Ordinance Number 190315
ORDINANCE NO. 190
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO PROHIBITING THE THROWING OR
DEPOSITING OF LITTER IN PUBLIC PLACES; REGULATING
THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL
HANDBILLS; CONTROLLING THE DEPOSITING OF LITTER
ON PRIVATE PREMISES; PROVIDING A LIEN FOR CITY
CLEARANCE; AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR THE
VIOLATION OF ITS PROVISIONS
The City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano does
hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
d
This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "San
Juan Capistrano Anti -Litter Ordinance."
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Ordinance the following terms,
phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning given
herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in
the present tense include the future, words used in the plural
number include the singular number, and words used in the singular
number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always
mandatory and not merely directory.
(a) "Aircraft" is any contrivance now known or hereafter
invented, used or designated for navigation or for
flight in the air. The word "aircraft" shall include
helicopters and lighter -than -air dirigibles and balloons.
(b) "Authorized private receptacle" is a litter storage and
collection receptacle as required and authorized in the
City's refuse collection system ordinance.
(d) "City" is the City of San Juan Capistrano.
(d) "Commercial Handbill" is any printed or written matter,
any sample or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamph-
let, paper, booklet, or any other printed or otherwise
reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature:
(1) Which advertises for sale any merchandise, product,
commodity, or thing; or
(2) Which directs attention to any business or mercan-
tile or commercial establishment, or other activity,
promoting the interest thereof by sales; or
(3) Which directs attention to or advertises any meet-
ing, theatrical performance, exhibition, or event
of any kind, for which an admission fee is charged
for the purpose of private gain or profit; but the
terms of this clause shall not apply where an admis-
sion fee is charged or a collection is takaiup for
the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to
such meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition, or
event of any kind, when either of the same is held,
given or takes place in connection with the dis-
semination of information which is not restricted
under the ordinary rules of decency, good morals,
-public peace, safety and good order; Provided that
nothing contained in this clause shall be deemed to
316
authorize the holding, giving or taking place of
any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition,
or event of any kind, without a license, where such
license is or may be required by any law of this
State, or under any ordinance of this City; or
(4) Which, while containing reading matter other than
advertising matter, is predominantly and essentially
an advertisement, and is distributed or circulated
for advertising purposes, or for the private benefit
and gain of any person so engaged as advertiser or
distributor.
(e) "Garbage" is putrescible animal and vegetable wastes re-
sulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and con-
sumption of food. ' _
(f) "Litter" is "garbage," "refuse," and "rubbish" as defined
herein and all other waste material which, if thrown or
deposited as herein prohibited, tends to create a danger
to public health, safety and welfare.
(g) "Newspaper" is any newspaper of general circulation as
defined by general law, any newspaper duly entered with
the Post Office Department of the United States, in
accordance with Federal statute or regulation, and any
newspaper filed and recorded with any recording officer
as provided by general law; and, in addition thereto;
shall mean and include any periodical or current magazine
regularly published with not less than four issues per
year, and sold to the public.
(h) "Non -Commercial Handbill" is any printed or written
matter, any sample, or device, dodger, circular, leaf-
let, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, paper, booklet, or
any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or
copies of any matter of literature not included in the
aforesaid definitions of a commercial handbill or news-
paper.
(i) "Park" is a park, reservation, playground, beach,
recreation center or any other public area in the City
owned or used by the City and devoted to active or
passive recreation.
(j) "Person" is any person, firm, partnership, association,
corporation, company or organization of any kind.
(k) "Private Premises" is any dwelling, house, building, or
other structure, designed or used either wholly or in
part for private residential purposes, whether inhabited
or tempqrarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant,
and shall include any yard, grounds, walk, driveway,
porch, steps, vestibule, or mailbox belonging or ap-
purtenant to such dwelling, house, building, or other
structure.
(1) "Public Place" is any and all streets, sidewalks,
boulevards, alleys or other public ways and any and all
public parks, squares, spaces, grounds, and buildings.
(m) "Refuse" is all putrescible and nonputrescible solid
wastes (except body wastes), including garbage, rubbish,
ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned automo-
biles, and solid market and industrial wastes.
(n) "Rubbish" is nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of
both combustible and non-combustible wastes, such as
paper, wrappings, cigarettes, cardboard, tin cans, yard
clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and
similar materials.
317
(o) "Vehicle" is every device in, upon, or by which any
person or property is or may be transported or drawn
upon a highway, including devices used exclusively
upon stationary rails or tracks.
SECTION 3. LITTER IN PUBLIC PLACES
Nopersonshall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street,
sidewalk or other public place within the City except in public
receptacles, in authorized private receptacles for collection, or
in official City dumps.
