The following penalties shall apply to violations of this chapter:
(A) Any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil fine of not less than $50 per day per violation but not more than $500 per day per violation, or the cost to the city to abate the public nuisance, or both. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues after due notice has been served in accordance with the terms of this chapter may be deemed a separate offense to a maximum of $ 10,000 per citation.
(B) As an additional alternative remedy to the above penalty, any violator who violates any provision of this chapter and has been previously issued two or more citations for violation of this chapter relating to the same property within a 12-month period may be assessed additional civil penalties of $500 per day per violation to a maximum of $20,000 per citation.
(C) The specific civil fine that shall be imposed for each separate violation specific to the growth of weeds or grass in excess of eight (8) inches above the surface of the ground on any lot or parcel of real estate that is less than four (4) acres in area and developed with the public utilities of water, electricity, and sewers is hereby established at $20 for a first violation, $50 for a second occurrence of same violation and $100 for third and each subsequent occurrence of the same violation plus the cost of collection including without limitation, court costs, attorney fees, and any abatement costs.
(Ord. 1742-2017, passed 9-12-17; Am. Ord. 1808-2021, passed 12-14-21)