(A) The failure of any person to pay a fine, costs or penalty assessed by administrative citation within the time specified on the citation constitutes a debt to the city. To enforce that debt, the city may file a civil action, lien the subject property as set forth below, or pursue any other legal remedy to collect such debt. A person who fails to pay any fine or other charge owed to the city under this chapter is liable in any action brought by the city for all costs incurred in securing payment of the delinquent amount, including, but not limited to, administrative costs and attorneys’ fees. Such collection costs are in addition to any fines, interest, and late charges.
(B) In addition to any other legal remedy, the city may place a lien on property that is the subject of a citation if the administrative citation has been issued to the property owner. The following procedure will apply:
(1) The Finance Director may initiate proceedings to record a lien against the subject property;
(2) Before recording the lien, the Finance Director shall submit a report to the City Clerk stating the amounts due and owing. The report may include a fee, as established by City Council resolution, for the administrative costs associated with the preparation and recordation of the lien;
(3) The City Clerk shall fix a time, date and place for a hearing before the City Manager to consider the report and any protests or objections to it;
(4) The City Clerk must serve the property owner with a hearing notice not less than ten days before the hearing date. The notice must set forth the amount of the delinquent administrative fine, and any penalties and interest that is due. Notice must be delivered first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the property owner’s address as it appears on the last equalized assessment roll or supplemental roll of the County of Los Angeles, whichever is more current. Service by mail is effective on the date of mailing and failure of property owner to actually receive notice does not affect its validity;
(5) At the conclusion of the hearing, the Finance Director may adopt a report confirming, discharging, or modifying the lien amount;
(6) Following the adoption of the report imposing a lien, the City Clerk shall cause the lien to be filed in the County Recorder’s Office;
(7) After confirmation and recordation, the city shall impose a special assessment against the property that is the subject of administrative citation by presenting a copy of the lien to the County Tax Collector to add the amount of the lien to the next regular property tax bills levied against the parcel for municipal purposes. This amount will be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary property taxes are collected, and will be subject to the same penalties and procedures under foreclosure and sale as provided for with ordinary municipal taxes. Or, after recording, the lien may be foreclosed by judicial or other sale in the manner and means provided by law; and
(8) Once the city receives full payment for outstanding principal, penalties, and costs related to a lien, the City Clerk will cause to be recorded a notice of satisfaction or provide the property owner with a notice of satisfaction for recordation at the County Recorder’s Office. This notice of satisfaction will cancel the city’s lien.
(Ord. 4544, passed 5-26-09)