Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/planning-and building
Item # 27
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
August 6, 2024
TOPIC: Abatement of Dangerous and Abandoned Buildings
AGENDA TITLE
Public Hearing - Recovery of Uncollected Costs Incurred by the City Related to the Abatement of Dangerous and Abandoned Buildings (Continued from the July 16, 2024 City Council meeting)
Legal notice published in OC Reporter on July 3, 2024 and property owner notification letters mailed on same date; Notice of Continuance posted on July 17, 2024.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Adopt a resolution affirming the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Dangerous and Abandoned Building Program Report and authorize the transmittal of uncollected charges incurred by the City related to the abatement of dangerous and abandoned buildings to the office of Auditor-Controller, County of Orange.
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA CONFIRMING THE COSTS OF SECURING
AND/OR DEMOLITION OF VARIOUS STRUCTURES DECLARED TO BE PUBLIC NUISANCES; MAKING, CONFIRMING AND LEVYING ASSESSMENTS FOR SUCH COSTS; AND ORDERING SUCH COSTS TO BE RECORDED WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY RECORDER’S OFFICE
2. Determine that the proposed action does not constitute a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with section 15378(a) and (b)(5) as the adoption of this resolution authorizes an administrative action and will not result in a direct or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and there is no possibility it will have a significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, it is exempt from further CEQA review pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) and (b)(5) of the CEQA guidelines as amended.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
Dangerous and Abandoned Building Assessment
August 6, 2024
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DISCUSSION
The City’s Dangerous and Abandoned Building Program has proven to be an effective tool to abate dangerous and abandoned structures that create an attractive nuisance for children and provide harborage for illegal and nuisance activities. The abatements are accomplished by board-ups, clean-ups, and/or demolition. Property owners are given 2 to 30 days to abate the conditions or the City, through its contractors, will perform the work. The property owners are then notified of the outstanding abatement costs every 30 days until the Planning and Building Agency is reimbursed for the expenditure.
For Fiscal Year 2023-24, Code Enforcement secured abandoned buildings and assisted the Santa Ana Police Department in the City’s continued effort to address illegal activities and establishments through public nuisance abatement actions. In addition to the issuance of the Notice and Orders advising property owners of the need to address concerns on the property, pursuant to the Santa Ana Municipal Code, the Finance Agency assists the City in the recovery of costs associated with the public nuisance abatement actions by sending monthly invoices for cost recovery. The amount invoiced includes City-approved contractual services providing board-up services, security, and recovery of City staff time.
Each year, the City finds it necessary to seek legal recourse in order to recover the uncollected costs expended for abatement of dangerous buildings and against reluctant property owners. This year the outstanding charge for work performed on three individual addresses is $38,665.41. Exhibit 1 provides parcel numbers and the total assessment amount. The property owner names are provided in Exhibit 2. The most effective method of collection is to submit these charges to the office of the County Auditor-Controller in order that they may be placed as a lien on the property tax rolls. Charges must be submitted to the County of Orange.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action does not constitute a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with section 15378(a) and (b)(5). The adoption of this resolution authorizes an administrative action and will not result in a direct or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and there is no possibility it will have a significant effect on the environment, According it is exempt from further CEQA review pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) and (b)(5) of the CEQA guidelines as amended.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recovered charges will result in an estimated $38,665.41 deposited in the Special Repair and Demolition Fund (Account No.12116002-53507).
Dangerous and Abandoned Building Assessment
August 6, 2024
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4 1
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Parcel Assessment Amount
2. Property Owner Listing
3. DABS Resolution
Submitted By: Minh Thai, Executive Director of Planning and Building Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager