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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 6380: ADDING SEC. 34-90 THROUGH 34-92, ISSUANCE OF CITATIONS AND PENALTIES P.O. No. 6380 4/23/14 ht ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE ADDING SECTIONS 34 -90 THROUGH 34 -92 TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE ISSUANCE OF CITATIONS AND PENALTIES; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION THEREOF WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur continues to suffer from an ongoing dilemma with public nuisances within the city limits; and WHEREAS, the City Council had determined that an amendment to the City's Code of Ordinance is needed in order to provide the City of Port Arthur a more efficient method to address violations of Chapter 34 of Code of Ordinances; and WHEREAS, amending the Code of Ordinances will provide the City of Port Arthur's code enforcement officers the ability to issue citations to combat the various problems while preserving the right to due process; and WHEREAS, the City Council deems it in the public interest of the City to adopt Section 34 -90 through 34 -92 to the City's Code of Ordinance pertaining to issuance of citations and penalties. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2: That Sec. 34 -90 through 34 -92, of the Code of Ordinance is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 34 -90. Issuance of Citations. A licensed code enforcement officer is authorized to enforce this article and to make all necessary inspections, to issue citations, to give notice, to file applicable charges and to otherwise cooperate in the enforcement under this article. A citation shall include the name of the accused, the nature of the violation, the ordinance section violated, the date and location of the violation, that a complaint will be filed in the municipal court of the city, and that the person cited must appear at municipal court within 14 days from the date shown on the citation, and shall be signed by the licensed code enforcement officer. Sec. 34 -91. Failure to appear on citation; arrest warrant. If the person named in the citation does not appear at the municipal court, a warrant of arrest shall be issued. Sec. 34 -92. Penalties. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of this chapter. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 each day. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Section 3. That a copy of the caption of this Ordinance be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. Section 4. That pursuant to Section 52.013 of the Texas Local Government Code, this ordinance which carries a penalty, is required to be published at least twice in the official newspaper of the City of Port Arthur. Section 5. That the ordinance shall be effective immediately after the date of publication. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of A.D., 2014, at a Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Councilmembers NOES: Deloris "Bobbie" Prince, Mayor ATTEST: Sherri Bellard City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: _.� _ Valecia zeno , City Attorney APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: John A. Comeaux, P.E. Interim City Manager