Charges for the necessary action to secure the building or demolition of the building or structure and the removal of the salvage, contents, debris and abandoned property from the premises shall be a lien upon such property, and whenever a bill for such charges remains unpaid for 20 days after it has been rendered, the Finance Director shall file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Broward County, Florida, a claim of lien statement. This claim of lien statement shall contain a legal description of the premises, the expenses and costs incurred, the date of such expenses and a notice that the city claims a lien for this amount. All such unpaid charges shall bear interest after 20 days at the rate provided in F.S. § 55.03(1), for interest on judgments. 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. A copy of said claim of lien shall be mailed to the owner of the property, if his/her address is available. The city may pursue all legal means available to collect those liens, including but not limited to imposing a special assessment in accordance with Section 115.11 of the Florida Building Code and in accordance with § 38.04 of the Code of Ordinances. Written notice of the assessment shall be given to the property owner, and if applicable, the agent, custodian, lessee or occupant. 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, as required by Florida law.
(‘72 Code, § 10.143(b)) (Ord. O-75-71, passed 6-4-75; Am. Ord. O-83-67, passed 11-2-83; Am. Ord. O-88-12, passed 3-2-88; Am. Ord. O-89-52, passed 8-30-89; Am. Ord. O-2013-06, passed 2-20-13)