HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd1965-343
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ORDINANCE NO. 343
AN ORDINANCE OF TH1!: CITY OF SEWARD, RELATING TO THE REGULATION,
CONTROL, SPEED A8D MOORAGE OF BOATS AND THEIR INCIDENTS WITHIN
SEWARD MUNICIPAL SMALL BOAT HARBOR7 PROVIDING FOR A HARBOR
MASTER AND PRESCRIBING THE POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING THERET07
ESTABLISHING PROVISIONS FOR RATESJ DEFINING OFFENSES7 PROVIDING
PENALTIES CONCERNED WITH OR RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF
THIS ORDINANCE7 REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES7 AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
THE CITY OF SEWARD ORDAINS:
Section 13.100 Harbor and Boat Moorage Code: This
shall constitute the "Harbor and Boat Moorage Code" of The
of Seward and be cited as such.
Section l3.l01 Exercise of Council Powers: This code shall be
deemed an exercise of the powers of the Council of The City of
Seward for the protection, safe-guarding, orderly moorage and
control of vessels, and for the protection and general welfare
of the public, and all of its provisions shall be liberally
construed for the accomplishment of that purpose.
Section 13.102 Authoritv to Board: The use of any City-owned
or operated mooring facility or waterway lying within the cor-
porate limits of The City of Seward automatically gives per-
mission to the City to board vessels for the purpose of enforcing
this and other City Ordinances, and to move said vessels as
necessity or emergency requires.
The City assumes no liability
for loss or damage to vessels, equipment, appurtenances, tackle,
provisions, mooring lines, or any gear, supplies or any article
attached or related to said vessel or for the movement thereof.
Section 13.103 Effect of Invaliditv: If any provision of this
code or the application thereof to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, the remainder of the code and the application
of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not
be affected thereby.
Section l3.l04 Existinq Ordinances Repealed: Existing
ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
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Section 13.105 Duty of Boat OWner: Every act or statement re-
qui red to be made by a vessel owner or agent of such owner shall
be made by the owner in person, or if by an agent the necessity
thereof shall be stated and shown: provided that the operator or
captain of any vessel shall, for the purposes of this ordinance,
be considered the legal agent of the owner. It shall be the duty
of the operators of all vessels using the facilities in the
Seward Municipal Small Boat Harbor to register with the Harbor
Master giving the name and owner and other information as may be
required.
Section 13.106 Moorinq Charqes: A schedule of mooring charges
shall be established by Resolution of the Seward City Council and
shall be subject to review as occasion demands.
Secti~n 13.107 Service Fees: Fees for services performed by the
Harbor Master shall be established by the City Council and shall
be subject to review as occasion demands.
Section 13.108 Liens: All fees and other approved chargag, 'W'hen
due and unpaid, shall become a lien against the boat or vessel.
ART'ICLEII
DEFINITIONS
Section 13.109 Definitions: For the purpose of this Ordinance,
the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall
have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the
context, words used in the present tense include the future,
words in the plural number include the singular number, and the
words in the singular number include the plural number. The
word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
(a) Vessel: Any boat, motor boat, ship, aircraft, when
water borne, boat house, floats, scows, rafts, pile drivers, or
any floating structure or object used for recreational, commercial
or any other purpose upon the waterways, or moored at any place
in any waterway within the boundaries of the City.
(b) Lenqth: The term length used herein shall mean the
overall length as measured from the furtherest forward portion,
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including booms, spars, gins, or any fixed protuberances to the
furtherest after portion of said vessel including boorns, spars,
gins, or any fixed protuberances.
(c) Beam:
Greatest overall width of the vessel including
booms, spars, gins, or any fixed protuberances.
(d) OPerator: Any person who is in actual physical control
of a vessel as defined herein.
(e) Waterway: Any water, waterway, lake, river, tributary
or lagoon within the boundaries of The City of Seward.
(f) Seward Harbor: All salt water or tide water lying
within the boundaries of The City of Seward.
(g) Seward Municipal Small Boat Harbor: That area of water
protected by breakwaters constructed by the federal government
and by the line of mean higher high water of the shoreline of the
areas protected by breakwaters, including docks, floats, berths,
and other mooring facilities as operated by The City of Seward.
(h) Transients: For the purpose of this act, transients
shall be considered ~o be boats not operating out of the Port of
Seward, or do not have a rented mooring.
(i) Local Boatsa Any vessel operating out of the Port of
Seward and whose owners or operators are residents of the Seward
area.
