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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2154ORDINANCE NO. U AN ORDINANCE of the City of Kent, \ Washington, prohibiting the throwing and /) depositing of litter in public places in the City of Kent, regulating the distribu- tion of commercial and non-commercial hand- bills; controlling the depositing of litter i on private premises; providing a lien for city clearance; and prescribing penalties for the violation of its provisions. !, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Short Title. This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Kent Anti -Litter Ordinance." Section 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this Ordinance the following terms, phrases, words, and their deriva- tions shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory. (1) "Aircraft" is any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used or designated for navi- gation or for flight in the air. The word "aircraft" shall include helicopters and lighter -than -air diri- gibles and ballons. (2) "Authorized private receptacle" is a lit- ter storage and collection receptacle as required and authorized in Ordinance 1933 (refuse collection system ordinance). (3) "City" is the City of Kent. (4) "Commercial Handbill" is any printed or written matter, any sample or device, dodger, circu- lar, leaflet, pamphlet, paper, booklet, or any other i printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature: a) Which advertises for sale any merchan- dise, product, commodity, or thing; or b) Which directs attention to any busi- ness or mercantile or commercial es- tablishment, or other activity, for the purpose of either directly or in- directly promoting the interest there- of by sales; or c) Which directs attention to or adver- tises any meeting, theatrical perfor- mance, exhibition, or event of any kind, for which an admission fee is charged for the purpose of private gain or profit; but the terms of this clause shall not apply where an admis- sion fee is charged or a collection is taken up for the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to such meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event of any kind, when either of the same is held, given or takes place in connection with the dissemination of information which is not restricted under the ordinary rules of decency, good morals, public peace, safety and good order; PROVIDED, that nothing contained in this clause shall be deemed to authorize the holding, giv- ing or taking place of any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event of any kind, without a license, where such license is or may be re- quired by any law of this State, or under any ordinance of this City; or d) Which, while containing reading matter other than advertising matter, is pre- dominantly and essentially an adver- tisement, and is distributed or circu- lated for advertising purposes, or for the private benefit and gain of any person so engaged as advertiser or distributor. (5) "Garbage" is putrescible animal and veg- etable wastes resulting from the handling prepara- tion, cooking and consumption of food. (6) "Litter" is "garbage", "refuse", and "rubbish" as defined herein and all other waste ma- i - 2 - terial which, if thrown or deposited as herein pro- hibited, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare. (7) "Newspaper" is any newspaper of general j circulation as defined by general law, any newspaper duly entered with the Post Office Department of the United States, in accordance with Federal statute or regulation, and any newspaper filed and recorded with any recording officer as provided by general law; and in addition thereto, shall mean and include any peri- odical or current magazine regularly published with not less than four issues per year, and sold to the public. (8) "Non-Commercial Handbill" is any printed or written matter, any sample, or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, paper, booklet, or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of lit- erature not included in the aforesaid definitions of a commercial handbill or newspaper. (9) "Park" is a park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center or any other public area in the City, owned or used by the City and devoted to active or passive recreation. (10) "Person" is any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind. (11) "Private Premises" is any dwelling, house, building, or other structure, designed or used either wholly or in part for private residential purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or con- tinuously uninhabited or vacant, and shall include any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch, steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building or other structure. (12) "Public Place" is any and all streets, sidewalks, boulevards, alleys or other public ways and any and all public parks, squares, spaces, ground: and buildings. (13) "Refuse" is all putrescible and non- putrescible solid wastes (except body wastes), in- cluding garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleaning, MM dead animals, abandoned automobiles, and solid market) and industrial wastes. (14) "Rubbish" is nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible and non-combustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, card- board, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar materials. (15) "Vehicle" is every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, including devices used ex- clusively upon stationary rails or tracts. Section 3. Litter in Public Places. No person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public place within the City except in public receptacles, in authorized private receptacles or collection, or in official City dumps. Section 4. Placement of Litter in Receptacles So as to Prevent Scattering. Persons placing litter in public recep- tacles or in authorized private receptacles shall do so in such a manner as to prevent it from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon private property. Section 5. Sweeping Litter Into Gutters, Prohibited. No person shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place within the City the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalks or driveway. Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the sidewalk in front of their premises free of litter. Section 6. Merchants' Duty to Keep Sidewalks Free of Litter. No person owning or occupying a place of business shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place within the City the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying places of business within the City shall keep the sidewalk in front of their business premises free of litter. Section 7. Litter Thrown by Persons in Vehicles. No person, while a driver or passenger in a vehicle, shall throw or deposit litter upon any street or other public place within the City, or upon private property. Section 8. Truck Loads Causing Litter. No person shall drive or move any truck or other vehicle within the City MIM unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any load, contents or litter from being blown or deposited upon any street, alley or other public place. Nor shall any person drive or move any vehicle or truck within the City, the wheels or tires of which carry onto or deposit in any street, alley or other public place, mud, dirt, sticky substances, litter or foreign matter of any kind. Section 9. Litter in Parks. No person shall throw or deposit litter in any park within the City except in public re- ceptacles and in such a manner that the litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any part of the park or upon any street or other public place. Where public receptacles are not provided, all such litter shall be carried a- way from the park by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere as provided herein. Section 10. Litter in Lakes and Fountains. No person shall throw or deposit litter in any fountain, pond, lake, stream, bay or any other body of water in a park or elsewhere within the City. Section 11. Throwing or Distributing Commercial Hand- bills in Public Places. No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or non-commercial handbill in or upon any sidewalks, street, or other public place within the City. Nor shall any per- son hand out or distribute or sell any commercial handbill in any public place. Provided, however, that it shall not be unlaw- ful on any sidewalks, street, or other public place within the City for any person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, any non-commercial handbill to any person willing to accept it. Section 12. Placing Commercial and Non -Commercial Handbills on Vehicles. No person shall throw or deposit any com- mercial or non-commercial handbill in or upon any vehicle. Pro- vided, however, that it shall not be unlawful in any public place for a person to hand out or distribute without charge to the receiver thereof, a non-commercial handbill to any occupant of a vehicle who is willing to accept it. Section 13. Depositing Commercial and Non -Commercial_ Handbills on Uninhabited or Vacant Premises. No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or non-commercial handbill in or upon any private premises which are temporarily or continuously - 5 - uninhabited or vacant. Section 14. Prohibiting Distribution of Handbills Where Properly Posted. No person shall throw, deposit or distri- bute any commercial or non-commercial handbill upon any private premises, if requested by anyone thereon not to do so, or if there is placed on said premises in a conspicuous position near the en- trance thereof, a sign bearing the words" "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers or Agents," "No Advertisement," or any similar notice, indicating in any matter that the occupants of said premises do not desire to be molested or have their right of privacy disturbed or to have any such handbills left upon such premises. Section 15. Distributing Commercial and Non-Commercia Handbills at Inhabited Private Premises. No person shall throw, deposit or distribute any commercial or non-commercial handbill in or upon private premises which are inhabited, except by handlinc or transmitting any such handbill directly to the owner, occupant, or other person then present in or upon such private premises. Provided, however, that in case of inhabited private premises which are not posted, as provided in this Ordinance, such person, unless requested by anyone upon such premises not to do so, may place or deposit any such handbill in or upon such inhabited pri- vate premises, if such handbill is so placed or deposited as to secure or prevent such handbill from being blown or drifted about such premises or sidewalks, streets, or other public places, and except that mailboxes may not be so used when so prohibited by Federal postal law or regulations. (1) Exemption for Mail and Newspapers. