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City Clerk's Office Item # R9
Background Paper for Proposed
Ordinance
COUNCIL MEETING DATE: August 11, 2025
TO: President Mark Aliff and Members of City Council
CC: Mayor Heather Graham
VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk
FROM: Karen Willson
Code Enforcement Manager
SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4 OF TITLE VII OF THE
PUEBLO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE DESTRUCTION AND
REMOVAL OF WEEDS
SUMMARY:
Attached for consideration is an ordinance amending Section 7-4-1 and Section 7-4-2 of
the Pueblo Municipal Code to require the resident, lessee, renter, or tenant in addition to
the owner of land to cut, destroy or remove from such land all weeds in excess of ten
(10) inches in height.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
From time to time City Council has passed ordinances which amend the Pueblo
Municipal Code in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of
Pueblo.
BACKGROUND:
This Ordinance stems from the continued issues with excessive weeds growing in the
City. Historically, Code Enforcement Officers have enforced the Chapter IV of Title VII,
P.M.C. against both the owner and/or occupants of the property believing that a person
Chapter 4 of Title VII to require only the property owner of record to be responsible for
the destruction and removal of weeds. This interpretation has caused difficulties with
enforcement as property owners may or may not have access or control of a property
with a tenant occupant.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no financial implications for the City.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
Not Applicable to this Ordinance.
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
Not Applicable to this Ordinance.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose to vote no and maintain the status quo requirement that only
excess of ten (10) inches in height.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the amendment to Section 7-4-1 and 7-4-2, P.M.C.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Code Enforcement Amendment Ordinance
ORDINANCE NO. __11015_
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4 OF TITLE VII OF
THE PUEBLO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE
DESTRUCTION AND REMOVAL OF WEEDS
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: \[brackets\] indicate
matter being deleted; underscoring indicates new matter being added.
SECTION 1.
Section 7-4-1 and Section 7-4-2 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7-4-1. - Definitions.
As used in this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Weed shall mean weeds, grass, brush or other rank or noxious vegetation
and shall specifically include: bindweed (Convolvulus), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula),
Canada thistle (Cirsium Arvense), Russian knapweed (Centaurea pieris), diffuse
knapweed (Centaurea diffusa), Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), spotted
knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvense), puncture vine
(Tribulus terrestris), silverleaf poverty weed (Franseria discolor), mouse-ear poverty weed
(Iva axillaris), fanweed (Thlaspi arvense), mustard (Brassiea), purple-flowered ground-
cherry (Quincula lobata), Russian thistle (Salsola pestifer), fireweed (Kochia scoparia),
redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), sandbur (Cenchrus tribuloides), hairy
stickweed (Lappula Occidentalis), buffaloburs (Solanum rostvatum), common ragweed
(Ambrosia elatiov), cocklebur (Xanthium commurie), common sunflower (Helianthus
centicularis), dandelion (Leontodore taraxacum) or other plant or offending vegetation
which is regarded as a common nuisance. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but
rather is intended to be indicative of those types of plants which are considered noxious
and a detriment to the public health and safety, but shall not include flower gardens, plots
of shrubbery, vegetable gardens and small grain plots (wheat, barley, oats and rye).
(2) Owner shall mean the person who is the record owner, person in
possession, or person in control of any land, to include, but not limited to, tenants,
renters, lessees, and residents.
(3) Land shall mean all real property located within the jurisdictional boundaries
of the City, except natural wildlife land areas, including the river trails system along the
floodway of the Fountain and Arkansas Rivers, the Wild Horse and Dry Creek Arroyos,
and land located within two hundred (200) feet of the high-water marks of Lake Minnequa.
(4) Ownership of land shall be deemed to extend from the center of the alley
behind the lot or tract of land to and including the curb and gutter area of the street in
front or on the side of such lot or tract of land.
Sec. 7-4-2. - Destruction and removal of weeds.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of land, as defined in Sec. 7-4-1(2), to permit weeds in
excess of ten (10) inches in height to grow, lie or be located upon such land. It shall be
unlawful for the owner of land not to cut, destroy or remove from such land all weeds in
excess of ten (10) inches in height.
SECTION 2.
The officers and staff of the City are authorized to perform any and all acts
consistent with this Ordinance to implement the policies and procedures described
therein.
SECTION 3.
This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after final action by the
Mayor.
Action by City Council:
Introduced and initial adoption of Ordinance by City Council on July 28, 2025.
Final adoption of Ordinance by City Council on August 11, 2025.
President of City Council
Action by the Mayor:
Approved on .
Disapproved on based on the following objections:
_
Mayor
Action by City Council After Disapproval by the Mayor:
Council did not act to override the Mayor's veto.
Ordinance re-adopted on a vote of , on
Council action on _______
President of City Council
ATTEST
City Clerk