Chapter 7.20
OFFENSES AGAINST THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
Sections:
7.20.030 Substances detrimental to health.
7.20.040 Failure to comply with notice.
7.20.090 Abandoned wells and cisterns.
7.20.010 Premises.
The following buildings, places, or premises are declared to be public nuisances, and contrary to the order and well-being of the city and its citizens:
A. Where any gambling or swindling game or devices, bookmaking, or other similar activity or agency thereof is conducted, or where any article, apparatus or device used therein is kept; or
B. Where any fighting between men or animals or birds is conducted; or
C. Where any intoxicating liquors are kept for unlawful use, sale or distribution; or
D. Where vagrants resort; or
E. Where cattle, hogs, sheep or other animals are slaughtered.
This section shall not apply to activities which are properly licensed by the appropriate governing authority. (Ord. 281 § 2 (part), 1979)
7.20.020 Acts.
Every act performed and every failure to perform a duty constitutes a public nuisance, if it has one of the following effects:
A. Annoys, injures or endangers the safety, health, comfort, or repose of groups of persons; or
B. Offends public decency; or
C. Unlawfully interferes with, befouls, obstructs, or tends to obstruct, or renders dangerous for passage a public park, square, street, alley, sidewalk or highway; or
D. In any way renders groups of persons insecure in life or the use of property.
(Ord. 281 § 2 (part), 1979)
7.20.030 Substances detrimental to health.
Any person who allows or permits upon any premises, owned, occupied, or controlled by him; or discharges or deposits or permits to seep upon the land of another, any substance detrimental to health, or any accumulation of filth, rubbish, garbage, decaying animal matter, vegetable matter, or any animal or human waste, or septic tank effluent, shall be guilty of committing a public nuisance. (Ord. 281 § 2 (part), 1979)
7.20.040 Failure to comply with notice.
If, within three days after receiving notice in writing for the abatement of any nuisance detrimental to health, or removal of rubbish or other offensive materials mentioned in this chapter, signed by an official of the city, the person owning, occupying or controlling such premises shall fail, neglect or refuse to remove the same, such nuisance may be removed or abated by order of the mayor or chief of police of the city, and the person on whom such notice for removal was served, in addition to incurring the penalty in this chapter provided, shall become indebted to the city for the damages, costs and charges incurred by the city in the removal of such nuisance. Such costs and charges to be recovered by a city action brought by the city against the person so served with such notice. (Ord. 281 § 2 (part), 1979)
7.20.090 Abandoned wells and cisterns.
It is unlawful for any person to abandon or discontinue use of or to permit or to maintain on his premises any abandoned or unused well, cistern or storage tank without first securing, closing, or capping such device to prevent access thereto by children. Any well, cistern or storage tank maintained in violation of this section is declared to be a nuisance, and any person responsible for maintaining such a device is declared to be guilty of maintaining or permitting a nuisance. (Ord. 281 § 2 (part), 1979)
7.20.100 Abatement.
Nuisances, as defined in this chapter, shall be abated pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapter 8.32 of this code. (Ord. 641 § 1, 1998)