Libby City Council proposes amendments to municipal code in three ordinances

Kristin Smith, Libby City Council Ordinance Committee chair, introduced three ordinances proposing amendments to various sections of city code at the council's Sept. 4 meeting.

Ordinance 1927 seeks to amend Chapter 8.08.010, “Accumulation of Trash and Junk Prohibited,” to conform with state law and county ordinances. It proposes adding language stating that permanently registered vehicles can be considered junk vehicles if they meet the criteria set forth in the code.

Ordinance 1928 seeks to amend Chapter 9.52.010, “Public Areas after Hours,” both to “account for fluctuating daylight hours throughout the year” and to add a violation for the act of loitering the code prohibits. Whereas current code prohibits loitering between 9 p.m. and sunrise the following day, the ordinance seeks to change that to “during the hours of darkness.”

In addition, whereas current code does not make loitering a municipal infraction, the ordinance proposes doing so, subject to a fine of not more than $300 for a first infraction and not more than $500 for a second infraction.

Ordinance 1929 seeks to amend Chapter 5.04, “Business Licenses and Regulations,” “to clarify and streamline administrative procedures related to processing business licenses” and “to remove codified fees and instead adopt and amend various fees by resolution.”

The proposed changes include removing designated fees and removing the requirement for the City Council to hear and vote on business license renewals.

The City of Libby's municipal code can be viewed online at https://library.municode.com/mt/libby/codes/code_of_ordinances.