In a move welcomed by many in the neighborhood, the City has amended an existing ordinance, requiring more frequent cutting of unsold properties:
CITY OF HUGO ORDINANCE NO. 2007-410
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 200 (NUISANCE) OF THE CITY CODE AMENDING SECTION 200-3 NUMBER 8 TO PLACE REQUIREMENTS ON NOXIOUS WEEDS AND TALL GRASS
THE CITY OF HUGO ORDAINS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Hugo does hereby delete Section 200-3-8 in its entirety and replace with the following language:
Noxious Weeds and Tall Grass
A. It shall be unlawful and prohibited for any owner, tenant, or occupant of land in the City to permit or maintain noxious weeds or other rank growth, as prohibited by Statutes of the State of Minnesota.
B. It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant, or occupant of land in the City to allow or permit any growth of weeds, grass, brush, or other rank vegetation to a height greater than ten inches (10''), or any accumulation of dead weeds, grass, or brush on such land.
C. It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant, or occupant of land in the City to allow or permit the growth of vegetation to a height greater than ten inches (10'') or noxious weeds on any land between the property lines of the parcel and the pavement edge of any public roadway.
D. Tall vegetation along driveways and public roads that may impair visibility when entering or exiting public roads is prohibited.
E. If the provisions of this section are not complied with, the Code Enforcement Officer will mail a certified written notice, return receipt requested to the owner, tenant, or occupant of the land requiring them to comply with the provisions of this section. If the owner or owner's address is unknown, the City Clerk will publish a notice in the City's official newspaper. The notices and publication shall include the property address or description of the property and description of the violation. The violation shall be abated by the owner within seven (7) days of the mailing notice or publication. If there is failure to comply with the violations outlined by the ordinance, the City will abate the nuisance and assess the cost to the owner. The owner shall pay the assessment within 30 days or the assessment will be applied to the owner's property tax statement.
Sections B & C shall not apply to:
a) Natural areas, such as but not limited to, wetlands, prairie grass or wild flower restoration, public open spaces, storm water ponds, wooded areas, rain gardens, bogs, or marshes.
b) Land used for agriculture
c) Landscaped areas as shown on an approved landscape plan.
d) All property that is zoned Rural Residential, Agricultural, and Long Term Agricultural and Future Urban Service.
e) All property that is not platted or developed. For the purpose of this section "developed" shall mean that the property has been improved with the construction of buildings, parking lots or other facilities excluding utilities or sewer or water lines.
f) Any property that is undeveloped and platted greater than 5 acres.
Section 2 Severability. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction adjudges any part of this Ordinance to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect any other provision of this Ordinance not specifically included with that judgment.
Section 3. Effective Date. This amendment shall take effect upon its passage and publication.
ADOPTED by the City Council on August 20, 2007.
Fran Miron, Mayor
ATTEST: Mary Ann Creager, City Clerk