(j) Dere1ictsa Any vessel moored or otherwise located
within the boundaries of the Seward Harbor which is forsaken,
abandoned, deserted or cast away, or which by appearances gives
evidence of being forsaken, abandoned, deserted or cast away,
or which in the opinion of any recognized marine surveyor is
unsound, unseaworthy and unfit for its trade or occupation and
which by any substantial evidence of neglect may be considered
abandoned.
ARTICLE III
HARBOR MASTER
Section 13.110 Harbor Master: A Harbor Master, under the
direction of the City Manager, shall supervise and manage all
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harbor facilities operated by The City of Seward. He shall be
appointed, paid, removed and succeeded in office as other appoin-
ted officers of the city.
Section 13.l1l Enforcement of Ordinances: The Harbor Master is
charged with the duty of enforcing all of the provisions of this
Ordinance, and any rules and regulations duly adopted hereunder,
and is hereby empowered to do so. In the performance of such
duties he shall have all the powers of a Police Officer of The
city of Seward.
ARTICLE IV
PROHIBITED ACTS
Section 13.112 Restriction as to speed: It shall be unlawful
for any vessel to travel at such speed within any waterway that
there is wake, wash or wave action which will damage, endanger,
or cause undue distress to any other boat or occupant thereof
regardless of established speed limits.
section 13.113 u. S. Coast Guard Requlations: NO person shall
operate a vessel within the waterway which does not meet all
applicable requirements of the U. S. Coast Guard.
Section 13.114 Reckless Operation: No person shall operate a
vessel in a reckless manner so as to endanger, or be likely to
endanger life or property or any person or object on or in the
waterway.
Section 13.115 QPeratinq under Influence of Alcoholic Beveraqes
and Narcotics: No person shall operate a vessel in any waterway
under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic drugs or
opiates.
Section 13.116 Muffler Reauired: No person shall operate a
vessel with outboard motor or with inboard motor unless equipped
with adequate exhaust muffler. Nor shall any such person use
any siren, Whistle, horn, or other noise producing or noise
amplifying device, on a vessel, in such manner that the peace,
property and good order of the neighborhood is disturbed.
Provided, however, that nothing in this Ordinance shall be
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construed to prohibit the use of whistles, bells or horns as
signals as required by the U. S. Motor Boat Act or other federal
law, or Coast Guard regulation for the safe navigation of vessels.
Section 13.117 Tamperinq with Facilities and Appurtenances
Prohibited: No person shall tap, connect, disconnect, interfere
with any water outiet, water pipe, water connection, telephone
equipment, electrical outlet, or electrical device of any kind
in stalls maintained or operated by The City of Seward in the
Seward Harbor without first having obtained the permission of the
Harbor Master1 or to interfere with or tamper with any wharf,
flat, gang plank, ramp or any other facility operated by The
city of Seward.
No person shall write or post any written or printed matter
in any place within the Seward Harbor except upon bulletin boards
constructed for the purpose and only after having obtained per~
mission from the Harbor Master.
Signs identifying businesses or products may be erected
within the Seward Harbor upon approval of the City Council.
Section 13.118 unattended Fires Prohibited: No person shall
leave any vessel within the Seward Harbor unattended while fire
or flame is burning thereon1 any such fire or flame shall be
deemed unattended unless the owner or operator is within 100
yards of the vessel, or some person over the age of 18 years
and capable of moving the vessel is aboard or within 100 yards
of the same.
Section l3.ll9 Unattended Animals Prohibited: No owner or
person in charge of any dog or animal shall allow such dog or
animal to run at large within the Seward Harbor.
ARTICLE V
SMALL BOAT HARBOR REGULATIONS
Section 13.120 Loadinq Dock;
The loading dock in the Seward
Municipal Small Boat Harbor is open to the public1 moorage at
said dock is limited to the period of loading and unloading
operations only.
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Section 13.121 Gridiron: The Gridiron in Seward Municipal Small
Boat Harbor is open to the public on a first come--first served
basis, in accordance with a list maintained by the Harbor Master.
Gridiron rental rates shall be established by Resolution of the
City Council and shall be subject to review as occasion demands.
No person shall affix his vessel to the Gridiron or appurtenances
thereto without first having obtained permission from the Harbor
Master.
Section 13.122 Floats and Docks: All floats and docks and ramps
and approaches thereto shall be kept free and clear of any objects
or items that are not appurtenances to the floats and docks and
ramp and approaches thereto. Any such items found on the floats
and docks and ramp and approaches are subject to impoundment.
Impounded items will be released after proof of ownership and
payment of the impounding fee as established by the City Council.
