Vegetation - Laserfiche WebLink

New Search

interoffice M E M O R A N D U M to: Terry Grondona cc: Sandi Thompson, Miriam Chapman, Scott Plamondon, from: Kevin Foerstler Vegetation Abatement Billing - Policy Change date: January 11, 1996 Terry, last week we had a request for information from an attorney regarding a Vegetation Abatement which had occurred on 09/12/88 on a developed parcel at 880 W 17th Avenue. I told him that my records only went back to 1991. He says that if we don't have proof that we sent the property owner a notification prior to the abatement, as required for developed property, then we would have to withdraw the lien which was filed due to non - payment. He may have a valid point. My understanding was that Vegetation Program records were required to be kept for 2 years, based on an inquiry I had made a couple of years ago on the subject. I checked again with the City Recorder's office and learned that these records need to be kept for two years or until final payment. Thus, if a lien is placed on a property due to non - payment, these records need to be kept until the lien is satisfied. I have a solution to prevent this situation from occurring with future abatements. When I send the billing invoice for an abatement to Finance, I also will include copies of notification letters and abatement postings that pertain to the abatement. Then if a lien is placed on the property as a result of the abatement, Finance will have a compete file of documentation for the abatement. This will allow us to provide proof of the required property owner notification for the life of the lien. Individual property owner notification is not required for undeveloped property during the summer mowing season, as provided by code section 6.815. However, when courtesy notification is given to a property owner, for undeveloped property abatement, copies will be included with the invoice to strengthen our case. I have already talked with Sandi about this change in my invoicing policy. I have computer files with abatement records dating back to the 1991 season. I asked her to get a list together of outstanding Vegetation liens back through 1991. I will then research the property owner notification information so that we can attach this information to the lien records so that we have complete documentation.