Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Willows Council waives two weed-abatement charges after billing errors and confusion
Summary
During a July 22 public hearing the Willows City Council accepted protests and waived assessment costs for two parcels after staff confirmed billing discrepancies and confusion about whether alley areas were included in notices.
The Willows City Council on July 22 heard public protests about recent weed abatements and voted 4'0to'0 to waive assessments on two properties after staff discovered billing errors and ambiguity in how notices were issued.
The public hearing was conducted by staff in the absence of the fire chief, who was unavailable. City staff presented two appeals: one alleging the city billed the wrong parcel after abating a neighboring lot, and one alleging the property owner had not understood that the alleyway segment counted under the abatement notice.
Staff showed photographs and records indicating that 132 South Lassen Street had been abated but the invoice was erroneously issued to 142 South Lassen Street. Staff said 132 appears to have been omitted from the billing and therefore had not had the full opportunity to protest the bill prior to invoicing. Council members and staff recommended accepting the protests and waiving the assessment to correct the administrative error.
On the alleyway case staff said the original notice and the property owner's understanding did not align; the owner said they had not known to trim the narrow alley strip and the city's original paperwork did not clearly show how the alley was documented. Council members characterized the circumstances as confusing to the resident and recommended waiving the charge in the interest of fairness.
A motion to adopt the resolution confirming costs of abatement with the discussed amendments (to waive the two disputed charges) was moved and seconded, and the council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote of 4 to 0 (Mayor Hudson absent).
Staff said the city will correct billing records, remove the incorrect charge for 142 South Lassen Street, and address notice procedures to reduce future confusion.
