Council directs rewrite of proposed nuisance ordinance after detailed debate on parking, notice periods and enforcement

Mayor (presiding): The Morris City Council on Nov. 10 opened a detailed review of Ordinance No. 129, a rewrite of the city's public nuisance code, and directed staff to prepare a revised draft for a first reading at the next regular meeting.

The ordinance aims to consolidate and clarify existing nuisance definitions while giving the city clearer enforcement tools. Becca, the city manager, said the draft retains many current definitions and adds enforcement options "to give the ordinance some teeth" while preserving existing protections. Council members questioned how the draft defines "refuse" and how it applies on corner lots and boulevards.

Council discussion zeroed in on several practical points: proposed time limits and setbacks for stored items (proposed 48-hour limits and a 100-foot setback from streets for certain nonpermanent structures), whether to cap outside parking at four vehicles per lawful dwelling or to allow exceptions tied to licensed drivers, and whether multiple notice periods throughout the draft should be standardized to 15 days. One council member said the 4-vehicle limit "feels right" for many single-family homes but acknowledged that rental properties and large households close to the university may need exceptions.

Staff recommended refining language to exclude temporary stormwater pooling by focusing on "untreated stagnant water" and suggested a modest change to hearing-request windows (moving short 72-hour windows to a 5-calendar-day standard). On several items (including a block of provisions identified as Subdivision 4 and related items J and M), staff and several council members agreed that the topics are already addressed elsewhere in city code and recommended striking or folding them into existing sections.

Public commenters linked their remarks to the ordinance. Mary Elizabeth Bazansa, a resident, urged stronger enforcement of sidewalk snow and ice removal and asked the council to prohibit sump pumps that discharge onto sidewalks, saying, "Sidewalks should be cleared." Annette Watson, another resident, asked the council to restore public comments earlier in the agenda and urged the council to focus the ordinance on the concrete problems that need enforcement rather than starting from an overly broad model.

The council voted to direct the city attorney to make the discussed edits and prepare Ordinance No. 129 in final form so it is ready for a first reading at the council's next meeting. The motion passed by voice vote.

What comes next: staff will incorporate the timing, definition, and scope changes discussed on Nov. 10, return a revised draft in meeting-ready form, and the council will consider a first reading at a subsequent meeting.