thereof.
“Director” means the director of public works, his assistants, deputies, or authorized employees or agents.
“Elm tree” includes any of the following: any living or standing elm (or zelkova) tree or part thereof, or any dead elm (or zelkova) tree or dead part of any elm tree, including logs, branches, stumps, firewood or other elm material from which the bark has not been removed. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.030 Public nuisance.
The following things are public nuisances whenever they may be found within the city of Rancho Cordova:
A. Any living or standing elm tree or part thereof infected to any degree with the Dutch elm disease fungus, Ceratocystis ulmi; or which harbors any of the elm bark beetles, Scolytus multistriatus or Hylurgopinus rufipes;
B. Any dead elm tree or dead part of any elm tree, including logs, branches, stumps, firewood or other elm material from which the bark has not been removed. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.040 Inspections and entry on private property.
A. The director shall inspect all premises and places within the city of Rancho Cordova as often as practicable to determine whether any condition described in RCMC 19.08.030 exists therein. They may enter upon private property at any reasonable time for the purposes of carrying out any of the duties assigned to them under this chapter. If entry is refused, the director shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry.
B. Whenever necessary to determine the existence of Dutch elm disease or elm bark beetles in any tree, the person inspecting such tree may remove or cut specimens from the tree. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.050 Declaration of public nuisance.
The city council may declare by resolution as a public nuisance, and abate, those conditions set forth in RCMC 19.08.030 wherever those conditions are found upon public or private property in the city of Rancho Cordova. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.060 Contents of resolution.
The resolution shall refer to the property upon which or in front of which the nuisance exists by giving its lot and block number according to the official or county assessment map. If only a portion of the elm tree is to be removed, the resolution shall so indicate. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.070 Number of streets which may be included in the resolution.
Any number of private or public parcels of property may be included in one resolution. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.080 Notices – Manner of posting.
After passage of the resolution, the director shall cause notices to be conspicuously posted on or in front of the property on which the nuisance exists. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.090 Notices – Heading.
The heading of the notices shall be “NOTICE TO DESTROY ELM TREE” or “NOTICE TO DESTROY ELM WOOD,” whichever is appropriate, in letters not less than one inch in height. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.100 Form of notice.
The notice shall be substantially in one of the following forms:
NOTICE TO DESTROY ELM TREE
Notice is hereby given that on the ____ day of ____________, 20__, the city council of the city of Rancho Cordova passed a resolution declaring that an elm (or zelkova) tree or trees existing upon or in front of the property in the city of Rancho Cordova, and more particularly described in the resolution, and that they constitute a public nuisance which must be abated by being removed and destroyed. Otherwise they will be removed and destroyed by the city of Rancho Cordova. Reference is hereby made to the resolution for further particulars. A copy of said resolution is on file in the office of the city clerk.
All property owners having any objections to the proposed removal of the elm tree or trees are hereby notified to attend a meeting of the city council of the city of Rancho Cordova to be held _______________, when their objections will be heard and given due consideration.
Dated: _________________________
Public Works Director of Rancho Cordova
or, if applicable:
NOTICE TO DESTROY ELM WOOD
Notice is hereby given that on the ____ day of ____________, 20___, the city council of the city of Rancho Cordova passed a resolution declaring that an elm (or zelkova) tree or trees, existing upon or in front of the property in the city of Rancho Cordova, and more particularly described in the resolution, and that they constitute a public nuisance which must be abated by the removal and destruction of dead wood contained therein in accordance with Administrative Regulations promulgated by the public works director of Rancho Cordova. Otherwise, such wood will be removed and destroyed by the city of Rancho Cordova. Reference is hereby made to the resolution for further particulars. A copy of said resolution is on file in the office of the city clerk.
All property owners having any objections to the proposed removal of the dead elm wood are hereby notified to attend a meeting of the city council of the city of Rancho Cordova to be held ____________, when their objections will be heard and given due consideration.
Dated:_________________________
Public Works Director of Rancho Cordova
[Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.110 Time of notice posting.
The applicable notices shall be posted at least three days prior to the time for hearing objections by the city council. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.120 Hearing of objections.
At the time stated in the notices, the city council shall hear and consider all objections to the proposed removal and destruction of elm trees or dead wood contained therein, whichever is applicable. It may continue the hearing from time to time. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.130 Decision or objections – Acquiring jurisdiction.
By motion or resolution at the conclusion of the hearing, the city council shall allow or overrule any objections. At that time the city council acquires jurisdiction to proceed and perform the work of removal and destruction of the tree or trees or dead wood contained therein. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.140 Decision of city council is final.
The decision of the city council is final. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.150 Order to abate nuisance – Form of order.
If objections have not been made or after the city council has disposed of those made, it shall order the director to abate the nuisance by having the elm tree or trees removed and destroyed or by having the dead wood contained therein removed and destroyed. The order shall be made by motion or resolution. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.160 Urgency – Cut and stored elm wood.
Wherein the director shall during his inspection discover elm wood that has been cut, or cut and stored, which is infected or may be infected by Dutch elm disease fungus, said director may, in order to prevent the storage, movement or sale of said elm wood and thereby the spread of the fungus causing Dutch elm disease, act to cause the disposal of said wood in as expeditious manner as practical.
For purposes of this section, other sections contained herein commencing with RCMC 19.08.050 through and including RCMC 19.08.150 are not applicable, as the procedural delay that may occur may cause imminent spreading of the fungus to other trees within the vicinity. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.170 Entry upon private property to abate nuisance.
The director may enter upon private property to abate the nuisance. It is unlawful and an infraction for any person to interfere with or in any way impede the abatement of a nuisance. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].
19.08.180 Removal of elm wood by property owner.
Before the director arrives, any property owner may remove and destroy the elm trees, wood or elm material at their own expense. The method of removal and destruction must be approved in advance by the director as being in accordance with administrative regulations. [Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(K)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 252 § 1 (part), 1976].