A. Abandoned or junk vehicles, and the parts thereof, shall be abated by removal from all public and private property, not including highways, in the city and shall be disposed of in accordance with Section 22662 of the California Vehicle Code; provided, however, this chapter shall be inapplicable to: (1) a vehicle or part thereof which is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner or otherwise located on the property so as not to be visible from a public street; and (2) a vehicle or part thereof which is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a lawful junkyard, vehicle repair business or school training program; further provided, that this section shall be inapplicable to one such vehicle parked on any paved surface of any single-family residence; provided that such vehicle, except for such times as one or more persons are present and working on such vehicle, is covered by a fitted opaque cover and no vehicle parts or tools are visible.

B. The costs of administration and of removal pursuant to subsection A of this section may be recovered by special assessment against the property from which the abandoned or junk vehicle was removed. The assessment may be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary municipal taxes are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for ordinary municipal taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of municipal taxes shall be applicable to the special assessment. However, if any real property to which the cost of abatement relates has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereon, prior to the date on which the first installment of the taxes would become delinquent, then the cost of abatement shall not result in a lien against the real property but instead shall be transferred to the unsecured roll for collection. Notices or instruments relating to the abatement proceeding or special assessment shall be entitled to recordation. (Ord. 3187 § 1, 1988)