Sec. 741.101. - Findings, intent and purpose.

Litter along Jacksonville's streets and highways, including the State highway system, public spaces, public rights-of-way, and waterways, mars the beauty of the City. The citizens of Jacksonville desire to live in a community that is surrounded continuously by a maximum of beauty, and have demonstrated a commitment through citizen initiatives to conserving and protecting the scenic beauty of Jacksonville, including the prohibition of billboards and the establishment of minimum standards for tree conservation, protection and mitigation during development. The citizens of Jacksonville believe that their City should be a model for beauty that is not surpassed by any city in America. A Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. Study released in 2002 recommended that a zero-tolerance policy be implemented, and that a master plan integrate three types of litter-reduction activities: (1) Prevention of litter through enhanced public-information campaigns, improved waste-collection services, and sufficient provision of waste receptacles in public areas; (2) Effective enforcement of all laws and statutes that support the zero-tolerance litter policy; and (3) Clean-up of litter that remains despite efforts to prevent it and to enforce against it. Jacksonville must have a zero-tolerance policy for litter that is meaningful and that will be visibly apparent at all times. It should ensure that the streets, highways, public spaces, rights-of-way, and waterways shall be litter-free to the maximum extent feasibly possible. The minimum standards set forth in this Chapter for establishing a zero-tolerance for litter are desirable environmental goals that will advance the quality of life for Duval County and its residents. The intent and purpose of this Chapter, consistent with the foregoing findings, is to establish the standards set forth in this article as minimum standards for Duval County so as to promote the health, safety and welfare of the current and future residents of Duval County. (Ord. 2004-909-E, § 1)