SECTION 4. PLACEMENT OF LITTER IN RECEPTACLES SO AS TO PREVENT
SCATTERING
Persons placing litter in public receptacles or in authorized
private receptacles shall do so in such a manner as to prevent it
from being carried or deposited by the elements updn any street,
sidewalk or other public place or upon private property.
SECTION 5. SWEEPING LITTER INTO GUTTERS PROHIBITED
No person shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street
or other public place within the City the accumulation of litter
from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk
or driveway. Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the
sidewalk in front of their premises free of litter.
SECTION 6. MERCHANTS' DUTY TO KEEP SIDEWALKS FREE OF LITTER
No person owning or occupying a place of business shall
sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place
within the City the accumulation of litter from any building or
lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons
owning or occupying places of business within the City shall keep
the sidewalk in front of their business - premises free of litter.
SECTION 7. LITTER THROWN BY PERSONS IN VEHICLES
No person, while a driver or passenger in a vehicle, shall
throw or deposit litter upon any street or other public place
within the City, or upon private property.
SECTION 8. TRUCK LOADS CAUSING LITTER
No person shall.drive ormoveany truck or other vehicle
-
within the City unless such vehichle is so constructed or loaded
as to prevent any load contents or litter from being blown or
deposited upon any street, alley or other public place. Nor
shall any person drive or move any vehicle or truck within the
City, the wheels or tires of which carry onto or deposit in any
street, alley or other public place, mud, dirt, sticky substances,
litter or foreign matter of any kind.
SECTION 9. LITTER IN PARKS
No person shall throw or deposit litter in any, park within
the City except in public receptacles and in such a manner that
the litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by
the elements upon any part of the parkorupon any street or other
public place. Where public receptacles are not provided, all such
litter shall be carried away from the park by the person respon-
sible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere as
provided herein..
SECTION 10. LITTER IN LAKES AND FOUNTAINS
No person shall throw or deposit litter in any fountain,
pond, lake stream, by or any other body of water in a park or
elsewhere within the City.
-3-
318
SECTION 11. THROWING OR DISTRIBUTING COMMERCIAL HANDBILL IN PUBLIC
PLACES
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or non-com-
mercial handbill in or upon any sidewalk, street or other public
place within the City. Nor shall any person hand out or distrib-
ute or sell any commercial handbill in any public place. Provided,
however, that it shall not be unlawful on any sidewalk, street, or
other public place within the City for any person to hand out or
distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, any non-commer-
cial handbill to any person willing to accept it.
SECTION 12.. PLACING COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL HANDBILLS ON
VEHICLES
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or non-com-
mercial handbill in or, upon any vehicle. Provided,however, that
it shall not be unlawful in -any public place for a person to hand
out or distribute without charge to the receiver thereof, a non-
commercial handbill to any occupant of a vehicle who is willing to
accept it.
SECTION 13. DEPOSITING COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL HANDBILLS ON
UNINHABITED OR VACANT PREMISES
No persons shall throw or deposit any.commercial or non-commercial
handbill in or upon any private premises which. are temporarily or
continuously uninhabited or vacant.
SECTION 14. PROHIBITING DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBILLS WHERE PROPERLY
,POSTED
No person shall throw, deposit or. distribute any commercial or
non -commercial -handbill upon any private premises, if requested by
anyone thereon not to-do so., or if, there is places on said pre-
mises in a conspicuous position near the entrance thereof, a sign
bearing the words: "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers or Agents," "No
Advertisement," or any similar notice, indicating in any matter
that the occupants of said premises do not desire to be molested
or have their right of privacy disturbed, or to have any such hand-
bills left upon such premises.
SECTION 15. DISTRIBUTING COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL HANDBILLS
AT INHABITED PRIVATE PREMISES
No person shall throw, deposit or distribute any commercial
or non-commercial handbill in or upon private premises which are
inhabited, except by handing.or transmitting any such handbill
directly to the owner, occupant, or other person then present in
or upon such.private,premises. Provided, however, that in case of
inhabited private premises which are not posted, as provided in
this Ordinance, such person, unless requested by anyone upon such
premises not to do so, may place or deposit any such handbill in ^�
or upon such inhabfited private premises, if such handbill is so
placed or deposited as to secure or prevent such handbill from
being blown or drifted about such premises or sidewalks, streets,
or other public places, and except that mailboxes may not be so
used when so prohibited by Federal postal law or regulations.
(a) Exemption for Mail and Newspapers
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the
distrubution of mail by the United States, nor to news-
papers (as defined herein) except that newspapers shall
be places on private property in such a manner as to
prevent their being carried or deposited by the elements
upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon
private property. _
-4-
319
SECTION 16. DROPPING LITTER FROM AIRCRAFT
No person in an aircraft shall throw out, drop or deposit
within the City any litter, handbill or any other object.
