RIDGECREST MUNICIPAL CODE

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Published in 2019 by Order of the City Council

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[Figure]

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Peggy Breeden (Mayor)

Mike Mower (Mayor Pro Tem)

Eddie B. Thomas (Vice Mayor)

Lindsey Stephens (Councilperson)

Wallace Martin (Councilperson)

City Council

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Ron Strand

City Manager

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Lloyd Pilchen

Assistant City Attorney

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Ricca Charlon

City Clerk

CITY OFFICIALS

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Eric Bruen

Mayor

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Mike Mower

L. Scott Hayman

Kyle Blades

Solomon Rajaratnam

City Council

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Ron Strand

City Manager

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Lloyd Pilchen

Assistant City Attorney

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Ricca Charlon

City Clerk

PREFACE

This Code constitutes a recodification of the general and permanent ordinances of the City of Ridgecrest, California.

Source materials used in the preparation of the Code were the 1980 Code, as supplemented through March 1, 2017, and ordinances subsequently adopted by the city council. The source of each section is included in the history note appearing in parentheses at the end thereof. The absence of such a note indicates that the section is new and was adopted for the first time with the adoption of the Code. By use of the comparative tables appearing in the back of this Code, the reader can locate any section of the 1980 Code, as supplemented, and any ordinance included herein.

The chapters of the Code have been conveniently arranged in alphabetical order, and the various sections within each chapter have been catchlined to facilitate usage. Notes which tie related sections of the Code together and which refer to relevant state law have been included. A table listing the state law citations and setting forth their location within the Code is included at the back of this Code.

Chapter and Section Numbering System

The chapter and section numbering system used in this Code is the same system used in many state and local government codes. Each section number consists of two parts separated by a dash. The figure before the dash refers to the chapter number, and the figure after the dash refers to the position of the section within the chapter. Thus, the second section of chapter 1 is numbered 1-2, and the first section of chapter 6 is 6-1. Under this system, each section is identified with its chapter, and at the same time new sections can be inserted in their proper place by using the decimal system for amendments. For example, if new material consisting of one section that would logically come between sections 6-1 and 6-2 is desired to be added, such new section would be numbered 6-1.5. New articles and new divisions may be included in the same way or, in the case of articles, may be placed at the end of the chapter embracing the subject, and, in the case of divisions, may be placed at the end of the article embracing the subject. The next successive number shall be assigned to the new article or division. New chapters may be included by using one of the reserved chapter numbers. Care should be taken that the alphabetical arrangement of chapters is maintained when including new chapters.

Page Numbering System

The page numbering system used in this Code is a prefix system. The letters to the left of the colon are an abbreviation which represents a certain portion of the volume. The number to the right of the colon represents the number of the page in that portion. In the case of a chapter of the Code, the number to the left of the colon indicates the number of the chapter. In the case of an appendix to the Code, the letter immediately to the left of the colon indicates the letter of the appendix. The following are typical parts of codes of ordinances, which may or may not appear in this Code at this time, and their corresponding prefixes:

Index

The index has been prepared with the greatest of care. Each particular item has been placed under several headings, some of which are couched in lay phraseology, others in legal terminology, and still others in language generally used by local government officials and employees. There are numerous cross references within the index itself which stand as guideposts to direct the user to the particular item in which the user is interested.

Looseleaf Supplements

A special feature of this publication is the looseleaf system of binding and supplemental servicing of the publication. With this system, the publication will be kept up to date. Subsequent amendatory legislation will be properly edited, and the affected page or pages will be reprinted. These new pages will be distributed to holders of copies of the publication, with instructions for the manner of inserting the new pages and deleting the obsolete pages.

Keeping this publication up to date at all times will depend largely upon the holder of the publication. As revised pages are received, it will then become the responsibility of the holder to have the amendments inserted according to the attached instructions. It is strongly recommended by the publisher that all such amendments be inserted immediately upon receipt to avoid misplacing them and, in addition, that all deleted pages be saved and filed for historical reference purposes.

Acknowledgments

This publication was under the direct supervision of Roger D. Merriam, Senior Code Attorney, and Amy Norton, Editor, of the Municipal Code Corporation, Tallahassee, Florida. Credit is gratefully given to the other members of the publisher's staff for their sincere interest and able assistance throughout the project.

