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DATE: May 12,2025
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MICHAEL BLAY,CITY MANAGER
PREPARED BY:DAMIEN ARRULA,ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
CHRIS ALANIS, SPECIAL PROJECTS CONSULTANT
TANYA GARCIA,MANAGEMENT ANALYST
SUBJECT: CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE TRANSITION OF TRASH SERVICE
CHARGES TO THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX ROLL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the implementation of tax roll billing for City-managed utility services, specifically trash services,to improve collection efficiency,reduce administrative costs, and protect utility revenue streams.
GOAL STATEMENT
The proposed action supports the City's goal of ensuring financial sustainability of enterprise funds by streamlining billing processes and securing a consistent revenue stream for trash services.
BACKGROUND
The City of Upland currently bills customers for solid waste services through our designated trash hauler.This method requires manual account management,mailing costs,delinquency tracking,and staff time for collection activities.
A growing number of cities across California have transitioned to tax roll billing to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.Under this approach,utility charges are placed directly on the San Bernardino County property tax roll and collected as part of annual property taxes.
On February 10, 2025,the City Council approved setting a Public Hearing on May 12,2025 to place all parcel fees for Wastewater(Sewer),Solid Waste(Trash),and Storm Drain on the property tax roll for billing and authorized staff to mail notification postcards to affected property owners 45 days in advance of the public hearing.
The week of March 24,2025,postcard notices about the Public Hearing were mailed to property owners.
On April 8,2025,a presentation was provided to the Public Works Committee regarding the consideration of placing utility bills on the San Bernardino County Tax Rolls
The week of April 28,2025,an informational sheet and second public hearing notices were mailed to property owners.
On May 6, 2025, a special meeting of the Public Works Committee was held to provide additional information regarding the potential move to tax roll billing to the public.
ISSUES AND ANALYSIS
Moving to tax roll billing would allow the City to:
• Eliminate monthly invoice processing,postage,and third-party billing service fees. • Reduce staff time spent on collections,payment arrangements,and account administration. • Increase revenue certainty by leveraging the County's property tax collection system. • Avoid losses from delinquent accounts by securing charges against property.
A list of trash service charges by APN is available on the City's website at https://uplandca.gov/tax-roll-billing .
The County of San Bernardino charges an administrative processing fee which is substantially lower than the costs associated with monthly billing and collections.These minimal charges can be absorbed into existing utility budgets or passed through to users if needed.
Solid waste services, which are provided via franchise agreement with Burrtec Waste Industries, can also be incorporated into the tax roll with no additional service cost to the City.
Upland will offer an opt-out program (Direct Billing) for qualifying customers, with an application process and exclusion criteria for accounts with recurring delinquencies.
A thorough PowerPoint presentation regarding the proposed move to tax roll billing will be published to the meeting site,presented at the public hearing,and can be found on the City's website at https://uplandca.gov/tax-roll-billing .
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The proposed action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA). Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines defines a project subject to CEQA. The proposed action is not included within the definition of a"project" and thus is exempt.
FISCAL IMPACTS
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ALTERNATIVES
Provide alternative direction to staff.
CEQA:Not a Project.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
UPLAND, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE PLACEMENT OF
SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGES ON THE SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY TAX ROLL
WHEREAS, the City of Upland provides essential utility services to its residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City currently collects utility charges through direct billing to customers, which incurs administrative costs, postage, and collection inefficiencies; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 5473 et seq., the City is authorized to collect utility service charges on the County tax roll in the same manner as general taxes; and
WHEREAS, the placement of these charges on the San Bernardino County property tax roll will improve collection rates, reduce administrative overhead, and ensure long-term revenue stability for the City's utility enterprise funds; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it in the public interest to authorize the use of the property tax roll for collection of solid waste charges beginning in Fiscal Year 2025-2026; and
WHEREAS, customers will be provided with notice of this change and an option to request direct billing through an application and qualification process administered by the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council hereby finds, determines and resolves, as follows:
Section 1. The City Council hereby authorizes the placement of solid waste service charges on the San Bernardino County property tax roll for collection beginning in Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Section 2. The City Manager, or their designee, is authorized and directed to take all necessary and appropriate actions to implement this resolution, including executing agreements with the County, preparing data files, and coordinating public outreach.