Items not claimed within six (6) months after impoundment may be
sold by the City Clerk and the proceeds of such sale shall be
deposited in the Seward Municipal Small Boat Harbor Fund.
Section 13.123 Garbaqe Disposal: No person in charge of or
occupying any vessel shall dump or throw garbage, paper, bottles,
cans, refuse, or any debris or jetsam into the waters or onto
the floats of the Seward Municipal Small Boat Harbor. The
Harbor Master shall provide garbage containers of sufficient size
and number and located on the loading dock or near the loading
dock or approach ramps to the floats for collection by the
garbage contractor.
Section 13.124 Pumpinq of Bilqes Prohibited: No person shall
pump bilges containing oil or gasoline within the confines of
the Seward Municipal Small Boat Harbor.
Section 13.125 Cleanliness of Floats: Persons in charge of or
occupying any vessels shall at all times keep the floats and
premises adjacent to such vessel in a neat and orderly manner,
free from trash, refuse, garbage, repair parts, machinery,
equipment and debris of all kinds.
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Section 13.126 SpOrt Fishinq Prohibited: No person shall sports
fish fram any dock, float, ramp or any mooring facility operated
by The City of Seward.
Section 13.127 Seaplane ramp: A seaplane ramp is provided for
the non-exclusive use of transient and local aircraft without
charge. When all available ramp space is occupied, aircraft
must obtain mooring space other than on or adjacent to mooring
space provided for vessels other than aircraft.
Section 13.128 Limitations: Any vessel exceeding an overall
length or draft which as a result thereof shall endanger itself
or other property shall enter the Seward Municipal Small Boat
Harbor at the owner's riskJ the City being saved harmless in the
event such vessel is damaged by touching bottom, or floats, or
docks, or other property within the Seward Municipal Small Boat
Harbor.
Section 13.129 Float Assiqnmenta Float assignments and other
mooring spaces shall be designated by the Harbor Master, and his
decision shall be final except that appeals may be made to the
City Manager.
Section 13.130 Skiffs Tied Alonqside or Astern: No vessel
moored within the Seward Municipal Small Boat Harbor shall have
a skiff, scow, raft or any other vessel tied alongside or astern
or ahead except when actually in use for effecting repairs or
maintenance upon the vessel.
Section 13.l3l Services of Harbor Master: The Harbor Master is
hereby granted the power and authority to, fram time to time as
circumstances require, but without any obligation or duty to do
so, and without any obligation or liability on his part or that
of the City for his failure to do so, replace defective mooring
lines, attach additional mooring lines, pump vessels which are
in a dangerous condition for lack thereof, and to move any boat
for the purpose of protecting such boat from fire or other hazard
or for the protection of other vessels or property therefrom.
Whenever the Harbor Master shall perform or cause to be
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performed any of the actions hereinabove authorized or other
emergency actions, after having given notice to the boat owner
or operator at the registered address of the immediate need
therefor, or having attempted to give such notice within the time
limits prescribed by the exigencies of the situation, a fee as
established by Resolution of the City Council shall be assessed.
ARTICLE VI
REFUSAL OF MOORAGE FACILITIES
Section 13.132 Refusal: The Harbor Master may, in his discre-
tion, when the mooring facilities are crowded, refuse mooring
facilities to boat houses, floats, scows, rafts, pile drivers
and other cumbersome floating structures, or to any boat, vessel
or floating structure which is or may become or create a fire
hazard or otherwise become a menace to the safety and welfare of
other boats and their occupants. In the allocation of mooring
spaces the Harbor Master shall give preference to local boats.
ARTICLE VII
PENALTIES
Section 13.133 Violations Considered Misdemeanors: Any person
found guilty of a violation of this Ordinance shall be punished
by a fine of not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) or
30 days imprisonment: or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Section 13.134 City May Refuse Moorinq Facilities: The City
of Seward may refuse moorage facilities to violators of this
code or persons in arrears of authorized fees and charges.
Section 13.135 Effective Date: An emergency is hereby declared
to exist, and the rules governing the introduction, reading,
passage and approval of ordinances are hereby suspended, and
this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its
passage, approval, posting and publication as required by the
Ci ty Charter.
Publication of this Ordinance shall be made by posting a
copy hereof on the City Hall bulletin board and by publishing
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a notice of the place of posting and a brief statement of the
purpose of this Ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation
in the City within a reasonable time.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of The City of
Seward this 1.-1 ,a;t-day Of~ ' 1965.
Attest:
(h~d2q'~-yL,.
Beatrice E. Watts
City Clerk-Treasurer
c9~ a ~
Perry R. Stockton
Mayor
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