A. If the responsible person fails to satisfy in full the assessed administrative fines and costs by the time specified in the administrative order, and no timely appeal of the administrative order has been filed with the Superior Court of Orange County, the city may recover the outstanding fines and costs by imposing a lien against the real property on which the violation occurred.
B. Prior to recording the lien with the Orange County Clerk/Recorder’s Office, the City Council shall conduct a hearing to hear any protest or objection to the lien. The citing official shall serve notice of the hearing upon the owner of record of the real property, based on the last equalized assessment roll or the supplemental roll, whichever is more current. The notice of hearing shall include the time, date, and place of the hearing, and shall be served upon the owner of record by certified mail return receipt and by first class mail at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing. If the owner of record, after diligent search, cannot be found, the notice may be served by posting a copy thereof in a conspicuous place upon the property for a period of ten (10) days and by publication of the notice at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in Orange County and distributed within the city.
C. If the City Council determines that the lien should be imposed, then the citing official shall prepare and file with the City Clerk a report stating the amount due and owing.
D. After the report is filed with the City Clerk, the citing official may cause the lien to be recorded with the County Recorder. Once recorded, the lien shall have the force and effect and priority of a judgment lien.
E. The remedies set forth in this section are not exclusive and may be used in addition to those set forth elsewhere in this code or in state law. The city may collect any past-due fines and costs by use of any available legal means.
(Ord. 1151, passed 3-1-11)