CITY OF DRAKESVILLE, IOWA
2015
Municipal Codebook of Ordinances
Adopted March 2nd, 2015
Prepared by: Area 15 Regional Planning Commission
PO Box 1110 Ottumwa, Iowa 52501
(641) 684-6551 2501
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS ……………………………………………………………………………………. 1
CHAPTER 2 RIGHT OF ENTRY …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
CHAPTER 3 PENALTY ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
CHAPTER 4 PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS BY THE CITY COUNCIL………………………………………. 11
TITLE II POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION ……………………………………………………………………………. 15
CHAPTER 1 CITY CHARTER …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
CHAPTER 2 APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS ………………….. 17
CHAPTER 3 POWERS AND DUTIES OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS ……………………………………………. 19
CHAPTER 4 SALARIES OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS……………………………………………………………….. 29
CHAPTER 5 CITY FINANCE …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 31
CHAPTER 6 CITY ELECTIONS …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35
CHAPTER 7 CITY COUNCIL ……………………………………………………………………………………………….,. 37
CHAPTER 8 POLICE DEPARTMENT …………………………………………………………………………………… 41
CHAPTER 9 POSTING ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 43
TITLE III COMMUNITY PROTECTION ………………………………………………………………………………… 45
CHAPTER 1 OFFENSES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 45
CHAPTER 2 NUISANCES …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
CHAPTER 3 TRAFFIC CODE ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59
CHAPTER 4 FIRE PROTECTION ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 83
CHAPTER 5 CURFEW FOR MINORS ……………………………………………………………………………………. 85
CHAPTER 7 REGULATING PEDDLERS, SOLICITORS AND TRANSIENT MERCHANTS …………. 89
CHAPTER 7 CIGARETTE LICENSE ………………………………………………………………………………………. 93
CHAPTER 8 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ………………………………………………………………………………… 97
CHAPTER 10 JUNK AND ABANDONED VEHICLES ……………………………………………………………… 99
CHAPTER 11 DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ……………………………………………………………………………….. 107
TITLE IV MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ……………………………………………………………………… 109
CHAPTER 1 ANIMAL CONTROL …………………………………………………………………………………………. 109
TITLE V PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT …………………………………………………………………………………… 113
CHAPTER 1 MOBILE HOME REGULATION …………………………………………………………………………. 113
CHAPTER 2 STREET CUTS AND EXCAVATIONS ………………………………………………………………….. 115
CHAPTER 3 SIDEWALK REGULATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………. 119
CHAPTER 4 NUMBERING OF BUILDINGS …………………………………………………………………………… 125
TITLE VI SPECIAL ORDINANCES …………………………………………………………………………………………. 127
CHAPTER 1 BUILDING PERMIT ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 127
CHAPTER 2 PARK BOARD …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 129
CHAPTER 3 REPRESENTATIVE TO DAVIS COUNTY REGIONAL SERVICE AGENCY ……………….. 131
CHAPTER 4 SOLID WASTE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 133
CHAPTER 5 JUNKYARD ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 137
CHAPTER 6 TREES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 139
CHAPTER 7 ELECTRIC FRANCHISE ORDINANCE …………………………………………………………………. 141
CHAPTER 8 SEWER FRANCHISE AGREEMENT ……………………………………………………………………… 143
CHAPTER 9 SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM …………………………………………………………………………. 145
CHAPTER 10 WATER FRANCHISE ………………………………………………………………………………………… 153
CHAPTER 11 BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION ………………………………………………………………………….. 155
CHAPTER 12 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ……………………………………………………………………………… 157
CHAPTER 13 SEWER RATES …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 159
CHAPTER 14 SEX OFFENDERS ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 161
GENERAL PROVISIONS 1-1
TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
1-1-1 Definitions 1-1-2 Grammatical Interpretation 1-1-3 Prohibited Acts Include Causing, Permitting
1-1-4 Construction 1-1-5 Amendment 1-1-6 Severability
1-1-1 DEFINITIONS The following words and phrases whenever used in the Ordinances of the City, shall be construed as defined in this section unless, from the context, a different meaning is intended or unless different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:
1. “Building” means any man-made structure permanently affixed to the ground.
2. “City” means the City of Drakesville, Iowa, or the area within the territorial limits of the City, and such territory outside of the City over which the City has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision;
3. “Clerk” means Clerk-Treasurer.
4. “Computation of time” means the time within which an act is to be done. It shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day; and if the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded;
5. “Council” means the City Council of the City. All its members or all Council persons mean the total number of Council persons provided by the City charter under the general laws of the state;
6. “County” means the County of Davis, Iowa;
7. “Fiscal Year” means July 1 to June 30.
8. “Law” denotes applicable federal law, the Constitution and statutes of the State of Iowa, the Ordinances of the City; and when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder;
9. “May” confers a power;
10. “Month” means a calendar month;
11. “Must” states a requirement;
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12. “Oath” shall be construed to include an affirmative or declaration in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words “affirm” and “affirmed” shall be equivalent to the words “swear” and “sworn”;
13. “Or” may be read “and” and “and” may be read “or” if the sense requires it;
14. “Ordinance” means a law of the City; however, an administrative action, order or directive, may be in the form of a resolution;
15. “Owner” applied to a building or land includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, or the whole or part of such building or land;
16. “Person” means natural person, any other legal entity recognized by the State, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer, or employee of any of them;
17. “Personal property” includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt;
18. “Preceding” and “following” mean next before and next after, respectively;
19. “Property” includes real and personal property;
20. “Real property” includes any interest in land;
21. “Shall” imposes a duty;
22. “Sidewalk” means that portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians;
23. “State” means the State of Iowa;
24. “Street” includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, or other public ways in this City which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state;
25. “Tenant” and “occupant” applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others;
26. “Title of Office”. Use of the title of any officer, employee, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the City;
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27. “Writing” and “Written” include printed, typewritten, or electronically transmitted such as facsimile or electronic mail;
28. “Year” means a calendar year;
29. All words and phrases shall be construed and understood according to the common and approved usage of the language; but technical words and phrases and such other as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning;
30. When an act is required by an Ordinance the same being such that it may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed as to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.
1-1-2 GRAMMATICAL INTERPRETATION The following grammatical rules shall apply in the Ordinances of the City; 1. Gender. Any gender includes the other gender;
2. Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular;
3. Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa; 4. Use of Words and Phrases. Words and phrases not specifically defined shall be construed according to the content and approved usage of the language. 1-1-3 PROHIBITED ACTS INCLUDE CAUSING, PERMITTING Whenever in this Code any act or omission is made unlawful, it includes causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, or concealing the fact of such act or omission. A principal is responsible for the unauthorized acts or omissions committed by an agent or employee which have been authorized by the principal. 1-1-4 CONSTRUCTION The provisions of this Code are to be construed with a view to affect its objects and to promote justice. 1-1-5 AMENDMENT All Ordinances of the City Council passed thereafter shall be in the form of an addition or amendment to the Drakesville Municipal Code of 2014 constituting this Municipal Code, and shall include proper references to chapter and section to maintain the orderly codification of the Ordinances.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 380.2)
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1-1-6 SEVERABILITY If any section, provision or part of the City Code or any subsequent ordinance is adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication will not affect the validity of the City Code as a whole or any section provision, or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
RIGHT OF ENTRY 1-2
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
1-2-1 Right Of Entry
TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2 RIGHT OF ENTRY
1-2-1 RIGHT OF ENTRY Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any Ordinance, or whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that there exists an Ordinance violation in any building or upon any premises within the jurisdiction of the City, any authorized official of the City, may, upon presentation of proper credentials, enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same and to perform any duty imposed upon such official by Ordinance; provided that, except in emergency situations, such official shall first give the owner and/or occupant, if they can be located after reasonable effort, twenty-four hour written notice of the authorized official’s intention to inspect. In the event the owner and/or occupant refuses entry, the official is empowered to seek assistance from any court of competent jurisdiction in obtaining such entry.
