§ 7.60.060. Notice of abatement.

Notwithstanding section 7.60.150 of this code or any other provision of law, whenever the locally designated officer determines that an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on private or public property constitutes a nuisance, the locally designated officer may serve a written notice to abate and remove the vehicle or parts thereof. The notice shall be served by registered or certified mail on the last registered and legal owner of record of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership, and on the owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll of any private parcel upon which the vehicle is located.

The notice shall instruct the vehicle owner and parcel owner that if the vehicle or parts thereof are not removed within ten (10) calendar days of service of the notice, the County or District, as appropriate, or its authorized agent shall have the right to enter the property during normal business hours to remove the vehicle or parts and demand the vehicle owner and/or parcel owner to pay for the cost of abatement. Cost of abatement is defined to include the cost of actual removal of the vehicle or parts thereof plus reasonable administrative costs. Reasonable administrative costs are the lesser of actual costs or fifteen percent (15%) of the cost of actual removal. If the vehicle owner and/or parcel owner fails to pay such cost, that cost may be specially assessed against the parcel and shall be subject to the same collection procedures including any lien, penalty and sale procedures that are provided for delinquent County taxes. The notice shall further state that the vehicle owner and/or parcel owner may request a hearing to contest the abatement action or assessment of cost by filing a written request for a hearing with the locally designated officer that issued the notice within ten (10) calendar days of service of the notice to abate. Failure to file a request for hearing within this time period shall waive any right to appeal the action by the locally designated officer.

(Prior code § 3805; Ord. 1895, 04/09/68; Ord. 1918, 07/09/68; Ord. 2125, 01/04/72; Ord. 2824, 04/05/83; Ord. 3162, 11/08/88; Ord. 3555, 03/29/94)