Any sign removed by the director of building inspections pursuant to the provisions of this article shall become the property of the city and may be disposed of in any manner deemed appropriate by the city. The cost of removal of the sign by the city shall be considered a debt owed to the city by the owner of the sign and the owner of the property, and may be recovered in an appropriate court action by the city or by assessment against the property as hereinafter provided. The cost of abatement or removal shall include any and all incidental expenses incurred by the city in connection with the sign abatement or removal.
If the costs are to be assessed against the property, a hearing to confirm such cost shall be held before the city council. At such hearing the owner of the property or other interested person may appear and object to the proposed assessment. Notice of the hearing shall be given at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing to the property owner by mailing a notice of the hearing to the address of such property owner as shown on the last equalized assessment roll. If proof is made that notice, as required to be given herein, has in fact been given, the failure of any owner or owners to receive such notice shall not invalidate any proceedings hereunder either as to removal or abatement of such sign or the cost or assessment made in connection therewith. If a cost assessment is confirmed by the city council, such assessment shall be added to and collected with the next property tax bill and shall be treated as a real property tax or assessment and have the same priority as such tax or assessment. (Prior code § 3.11.185) 15.148.830