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PENALTY 1-3 TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 3 PENALTY
1-3-1 General Penalty 1-3-2 Civil Penalty – Municipal Infraction 1-3-3 Scheduled Fines
1-3-1 GENERAL PENALTY Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of the Ordinances of Drakesville is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the Ordinances of Drakesville shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment not to exceed thirty (30) days. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.3(2)) 1-3-2 CIVIL PENALTY – MUNICIPAL INFRACTION (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.22) 1. Definitions. a. Municipal Infraction. Except those provisions specifically provided under state law as a felony, an aggravated misdemeanor, or a serious misdemeanor or a simple misdemeanor under Chapters 687 through 747 of the Iowa Code, the doing of any act prohibited or declared to be unlawful, an offense or a misdemeanor by the Code of Ordinances City of Drakesville, or any Ordinance or Code herein adopted by reference, or omission or failure to perform any act or duty required by the Code of Ordinances City of Drakesville, or any Ordinance or Code herein adopted by reference, is a “municipal infraction” and is punishable by civil penalty as provided herein.
b. Officer. The term “officer” shall mean any employee or official authorized to enforce the Code of Ordinances of the City of Drakesville.
c. Repeat offense. The term “repeat offense” shall mean a recurring violation of the same section of the Code of Ordinances.
2. Violations, Penalties, and Alternative Relief.
a. A municipal infraction is punishable by a civil penalty as provided in the following schedule, unless a specific schedule of civil penalties is provided for specific offenses elsewhere in this Code.
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Schedule of Civil Penalties
First offense–Not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00).
Second Offense–Not more than eight hundred seventy-five dollars ($875.00).
All other repeat offenses–Not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
b. Each day that a violation occurs or is permitted to exist by the violator constitutes a separate offense.
c. Seeking a civil penalty as authorized in this chapter does not preclude the City from seeking alternative relief from the court in the same action.
3. Civil Citations.
a. Any officer authorized by the City to enforce the Code of Ordinances may issue a civil citation to a person who commits a municipal infraction.
b. The citation may be served by personal service, substituted service, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by publication as provided in the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure.
c. The original of the citation shall be sent to the Clerk of the district court. If the infraction involves real property a copy of the citation shall be filed with the county treasurer. {(364.22(4A(b)} (SF 434)
d. The citation shall serve as notification that a civil offense has been committed and shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and address of the defendant. (2) The name or description of the infraction attested to by the officer issuing the citation. (3) The location and time of the infraction. (4) The amount of civil penalty to be assessed or the alternative relief sought, or both. (5) The manner, location, and time in which the penalty may be paid. (6) The time and place of court appearance. (7) The penalty for failure to appear in court. (8) The legal description of the affected property, if applicable.
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1-3-3 SCHEDULED FINES The scheduled fine for a violation of any provision of the City Code shall be in accordance with State Code Chapter 805 unless another scheduled amount is provided in the City Code or Iowa Code.
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PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS 1-4
TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS CHAPTER 4 PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS BY THE CITY COUNCIL
1-4-1 Purpose and Intent 1-4-2 General 1-4-3 Form of Notice of Hearing
1-4-4 Subpoenas 1-4-5 Conduct of Hearing 1-4-6 Method and Form of Decision
1-4-1 PURPOSE AND INTENT 1. It is the purpose of this article to establish an orderly, efficient, and expeditious process for evidentiary hearings before the City Council.
2. The provisions of this article shall apply to a proceeding required by constitution, statute or Ordinance to be determined by the City Council after an opportunity for an evidentiary hearing. 1-4-2 GENERAL 1. Record. A record of the entire proceedings shall be made by tape recording or by any other means of permanent recording determined to be appropriate by the City Council.
