SR-8-C (87)CA:f:~atty\muni\strpts\mjm~infract.sr
City Council Meeting 8-8-95
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Attorney
:i
~~
_ .
Santa Manica, California
AUG D 8 1995
SUBJECT: Qrdinance Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Sections
3.20.020, 4.48.270~ 4.12.140, 5.08.300, 6.48.08~, and
7.48.020 to Make Violations of these Sectians
Chargeable as Either Infractions or Misdemeanors and
Amending Municipal Code Sections 1.08.010 and 4.12.17U
to Clarify that Municipal Cade Vi~lations are
Misdemeanors Unless the Code Provides Otherwise
Intr~duction
At its meeting on June 13, 1995, the City Cauncil directed the City
Attorney to prepare an ardinance amending various sections of the
Municipal Cade ta make violatians af these Sections punishable
either as infractions ar misdemeanors. The suggestion for this
ardinance original~y came from the Presiding Judge of the 5anta
Monica Superiar Court who fElt that by making some violations of
the Municipal Code chargeahle either as infractions vr
misdemeanors, valuable court time and resources could be saved.
The accompanying ardinance is being presented to the City Council
for its cansideration.
Discussion
The Santa Monica Municipal Code makes all v~.olations of the Code
misdemeanors, punishable by imprisonment in the caunty jail not
exceeding six months ar by fine not axceeding $1,000.00, or both,
unless otherwise specified. SMMC Section 1.08.010. Persons
1 ~
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charged ~,rith misdemeanars have a right to a jury trial, ~rhich takes
at least one day, and usually closer to three days, to try. The
City Council has requested that certain Municipal Code violations
be treated as "wobblers" (vio~ations which can be punishable either
as infractions or misdemeanors), to make more efficient use of
court time, to provide the City~s prosecutors with the flexibility
necessary to more effectively prosecute thea.r casas, and to help
insure that the justice system operates as fairly and efficiently
as possible.
The accompanying ordinance amends the Municipal Code so that
violation of the follawing Cade Sections may be punishable either
as infracta.ons or misdemeanors: Section 3.20.020 (failing to
obtain a bike licensej; Sectian 4.08.270 (using a leafblawer);
Section 4.12.~4Q (violating restrictions on construction,
maintenance or repair of buildings); Section 5.08.300 (removing
items from a refuse container); Sectian 5.48.080 (parking a cab in
an undesignated area); and Section 7.48.02~ (littering in pub].ic
places).
5pecifically, the accompanying ordinance amends each of the above
l~.sted Sections by adding a paragraph to each one which states that
a violation af the Section is punishable either as an infraction or
misdemeanor.
In order to make clear that violations af the above-noted Municipal
Code Sections may be prosecuted as either misd~maanars or
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infractians, and to make the Code internally consistent, it is
advisable to amend two other provisions of the Code. Therefore,
the accompanying ordinance amends Municipal Code Section 1.08.010,
to provid~ that violations of the Municipal Code are misdemeanors
unless atherwise noted, and Municipal Code Section 4.12.170, to
provide that vialatians of Chapter 4.12 are misdemeanors unless
Qtherwise provided.
Conclusion
It as recommended that the accompanying ordinance be ~ntroduced for
first reading.
PREPARED BY: Marsha Jones Mautrie, City Attorney
Claudia Thompson, Legal Admin. Staff Asst.
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F:~atty~muni~laws\mjm\infract2.ord
City Council Meetinq 8-8-95 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER
(City Counci.l Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUI+iCIL OF THE
CITY ~F SANTA MONICA AMENDING SANTA MONICA MUNICTPAL C~DE
SECTIONS 3.2a.020, 4.08.274, 4.12.14D, 5.08.300, 6.48.D80, AND
7.48.D20 TO MAKE V~OLATIONS OF THESE SECTIONS CHARGEABLE EITHER
AS INFRACTIDNS OR MISDEMEANORS AND AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE
SECTIDNS 1.08.U1D AND 4.12.170 TO CLARIFY
THAT MUNTCIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS ARE MISDEMEANORS
UNLESS TH~ CODE PROVIDES OTHERWISE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY DF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTIaN l. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.20.020 is
amended to read as follows:
3.20.020. License application.
Any persan desiring to operate or use a
bicycle upon any af the streets of the City
shall app],y tharefor to the City Clerk or
bicycle retai~er (autharized agent] who shali
record the name and address af the owner
thereof and a description of said bicycle.
