TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 18.29 regarding vacant lots, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to your request on June 13, 2017, the attached ordinance has been prepared and is submitted for your consideration. If adopted, the Ordinance would establish a new Chapter 18.29 of the Municipal Code relating to the maintenance and use of vacant lots in the City. The draft Ordinance acknowledges that vacant lots can become a nuisance in the community if not properly monitored by the property owner or other responsible person. The Ordinance would require that owners of lots meeting the definition of a "vacant lot" would be required to register the lot with the City, pay a monitoring fee, and provide a suitable fence around the lot to the satisfaction of the Director of Development Services in order to prevent the occurrence of nuisance related activities on the property.
The draft Ordinance also establishes general maintenance requirements including the requirement to properly maintain the lot free of weeds, brush, dead vegetation, junk, debris, building materials, graffiti and other noxious substances. The Ordinance exempts from its provisions any lot that has a valid and active construction permit from the City, and establishes a procedure whereby a lot can be exempted from the Ordinances provisions if the owner or the owners tenant is engaging in urban agricultural activities pursuant to a valid permit from the City.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 18.29 REGARDING VACANT LOTS
Respectfully Submitted,
CHARLES PARKIN
CITY ATTORNEY