BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
In 1990, the California State Legislature enacted legislation allowing for the creation of county-based vehicle service authorities to address the proliferation of nonoperative vehicles stored on public or private property, pursuant to the provisions of Vehicle Code Section 22710. Lawmakers also adopted provisions (CVC 9250.7) establishing an annual $1.00 fee imposed on vehicles registered in a county where a service authority had been established. In June 1994, the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority was formed.
The current 24 entities which comprise the Service Authority are: the County of Riverside, and the Cities of Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Hemet, Indio, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Riverside, San Jacinto, and Temecula.
Vehicle registration fees are collected by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and distributed to the corresponding service authority by the State Controller's Office.
Fees are then allocated quarterly to participating local jurisdictions based on the size and population of each jurisdiction in relation to the total size and population of Riverside County, and on the percentage of vehicles abated by each jurisdiction in relation to the total vehicles abated by the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Service Authority as a whole.
The City of Cathedral City is an active participant in Riverside County’s Abandoned Vehicle Service Authority. Since its inception the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority has disbursed over $22,900,000 to participating jurisdictions to offset costs in the abatement of over 146,500 abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or nonoperative vehicles.
For fiscal years 2019 to 2022, the City received over $223,000 in disbursements from the Riverside County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority for Code Compliance’s efforts in abating abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or nonoperative vehicles within the City. This revenue helped reduce the overall impact on the City’s general fund.
The current service authority program is scheduled to sunset on May 31, 2024. Senate Bill 106 (SB 106), chaptered on August 13, 2001, allows local agencies to extend the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority program every 10 years with the approval of the county and a majority of the jurisdictions comprising a majority of the population of the incorporated areas of the County.
This will be the fourth extension of the Authority since its inception in 1994; having been previously extended in 1998, 2002, and 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Failure to extend the Service Authority will result in the termination of the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program. The City would no longer be eligible for cost reimbursements for the abatement of nonoperative vehicle cases which would result in the reduction of approximately $56,000 in annual program revenues.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action will further Goal A – Embracing, Inclusive Community.
Objective – Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity, has an abundance of high quality and affordable housing options and vibrant businesses. Our neighborhoods are attractive, well-maintained, and issues surrounding homelessness have been compassionately addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative programs.
F-16 – Implement a code compliance program that proactively identifies and responds to code compliance complaints.