For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. The city's minimum administrative fee of $200 that shall be assessed when the city abates or causes to be abated a nuisance. This fee shall not include the actual costs incurred in abating or causing to be abated a nuisance, but the administrative cost to the city of processing the abatement. Without amending this chapter, the city may impose an administrative fee of more than $200 if the city's cost of implementing this chapter is greater than $200.
ANTIQUE VEHICLE. A passenger car or truck that is at least 25 years old.
AUTOMOBILE GRAVEYARD. An establishment or place of business that is maintained, used or operated for storing, keeping, buying or selling wrecked, scrapped, ruined or dismantled motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts.
BRUSH. Scrub vegetation or dense undergrowth.
COLLECTOR. The owner of one or more antique or special interest vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades or disposes of special interest or antique vehicles or parts of them for personal use in order to restore, preserve and maintain an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
COSTS. The actual cost the city incurs in abating or causing to be abated a nuisance, including without limitation, the cost of mowing, weeding, removing objectionable rubbish, junk, unsightly, or unsanitary matter and the like.
CULTIVATED. Vegetation that is deliberately grown and currently and continuously maintained by the owner, occupant, or agent of the property.
DEMOLISHER. Any person whose business is to convert a motor vehicle into processed scrap or scrap metal, or otherwise to wreck or dismantle motor vehicles.
EXPENSES. The total of the Administrative Fee and Costs incurred by the city in abating or causing to be abated a nuisance.
GARBAGE. All decayable waste from public and private establishments and restaurants, including vegetable, animal and fish offal and animal and fish carcasses. The term does not include sewage, body waste or industrial by-products.
HEARING OFFICER. The municipal court judge of the city or the judge's designated representative.
JUNK. All worn out, worthless and discarded material, including odds and ends, old iron or other metal, glass and cordage.
JUNKED VEHICLE. A vehicle that is self-propelled and:
(1) Does not have lawfully attached to it:
(a) An unexpired license plate; or
(b) A valid motor vehicle inspection certificate; and
(2) Is wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled, or discarded; or
(3) Is inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than:
(a) 72 consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property; or
(b) 30 consecutive days, if the vehicle is on private property.
(Tex. Transp. Code § 683.071)
JUNKYARD. A business that stores, buys, or sells materials that have been discarded or sold at a nominal price by a previous owner and that keeps all or part of the materials outdoors until disposing of them, or an automobile graveyard.
MAINTAINED. Watered, pruned, trimmed, treated, and controlled in such a manner as to enhance the use or enjoyment of one's property, without interfering with the enjoyment or use of neighboring property or public access.
MOTOR VEHICLE COLLECTOR. A person who:
(1) Owns one or more antique or special interest vehicles; and
(2) Acquires, collects, or disposes of an antique or special interest vehicle or part of an antique or special interest vehicle for personal use to restore and preserve an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
NUISANCE. Anything which is injurious to the health or morals, or indecent or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.
OWNER. A person having title to real property.
PERSON. Includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, or corporation, as well as an individual.
REFUSE. All garbage, rubbish, paper and other decayable and nondecayable waste, including vegetable matter and animal and fish carcasses. The term does not include sewage from a public or private establishment or residence.
RUBBISH. All nondecayable waste, except ashes, from public or private establishments or residences.
SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLE. A motor vehicle of any age that has not been changed from original manufacturer's specifications and, because of its historic interest, is being preserved by a hobbyist.
TRASH. All refuse other than garbage, brush and large appliances and trees, including household trash, discarded clothing, toys, papers, yard trash, small shrub and tree trimmings and leaves.
VEGETATION. Any grass, weeds, shrubs, brush, bushes, or vines.
WEEDS. Vegetation that because of its height is objectionable, unsightly or unsanitary, but excluding cultivated crops, shrubs, bushes, trees, flowers, and vines.
WRECKING YARD. A place where old automobiles, trucks, equipment or machinery which have formerly been in a workable or operable condition and which are no longer in such condition are kept and maintained for the purpose of storage or resale of all, or parts of, the automobiles, trucks, equipment and machinery.
('78 Code, § 9-20) (Ord. 154, passed 6-11-63; Ord. 207, passed 10-22-68; Ord. 257, passed 3-27-73; Ord. 695, passed 9-22-86; Ord. 843, passed 8-28-89; Am. Ord. 1372, passed 10-8-01)