HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06.i
February 18, 2020 Item No.
RESOLUTION CALLING PUBLIC HEARING ON 2020 SPRING UNPAID
SPECIAL CHARGES
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution Calling Public
Hearing on 2020 Spring Unpaid Special Charges
Overview
Staff requests that the City Council call a public hearing to be conducted on April 6, 2020 for 2020
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, false alarms 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 paper.
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 April 6, 2020 until December 31, 2021. For delinquent utilities, the certification process
affects about 1% of the Lakeville utility customers.
Primary Issues to Consider
• Is certification process 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 80% of the delinquent utility accounts 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 2020 SPRING 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
WHEREAS, Title 8 Chapter 5 Subsection 4 of the Lakeville City Code authorizes the City
to collect unpaid emergency service charges (false alarms) that remain unpaid for 30 days
after the notice of delinquency is sent; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Lakeville:
1. A public hearing shall be held on the 6th day of April 2020 at the Lakeville
Council Chambers, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, at 6:30 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 charges list not less than two (2) weeks prior to the
hearing.
ADOPTED this 18th day of February 2020 by the City Council of the City of
Lakeville
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
By: ________________________________
Douglas P. Anderson
ATTEST:
________________________________
Charlene Friedges, City Clerk