(a) It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of any developed and utilized lot or open area to keep the weeds on such developed and utilized lot or open area cut to a height of not more than eight inches.

(b) It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of any undeveloped lot or open area to keep the weeds on that portion of such undeveloped lot or open area property located within 200 feet of any developed area, dedicated street, or existing thoroughfare cut to a height of not more than 12 inches.

(c) It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of any lot or open area to keep the weeds on any portion of the City's right-of-way located between the property line of such lot or open area and the curb face, flow line, or edge of the pavement of any public street to a height of not more than those limitations imposed by this section.

(d) Where weeds exceed the height limitations imposed by this section, the owner or occupant responsible for cutting such weeds shall cut them to a height of six inches or less.

(e) The requirements of subsection (c) of this section shall not apply where the city manager or the manager's designee has notified the owner or occupant in writing that the city has assumed responsibility for maintaining the City's right-of-way.

(f) For purposes of this section, the term "developed and utilized" shall refer to any lot or open area where there is any type of structure, excluding signs, whether partial or complete, or any preliminary grading or excavation. A lot/open area shall not be considered developed and utilized solely because of the preparation, approval, and recordation of a plat; the installation of streets; or the installation of utility lines.

(g) In the event that algae or any vegetation that creates a slick surface for pedestrians grows on the surface of the sidewalk abutting the owner's property, it shall be the duty of the owner or occupant to maintain the sidewalk so that it is free from such hazard, but does not negatively impact the storm drainage system. nothing in this subsection is either intended or should be construed as imposing any duty or obligation on the part of the adjacent property owner to perform any repairs or reconstruction to a sidewalk beyond what is required to eliminate the hazard caused by ice, algae or other vegetation creating a slick surface. (Code 1979, § 40-54; Ord. No. 2013-54, § 3, 11-25-2013)