Campbell considers law to prohibit yard debris on streets

By EMMALEE C. TORISK

etorisk@vindy.com

CAMPBELL

After recently spending about $150,000 to clean debris from the city’s catch basins, city officials aren’t eager to shell out more money to do so anytime in the near future — especially if they can prevent, or at least delay, the need to do so.

Consequently, city council unanimously approved first reading Wednesday night of a change to the city’s codified ordinances to prohibit putting grass, weeds and other materials into city streets.

The proposed ordinance states that “no person or entity shall cause or allow mowed grass, weeds, hay, straw, leaves, shrubbery or any other object to be blown, swept, raked or deposited into city streets.”

The measure will get second reading at the next meeting, May 21. Three separate readings are required for passage.

Some members of council initially took issue with the proposed language, calling it too vague, but eventually agreed that its ambiguity lends discretion to those who handle and enforce it: the zoning inspector and Campbell Police Department.

“It’s a start,” said Council President George Levendis. “We have nothing on the books, and we can tweak it as we go along.”

Also up for a second reading May 21 is the tentative three-year contract between the city and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 42, which would be effective from March 1 of this year through Sept. 30, 2017.

City officials said they want to finalize the contract before releasing details about it.