title
CIVIL CITATIONS FINES (B)
ORDINANCE NO. 0- 03-90
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida; amending Section 2-339, Code of Ordinances of the City of Gainesville; increasing certain penalties for violation of City ordinances, as more specifically set forth in the ordinance, and generally related to property conditions in neighborhoods; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
On April 14, 2003, the City Commission referred to the Community Development Committee the issue of civil citations, how they are issued, and what alternatives exist under Florida law. The Community Development Committee reviewed the civil citation process, including the authority under state law, for a municipality to use civil citations, as well as the local codes process. The Community Development Committee did not recommend any changes at this time to the process; however, as an additional deterrent to activities taken in violation of certain City ordinances, the Committee, on August 4, 2003 approved recommending the City Commission increase civil citation fines for infractions associated with certain property conditions in neighborhoods.
The following fines will be increased to $125.00 under this ordinance:
Section 13-171 (insects, storage, trash and yard maintenance, from $50.00);
Section 13-181 (hazardous conditions on property, from $50.00);
Article III of Chapter 14.5 (towing from certain private property, from $75.00);
Section 14.5-1 (no landlord permit, from $75.00);
Chapter 15 (noise violations, from $50.00);
Section 16-19 (dangerous buildings/hazardous lands, from $50.00);
Section 26-137 (abandoned vehicles, from $50.00)
Section 27-73 (solid waste violations, from $50.00);
Section 30-45 (prohibited use in zoning district, from $50.00);
Section 30-51 (c) (permitted use in single family districts, from $75.00); and
30-56(b) and (c) (residential parking, from $50.00).
On August 25, 2003, the City Commission authorized the City Attorney to draft and the Clerk of the Commission to advertise an ordinance increasing these fines, effective immediately upon passage of the ordinance on second reading.
This ordinance requires two public hearings. Should the Commission adopt the ordinance on first reading; the second and final reading will be held on Monday, October 27, 2003.