17.62.130 Enforcement.
Nothing contained herein shall preclude the issuance of citations for violations of this ordinance, either prior to, concurrently with, or after action is commenced to declare a sign to be unlawful or to remove an unlawful sign.
A. General Provisions.
1. Any sign which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter or other applicable provision of this code is subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.03 MMC (General Provisions).
2. When a sign is removed, altered, and/or stored under these enforcement provisions, removal and storage costs may be collected against the sign owner and the person responsible for the placement of the sign. The city council shall establish the fees for removal and storage of signs, and for other associated fees, by resolution, from time to time.
B. Any sign installed or placed in the public right-of-way or on city-owned real property, except in conformance with the requirements of this chapter or other applicable provisions of this code, may be removed by the planning director or his/her designee as follows:
1. Immediate confiscation without prior notice to the owner of the sign.
2. If the city can ascertain contact information for the owner of the sign or for any person or business responsible therefore, the city shall contact that person or business and advise that:
a. The sign was found in a location that the city believes to be a public right-of-way or city-owned property;
b. That no permit was issued for the placement of the sign in that location, and that the sign is not otherwise lawfully permitted to be in that location; and
c. That the city has confiscated the sign and shall destroy it after 30 days from the time notice was sent to the person or business responsible for the sign, unless either:
i. The sign is claimed and the removal and notice costs are reimbursed to the city in full, or
ii. A request for hearing is submitted by the person or business responsible for the sign to the planning department.
3. If notification is not possible, the city shall store the sign for 30 days from date of confiscation. The sign shall then be destroyed.
4. The city shall continue to store the sign for any additional period during which an appeal or review thereon is before the municipal court.
C. Signs found to be erected or maintained on private property in violation of the provisions of this chapter or other applicable provisions of this code are subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.03 MMC (General Provisions).