A. The director of building safety is authorized to request removal of any illegal, nonconforming or abandoned permanent signs as defined by this chapter.
B. Before requesting the removal of a nonconforming or abandoned, permanent sign, the director of building safety shall give written notice to the sign permittee, if any, and the owner of the premises on which such sign is located. The notice shall state the reasons and grounds for removal, specifying the deficiencies or defects in such sign with reasonable definiteness, and the violation charges. Such notice shall specify what repairs, if any, will make such an installation conform to the requirements of this chapter and specify that the sign must be removed or made to conform with the provisions of this chapter within the notice period provided herein. Service of notice may be made personally on the permittee and the property owner, or by certified mail addressed to the owner or permittee at the address specified in the permit or at such address as the owner or permittee may have given notice or at the address shown on the property tax rolls for the county. The owner/permittee shall be given thirty days to remove the nonconforming, abandoned or illegal signs unless the sign constitutes a health or safety hazard, in which case the owner/permittee shall complete removal within five days. The actual cost and expense (to include court costs and attorney fees) of any such removal shall be paid by the permittee and the owner of the premises on which the sign is located, jointly and severally, and any action for recovery thereof may be brought by the city attorney upon proper certification by the director of building safety. The city shall have a lien on the property upon which the sign or structure is located, which shall be perfected and foreclosed in the same manner as other municipal liens. (Ord. 1848-2006 § 2(part), 2006: Ord. 1340-88 § 2(part), 1988).