Fountain Valley Ca Ordinances

An ordinance regulating the use of leaf blowers was passed by the City Council this week in response to ongoing complaints regarding noise and dust created by the machines. Use of the machines, which blow leaves and debris off lawns and sidewalks, is restricted to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Use of leaf blowers on Sunday is prohibited.

The Legislature recognized the City Council and praised Councilman Chuck Conlosh, who proposed a city ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor for stores to sell more than three packages of products containing ephedrine in a single transaction. Ephedrine is a central nervous system stimulant and decongestant that is structurally similar to amphetamine.

Moving to protect the slumber of citizens, the City Council has banned overnight truck traffic near residential areas. The penalty for violation of the new ordinance is a fine of $1,000 or six months in jail or both. Approved unanimously Tuesday, the ordinance forbids deliveries by trucks within 100 feet of residential areas between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and at any time on Sundays and holidays. The prohibition includes driving, stopping, idling or parking trucks.

The City Council on Tuesday agreed to delay its vote on Hyundai's sign permit until Oct. 5. City Atty. Alan Burns had asked for the delay to research the sign code and ensure that the proposed 576-square-foot sign would comply with the law, which does not permit billboards. Keith Duckworth, vice president for Hyundai Motor America, agreed to the delay.

The City Council has approved amending ordinances dealing with conduct on streets. The amendment updates and clarifies several old ordinances so they comply with current federal and state laws, said City Atty. Alan Burns. The changes make it illegal for anyone to obstruct free passage in public street or to sell merchandise on any major or secondary highway.

The City Council on Tuesday agreed to delay its vote on Hyundai's sign permit until Oct. 5. City Atty. Alan Burns had asked for the delay to research the sign code and ensure that the proposed 576-square-foot sign would comply with the law, which does not permit billboards. Keith Duckworth, vice president for Hyundai Motor America, agreed to the delay.

Following through on an earlier decision to pass along savings to residents, the City Council has voted to reduce monthly trash pickup rates. Residential costs will fall 46 cents a month, to $16, administrative assistant Susan Lynn said. The new rates went into effect Tuesday and will remain in effect for at least 14 months unless there is a change in the dumping fees trash haulers are charged to use the county landfill.

The number of bus shelters will double in the city, and neither liquor nor tobacco advertisements will be allowed on them, under new contracts signed by the city. The contracts also allow city officials to review advertisements and to remove any they consider objectionable. Metro Display Advertising Inc. of Irvine and Eller Media Co. of Orange, which each have 15 shelters in the city, each will build 15 more.

Adults-only businesses that want to operate in Fountain Valley will have to pay fees to offset the city's cost to administer and enforce a recently adopted law regulating where and how they operate. The City Council this week adopted fees for adult businesses and their employees. Fountain Valley has no adult businesses, such as topless bars and adult video and novelty shops, and no applications are pending, city officials said.

Responding to a request from a group of high school students, the City Council on Tuesday passed an ordinance that would require cigarette vending machines to be at least 20 feet from the doorways of businesses. The statute would go a step further than a state law that took effect Jan. 1. "It was an eye-opener to me that these machines were accessible" to young people, Councilman John Collins said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC) City Set for Signs Fountain Valley begins a drive to recycle plastics into signs welcoming visitors to the city. Where the signs will be erected: