New Page 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS..................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 2 RIGHT OF ENTRY........................................................................... 4

CHAPTER 3 PENALTY.................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 4 PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS BY THE CITY COUNCIL............................. 7

TITLE II POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION.......................................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER 1 CITYCHARTER........................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER 2 APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS......................... 11

CHAPTER 3 CITYELECTIONS......................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER 4 POWERS AND DUTIES OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS.............................................. 15

HAPTER 5 SALARIES OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS............................................................... 26

CHAPTER 6 CITY FINANCE.......................................................................................... 27

CHAPTER 7 POLICE DEPARTMENT................................................................................. 31

CHAPTER 8 FIRE DEPARTMENT.................................................................................... 32

TITLE III COMMUNITY PROTECTION.................................................................................................................. 34

CHAPTER1 OFFENSES.............................................................................................. 34

CHAPTER 2 NUISANCES............................................................................................. 39

CHAPTER 3 TRAFFICCODE........................................................................................... 43

CHAPTER 4 CURFEW FOR MINORS................................................................................. 58

CHAPTER 5 REGULATING PEDDLERS, SOLICITORS AND TRANSIENT MERCHANTS................... 61

CHAPTER 6 CIGARETTE LICENSE................................................................................. 63

CHAPTER 7 BEER AND LIQUOR LICENSES........................................................................ 65

CHAPTER 8 JUNK AND ABANDONED VEHICLES.................................................................. 67

CHAPTER 9 LICENSING OF JUNK DEALERS....................................................................... 72

CHAPTER 10 DANCE HALLS............................................................................................. 74

CHAPTER 11 REGISTRY OF DRUG PRECURSOR SALES………………………………................................. 76

TITLE IV MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH........................................................................................................................ 77

CHAPTER 1 ANIMAL CONTROL...................................................................................... 77

TITLE V HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - EDUCATION AND CULTURE............................................... 80

CHAPTER 1 LIBRARY SERVICES..................................................................................... 80

TITLE VI PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................................ 83

CHAPTER 1 MOBILE HOME REGULATION............................................................................. 83

CHAPTER 2 UTILITIES - SANITARY SYSTEM....................................................................... 84

CHAPTER 3 UTILITIES - WATER SYSTEM........................................................................... 93

CHAPTER 4 UTILITIES - REFUSE COLLECTION..................................................................... 96

CHAPTER 5 UTILITIES - BILLING CHARGES.......................................................................... 99

CHAPTER 6 STREET CUTS AND EXCAVATIONS.................................................................... 102

CHAPTER 7 SIDEWALK REGULATIONS................................................................................ 103

CHAPTER 8 RESTRICTED RESIDENCE DISTR........................................................................ 107

CHAPTER 9 FLOOD PLAIN................................................................................................ 110

CHAPTER 10 TREES......................................................................................................... 115

CHAPTER 11 BUILDING PERMITS AND FENCE PERMITS ............................................................ 116

TITLE VII SPECIAL ORDINANCES.................................................................................................................. 117

CHAPTER 1 HAZARDOUS SPILLS....................................................................................... 117

CHAPTER 2 DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.................................................................................... 119

CHAPTER 3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.............................................................. 122

CHAPTER 4 ELECTRIC FRANCHISE...................................................................................... 125

CHAPTER 5 TELEPHONE FRANCHISE.................................................................................... 126

CHAPTER 6 CABLE FRANCHISE........................................................................................... 127

CHAPTER 7 CABLE TV REGULATIONS.................................................................................. 128

CHAPTER 8 VACATING PROPERTY..................................................................................... 134

CHAPTER 9 TELEPHONE FRANCHISE................................................................................... 135

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. "City" means the City of Oxford Junction, 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;

2. "Clerk" means City Clerk of Oxford Junction, Iowa.

3. "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;

4. "Council" means the City Council of Oxford Junction, Iowa. 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;

5. "County" means the County of Jones, Iowa;

6. "Fiscal Year" means July 1 to June 30.