Section 3. The City Council hereby affirms that this action does not constitute a new or increased property-related fee or charge subject to Proposition 218, and that all future adjustments will be made in accordance with applicable law.
Section 4. An opt-out (Direct Billing) program shall be made available to qualifying customers, subject to application, review, and approval by the City.
Section 5. Compliance with California Environmental Quality Act. The City Council finds that this Resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality
Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the State CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Further, if the activity is deemed a project this City Council finds that this Resolution is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Section 6. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
Section 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, or clause or phrase in this Resolution or any part thereof is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Resolution or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted each section irrespective of the fact that any one or more subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, or phrases are declared unconstitutional, invalid, or ineffective.
Section 8. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12TH day of May, 2025.
Bill Velto, Mayor
I, Keri Johnson, City Clerk of the City of Upland, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 12th day of May, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
ATTEST:
Keri Johnson, City Clerk
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE April 30, 2025
4:00 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING
Council Chamber
City Hall, 460 N Euclid Avenue
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
In attendance: Committee Chairperson Shannan Maust, Committee Members James Breitling and Greg Bradley, Assistant City Manager Stephen Parker, Finance Manager Staci Sullivan, and Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Rodriguez.
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
3. AGENDA ITEMS
a. MARCH 31, 2025 PORTFOLIO REVIEW
Assistant City Manager Parker presented information on the June 30, 2024 through March 31, 2025 portfolio review.
b. SALES TAX UPDATE —4TH QUARTER 2023 — 3RD QUARTER 2024 Assistant City Manager Parker presented an update on the sales tax fourth quarter 2023 and first through third quarter 2024.
c. REVIEW GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY ALLOCATIONS
Assistant City Manager Parker and Finance Manager Sullivan presented a review of the allocations designated in the General Fund Reserve Policy and provided a brief report on recommendations for any adjustments to the reserve policy.
There was discussion regarding the current use of reserve funds and recommendations to present at the City Council meeting.
Assistant City Manager Parker and Finance Manager Sullivan answered questions from the Committee regarding the use of reserve funds.
The Committee requested that the budget process policy be amended to include a requirement for the Finance Committee to first review the General Fund Reserve Policy allocations at the outset of the budgeting process, prior to consideration by the City Council.
1
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Committee members thanked staff for their work on bringing forth fiscal updates.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting is Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Ken Johnson, City Clerk
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**AGENDA**
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
4:00 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING
Council Chamber
City Hall, 460 N Euclid Avenue
Residents may observe the meeting remotely via livestream on the City website, Spectrum Cable TV Channel 3, or Frontier Cable TV Channel 26.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Citizens wishing to address the Committee on any matter that is listed or not listed on the agenda may do so at this time. Anyone wishing to address the Committee is requested to submit a speaker card to staff at or prior to speaking. The speakers are requested to keep their comments to no more than three (3) minutes.
Please note that under provisions of the Brown Act the Committee Members cannot respond to, nor take action on, items that are not listed on the agenda.
3. AGENDA ITEMS
a. MARCH 31, 2025 PORTFOLIO REVIEW
Recommended Action:
The Finance Committee receive and file the City of Upland's June 30, 2024 - March 31, 2025 Portfolio Review.
b. SALES TAX UPDATE —4TH QUARTER 2023 — 3RD QUARTER 2024 Recommended Action:
The Finance Committee receive and file the fourth quarter 2023 and first through third quarter 2024 sales tax updates prepared by HdL Companies.
c. REVIEW GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY ALLOCATIONS Recommended Action:
The Finance Committee review the allocations designated in the General Fund Reserve Policy and consider recommendations to City Council for any adjustment to the reserve policy.
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
5. ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting is Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office, 909-931-4120. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]
To access written transcription during the meeting, please click this link:
https://attend.wordly.ai/join/LVGO-0906 . Then choose language and click attend to read the transcript on your device.
