Cathedral City Municipal Code Ch. 13.110 Summary Abatement of Public Nuisance Procedures

If upon the determination of the code enforcement chief or other authorized enforcement agent, a particular public nuisance as described in Chapter 13.80 or any other applicable statute, rule, code or regulation poses an immediate threat to public health and safety, the authorized enforcement agent who made the public nuisance determination may dispense with the notice and hearing requirements of the public nuisance appeals procedures set forth in Chapter 13.100 and cause city crews or private contractors to take the minimal and most reasonable and feasible action necessary to immediately abate the activity or activities and/or condition or conditions causing the public nuisance.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)

Prior to the city performing any abatement work pursuant to Section 13.110.010, the authorized enforcement agent who caused the summary abatement shall, if feasible, cause an inventory to be taken which lists those items which are proposed to be removed from the property and discarded.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)

Prior to ordering summary abatement pursuant to this chapter, the authorized enforcement agent who caused the summary abatement shall prepare a written report which sets forth in writing the facts and circumstances establishing: (a) why advance notice of the abatement to the property owner, occupant and/or agent having charge or control is not reasonable or feasible or why prior advance notice was not effective; (b) why the subject property constitutes a public nuisance; and (c) why immediate abatement of the public nuisance is essential.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)

The original of the summary abatement report shall be filed with the city clerk.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)

A copy of the summary abatement report shall be served as soon as possible to the owner(s) of record of the parcel of land on which the public nuisance exists by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to each such person at their address as it appears on the last equalized assessment roll of the county or as known to any officer or authorized agent. If no address of any such person so appears or is not otherwise known, then a copy of the summary abatement report shall be so mailed, addressed to such person(s), at the address of the subject premises. The failure of any such person(s) to receive a copy of the summary abatement report shall not affect the validity of any proceedings or actions taken under this title.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)

Proof of service of the summary abatement report shall be certified at the time of service by a written declaration under penalty of perjury executed by the persons effecting service, declaring the date and manner in which service was made. The declaration, together with any receipt card returned in acknowledgment of receipt by certified mail shall be affixed to a copy of the summary abatement report and retained by the officer or agent who prepared the summary abatement report.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)

The prevailing party in any proceeding conducted pursuant to this chapter and associated with the abatement of a public nuisance shall be entitled to recovery of attorneys' fees incurred in any such proceeding. In no action, administrative proceeding, or special proceeding shall an award of attorney's fees to a prevailing party exceed the amount of reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the city in the action or proceeding.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999; Ord. 776 § 82, 2016)

If the city elects to perform public nuisance abatement work pursuant to this chapter, the owner of record of the property shall be liable for all costs of abatement incurred by the city pursuant to Chapter 13.120.

(Ord. 504 § 2, 1999)