CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: December 27, 2019
Agenda Date: January 8, 2020
Prepared By: Dennis A. Bunt, Code Enforcement Manager
Through: Michael Cantaloupe, Police Chief
Requested Action:
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City Council direction on creating a Code Enforcement Lien Amnesty Program allowing for administrative lien reductions for qualified applicants and liens...End
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BACKGROUND:
In an effort to reduce and release outstanding code enforcement liens, staff is proposing to provide City homeowners an opportunity to bring their property into compliance and receive a reduced fine. City Code currently allows for lien reduction/forgiveness on any property within the city whereby a property owner applies for lien forgiveness, the Code Enforcement Board hears and makes a recommendation, and City Council takes final action on the requested lien forgiveness. The City of Cocoa Code Enforcement Lien Amnesty Program would be in addition to the existing code enforcement lien forgiveness process.
After researching and evaluating other code enforcement lien amnesty programs, staff proposes the City of Cocoa Code Enforcement Lien Amnesty Program be established for a specified and limited duration of time in order to incentivize homeowner's participation. Eligible homeowners would receive a reduction in a code enforcement lien in exchange for bringing the property into compliance with the City Code and a prompt payment of a reduced lien amount.
Staff offers the following program eligibility requirements for City Council consideration:
* Applicant must complete an application and pay an administrative processing fee.
* Subject property must be in full compliance with all City Codes as determined by an inspection of the property by Code Enforcement staff.
* Approval of the application would result in an administrative reduction and release of the existing Code Enforcement Lien(s).
* Program eligibility is limited to single-family homeowners and non-residential properties ...
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