2. Reporting. The proceedings at the hearing may also be reported by a court reporter at the expense of any party.
3. Continuances. The City Council may grant continuances for good cause shown.
4. Oaths, certification. The City Council or any member thereof has the power to administer oaths and affirmations.
5. Reasonable dispatch. The City Council and its representatives shall proceed with reasonable dispatch to conclude any matter before it. Due regard shall be shown for the convenience and necessity of any parties or their representatives. 1-4-3 FORM OF NOTICE OF HEARING. The notice to parties shall be substantially in the following form, but may include other information:
“You are hereby notified that an evidentiary hearing will be held before the Drakesville City Council at _____________ on the ______ day of ____________, 20___, at the hour ____________, upon the notice and order served upon you. You may be present at the hearing. You may be, but need not be, represented by counsel. You may present any relevant evidence and will be given full opportunity to cross-examine all witnesses testifying against you. You may request the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, documents or other things by filing an affidavit therefor with the City Clerk.”
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1-4-4 SUBPOENAS Filing of affidavit. The City Council may issue a subpoena for the attendance of witnesses or the production of other evidence at a hearing upon the request of a member of the City Council or upon the written demand of any party. The issuance and service of such subpoena shall be obtained upon the filing of an affidavit therefor which states the name and address of the proposed witness; specifies the exact things sought to be produced and the materiality thereof in detail to the issues involved; and states that the witness has the desired things in the witness’s possession or under the witness’s control. A subpoena need not be issued when the affidavit is defective in any particular. 1-4-5 CONDUCT OF HEARING 1. Rules. Hearings need not be conducted according to the technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses.
2. Oral evidence. Oral evidence shall be taken only on oath or affirmation.
3. Hearsay evidence. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining any direct evidence, but shall not be sufficient in itself to support a finding unless it would be admissible over objection in civil actions in courts of competent jurisdiction in this state.
4. Admissibility of evidence. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the type of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely upon in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil actions in courts of competent jurisdiction in this state.
5. Exclusion of evidence. Irrelevant and unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded.
6. Rights of parties. Each party shall have these rights, among others:
a. To call and examine witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues of the hearing;
b. To introduce documentary and physical evidence;
c. To cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues of the hearing;
d. To impeach any witness regardless of which party first called the witness to testify;
e. To rebut the evidence against the party; and
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f. To self-representation or to be represented by anyone of the party’s choice who is lawfully permitted to do so.
7. Official notice. a. What may be noticed. In reaching a decision, official notice may be taken, either before or after submission of the case for decision, of any fact which may be judicially noticed by the courts of this state or of official records of the City or its departments and Ordinances of the City.
b. Parties to be notified. Parties present at the hearing shall be informed of the matters to be noticed, and these matters shall be noted in the record, referred to therein, or appended thereto.
c. Opportunity to refute. Parties present at the hearing shall be given a reasonable opportunity, on request, to refute the officially noticed matters by evidence or by written or oral presentation of authority, the manner of such refutation to be determined by the City Council.
8. Inspection of the premises. The City Council may inspect any building or premises involved in the appeal during the course of the hearing, provided that:
a. Notice of such inspection shall be given to the parties before the inspection is made;
b. The parties are given an opportunity to be present during the inspection; and
c. The City Council shall state for the record, upon completion of the inspection, the material facts observed and the conclusions drawn therefrom. Each party then shall have a right to rebut or explain the matters so stated by the City Council. 1-4-6 METHOD AND FORM OF DECISION 1. Hearings before the city council. Where a contested case is heard before the City Council, no member thereof who did not hear the evidence or alternatively has not read or listened to the entire record of the proceedings shall vote on or take part in the decision. The City Council may designate a member or members to preside over the receipt of evidence. Such member or members shall prepare findings of fact for the City Council.
2. Form of decision. The decision shall be in writing and shall contain findings of fact, a determination of the issues presented, and the requirements to be complied with. A copy of the decision shall be delivered to the parties personally or sent to them by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested.
3. Effective date of decision. The effective date of the decision shall be stated therein.
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