Council records special assessment after second abatement at Charlemagne Avenue property
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Summary
Following a second city abatement at 13825 Charlemagne Ave., Bellflower recorded a notice of special assessment to recover abatement costs. The property is in probate; a contractor has submitted building-permit applications and the city said it will pursue outstanding costs.
The Bellflower City Council voted Monday to record a notice of special assessment for nuisance abatement against the owner of 13825 Charlemagne Avenue after code enforcement described repeated trespassing, fires and structural damage at the long‑troubled property.
Solange, the city’s code‑enforcement presenter, told the council the property previously was abated in April 2024 and again after continued violations. The owner named on city records, Marilyn Schneider, died in 2023 and the estate is now in probate with Larry Schneider appointed administrator, Solange said. The council approved Resolution 25-28 to record the assessment for the second abatement’s costs.
“By 04/01/2024, we had sent a notice of public nuisance and urgency abatement. And in April 2024, we also red tagged the building and conducted our first abatement,” Solange said, summarizing the enforcement history. She told the council the second abatement followed repeated trespassing and fires; the city executed a second abatement warrant on Oct. 3 and later sent a demand letter for abatement costs on June 13, 2025. Solange said the general contractor has since submitted a construction-permit application (April 2025) and the application is under review.
Council members urged the city to consider stronger remedies if the property remains blighted. Council member Dan Coops and others noted the long timeline of complaints and enforcement actions. “I feel sorry for those neighbors that have to live next door to this,” Coops said during discussion, urging staff to propose more-aggressive options if remediation stalls.
The council moved to adopt Resolution 25-28 to record the assessment; Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santaynes made the motion and Council member Victor Sanchez seconded. The measure passed on a 5-0 roll call: Victor Sanchez — aye; Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santaynes — aye; Dan Coops — aye; Wendy Morse — aye; Mayor Dutton — aye.
Staff told the council the city is monitoring the contractor’s permit progress and has notified probate court of enforcement activity. Solange said the city had contacted individuals listed in probate and had received responses from the public adjuster and general contractor but not the administrator. The city will record the special-assessment notice to recover abatement costs and continue to monitor permit review and any further violations.