7. "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;

8. "May" confers a power;

9 . "Month" means a calendar month;

10. "Must" states a requirement;

11. "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";

12. "Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or" if the sense requires it;

13. "Ordinance" means a law of the City; however, an administrative action, order or directive, may be in the form of a resolution;

14. "Owner" applied to a building or land includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or part of such building or land;

15. "Person" means natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them;

16. "Personal property" includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt;

17. "Preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively;

18. "Property" includes real and personal property;

19. "Real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments;

20. "Shall" imposes a duty;

21. "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians;

22. "State" means the State of Iowa;

23. "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;

24. "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;

25. "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;

26. “Treasurer” means Treasurer of the City of Oxford Junction.

27. "Written" includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed or multigraphed;

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 CITY POWERS. The City may, except as expressly limited by the Iowa Constitution, and if not inconsistent with the laws of the Iowa General Assembly, exercise any power and perform any function it deems appropriate to protect and preserve the rights, privileges and property of the City and of its residents, and preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort and convenience of its residents.

1-1-4 INDEMNITY. The applicant for any permit or license under this Code, by making such application, assumes and agrees to pay for all injury to and death of any person or persons whomsoever, and all loss of or damage to property whatsoever, including all costs and expenses incident thereto, however arising from or related to, directly, indirectly or remotely, the issuance of the permit or license, or the doing of anything thereunder, or the failure of such applicant, or the agents, employees or servants of such applicant, to abide by or comply with any of the provisions of this Code or the terms and conditions of such permit or license, and such applicant, by making such application, forever agrees to indemnify the City and its officers, agents and employees, and agrees to save them harmless from any and all claims, demands, lawsuits and liability whatsoever, for any loss, damage, injury or death, including all costs and expenses incident thereto, by reason of the foregoing. The provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a part of any permit or license issued under this Code or any other ordinance of the City whether expressly recited therein or not.

1-1-5 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.

1-1-6 CONSTRUCTION. The provisions of this Code and all proceeds under it are to be construed with a view to affect its objects and to promote justice.

1-1-7 AMENDMENT. All Ordinances of the City Council passed thereafter shall be in the form of an addition or amendment to the Oxford Junction Municipal Code of 2004 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)

1-1-8 ALTERING CODE. It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to change or amend by additions or deletions, any part or portion of the Code, or to insert or delete pages, or portions thereof, or to alter or tamper with the Code in any manner whatsoever which will cause the law of the City to be misrepresented thereby.

1-1‑9 SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the City Code 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.

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 2 RIGHT OF ENTRY

1-2-1 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.

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 3 PENALTY

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 Oxford Junction is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor under the Ordinances of Oxford Junction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not to exceed thirty 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 Oxford Junction 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 Oxford Junction 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 Oxford Junction.

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.

Schedule of Civil Penalties

First offense--Not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

Second Offense--Not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).

All other repeat offenses--Not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00).

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 or by certified mail, return receipt requested.

c. The original of the citation shall be sent to the Clerk of the district court.

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.

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 4 PROCEDURE FOR HEARINGS BY THE CITY COUNCIL

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 _________________ 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."

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 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

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 apeal 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 of has not read 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.

TITLE II POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 1 CITY CHARTER

2-1-1 CHARTER. This chapter may be cited as the Charter of the City of Oxford Junction, Iowa.

2‑1‑2 FORM OF GOVERNMENT. The form of government of the City of Oxford Junction, Iowa, is the Mayor‑Council form of government.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.4)

2‑1‑3 POWERS AND DUTIES. The City Council and Mayor and other City officers have such powers and shall perform such duties as are authorized or required by state law and by the Ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations of the City of Oxford Junction, Iowa.

2‑1‑4 NUMBER AND TERM OF CITY COUNCIL. The City Council consists of five City Council members elected at large, elected for terms of four years.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.4)

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 376.2)

2‑1‑5 TERM OF MAYOR. The Mayor is elected for a term of two years.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.4)

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 376.2)

2-1‑6 COPIES ON FILE. The City Clerk shall keep an official copy of the charter on file with the official records of the City Clerk, shall immediately file a copy with the Secretary of State of Iowa, and shall keep copies of the charter available at the City Clerk's office for public inspection.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.1)

TITLE II POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 2 APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF

MUNICIPAL OFFICERS

2‑2‑1 CREATION OF APPOINTIVE OFFICERS. There are hereby created by the City Council the following appointive officers: Clerk, Treasurer, Attorney, and Fire Chief.

