HomeMy WebLinkAbout57-Community Development
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EQUEST ~ JR COUNCIL ACTION
CITY OF SAN SER'" ..RDINO
From:
Kenneth J. Henierson, Director
Subject:
IOVI-mDME TAX/LIEN/FEE
EXEMPTIONS
Dept: Connmmity Development
Date: December 28, 1989
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
None.
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Recommended motion:
RECEIVE AND FIlE STAFF .KIiliJKl' ON I.CM-INa::.ME FEE, TAX AND LIEN EXEMPI'IONS AND
PROVIDE STAFF roLICY DIRECl'ION, AS APP.ROPRIATE.
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Ken Hen:ierson
Contact person:
Phone:
5065
Supporting data attached:
MeIlPrarrlu!n to Mayor
Ward:
1-7
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount: N/A
Source: (Acct. No.) N/A
(Acct. Description)
N/A
Finance:
Council Notes:
Aejenda Item No. -~ 7
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C I T ~ 0 F SAN B ERN A R D ~ N 0
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
8912-1315
TO: Mayor Holcomb
FROM: Kenneth J. Henderson
Director of Community Development
SUBJECT: LOW INCOME TAX/LIEN/FEE EXEMPTIONS
DATE: December 28, 1989
COPIES: City Administrator; City Clerk; Director of
Finance; Director of Public Services; Director of
Public Works; Director of Planning and Building
Services; File
-------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor, on Friday, the City Clerk and the Directors of Public
Services, Finance, Public Works, Planning and Building
Services and Community Development met to discuss the above
referenced subject. Set forth below, please find our recom-
mendations. After receiving your concurrence, we will place
a related item on the Common Council agenda.
1. city-Wide Assessment District (street Liahtina: Street
SweeDina)
An exemption for low income property owners can be accom-
plished by sending an exceDtion resolution to the County,
and would operate similar to the homeowner's exemption
program. This resolution would list properties that would
not be assessed. Property owners would apply for the
exemption during the month of April of any year.
2. utility Users' Tax
This exemption would remain the same, except for the
income levels discussed in prior meetings. We are recom-
mending $12,000 for a family of one (1) and $15,000 for a
family of two (2) or more as the maximum annual income
which would qualify a family for this and other exemp-
tions. These income levels would apply to all other
programs and activities.
3. Code Enforcement Liens
The Director of Planning and Building Services has indi-
cated the department can go forward with exempting low
income and physically disabled property owners from any
liens which might be imposed as a result of code enforce-
ment activity, once Council grants the authority to do so.
This exemption would also include senior citizen property
owners living alone and who are unable to properly main-
tain their properties. The Director will be coming
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INTEROFFICE MEMO. .NDUM: 8912-1315
LOW INCOME TAX/LIEN/FEE EXEMPTIONS
December 28, 1989
Page 2
forward with a request that would grant him authority to
exempt qualified owner-occupied occupants.
4. Refuse Rates
We recommend no changes to refuse rates and no exemptions
for low income property owners. The city's refuse rates
compare very favorably to those of surrounding cities.
Additionally, it is also recommended that the Refuse Fund
reserve be built up so future rate increases can be
absorbed in whole or in part by the fund reserve.
It should be noted that, with the exception of the utility
users' tax, the above recommendations would only exempt low
income owner-occupants. Low income tenants would not qualify
for the proposed exemptions. If owners of rental properties
could qualify for various fee or lien exemptions by virtue of
the fact they rent to low income tenants, there would be no
incentive for the owner of record to adequately maintain the
property. In addition, it is strongly recommended that an
exemption system rather than a rebate system be maintained
for the activities described above. An exemption system is
significantly more cost efficient to operate than a rebate
system. Moreover, an argument can be made that anyone who
can pay the utility users' tax or a street lighting/sweeping
assessment on a continuous basis may not necessarily be
unduly impacted by such taxes or assessments.
I, and the individuals copied in this memorandum, are avail-
able to further discuss these issues at your convenience.
Development
KJH/lab