The publisher is most grateful to Mr. Lloyd Pilchen, Assistant City Attorney, Mr. Ron Strand, City Manager, Ms. Ricca Charlon, City Clerk, and Mr. Bard Lower, Director of Public Works, for cooperation and assistance during the progress of the work on this publication. It is hoped that their efforts and those of the publisher have resulted in a Code of Ordinances which will make the active law of the city readily accessible to all citizens and which will be a valuable tool in the day-to-day administration of the city's affairs.

Copyright

All editorial enhancements of this Code are copyrighted by Municipal Code Corporation and the City of Ridgecrest, California. Editorial enhancements include, but are not limited to: organization; table of contents; section catchlines; prechapter section analyses; editor's notes; cross references; state law references; numbering system; code comparative table; state law reference table; and index. Such material may not be used or reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of Municipal Code Corporation and the City of Ridgecrest, California.

© Copyrighted material. Municipal Code Corporation and the City of Ridgecrest, California. 2019.

ORDINANCE 2020-02

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AND ENACTING A NEW CODE FOR THE CITY OF RIDGECREST, CALIFORNIA; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN ORDINANCES NOT INCLUDED THEREIN; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER OF AMENDING SUCH CODE; AND PROVIDING WHEN SUCH CODE AND THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIDGECREST as follows:

Section 1. The Code entitled "Ridgecrest Municipal Code," published by Municipal Code Corporation, consisting of chapters 1 through 106, each inclusive, is adopted.

Section 2. All ordinances of a general and permanent nature enacted on or before April 18, 2018, and not included in the Code or recognized and continued in force by reference therein, are repealed.

Section 3. The repeal provided for in section 2 hereof shall not be construed to revive any ordinance or part thereof that has been repealed by a subsequent ordinance that is repealed by this ordinance.

Section 4. Unless another penalty is expressly provided, a violation of the Code that is a misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, imprisonment in the city or county jail for not more than six months or both such fine and imprisonment. Except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, a violation of this Code that is an infraction shall be punished by: (1) a fine not exceeding $100.00 for a first violation; (2) a fine not exceeding $200.00 for a second violation of the same provision within one year; (3) a fine not exceeding $500.00 for each additional violation of the same provision within one year. Except as provided by law, a violation of this Code that is an infraction that is a violation of local building and safety codes shall be punished by: (1) a fine not exceeding $100.00 for a first violation; (2) a fine not exceeding $500.00 for a second violation of the same provision within one year; (3) A fine not exceeding $1,000.00 for each additional violation of the same provision within one year. Except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, with respect to violations of this Code: (1) that are continuous with respect to time, each day that the violation continues is a separate offense; and (2) that are not continuous with respect to time, each act constitutes a separate offense. The penalty provided by this section, unless another penalty is expressly provided, shall apply to the amendment of any Code section, whether or not such penalty is reenacted in the amendatory ordinance. In addition to the penalty prescribed above, the city may pursue other remedies such as abatement of nuisances, injunctive relief and revocation of licenses or permits.

Section 5. Additions or amendments to the Code when passed in such form as to indicate the intention to make the same a part of the Code shall be deemed to be incorporated in the Code, so that reference to the Code includes the additions and amendments.

Section 6. Ordinances adopted after April 18, 2018 that amend or refer to ordinances that have been codified in the Code shall be construed as if they amend or refer to like provisions of the Code.

Section 7. This ordinance shall go into effect and be in full force and operation from and after thirty (30) days after its final passage and adoption. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance to be published as set forth below.

At least five (5) days prior to its final adoption, copies of this Ordinance shall be posted in at least three (3) prominent and public locations in the City; and a notice shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Ridgecrest, setting forth the title of this Ordinance, the date of its introduction, and the places where this Ordinance is posted. Within fifteen (15) days following final adoption, a summary of the Ordinance with the names of the council members and votes shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation.

Introduced and first read at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Ridgecrest held the 15th day of April, 2020.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of said City Council held on May 6, 2020 by the following roll call vote:

AYES: Breeden, Hayman, Stephens, Blades NOES: None ABSENT: Mower ABSTAIN: None

ATTEST: