Martinez Municipal Code Ch. 8.30 Mosquito and Vector Habitats

The City recognizes that the potential emergence of the West Nile Virus, as well as the continuing presence of vectors such as rodents and skunks, in the County of Contra Costa are matters of increasing public health concern. Mosquitoes have the ability to transmit the West Nile Virus to humans and to other species. Vectors, such as rats, carry disease to humans and other species.

It is in the interest of the public health safety and welfare of the citizens of Martinez as well as the area as a whole to reduce or eliminate the presence of vectors in the City and to abate nuisances supporting the development, attraction, or harborage of mosquitoes of other vectors in circumstances constituting a threat to public health, safety or welfare.

(Ord. 1305 C.S. § 1, 2003)

For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words and terms shall be defined as set forth in this Section.

"Vector"

means any animal capable of transmitting the causative agent of human disease or capable of producing human discomfort or injury, including, but not limited to, mosquitoes, flies, mites, ticks, other arthropods, and rodents and other vertebrates.

(Ord. 1305 C.S. § 1, 2003)

It shall be a violation of this Chapter and a public nuisance for anyone to create, cause, commit, or maintain any one or more of the following:

A. Any artificial alteration of property, excluding water, from its natural condition, resulting in it supporting the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors, with the presence of vectors in their developmental states on property being prima facie evidence that the property is a public nuisance;

B. Any water that is a breeding place for vectors, with the presence of vectors in their developmental stages in the water being prima facie evidence that the water is a public nuisance;

C. Any activity that supports the development, attraction, or harborage of vectors, that facilitates the introduction or spread of vectors.

(Ord. 1305 C.S. § 1, 2003)

A. The Chief Building Official or his/her designee is hereby authorized to issue citations on behalf of the City to address violations of this Chapter and to abate public nuisances supporting the development, attraction or harborage of mosquitoes or other vectors, in accordance with Chapter 1.13 or by any other remedy provided by law.

B. Upon the specific, prior request of the City in a circumstance constituting an immediate threat to public health or safety, field employees of the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District are hereby authorized to assist the City to abate and to abate public nuisances supporting the development, attraction or harborage of mosquitoes or other vectors, in accordance with Chapter 1.13 or by any other remedy provided by law.

(Ord. 1305 C.S. § 1, 2003)