Item 7.1: Assessment of Delinquent
Sewer Service Charges as
Liens on Parcels and Placement on
Property Tax Bills
C I T Y C O U N C I L P U B L I C H E A R I N G
M AY 2 8 , 2 0 2 4
J I M M Y VA S Q U E Z , R E V E N U E M A N A G E R , F I N A N C E D E PA R T M E N T
A D R I A N D E L RIO , A S S I S TA N T D I R E C TO R , F I N A N C E D E PA R T M E N T
Sewer Service Background
Per CVMC Section 13.14.110, the owner or occupant of any parcel which is connected to the City’s sewer system shall pay the required fees for sewer services.
Collections & Lien Process
CVMC Section 13.14.150 outlines payment obligations, billing cycles, proper noticing, penalties for delinquency and the lien process.
Our comprehensive approach is highlighted by:
◦ Several touchpoints and thorough noticing to customers ◦ Dedicated customer support
◦ Third-party validation of parcel and account data
◦ Legal review of noticing and communication
◦ Translated notices
◦ Payment plan options and grant programs
◦ Collection timeline spanning over 90 days in delinquency
Lien Process Timeline
SERVICE
PERIODS
FIRST PAST-
DUE NOTICE
SECOND
PAST-DUE
NOTICE
FINAL PAST-
DUE NOTICE
PUBLIC
HEARING
NOTICE
MAILED
PUBLIC
HEARING
NOTICE
PUBLISHED
PUBLIC
HEARING
(Last day to
accept
payment)
LIEN
RECORDING
PLACEMENT
ON
PROPERTY
TAX ROLL
Service periods are split into three cycles to
correlate with Sweetwater Authority’s billing.
A. Jul - Aug ‘23
B. Sep - Oct ’23
C. Nov - Dec ’23
A. Oct 18 ‘23
B. Dec 20 ‘23
C. Feb 14
A. Nov 15 ‘23
B. Jan 17
C. Mar 13
A. Dec 18 ‘23
B. Feb 19
C. Apr 15
May 9 May 17 May 28 May 29 Aug 9
Customer Service and Program Impact
Successful resolution of lien-eligible accounts in this cycle:
o 4,649 accounts received a First Past Due Notice for service periods from Jul 2023 – Dec 2023 o 3,787 of those accounts got current on their bills subject to lien o 183 accounts were placed on payment plans
o $1.38M in A/R has been paid since First Past Due Notices were mailed o $555K in previously applied debt-relief, grant money for lien-eligible accounts o $509K in previously written-off receivables for lien-eligible accounts The County Treasurer-Tax Collector has successfully collected $246,000 out of $271,000 in delinquent charges placed on property tax rolls from in August 2023.
Recommended
Action
Staff is submitting 153 delinquent sewer accounts valued at $62,487 on the lien list to City Council.
Staff recommends City Council
conduct the public hearing and
adopt a resolution assessing certain
delinquent sewer service charges as
recorded liens upon the respective
parcels of land and placement of
those charges on the next regular
property tax bill for collection by the
County Treasurer-Tax Collector.