HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-21-2016 Item 09 Resolution Authorizing the Collectin of Delinquent Code Enforcement FinesMeeting Date: 6/21/2016
FROM: Michael Codron, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Teresa L. Purrington, Code Enforcement Supervisor
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT
CODE ENFORCEMENT FINES
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the collection of delinquent code enforcement fines by the San
Luis Obispo County Auditor by means of special assessments on the secured property tax role.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Building & Safety Division enforces building, housing, zoning, stormwater and property
maintenance provisions contained in the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code through its Code
Enforcement and Neighborhood Wellness programs. When violations are confirmed, a Notice of
Violation is issued to the property owner describing the violation(s) and providing a time period
for correction. This is preceded by an effort to contact the property owner to discuss the
violation(s) and obtain voluntary compliance.
When the initial Notice of Violation is not effective in gaining compliance, an Administrative
Citation may be issued pursuant to SLOMC Chapter 1.24. Fines associated with Administrative
Citations range from $50, $100, and $200 per violation for the first, second and third citations,
respectively, issued for property maintenance related violations. For other violations of the
Municipal Code the fines are $100, $200, and $500 for the first, second and third citations,
respectively. Each day a violation exists is considered a separate and distinct violation;
therefore, fines may be assessed on a daily basis for continuing violations beyond the third
citation or in very delinquent or serious cases (SLOMC 1.24.050 D).
Collection of Delinquent Fines
Code Enforcement Administrative Citation fines are issued to property owners who fail to
correct violations within a reasonable time period after issued a Notice of Violation. The
property owner is afforded the right to appeal the Administrative Citation.
Unpaid fines become delinquent after sixty (60) days. Pursuant to SLOMC Section 1.24.150,
Government Code sections 53069.4, and 38773.5, unpaid fines may be collected by a special
assessment (Attachment A). Special assessments require certification of the amount of the fines
by the City Council. The recommended Resolution (Attachment B) authorizes the San Luis
Obispo County Auditor to assess the amounts due on delinquent fines as special tax assessments
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against the properties listed.
A list of the outstanding fines for each property is attached hereto as Attachment C. Each
property owner has been sent a Notice of Proposed Special Assessment 10 days prior to the
hearing, which notifies them of the time and date of the Council Meeting when the assessment is
to be considered and providing them an opportunity to pay the delinquent fines prior to the
hearing.
The Community Development Department utilized extensive cross-checking with our tracking
spreadsheet and Energov payment and billing records to identify the fines that are outstanding.
Each case was then reviewed for accuracy, proper notice and service, and the completion of any
appeal submitted prior to inclusion in the resolution.
CONCURRENCES
This process is consistent with the procedure prescribed by Municipal Code Section 1.24.150.
FISCAL IMPACT
Projected revenue from the collection of delinquent fines by the County Auditor for Fiscal Year
2016-17 is expected to be $13,300.
ALTERNATIVES
Do not adopt the resolution and continue to forward unpaid fines to a collection agency. This is
not recommended as it typically does not result in fines being paid in an amount to cover the
fine, but more importantly placing liens does have the potential effect of causing the correction
of persistent violations as owners typically will want the lien cleared and pay the fines in
addition to addressing the violation.
Attachments:
a - SLOMC1.24.150
b - Resolution Collection of Delinquent Code Enf Fines
c - List of Properties - Attachment to Resolution
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1.24.150 Collection of unpaid fines.
A. City Remedies. The city, at its discretion, may pursue any and all legal, equitable, and
administrative remedies for the collection of unpaid civil administrative fines. A civil administrative
fine shall be deemed unpaid the day after the due date set by the administrative citation, or if
appealed, the day after the due date set by the hearing officer or applicable board in its decision. If
the decision of the hearing officer or applicable board is appealed to, or petition for writ filed with,
the superior court, the civil administrative fine shall be deemed unpaid the day after the due date
set by the superior court. If the superior court upholds the administrative citation, but fails to set a
due date, the fine shall be deemed unpaid on the eleventh day after the superior court decision is
mailed.
1.Remedies Cumulative. Pursuit of one remedy does not preclude the pursuit of any other
remedies.
2.Refusal to Issue Permits. A city department may refuse to accept an application for a city
permit or license or refuse to issue, extend, or renew to any person who has unpaid delinquent
fines, liens, or assessments any city permit, license, or other city approval pertaining to the
property that is the subject of unpaid delinquent fines, liens or assessments.
3.Suspension of Issued Permits. Notwithstanding any other provision of the code, any permit,
license, or any type of land use approval issued by the city to a person who has unpaid
administrative citations totaling five hundred dollars or more which remain delinquent for thirty
days or longer may be suspended by the department which issued the permit or other
entitlement. The suspension becomes effective ten days after the date the notice of the
suspension is placed by the issuing department in the United States mail postage prepaid,
addressed to the person, and continues until the administrative delinquency is paid in full. The
person may request an appeal or review hearing pursuant to the specific permit, license, or
other city approval procedures or ordinance if such a request is filed before the ten-day period
ends.
