All abandoned personal property and abandoned real property is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, the abatement of which pursuant to the police power is hereby declared to be necessary for the health, welfare and safety of the residents of the city. Any and all abatement actions performed by the city or a private contractor hired by the city may cause a special assessment and lien for the total costs thereof to be placed on the property and shall be collected in accordance with § 38.04 of the Code of Ordinance. For purposes of this section, incurred costs shall encompass, in addition to the abatement cost of the nuisance, all administrative, legal, postal and publication expenses, as well as all other direct or indirect costs associated therewith. All such unpaid charges shall bear interest after 20 days at the rate provided in F.S. § 55.03(1), for interest on judgments. In addition to any other notice requirements set forth in this chapter, written notice of the assessment shall be given to the property owner, and if applicable, the agent, custodian, lessee or occupant as set forth in § 38.04(G) of the Code of Ordinances and F.S. § 197.3632. Said notice shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested and shall set forth the following:
(A) A description of the violation, a description of the action taken by the city to abate the nuisance, and the fact that the property has been assessed for the costs incurred by the city in abating the nuisance; and
(B) The aggregate amount of such costs and an itemized list of such costs; and
(C) The intent of the city to place the assessment on the tax roll as a non-ad valorem assessment if not paid by the following August 1; and
(D) The potential for the property to be subject to the sale of a tax certificate, bearing interest by law at the rate as high as 18% per annum, if the non-ad valorem assessment is not paid as part of the tax bill on the property; and
(E) The potential for the property to be sold and conveyed by tax deed if the tax certificate is not redeemed by payment of the non-ad valorem assessment, in full, plus interest.
(Ord. O-2010-02, passed 1-20-10; Am. Ord. O-2013-06, passed 2-20-13)