Bellflower council orders unpaid refuse charges onto county tax rolls

The Bellflower City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt Resolution 25-27-A after a public hearing on delinquent refuse service charges that will allow unpaid trash bills to be assessed against property owners and placed on the Los Angeles County tax rolls.

The action carries routine collection consequences but drew questions from a property owner who said a disputed account on his house listed a name he did not recognize. Council members and representatives from CR&R, the city's franchise solid-waste contractor, discussed steps the company is taking to flag accounts that appear to be established by tenants.

Melanie Vaz, management analyst for Public Works, said CR&R bills customers directly and that unpaid refuse charges become delinquent after 30 days under the Bellflower Municipal Code. Vaz provided a year-over-year snapshot of delinquencies: “As of May 31 this year, we have 932 delinquent accounts,” she said in the presentation, referencing the list delivered to staff by CR&R on May 31. Vaz also said later tallies showed 550 accounts totaling $179,221 and that 395 accounts remained on the list “as of today,” noting the final list would be transmitted to the county on Aug. 10.

At the public hearing, property owner Mark Lucas of 14509 Syble Avenue told the council he received a city notice listing account number 9528368 showing CR&R billed a person he did not recognize. “I do not know who that person is,” Lucas said, and told council he had not personally used trash service during a recent vacancy period and had not authorized the account shown on the bill.

Crystal Denning, a CR&R representative, explained the company’s procedures for establishing service. “When someone calls in to schedule service with us, there's no way for us to know whether that's the exact tenant that appears on a lease or not,” she told the council, and added CR&R is implementing a system indicator to flag accounts that callers identify as tenants so property owners receive clearer notice when service is established at their address.

Council member Dan Coops moved to adopt Resolution 25-27-A; Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santaynes seconded. The council approved the resolution on a 5-0 roll call vote: Council member Victor Sanchez — aye; Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santaynes — aye; Council member Dan Coops — aye; Council member Wendy Morse — aye; Mayor Dutton — aye.

The resolution directs staff to transfer the final list of assessed delinquent refuse service charges to the county for placement on the property tax roll, with a final payment deadline and county submittal dates detailed by staff. During the hearing the council also discussed nonbinding options to better notify property owners when tenants request service and potential follow-up with CR&R and City licensing staff to reduce owner surprises.

The council opened and closed the public hearing as required before taking action. The city clerk recorded no amendments to the resolution at the meeting and no additional public testimony was submitted on the item.