HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 1774 (Code Enforcement)CLERK'S CERTIFICATE
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, and Ex -officio Clerk of the
Council of said City, do hereby certify that the foregoing Charter Ordinance No. 1774 entitled:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AMENDING TITLE 14
OF THE SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE (ZONING ORDINANCE)
RELATED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT (ZC 01-06)"
is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance of said City and was introduced at a REGULAR
meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on the 3`d day of December, 2001,
published as required by City Charter in the MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, a newspaper
published in the City of San Rafael, and passed and adopted as an Ordinance of said City at a
REGULAR meeting of the City Council of said City held on the 17th day of December. 2001, by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
WITNESS my hand and the official
seal of the City of San Rafael this
20th day of December, 2001
A14
V�� � (Seal)
JE- M. LEONCINI, City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO. 1774
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AMENDING TITLE 14 OF THE SAN
RAFAEL MUNCIPAL CODE (ZONING ORDINANCE) RELATED TO
CODE ENFORCEMENT
(ZC 01-06)
WHEREAS, in August of this year, the City held a Code Enforcement hearing which
involved a code violation inti red by a new property owner and during which the property
owner claimed that he was not responsible for compliance with Planning permit conditions of
approval due to notification requirements. At that time, staff discovered that the language
contained in Zoning Ordinance Section 14.29.040 "Violations" suggests that the City is
responsible for notifying all new property owners about terms and conditions of Planning permit
approvals on their newly acquired property, although other Zoning Ordinance sections
(14.21.120, 14.22.130, 14.23.110 and 14.25.140) and established case law indicate that Planning
permits run with the land and bind subsequent property owners without the need for notification
by the City; and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed current and potential notification methodologies and
determined that the existing real estate sale disclosure requirements and the City's policy for
open access to public information for all property owners are sufficient to meet notification
needs. Review of potential new notification methodologies revealed that such efforts would not
be practical or effective and the City Attorney has recommended the proposed Zoning Ordinance
text amendment; and
WHEREAS, in October 2001, the City of San Rafael initiated an amendment to the San
Rafael Zoning Ordinance (Title 14) to provide language consistent with the successful
implementation of Code Enforcement; and
Zoning Text AmendmentNiolations.'CC Ordinance
WHEREAS, the proposed Zoning Ordinance text amendment is categorically exempt
from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15305, Minor Alteration in Land Use Limitations, and the City of San Rafael
Environmental Assessment Procedures Manual under Class 5f. Zoning Ordinance text
amendments not involving proposed development plans or commitment of land use or resources
which would result in a significant environmental impact; and
WHEREAS, a notice describing the proposed amendment to the San Rafael Zoning
Ordinance was: a) published in a local newspaper of general circulation in the area; and b)
mailed to special interest groups; and
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2001, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on
the proposed Zoning Ordinance text amendments and recommended approval to the City
Council; and
WHEREAS, on December 3, 2001, the City Council held a public hearing and accepted
all oral and written public testimony and the written report of the Community Development
Department staff.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
DIVISION 1. The City Council finds the following:
1. The proposed amendment is consistent in principle with the San Rafael General Plan in
that the amendment would not be in conflict with any of the General Plan policies; and
2. The public health, safety and general welfare would be served by the proposed
amendment in that it would ensure effective code enforcement.
Zoning Text Amendment/Violations!CC Ordinance
3. The proposed Zoning Ordinance text amendment would be consistent with the San Rafael
Zoning Ordinance (Title 14). The current Ordinance contains language which suggests
that the City is responsible for notification of all Planning permit conditions of approval
prior to code enforcement actions. This language would be deleted from section
14.29.040 in order to allow the City to effectively implement the intended purpose of
Chapter 14.29 "Enforcement." Continued inclusion of the language in the text is not
practical due to the fact that the City is not involved in property transfers. Moreover, the
County does not inform cities of property transfers and;
4. Existing notification associated with property resale disclosure requirements is
sufficiently adequate to effectively alert new property owners of terms and conditions of
Planning permit approvals on their newly acquired properties. The City will continue to
research and develop alternative notification methods to augment the information
property owners receive via the resale disclosure process. The amended text would
ensure that the notification process does not hinder code enforcement and would be
consistent with the purpose of Chapter 14.29.
DIVISION 2. Chapter 14, Section 14.29.040 is amended as follows:
This section shall apply to any person, whether or not the person was the original applicant for
the permit or approval, and whether or not the person is the owner, lessee, licensee, agent or
employee.
DIVISION 3. This ordinance shall be published once in full before its final passage in a
newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of San Rafael, and shall be
in fiill force and effect thirty (30) days after its final passage.
r �
ALBERT J. BORO, Mayor
ATTEST:
JEANNE M. LEONCIh]I, City Clerk
Zoning Text AmendmentNiolations `CC Ordinance
The foregoing Ordinance No. 1774 was read and introduced at a regular meeting of the
City Council of the City of San Rafael on December 3, 2001, and was ordered passed to print by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips & Mayor Boro
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
and will come up for adoption as an Ordinance of the City of San Rafael at a regular meeting of
the Council to be held on Monday, Dec. 17 , 2001.
JEANNE M. LEONCINI, City Clerk
Zoning Text Amendment/Violations. CC Ordinance