The City Clerk or authorized agent shall issue
the license requested upon paymEnt by the
applicant of the fee herein required. Said
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license when issued shali entitle the licensee
to operate said bicycle for which said license
has been issued upon all the streets,
exclusive of the sidewalks thereof or
elsewhere prohibited in the City.
:s:.': P~~r~~n w i ~1 ~ ~'. n; ~.:: : :: ~Sc~;:t i~~i ~.t• ~ ] :
b•~ ~a:;tr cf t~i, :i::~wc~_o:,, ~~'_c^ :=r~t,1 ~ !•,
~,..~i~::.~t,lc~ ty ~ firi~ .:ct ca.c:~c~a:ct~ '1'~0 lE...:c.r::ci
. _ -_ _- ' . - - : :~. _ . _; . •.. . _: :.--~ :: ~.
wF: : ~iy : ~~: :1 bc: ~,..:~'..:;:_~c=c- b, ~~ '. nr ::~~t
ex::reiin~ U:.r':ttca.i.;.~t~~ ~)c~tat~ (:],ui2~:.U~.~ E:rr
. ~ V~ iJ L ~~i:. ~ ~ii RJ~ a:°tJr i..d~i~~~ii~~~l* ~ n t:l~ ~.'."j~~.'i {, }e
~~:~'.1 ic~: ~ ~:c~ric:u r.c,~ c•x: ~ ~=~a ~i:g =:ix t•::~nt!~~~ ~r
l:y ~;: ~:: ~~cr t' i r~s~ an:~ i: •~~~ i~~r~r~•~rt .
SECTION 2. Santa Monica Municipal Cade Section 4.08.270 is
a~nended to read as follows:
4.os.27o. R@St~1G~lOAS on leafblo~er
operation.
No parson shall operate any motorized
leafblower within the City.
.,:::: pr~r .-c~~ v i cs1 j ~_r~~; rh i:, ,;c•c:t s or~ s.*~.~ ~.
~e ;~~_ ltj cf uri _~t:G.•ti7n, ;~.i3.n .=~~~1. t~=
~~~.~i:,t:~bie k,y a~ ir c_ r:at c:xc:_ed i n•~ '1',~3 iIun~r~~~
Fi Ft~ .]c~la~:r~ ~~~~]4~.c,;~) , or ~~ -ia:.lc:: c~nc~.
wr,l~n :•~::~ ! k:e E~u~i~r:.yr.:c~ ~}• a t i:.e• ~c:t
2
~x~ee~in~ Qne .~~:..:;::~~*.~.a ~.~? 1 :: ~- {Yl,i~~~..~[:] gcr
~ iol.e ~ ion, e~r ~y i m~:r i~.un ~e~r.r. i~i th~ C:~ :.~t;.
.J{a:] Fnr r; pnrlo;.~ :~;~t €+xc:rt~.1=~; ~:x -~:+ni't:~,, cr
~~~ bL7::. ~.:C::~ I' Illi~ ,].:ti1 11P:1+_' ;:r71i.'~211i .
SECTION 3. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.12.140 is
amended to read as follows:
~.12,14G. &e~trictions on constructian,
maiateaance or repair of buildinqs.
(a) Na person shall engage in any
construction activity during the fallawing
times anywhere in the City:
(1) Before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00
p.m. ~n Monday thraugh Friday, except that
construction activities cQnducted by employees
af the City of Santa Manica or public
utilities shall not accur before 7:00 a.m. or
after 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday;
(2) Befare 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00
p.m, on Saturday;
(3) All day on Sunday;
(~4 ) All day on New Years Day,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Veterans Day. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas
Day, as those days have been established by
the United States af America.
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(b} The naise level created by
construction activity shall not exceed the
alZowable exterior noise equivalent level
specified in Section 4.12.050(a} of this
Chapter~ as applicable for the Noise Zane
where the activity occurs, plus 10 dBA, except
as set forth in subsection (c) of this
Section.
(c) Prior to the issuanc~ of a building
permit, all develapment projects located
within 500 feet of any residential development
or other noise sensitive land uses must submit
a list of equipment and activities required
during construction. In particular, this list
shali include the fallowing:
{1} Construction equipment ta be
used, such as pile drivers, jack hammers,
pavement breakers or similar equipment;
(2) Constructian activities such as
24 hour pumping, excavation or demolition.