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the distribution of mail by the United States, nor to newspapers (as defined herein) except that news papers shall be placed on private property in such a manner as to prevent their being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon private property. Section 16. Dropping Litter From Aircraft. No per- son in an aircraft shall throw out, drop or deposit within the City any litter, handbill or any other object. Section 17 Posting Notices Prohibited. No person shall post or affix any notice, poster or other paper or device, calculated to attract the attention of the public, to any lamp post, public utility pole or shade tree, or upon any public struc- ture or building, except as may be authorized or required by law. Section 18. Litter on Occupied Private Property. No person shall throw or deposit litter on any occupied private prop- erty within the City, whether owned by such person or not, except that the owner or person in control of private property may main- tain authorized private receptacles for collection in such a man- ner that litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon any private property. Section 19. Owner to Maintain Premises Free of Litter. The owner or person in control of any private property shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter. Provided, however that this Section shall not prohibit the storage of litter in au- thorized private receptacles for collection. Section 20. Litter on Vacant Lots. No person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or vacant private property within the City whether owned by such person or not. Section 21. Clearing of Litter from Open Private Property by City. (1) Notice to Remove. The Building Official or such other person as may be designated by the City Administrator is hereby authorized and empowered to notify the owner of any open or vacant private property within the City or the agent of such owner to properly dispose of litter located on such owner's property which is dangerous to public health, safety or welfare. Such notice shall be by Registered Mail, addressed to said owner at his last known address. (2) Action Upon Non -Compliance. Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner or agent so notified, to properly dispose of litter dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare within ten (10) days after receipt of written notice provided for in subsection (1) above, or within fifteen (15) days after the date of such notice in the event the same is returned to the City Post Office Department be- cause of its inability to make delivery thereof, pro- vided the same was properly addressed to the last known address of such owner, or agent, the Building - 7 - Official or such other person as may be designated by the City Administrator is hereby authorized and em- powered to pay for the disposing of such litter or to order its disposal by the City. (3) Charge Included in Tax Bill. When the City has effected the removal of such dangerous lit- ter or has paid for its removal, the actual cost thereof, plus accrued interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from the date of the comple- tion of work, if not paid by such owner prior thereto shall be charged to the owner of such property on the next regular tax bill forwarded to such owner by the City, and said charge shall be due and payable by said owner at the time of payment of such bill. (4) Recorded Statement Constitutes Lien. Where the full amount due the City is not paid by such owner within Thirty (30) days after the disposal, of such litter, as provided for in subsections (1) and (2) above, the, and in that case, the Building Official, or such other person as may be designated by the City Administrator shall cause to be recorded in the Office of the Supervisor of Treasury Account- ing a sworn statement showing the cost and expense incurred for the work, the date the work was done and the location of the property on which said work was done. The recordation of such sworn statement shall constitute a lien and privilege on the prop- erty, and shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due in principal and interest, plus costs of court, if any, for collection, until final payment has been made. Said costs and expenses shall be col- lected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of taxes and further shall be subject to a delinquent penalty of eight percent (8%) in the event same is not paid in full on or before the date the tax bill upon which said charge appears becomes delinquent. Sworn statements recorded in accordance with the pro- visions hereof shall be prima facie evidence that all legal formalities have been complied with and that the work has been done properly and satisfact- orily, and shall be full notice to every person con - MM cerned that the amount of the statement, plus inter- est, constitutes a charge against the property des- ignated or described in the statement and that the same is due and collectible as provided by law. Section 22. Alternative or Accumulative Methods of Collection of Charges. In addition to, or in lieu of the pro- visions in Section 21, the City may, at its option, commence a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect for any charges incurred by the City for removal of litter as provided' in Section 21. Section 23. Penalties. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a mis- demeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in an amount not exceeding One Hundred Dollars ($100). Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder. Section 24. Separability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision of such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof. Section 25. Ordinances Repealed. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordi- nance are hereby repealed. Section 26. This Ordinance shall constitute a new chapter in Title 9 of the Kent City Code and shall be codified as Sections 9.18.86 -through 9.18.E=of Chapter 9.18. ol/ I I& Section 27. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) days after its passage, approval and publi- cation as provided by law. 74 ISABEL HOGAN, - 9 - ATTEST: n MARIE JENSEN, Y CLERK AP ROVED AS TO FORM: DONALD E. MIRK, CITY ATTORNEY PASSED the day of April, 1979. APPROVED the day of April, 1979. PUBLISHED the ` © day of April, 1979. I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordi- nance No.�2 /�S_, passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the Mayor of the City of Kent as hereon indicated. (SEAL) MARIE; NSEN,'CI Y CLERK - 10 -