SECTION 17. POSTING NOTICES PROHIBITED
No person shall post or affix any notice, poster or other
paper or device, calculated to attract the attention of the
public, to any lamp post, public utility pole or shade tree, or
upon any public structure or building, except as may be autho-
rized.or required by law.
SECTION 18. LITTER ON OCCUPIED PRIVATE PROPERTY
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any occupied
private property within the City, whether owned by such person
or not, except that the owner or person in controV of private
property may maintain authorized. private receptacles for collec-
tion in such a manner that litter will be prevented from being
carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk
or other public place or upon any private property.. -
SECTION 19. OWNER TO MAINTAIN PREMISES FREE OF LITTER
The owner or person in control of any private property shall
at all times maintain the premises free of litter. Provided,
however, that this Section shall not prohibit the storage of
litter in.authorized private receptacles for collection.
SECTION 20. LITTER ON .VACANT LOTS -
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or
vacant private- property within the City whether owned by such
person or not.
SECTION 21. CLEARING OF LITTER FROM OPEN PRIVATE PROPERTY BY
CITY
(a) Notice to Remove
The City Manager is hereby authorized and empowered to
-notify the owner of -any open-orivacant privateproperty
within the City or the agent of such owner to properly
dispose of litter located on such owner's property
which is dangerous to public health, safety or welfare.
Such notice shall be by Registere& Mail, addressed to
said owner at his last known address.
(b)- Action Upon Non -Compliance
Upon the failure, neglect or -refusal -of -any -owner or
agent so notified, to properly -dispose of litter dan-
gerous to the public health, safety or welfare within
-. fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice
provided for in sub -section (a) above, or within
fifteen (15) daysafterthedate-of'such notice in the
event the -same is returned to the City Post Office
Department because of its inability to make delivery
thereof, provided the same was properly addressed to the
last known address of such owner, or agent, the City
Manager is hereby authorizedandempowered topayfor
the disposing of such litter or to order its disposal
by the City.
(c) Charge Included in Tax Bill
When the City has effected the removal of such dange-
rous litter or has paid for its removal, the actual
cost thereof, plus accrued interest at the rateofsix
-5-
320
per cent (6%) per annum from the date of the completion
of the work, if not paid by such owner prior thereto,
shall be•charged to theownerof such property on the
next regular tax bill forwarded to such owner by the City,
and said charge shall be due and payable by said owner
at the time of payment of such bill. '
(d) Recorded. Statement Constitutes Lien
Where the full amount due the City is not paid by such
owner within ten (10) days after the disposal of such
litter, as provided for in subsections (a) and (b) above,
then, and in that case, the City Manager shall cause to
be recorded in the Recorder of Orange County a sworn
statement showing the cost and expense incurred for the
work, the date the work was done and the location of the
property on which said work was done. The recordation
of such sworn statement shall constitute a lien and
privilege on the property, and shall remain in full force
and effect for the amount due in principal and interest,
plus costs of,court, if any, for collection, until final
payment,has been made.- Said costs and expenses shall be
collected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of
taxes and further, shall be subject to a delinquent penalty
of six per cent (6%) in the event same is not paid in
full on or before the date the tax bill upon which said
charge appears becomes delinquent. Sworn statements re-
corded in Accordance with the provisions hereof shall be
prima facie evidence that all legal formalities have been
complied with and that the work has been done properly
and satisfactorily, and shall be full notice to.every
person concerned that the amount of the statement, plus
interest; constitutesa charge against the property
designated or described in the statement and that the
same is due and collectible as provided by law.
SECTION.22. PENALTIES
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500)
or be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding six
(6) months or be both so fined and imprisoned. Each day such viola-
tion is committed or -permitted to continue shall constitute a sepa-
rate offense and shall be`punishable-as such hereunder.
SECTION 23. SEPARABILITY
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion
of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed
a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding
shall -not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
SECTION 24. ORDINANCES REPEALED
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the
provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 25.
The Clerk of.the County shall certify to the passage of this
Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published once in the
Coastline Dispatch after its adoption. This ordinance shall take
effect thirty (30) days from and after the date of its final adoption.
am
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of San
Juan Capistrano at its regular meeting held on the 27th day of
March, 1972, by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
3-21
COUNCILMEN: Thorpe, Bathgate, Chermak, Gammell
and Forster.
COUNCILMEN: None
COUNCILMEN: None w
Thomas A. Forster, Mayor
AT' TE�S�T,��
tyeCI rk" or the Cify
San Juan Capistrano
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE )
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO )
ss:
I, DONALD G. WEIDNER, City Clerk of the City of San Juan
Capistrano, California, hereby certify that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 190 is a true and correct copy of an ordinance
of the City Council of said City, adopted by the City Council on
the 27th day of March, 1972.
ity Cler
-7-