Rancho Cordova Municipal Code Art. XVI Repeat Nuisance Service Calls

The purpose of this article is to protect the public safety, health and welfare and to prevent and abate repeat service response calls by the city to the same property or location for nuisance service calls, as defined herein, which prevent police or public safety services to other residents of the city. It is the intent of the city by the adoption of this article to impose and collect service call fees from the owner or occupant, or both, of property to which city officials must repeatedly respond for any repeat nuisance event or activity that generates extraordinary costs to the city. The repeat nuisance service call fee is intended to cover that cost over and above the cost of providing normal law or code enforcement services and police protection citywide.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)

This article shall apply to all owners and occupants of private property which is the subject or location of the repeat nuisance service call by the city. This article shall apply to any repeat nuisance service calls as set forth herein made by a Rancho Cordova peace officer, part-time peace officer, community service officer, animal control officer, code enforcement officer, or other city enforcement officer.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)

A. The term "nuisance service call" shall mean any activity, conduct, or condition occurring upon private property within the city to which the city is required to respond, which: (i) unreasonably annoys, injures or endangers the safety, health, or welfare of any member of the public; (ii) or will, or will tend to, alarm, anger or disturb others or provoke breach of the peace, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Any activity, conduct, or condition occurring on the property deemed a public nuisance under any provision of the RCMC;

2. Any conduct, activity or condition occurring on the property constituting a violation of local or state laws prohibiting or regulating prostitution, gambling, controlled substances, gang activity, or use of firearms;

3. Any conduct or activity amounting to a violation of RCMC Title 8, Animals; and

4. Any conduct, activity, or condition occurring on the property constituting disorderly conduct under California Penal Code Section 647.

B. A criminal conviction is not required for establishing the occurrence of a violation pursuant to this article.

C.

Exceptions.

Calls and services pertaining to the following activities or conduct shall not amount to a nuisance service call under this article:

1. Medical emergencies;

2. Domestic violence incidents or incidents related to an order for protection stemming from domestic violence; or

3. Investigations or welfare checks related to crimes or incidents that occurred off the property.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)

A. The city may impose a repeat nuisance service call fee upon the owner or occupant of private property if the city has rendered services or responded to the property for a nuisance service call on:

1. Four or more occasions to a single-family, duplex, triplex residential property, or a commercial or industrial property within a period of 30 days; on eight or more occasions within a period of 90 days to such properties; or on 12 or more occasions within a period of one year to such properties; or

2. Six or more occasions to a multifamily residential property containing at least four units within a period of 30 days; on 12 or more occasions within a period of 90 days to such properties; or a monthly average of at least 0.2 occasions per unit over a 12-month period (for a 100-unit property this would amount to a monthly average of at least 20 calls).

B. The repeat nuisance service call fee under this section shall be an amount as set forth and duly adopted by city council resolution, and may include the cost of services in addition to the base fee. All repeat nuisance service call fees imposed and charged against the owner or occupant under this section shall be deemed delinquent 30 days after the city's mailing a billing statement therefor. Delinquent payments are subject to a 10 percent late penalty of the amount due. The city may pursue any and all legal remedies to recover delinquent payments, including those provided for in this chapter.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)

A. Any citation issued under this article shall be an administrative citation, and shall contain:

1. The street address and such other description as required to identify the premises.

2. A statement specifying with particularity the behaviors which constitute the violation.

3. A statement advising the occupant or owner that he or she has the right to request a hearing to contest the citation and that the written request for hearing must be filed within 10 days of receipt of the citation notice.

4. A statement advising the owner, if applicable, that an owner may not retaliate against any tenant, as set forth in Section 1942.5 of the Civil Code.

5. A statement advising the owner or tenant that any unpaid fees and subsequent delinquent charges related to the citation may be collected by the city through any available legal remedy, including an assessment against the property.

B. The citation shall be served and proof of service shall be made in the same manner as provided in RCMC § 16.20.405.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)

A. Upon the imposition of a repeat nuisance service call fee, the city shall inform the owner or occupant of his/her right to a hearing on the alleged repeat nuisance service calls. The owner or occupant upon whom the fee is imposed may make a written request for a hearing by serving such request upon the city clerk within 10 days of receipt of the citation.

B. Unless otherwise specified in this article, the hearing procedures set forth in RCMC § 16.18.504 through § 16.18.513 shall apply to hearings under this article.

C. An owner or occupant's right to a hearing shall be deemed waived if the owner or occupant fails to serve a written request for hearing as required herein or fails to appear at the scheduled hearing date. Upon waiver of the right to hearing, or upon the hearing officer's written findings of fact and conclusions that the repeat nuisance call service fee is warranted hereunder, the owner or occupant shall immediately pay the fee imposed and any applicable delinquent charges.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the city's other available legal remedies for any violation of the law which may constitute a nuisance service call hereunder, including criminal, civil, injunctive or others.

(Ord. 22-2014 § 1)