March 3, 2026
Finance Department
DATE: March 3, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Emily Combs, Director of Finance
Mubeen Qader, Deputy Director of Finance
Antonio Banuelos, Accounting Manager
Subject:
Special Assessment for Unpaid Garbage Liens
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City will receive $1,015,055.24 when the balance of the liens are paid, of which $965,690.24 will be remitted to Republic Services, and $49,365.00 in administrative
fees will be retained by the City (Account String:
01917090-341502).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff is requesting City Council approval of liens and special assessments for unpaid garbage collection
service fees to be placed on the County property tax
records.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution authorizing placement of liens and
special assessments for unpaid garbage collection
service fees on Contra Costa County’s property tax
records – Finance Department (Emily Combs/Mubeen
Qader 510-620-6740/Antonio Banuelos 510-620-6741).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 3, 2026
DISCUSSION:
Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 9.20 entitled “Solid Wastes” requires that property owners have garbage collection services and pay for those services.
Richmond property owners are notified in writing of their obligation to pay for garbage collection services. Property owners who are five (5) months delinquent in their payments receive a final notification of their outstanding debt and a date for an administrative hearing (Attachment 1). The administrative hearings are held quarterly and attended by staff from both Republic Services and the City of Richmond’s Finance Department. If the fees remain unpaid, a lien is placed on the property in the amount of the unpaid garbage collection fees plus associated City administrative fees (Attachment 2).
City staff is requesting that the City Council adopt a resolution that authorizes liens and special assessments for unpaid garbage collection services fees to be placed on Contra Costa County’s property tax records (Attachment 3). Garbage collection fees are remitted to Republic Services on a yearly basis, after collection of the property taxes. Administrative fees are retained by the City.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Letter from Republic Services
Attachment 2 – Garbage Lien Resolution
Attachment 3 – (Exhibit A) Garbage Preliminary Lien List