(A) All leaves, hedge clippings, twigs, tree trimmings (not to exceed eight inches in diameter), grass clippings, and similar vegetative refuse placed for collection as hereinafter provided shall be collected and disposed of by the city after the effective date of this section. All such vegetative refuse shall be collected and disposed of by the city under the supervision of the Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements who shall have the authority to make regulations concerning the days of collection, manner in which such vegetative refuse is made available for collection, and such other matters pertaining to the collection and disposal of such refuse as he shall find necessary and to change and modify the same after notice as required by law; provided that such regulations are not contrary to the provisions hereof.
(B) All owners, tenants, lessees, or occupants of premises lying within the city who wish to avail themselves of such service shall rake such vegetative refuse in convenient piles no further than five feet from the right-of-way of any street within the city. No refuse other than leaves, hedge clippings, twigs, tree trimmings (not to exceed eight inches in diameter), grass clippings, and similar vegetative refuse shall be placed for collection. The Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements shall provide notice of anticipated collection routes and dates to each utility customer on a timely basis, additionally, all such owners, tenants, lessees, or occupants may notify the City Clerk’s office of any accumulated debris ready for collection and disposal and the city will use its best efforts to remove the same within three working days. The city shall have the right to enter upon each utility customer’s property who has indicated their desire to utilize such services by the placement of such vegetative refuse in an accessible location within five feet of the public street or right-of-way. If further conditions or other circumstances prevent the collection of such refuse on any scheduled day, then the city may return within a reasonable period of time to avoid the undue accumulation of refuse.
(C) The fee for the collection and disposal of vegetative refuse as provided for herein shall be $3 per month to all water customers residing within the city. The fee shall be added as an additional charge on all customers’ monthly billing; provided, however, that it shall be the duty of the City Treasurer to set up and maintain an account separate from the waterworks and sewerage system accounts in which all fees collected for this service shall be placed.
(D) An additional fee is hereby imposed upon the homeowner for the removal of trees and branches left by private contractors or subcontractors pursuant to trimming or tree removal services to the property owner. The fee for the collection and disposal of vegetative matter resulting from the removal of trees and branches by private contractors or subcontractors shall be $250 per small truck (pickup) load (up to and including two cubic yards) and $500 per large truck (dump truck) load (over two cubic yards and up to five cubic yards). Any accumulation of refuse at any residence exceeding two cubic yards shall presumptively be the result of the removal of entire trees or branches by private contractors or subcontractors and maybe collected at the discretion of the city for the charge set forth above. The additional charge shall be assessed against the property owner on the immediately succeeding billing period for utilities. It shall be the duty of the City Treasurer to set up and maintain an account separate from the waterworks and sewerage system accounts in which all fees collected for this service shall be placed. The fees charged pursuant to this division may be held in an account with fees collected pursuant to division (C) above.
(E) Except as provided for herein, no person, firm or corporation shall deposit or burn any vegetative refuse on any city property or right-of-way. No person shall discharge grass clippings or other vegetative matter from mowing or other activities upon any city street, sidewalk or right-of-way. Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this section, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $100 and no more than $750 for each offense, together with the costs as set forth herein for the removal of such vegetative matter from the city street, sidewalk, right-of-way or city property. Any person, firm or corporation arrested or issued a citation for a violation of this section may appear at the office of the City Clerk within three to five days thereafter and pay to the Clerk the sum of the minimum fine and cost of removal of the vegetative refuse. The payment of that sum to the Clerk shall be deemed a waiver of process, an entry of appearance, a waiver of jury trial and a plea of guilty to violation of this section and the sum so paid shall be deemed a voluntary payment of a fine and cost for the violation, and shall bar further prosecution thereof.
(Ord. O-2020-21, passed 8-10-20)