If it is determined that construction
noise will exceed 90 dBA at a distance of 50
feet or greater, the use Qf the equipment
which produces such noise will be limited to
between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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(d) A permit may be issued authorizing
construction activity during the times
prohibited by this Section whenever it is
found to be in the public interest. The person
obtaining the permit shall provide
notification to persons occupying property
within a perimeter of five hundred (500) feet
of the site of the proposad constructian
activity prior to commencing wark pursuant ta
the permit. The form of the notification shall
be approved by the City and contain procedures
for the submission of comments prior to the
approval of the permit. Applications for such
permit shall be in writing, shall be
accampanied by an application fee in the
amount of twenty-five Dollars ($25.00}, and
sha11 set forth in detail facts showing that
the publi.c interest wi.ll be served by the
issuance of such permit. Applications shall be
made to the Building Officer; provided,
however, with respect ta work upon or
involving the use of a public str~et, alley,
building or other public place under the
jurisdiction af the ^c :~.~ u~ ~~~ . ~c~.~
~.n~: Lrc::ri~~t~ I ,~nsl ~~.~1:: ~~,: ri~:~ ~:: *7 ~nt3;cu~rnr
Department, applications shall be made to the
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Director of ~~-~~ :~ ~~~ ~~~.... i r.•~ ; rc:n,:.[!T:i 9] .~r~
. ~;.: __ ~ _ :~ M-. • _ -•~~- . No permit shall be
issued unless the application is first
approved by the Director of ~~::~~ u~ ~c~ : ~~.~.~
~rl+'lI"~:T::'C'1:~c]. c311G E~.ii7~:~, ti:~:iC~-:'s }~]~1r7C~C~'.Cflt, the
Building Officer, the Chief of Police and the
City Manager. The fees pravided for in this
Section may be revised from time to time by
resalutian of the City Council.
(e) Na permit is required to perform
emergency work necessary to restore property
to a safe condition fallawing a public
calamity ar work required to protect persons
or prQperty from an imminent exposure to
danger or hazards.
(f) For purposes of this Section,
"construction activity" includes:
(1) The operation of any tool,
machine or equipment including, but not
limited to, vehicles and helicopters being
used by contractors or subcontractors and
their employees to carry out any work for
which a building permit is required;
(2) Performing any canstruction,
maintenance ar repair work on buildings or
structures;
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(3) Any painting using motorized
equipment or any painting that is part of the
construction activity for which a building
permit has been issued;
(4) The caminq and going of any
vehicles bringing construction equipmant,
materials or supp~ies ta the site of the
construction activity or the staging of such
vehicles on any public streets;
(5) The coming and going of any
food services vehicles providing food services
to persons working at a site of canstruction
activity.
1 Cj ) ~fl~ pe:'SsCi~ v 1 t~ ~::. . I.C~ t~: .:: 'iC~C:`~., C`C:
:;:~~.1 : l~c c~Li lt} c+f ,a:: in~,•~c:t ic,ii~ w;,.~.~i =.°• :l i
t:~ ~.::-tii~:F~~:,le bY a :' i^^. nc~r rx~~•r_cii:~g Iwc
il,~..~rL,: lir~y I]:~Il.~r:; r~i,~..J~,), or ~
l: 1:,~[~: C+"+1c71' ~ 1ii:1 : C:}: ~'~'I.: _ 1 :u: 1]l.;l I r:~l 1 t:=C ~~ es
f i~:~ nc~ exce~_c. i::r~ c.rc L~ :~:a:.~~n~ Jcl ],;:-::
(Si, UJ3. ~J~ ~~r V1~]1<]t1O17~ cr b~ i u~r'tscrtirhn~
~~~ r~c CWa:~=r ~all far a~:er.ca ::~~t ~x::ceuir~~
~:ik rcn~t;~. or bt t.a~:~ ~ur.!: : ine -~n;~
i•~~~ ~~:.•rirc~:r~t. l.ac::: ~.,~:~ ,•c~:•::a~ :,f~ 31 1. kr;
s~'.i .~~' jl C)! 8 ~iG'~1c: F ~ ~C [; {. E'T;::t i C3C CciC:tl ~:14+
e~~~c~ry ci :y u~r~n^: ~3Rj' ~s.~rt ian oF ~:.ich t~n;r
1L"a:le~t'.~::: .^.~ ~:]]:~ :;te::.:[,11 i~: ~.':rl~lCittC?•:,
7
c~.nr_ , n,~c~:i ~ or ~~nr:i i ttrr~ t,~ .;uch ~~: f. ~n ~;r~::
_. :: _ ~i ~.....?:~r-~ '-- -.. . . . _. .: _..~..~. . '.
