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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06.c August 19, 2019 Item No. RESOLUTION CALLING PUBLIC HEARING ON UNPAID SPECIAL CHARGES Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution Calling Public Hearing on Unpaid Special Charges. Overview Staff requests that the City Council call a public hearing to be conducted on October 7, 2019 for 2019 Unpaid Special Charges. These charges include costs and charges incurred by the City for mowing of grass, removal of weeds, property maintenance on nuisance properties and unpaid utility bills. In order to recover the unpaid special charges, the City must follow State Statute procedures. Those procedures provide that the City must adopt a resolution declaring the unpaid special charges to be assessed and establish a date for the assessment hearing for those charges. Public notice of the hearing will be mailed to customers and published in the legal newspaper. Delinquent utilities In addition to certifying the amount delinquent, the City also collects a $35 service charge to cover the cost of certification and interest at a rate of 18% per annum of the amount delinquent for the period of October 1, 2019 until December 31, 2020. The certification process affects about 8% of the Lakeville utility customers. Nuisance Abatement The affected parcels will each be assessed the actual contractual cost incurred, re-inspection fees, a $90 administrative fee to cover the cost of the assessment, and interest at a rate of 18% per annum of the amount delinquent for the period October 1, 2019 until December 31, 2020. Primary Issues to Consider • Is certification the most efficient method of collecting delinquent accounts? In the staff’s opinion, certification is the least labor-intensive method of collecting delinquent accounts. It is also the process least likely to foster ill will amongst customers. Supporting Information • Approximately 40% of the delinquent utility customers will pay their balances in full prior to the public hearing. A final list of the accounts to be certified will be provided to the City Council at the public hearing. Financial Impact: $ Budgeted: Y☐ N☒ Source: Related Documents: (CIP, ERP, etc.): Envision Lakeville Community Values: Good Value for Public Services Report Completed by: Julie Werner, Assistant Finance Director/Daryl Morey, Planning Director CITY OF LAKEVILLE RESOLUTION NO.______ RESOLUTION CALLING PUBLIC HEARING ON UNPAID SPECIAL CHARGES WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. 444.075, Subd. 3 authorizes the City to certify unpaid sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer charges (“utility charges”) to the County Auditor- Treasurer for collection with taxes; and WHEREAS, Minn. Stat, 429.101 authorizes the City to special assess unpaid streetlight charges, and weed elimination from streets or private property (“special charges”); and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Lakeville: 1. A public hearing shall be held on the 7th day of October 2019 at the Lakeville Council Chambers, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, at 7:00 p.m. to consider certifying unpaid utility charges to the County Auditor-Treasurer for collection with taxes and assessment of special charges. 2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause a notice of the hearing to be published once in the official newspaper at least two (2) weeks prior to the hearing. The City Clerk shall also cause mailed notice to be given to the owner of each parcel described in the unpaid utility charge list not less than two (2) weeks prior to the hearing. ADOPTED this 19th day of August 2019 by the City Council of the City of Lakeville. CITY OF LAKEVILLE By: ________________________________ Douglas P. Anderson ATTEST: ________________________________ Charlene Friedges, City Clerk