Title
Resolution to Transfer Delinquent Board Up, Clean Up, Vacant Property Inspection and Housing Inspection Fees to the Summer 2009 City Tax Roll
Memorandum
The Resolution before you is to approve the transfer of delinquent board up, clean up, vacant property inspection and housing inspection fees to the Summer 2009 tax roll. This is a semiannual process that provides a mechanism for the City to collect unpaid board up, clean up, vacant property inspection and housing inspection fees provided for in Chapters 101 and 105.
Prior to 1974, the City had a large amount of unpaid housing inspection fees. There was no method whereby these fees could be recovered until the next periodic inspection cycle. This resulted in the City carrying large debts for a period of up to three years. The Housing Code was amended to permit the unpaid inspection fees to be assessed against the premises consistent with the procedures of Chapter 13, Section 1:292 of City Code in Chapter 105, Section 8:511(1)(f). The code was also amended in 1999 to allow costs for emergency repairs or board-up of buildings to be collected in the same manner. This amendment was added for cases where an owner is unresponsive and the City causes the work to be done (Chapter 101, Section 8:390). Since the Code was amended, the City has taken action to transfer the delinquent fees to the tax roll on a regular basis following the prescribed procedures as indicated in the attached Resolution.
The amount to be submitted for the Summer 2009 tax roll is $229,544.65 ($252,499.12 with the 10% penalty fee of $22,954.47).
Passage of this Resolution will permit the inclusion of these fees on the June, 2009 tax roll thereby allowing the City to recover the costs for these services. Passage of this Resolution is recommended.
Staff
Prepared by: Kelli McKinnon, Community Services Financial Manager
Reviewed by: Jayne S. Miller, Community Services Administrator
Body
Whereas, There were unpaid charges for board up, clean up, vacant property inspection and housing inspections of private properties within the City as of December 31, 2008;
Whereas, In accordance with Chapter 13, Section 1:292 of the Ann Arbor City Code, a notice has been sent to all property owners with delinquent charges advising them of the impending special assessment against their property unless the fees are paid within on or before June 5, 2009; and
Whereas, The City Clerk has a list of the unpaid charges on file, a copy of which is attached and incorporated as “Schedule A”;
RESOLVED, That the unpaid charges be levied as special assessments against such owners and premises according to the attached “Schedule A” together with an additional penalty charge of 10% of the total unpaid, as provided in Chapter 13, Section 1:292 of the Ann Arbor City Code; and
RESOLVED, that the City Assessor place the charges and penalties on the next tax roll of the City, and that such charges and penalties be collected in the same manner as general City taxes.