t~~ pr.113 ~ t l n~; ::~;x•c in pro: ~-9~ ~, a:r. c:r.+i~! i ~'_o:i
c~~.:.::c:i c+r ~~c~~: :ttc.~ `.s ~~x:.•t in •~i:~lR~ti~::~ r,i
~:hr ~ rovi~ ic:.~ o~ ~:~ `_ _ ;~ret ~:~: ~::• ~ 11 l.:c .~cc-~ ci
re ~-:ul: t i c: ~.;'. f:.:: .:c• .-t:~ n::; ksr~ ~ Ys~ tF. i:~ [•~ -_ ,
;9L1'. .~ ~ : ~ ~f t'! [3r'l~L~{~ ~::3 :iJe... ~ =1':[7 E:e.C.'1 [~e'3~f :i.aC'rl
con,~: ~: c~ co:~t i n~es; ~f: ~ 1: ~~ rec~~.rd~d a_ ~3 nr~.
.~n.9 _;.~;:at t.;t~ c}ffen:.~•.
SECTION 4. Santa Monica Municipal Code Sectian 5.08.300 is
amended to read as fol].ows:
5.D8.300. Interference xith colleaticn.
Na person unauthorized by the City ar by
the awner af a refuse container shall remove
any refuse container ar any refuse p~aced in
said container ar bundled for collection by
the City. All such refuse piaced for
collection by City emp].oyees shall be the
property of the City of Santa Monica.
r~:.~+ ~~~~ ~or~ ~ ioi ~~ ~ 9 nr~ tf~ ~:; ~.c:~t ton :.:ti:~ i.
tit- g:.. tty ~f ~.~ a-~f'_.:c:ttan. whlt:l~ f~hal_ k.~
pur~i;;t:ak,l~ b} a f i r~ i:c~~ cx~r.~a i~:.~ :~:~[u;.a: ~~d
I'l.ti' .]n] lar:: (a2~~.:i~; , ~r a ~is:.i~~et:r~c~~ ,
kf:ic:h ~;hi] 1 I.c ~.~~:.i:;t.ubir~ ky a Tt~~~ ::e~t
c x.:~~c:~: . r•~ c~r.c~ '.'r.c:•.~ .::ia _.o I 1:ir~~ : ~ 1 ~ .ra'.~ . [a~.; ,~: r
8
vi:~lat'or., ar ~y _:-~::~W:~:~c:~~ in t::C C3i1l:~}.
.la.l ic~ a~~e~ris~d :~c~ ~xc:a-~.i~r::~ ::ix n~r.nt~:.;, c~r
tiy ~ath :.st::~ t: ne~ ?~1~: . ~IE.r i.:an;n~- r.r .
SECTTON 5. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 6.48.080 is
amended to read as fol~ows:
6.48.080. Parkinq of vehicles.
No driver shall permit any vehicle for
hire to stand while awaiting employment at any
place other than a stand designated by the
Parking and Traffic Engineer and assigned to
the owner of said vehicle.
No vehicle shall be left unattended in a
stand for a period of time longer than three
minutes.
Stands may be occupied for a periad of
twenty-faur hours a day except where standing,
stopping, and parking are otherwise prohibited
by law.
r~fll' ~;c~rron v~;~J~3tir.y `.,~~~: :~c-:t~cn ~::.i~i
b~~ cL~i :~ - o~ an t:.:rac~_c:~, w~l::€•r~ ::h:~' t l••c~
~ r
E:uni::,~ ~~~e k,7 s~ `:r:c ~~~~ c+xrec~;.i~n+~ 'a~;c~ Et~»r:rc:d
~'i: t5~ ..;~ i : :r ~ {; 2~U. ~3ci; , c.r .3 . '_~~r~:~<<ir1:~_•,
;~.~ ~c~~ ._r•, ~ 1 ~c ~,un ~~;;, ~:: ~ c r~} ~~ . 1~?E' ,,~: _
~xcce-~~n~ 4:~e !: ;~~:;s.r~d i~a~].~r: (il , ;;:r~. Jc)} ~,r.F-
~: i c~: r.~ i^w, o~ ~~r ..t~r ~.~_ri -r~+~4 ~ n rF:e c:c::::~-;•
9
.Ji~± l!'OC ~ p[:: aC[~ rc.` Ex;~C!-cll!~c] . lX ~~:llt}1~, .~[
~]]f ~3.^.~ :: r'`+1~~`f i~ 11'1C A f::~ ~"t::" . a:~~l.'~~~':~:.