4.Criminal Remedies. The city attorney, at his or her discretion, may also issue a criminal
citation or complaint (infraction or misdemeanor) to any person for a code violation.
B. Violations Constitute a Public Nuisance. The director may pursue the remedies described in this
section whether or not the city is pursuing any other action to terminate an ongoing code violation
that was the basis for an administrative citation or to otherwise abate the violation or sanction the
property owner. To compel code compliance, the city may also seek to collect assessed fines by
means of a nuisance abatement lien or special assessment against the property where a property
related violation occurred in accordance with the procedures in Government Code Sections 38773.1
and 38773.5.
The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1628, passed February 16, 2016.
San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 1.24.150 Collection of unpaid fines.Page 1 of 2
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C. Lien Conditions . To recov er any delinquent administrative fines as a lien or special as ses sment
on real property , the following conditions must be met:
1. The direc tor must submit to and rec eive approval from the city c ounc il for a res olution
c ertify ing the amounts of the liens and spec ial as sess ments sought to be collec ted from each
property owner; and
2. The total amount of the delinquent fine agains t the property owner must be delinquent for
s ix ty day s or more.
D. Lien Collec tions . The direc tor is authorized to take any steps necessary to enforce collec tion of
the lien or s pecial ass essment, including but not limited to the following:
1. Request the c ounty rec order to record a notice of any lien or s pecial ass essment certified
by res olution of the c ity c ounc il.
2. Request the c ounty tax c ollector on behalf of the city to c ollect any special asses sments
c ertified by resolution of the city c ounc il.
E. Notice of Lien Collection Procedures. All adminis trativ e c itations s hall c ontain a notice that
unpaid fines are s ubjec t to the ass essment and lien collection proc edures of this c hapter. This
notice s hall s atis fy the notic e requirements of Government Code Sec tions 38773.1 and 38773.5
when an administrative citation is serv ed on the person. In addition, the direc tor s hall by firs t c lass
mail send notice to eac h property owner at leas t ten days before the city council c onsiders the
resolution to certify the amounts of the liens and spec ial as sess ments stating the date, time, and
location of the meeting. The lien or s pecial ass essment s hall be imposed on the date the
administrative citation for the code v iolation is is sued to the res ponsible person and s hall become
effective upon the rec ording of a notice of lien or special assessment by the c ounty rec order.
F. Contesting Certification of a Lien. A pers on may c ontest the amount or the validity of any lien or
special as ses sment for a c iv il fine at the public hearing when the city council c ons iders the
resolution to certify the liens or as s ess ments. Such c ontests shall be limited to the issue of the
amount or validity of the lien or assessment and may not consider whether the underlying code
violation occurred. Pursuit of suc h a contes t by a pers on is nec ess ary to ex haust the administrative
remedies concerning a legal challenge to the validity of any s uch lien or special asses sment. (Ord.
1625 § 1 (part), 2015)
The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1628, passed February 16, 2016.
San Luis Obispo Muni cipal Code 1.24.150 Collection of unpaid fines.Page 2 of 2
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2016 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTY AUDITOR TO ASSESS AMOUNTS DUE ON DELINQUENT
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES AS SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AGAINST
THE PROPERTIES PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT
CODE SECTION 53069.4(a)
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 53069.4(a) authorizes the City to adopt an
ordinance that governs the imposition, enforcement, collection and administrative review of
administrative fines arising out of violations of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 53069.4(a), the City adopted
Chapter 1.24 of the Municipal Code, which has been subsequently amended; and
WHEREAS, Section 1.24.150 of the Municipal Code provides that the City may request
that the County Assessor collect, on behalf of the City, any administrative fines which are more
than 60 days delinquent, and which are certified by the City Council as special assessments; and
WHEREAS, The City Council of San Luis Obispo finds that all of the fine amounts for
the referenced properties listed below are at least 60 days delinquent; and
WHEREAS, the property owners responsible for the violations were notified of the
violations and received citations and were subsequently notified in writing by a notice mailed
June 10, 2016 pursuant to Section 1.24.150 (E) of the Municipal Code of this hearing and their
right to contest the assessment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of San Luis Obispo as
follows:
Section 1. Recitals. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by this
reference as the findings of the City Council.
Section 2. Action. The City of San Luis Obispo hereby authorizes the San Luis Obispo County
Auditor to assess the amounts due on delinquent accounts as special assessments against the
properties listed on the Exhibit A, pursuant to California Government Code 54988, et seq.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2016.
