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Council asks staff to research raising administrative fee for grass‑cutting liens; $250 proposed as contingent amount
Summary
Members pressed administration to investigate boosting the administrative fee that becomes a lien for unpaid grass‑cutting to $250 and to confirm whether state law permits that amount; the matter will return as an ordinance if legal.
During July 15 business, Clifton City Council members pressed administration to consider raising the administrative fee charged when the city cuts unmaintained lawns and places a lien on the property.
Council members said the current administrative fee (noted during debate as $100) is too low to cover the city’s actual processing costs and argued the amount allows repeat violations. One councilmember proposed raising the administrative fee to $250 and asked staff to prepare an ordinance. Several members cautioned the council must follow state law requiring administrative fees be reasonable and tied to actual costs; a legal advisor reminded the body that "administrative fees have to be reasonably related to what our actual costs are" and said she would check departmental time and cost data.
Council direction: The council asked staff to research the statutory limits and the actual per‑case processing cost (inspections, certified mailing, reinspection and posting) and return with a recommendation and, if lawful, an ordinance to raise the fee to $250 (or another legally permissible level). The proposal discussed was contingent on confirmation from legal and the CFO that the higher fee would comply with state statute and reimburse actual city costs.
Outcome: No ordinance was adopted on July 15. Staff were directed to confirm costs and legal permissibility and place a draft ordinance on a future agenda if appropriate.