SECTION 6. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 7.48.024 is
amended to read as fallows:
7.48.020. Litter in publia places.
Na persan shall throw or deposit litter
in or upon any street, alley, parkway,
sidewalk or other public place within the City
~xcept in public receptacles or in authorized
private receptacles for collection.
.1^~ pc~r~ an :~~~~'.~: n~ th i:; ac €:t ic~ti f;l: ~ 1 1
:.e qu i! t;• ~t an `_ r.: r~c ~_c~ ~. ~:t i:•,~ ;.Ti~ ]~ :.c+.
~74a:1]:a::7i:it kJ}~ r] f]l:t' i:b~ ~XC:•`r,:~;';;~f '~LrO 1~;:':.^~CC't.~
: ~ - ~ • - -- ' • . ~ .::. _ • . . . . .. . -C - . .
;~~:.~::. ~h.sll :~e ~_..:i:~:: ~::1~ t~} a t ]r~' :~c:l'
~iCC:CC::~ Lil~~ C.I1C 'I~:;31:::~~Iid i]~. ~ i'. ~~ ( y 1, ui:[?. ,~€)} E~ r
vic],~*::::~, o; by i-;Pri_.en.:c:*~L .n the [:c~nty.
Jr's: ~ f0~' e? }7E?!~~C];j :1:7t t~Xi:['C'~;l::as : l!F T:ontfr=:~ L;r
}ay ~c.th s..c:: t ane :~nci ~~•~+r ~ scn:~ar,~ .
SECTION 7. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 1.08.010 is
amended to read as follaws:
1.08.010. Yiolatians, a misdemeanor.
It shall be unlawful for any person to
violate any provision, or to fail to comply
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with any of the requirements of this Cade.
Any person violating any of the provisions or
failing to comply with any of the mandatary
requirements of this Code, shall be guilty af
a misdemeanor, ~;::1 c~:a :,t,~t~r ~a ; ~c ~: a~r~~i~.~ . Any
pers~n convicted of a misdemeanor under the
provisions of this Code, shall be punishable
by a fine of not more than $500.00, or by
imprisonment in the City or County Jail for a
period not exceeding six months, or by both
such fine and imprisanment. Each such persan
shall be guilty of a separate offense for each
and every day during any portion of which any
violation of any provision of this Code is
committed, continued, or permitted by such
person and shall be punishabl~ accordingly.
In addition to the penalties hereinabove
provided, any cQndition caused or permitted to
exist in violation of any of the provisions af
this Code shall be deemed a public nuisance
and may be, by this City, su~nmarily abated as
such, and each day such candition continues
shall be regarded as a new and separate
offense.
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SECTION S. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.12.170 is
amended ta read as f~llows;
4.12.170. Criminal remedies.
Any p~rson vialating any of the
provisions of this Ghapter shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemean-~: , t::~ l~:-.; c~::r~rx• i•.~•
~~;-c~•~~ , ric .i ~ and upan canviction thereof shal~ be
fined in an amount not to exceed $500 or be
impris~ned in the City Jail far a periad nat
to exceed 5 months or by both such €ine and
imprisonment. Each day such ~iolatian is
cammitted or permitted to continue shall
constitute a separate affense and shall be
punishable as such.
SECTION 9. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code
or appendices thereto inconsistent with the pravisions of this
Ordinance, to the extent of such incansistencies and no further, is
hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect the
provisions af this ordinanee.
SECTION 10. If any sectian, subsection, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be ~nvalid or
unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
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declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and
every section, subsection, sentence, clause, ar phrase nat declared
in~a~id ar unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or
~nconstitutional,
SECTION 11. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall
attest to the passage of this Ordinance. Th~ City Clerk shall
cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper
within 15 days aft~r its adaption. This Ordinance shall become
effective 30 days from its adaption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~ 1~ I ~
~~~ ~
M'ARSHA JOI~S M4UTRIE
City Attorney
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