2‑2‑2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. The Mayor shall appoint the Superintendent of Public Utilities, Superintendent of Public Works, Library Board of Trustees and Mayor pro tempore.

The City Council shall appoint the first Fire Chief of the volunteer fire department for a term of two (2) years. Future Fire Chiefs shall be elected for terms of two (2) years by the members of the volunteer Fire Department, with the approval of the City Council.

All other officers shall be appointed or selected by the City Council unless otherwise provided by law or Ordinance.

2‑2‑3 TERMS OF APPOINTIVE OFFICERS. The terms of all appointive officers that are not otherwise fixed by law or Ordinance shall be two (2) years.

2‑2‑4 VACANCIES IN OFFICES. A vacancy in an appointive office shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by a majority vote of all members of the City Council, unless filled by election in accordance with State law.

2-2-5 RESIGNATIONS. An elected officer who wishes to resign may do so by submitting a resignation in writing to the Clerk for proper recording and consideration. A person who resigns from an elective office is not eligible for appointment to the same office during the time for which the person was elected, if during that time the compensation for that office has been increased.

2-2-6 OATHS. The oath of office shall be required and administered in accordance to the following:

1. Qualify for office. Each elected or appointed officer shall qualify for office by taking the prescribed oath. The oath shall be taken after being certified as elected but not later than noon of the first day which is not a Sunday or a legal holiday, in January of the first year of the term for which the officer was elected.

2. Prescribed oath. The prescribed oath is: “I, (name), do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and that I will faithfully and impartially, to the best of my ability, discharge all duties of the office of (name of office) in Oxford Junction as now or hereafter required by law.”

3. Officers empowered to administer oaths. The following are empowered to administer oaths and to take affirmations in any matter pertaining to the business of their respective office:

a. Mayor

b. Clerk

c. Members of all boards, commissions or bodies created by law.

2‑2‑7 BONDS REQUIRED. Each municipal officer required by law or Ordinance to be bonded shall, before entering upon the duties of the office, execute to the City a good and sufficient bond, to be approved by the City Council, conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties and the proper handling and accounting for the money and property of the City in the official's charge unless the City Council shall have provided for a blanket position surety bond.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 64.13)

2‑2‑8 SURETY. Any association or corporation which makes a business of insuring the fidelity of others and which has authority to do such business within Iowa shall be accepted as surety on any of the bonds.

2‑2‑9 BLANKET POSITION BOND. The City Council shall provide for a blanket position bond to cover all officers and employees of the City, but the City Council may provide by resolution for a surety bond for any other officer or employee that the City Council deems necessary. The City shall pay the premium on any official bond.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 64.13)

2‑2‑10 BONDS FILED. All bonds when duly executed shall be filed with the Clerk, except that the Clerk's bond shall be filed with the Mayor.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 64.23)

2-2-11 CONFLICT OF INTEREST. A City officer or employee shall not have an interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, work, material or the profits thereof or services to be furnished or performed for the City, unless expressly permitted by law. A contract entered into in violation of this section is void. The provisions of this section do not apply to:

1. Compensation of officers. The payment of lawful compensation of a City officer or employee holding more than one City office or position, the holding of which is not incompatible with another public office or is not prohibited by law.

2. Investment of funds. The designation of a bank or trust company as a depository, paying agent, or for investment of funds.

3. City treasurer. An employee of a bank or trust company, who serves as Treasurer of the City.

4. Stock Interest. Contracts in which a City officer or employee has an interest solely by reason of employment, or a stock interest, or both, if the contract is for professional services not customarily awarded by competitive bid, if the remuneration of employment will not be directly affected as a result of the contract, and if the duties of employment do not directly involve the procurement or preparation of the contract.

5. Newspaper. The designation of an official newspaper.

6. Existing contracts. A contract in which a City officer or employee has an interest if the contract was made before the time the officer or employee was ele

MARCH 2004