On April 22, 2025 a true and correct copy of this agenda was posted at 450 N. Euclid Avenue (Upland Public Library), 460 N. Euclid Avenue (Upland City Hall), and the City website at www.uplandca.gov
The full packet for the Finance Committee meeting can be viewed on our website at:
https://www . uplandca .gov/city-council-
agendasminutes
You may also view the video of the meeting at:
https://uplandca .gov/council-meeting-
broadcasts
(choose the tab for "other archived meetings"
to locate the meeting video)
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE
May 6, 2025
5:00 p.m.
Council Chamber
City Hall, 460 N Euclid Avenue
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.
In attendance: Committee Chair Breitling, Committee Members Maust, Damrath (left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.), Floss, Ickis, Miller
Absent: Committee Member D'Braunstein
Staff in attendance: Assistant City Manager Arrula, Assistant City Manager Parker, City Clerk Johnson, Special Projects Consultant Alanis, and Environmental Compliance Program Manager deMoet.
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Chair Breitling stated that oral communications on agenda item 3a would be taken after staff presentation and at this time members of the public could comment on items not listed on the agenda.
3. AGENDA ITEMS
a. SECOND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE TRANSITION OF SEWER, STORM
DRAIN, AND SOLID WASTE BILLING TO THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
TAX ROLL
Special Projects Consultant Alanis presented the staff report along with a PowerPoint presentation.
Chair Breitling called for oral communications on this item.
Mark Walters, stated that he spoke at the prior Public Works Committee meeting and stated that he is opposed to the transfer of utility bills to the tax roll.
Special Projects Consultant Alanis and Assistant City Manager Parker responded to inquiries from the Committee concerning potential billing discrepancies, modifications to existing services or requests for additional services, rate adjustments, the transition from monthly service collection to a biannual schedule, and the proposed rate increase by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.
The Committee also discussed the outstanding balances on delinquent accounts and the progress made in transitioning utility service responsibility from tenants to property owners. Additional discussion addressed the timeline for recovering delinquent accounts, the lien process for unpaid property taxes, the financial impact of unpaid utility bills on the enterprise funds, and an opt-out program. 1
Assistant City Manager Arrula addressed prior concerns about postcard communications, noting that staff developed a more detailed mailer to enhance communication and transparency; and affirmed staffs commitment to ongoing improvements in outreach, should the City Council approve the proposed changes.
The Committee expressed general support for implementing an opt-out program; however, no formal action was taken.
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Breitling adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Public Works Committee meeting is Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Keri Johnson, City Clerk
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**AGENDA**
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5:00 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING
Council Chamber
City Hall, 460 N Euclid Avenue
Residents may observe the meeting remotely via livestream on the City website, Spectrum Cable TV Channel 3, or Frontier Cable TV Channel 26.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Citizens wishing to address the Committee on any matter that is listed or not listed on the agenda may do so at this time. Anyone wishing to address the Committee is requested to submit a speaker card to staff at or prior to speaking. The speakers are requested to keep their comments to no more than three (3) minutes.
Please note that under provisions of the Brown Act the Committee Members cannot respond to, nor take action on, items that are not listed on the agenda.
3. AGENDA ITEMS
a. SECOND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE TRANSITION OF SEWER, STORM DRAIN, AND
SOLID WASTE BILLING TO THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TAX ROLL Recommended Action:
The Public Works Committee review the presentation regarding the proposed transition of sewer, storm drain, and solid waste (trash) billing to the San Bernardino County tax roll beginning in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and recommend to the City Council approval of the proposed administrative changes.
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
5. ADJOURNMENT
The next regularly scheduled Public Works Committee meeting is Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk's Office, 909-931-4120. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]
To access written transcription during the meeting, please click this link:
https://attend.wordly.ai/join/LVGO-0906 . Then choose language and click attend to read the transcript on your device.
On May 1, 2025 a true and correct copy of this agenda was posted at 450 N. Euclid Avenue (Upland Public Library), 460 N. Euclid Avenue (Upland City Hall), and the City website at www.uplandca.gov
The full packet for the Public Works Committee
meeting can be viewed on our website at:
https://www . uplandca .gov/city-council-
agendasminutes
You may also view the video of the meeting at:
https://uplandca .gov/council-meeting-
broadcasts
(choose the tab for "other archived meetings"
to locate the meeting video)