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Resolution No. _____ (2016 Series) Page 2
____________________________________
Mayor Jan Marx
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Lee Price, MMC
Interim City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
____________________________________
Lee Price, MMC
Interim City Clerk
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Attachment to Resolution No. ______ (2016 Series)
List of Properties
Name of Property Owner Assessor's
Parcel #
Property Address Amount Citation #
Jane Gilmore 004-762-025 1010 San Carlos $50.00 00002823
Jane Gilmore 004-762-025 1010 San Carlos $100.00 00003471
Shaffer Gregory A Family Trust 001-063-006 1651 Hillcrest Pl $100.00 00003947
Shaffer Gregory A Family Trust 001-063-006 1651 Hillcrest Pl $200.00 00003947
Holloman John D Revocable Trust 001-171-010 500 Mountain View $400.00 00004509
Walter E & Louise Sullivan 004-622-007 1127 Seaward $100.00 00004805
Walter E & Louise Sullivan 004-622-007 1127 Seaward $100.00 00004972
Sloca LLC A Ca LLC 052-322-011 299 Albert $100.00 00003255
Sloca LLC A Ca LLC 052-322-011 299 Albert $200.00 00003883
Sloca LLC A Ca LLC 052-322-011 299 Albert $400.00 00004195
Richard Wise Revocable Trust 002-333-017 1301 Monterey $100.00 00003586
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $100.00 00003930
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $200.00 00004106
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $50.00 00004107
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $400.00 00004288
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $400.00 00004405
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $400.00 00004558
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $400.00 00004693
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $200.00 00004947
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $50.00 00005068
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $100.00 00005069
Amelia Sinclair 052-093-021 117 Longview $200.00 00005070
Christopher Nielsen 052-092-017 1274 Bond $50.00 00003611
Edward G &Christine L Bauer 052-322-007 253 Albert $100.00 00003457
Holdgrafer & Sager A Ptp 001-114-022 1186 Olive $100.00 00004915
Holdgrafer & Sager A Ptp 001-114-022 1186 Olive $100.00 00005048
Holdgrafer & Sager A Ptp 001-114-022 1186 Olive $200.00 00005049
James Schalich, Schalich Family 2005
Trust
052-072-007 301 Hathway $50.00 00004944
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $200.00 00004138
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $400.00 00004249
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $800.00 00004375
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $800.00 00004742
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $800.00 00004847
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $800.00 00004985
Jerry Burch 004-782-058 2505 Johnson $800.00 00005119
Kuznetsov Vladimir & Tsia 1997 Family
Trust
052-224-027 316 Leroy $100.00 00005223
Marie Dias 052-237-010 474 Henderson $100.00 00004262
Marie Dias 052-237-010 474 Henderson $100.00 00004374
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Resolution No. ______ (2016 Series) Page 2
Marie Dias 052-237-010 474 Henderson $100.00 00004386
Marie Dias 052-237-010 474 Henderson $200.00 00004546
Marie Dias 052-237-010 474 Henderson $200.00 00004673
Mark Morrison 052-321-007 1503 Slack $200.00 00003725
Mark Morrison 052-321-007 1503 Slack $200.00 00003837
Mark Morrison 052-321-007 1503 Slack St $50.00 00001608
Mark Morrison 052-321-007 1503 Slack St $100.00 00001614
Marlin D & Cynthia A Vix 052-201-001 306 Hathway $200.00 00004136
Marlin D & Cynthia A Vix 052-201-001 306 Hathway $50.00 00004168
Phi Sigma Zeta House Corp Of Lambda
Chi Alpha Phi Sigma Zeta House Corp
052-071-011 1292 Foothill Blvd $50.00 00002952
Robert Kassis 052-351-035 120 Del Norte $100.00 00003497
Robert Kassis 052-351-035 120 Del Norte $200.00 00003680
Robert Kassis 052-351-035 120 Del Norte $100.00 00003349
Roy Fedotoff 003-687-052 2031 Sierra Way $200.00 00004917
SLO JPT II LLC A Ca LLC 052-351-008 125 Foothill Blvd $50.00 00001856
SLOCA LLC A CA LLC 052-203-012 1223 Stafford St $50.00 00001798
SLOCA LLC A CA LLC 052-202-026 1228 Stafford $100.00 00003168
Spade Family Trust/ Johnson Jeffrey S 052-231-008 430 Grand Ave $200.00 00005255
Steven R & Marilee Headen 052-072-005 281 Hathway $200.00 00004012
Traver Karen E Trust 004-041-022 1527 Oceanaire $200.00 00001927
Wayne Garcia Jr 004-552-004 3598 Cedar $50.00 00002785
Wayne Garcia Jr 004-552-004 3598 Cedar $100.00 00002944
Wayne Garcia Jr 004-552-004 3598 Cedar $200.00 00003143
Wayne Garcia Jr 004-552-004 3598 Cedar $200.00 00003342
Wayne Garcia Jr 004-552-004 3598 Cedar $50.00 00003343
Weipert Donn & Eileen Living Trust 052-201-003 322 Hathway $100.00 00004137
$13300.00 Total
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