Board adopts DPW’s accelerated sidewalk abatement assessment list after property-owner corrections

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted, as amended, a Department of Public Works (DPW) report under the Accelerated Sidewalk Abatement Program that documents city-conducted inspections, repairs and invoices for sidewalk and curb frontage work carried out April 2013–April 2014.

DPW staffer Robert Kwan told the board the department issued 79 notices of violation and abatement orders and 190 XL-104s; the department reported invoices totaling $1,295,430.79 were sent to property owners during the period. According to the DPW presentation, 45 invoices had been paid, yielding $52,399 in recovered funds; a remaining group of 33 properties had outstanding invoices the report listed as totaling 22,021 to be placed as assessments on property tax rolls (figures quoted verbatim from the meeting record).

The board opened a committee-of-the-whole hearing to allow property owners to contest the report. One property owner asked why her property was assessed when she understood Pacific Gas & Electric had installed and repaired a pole; DPW staff agreed to meet with that owner to clarify the record. After staff reported two properties had been stricken from the revised list and another owner agreed to pay, the board voted by roll call to adopt the amended report and assessment resolution.

Supervisor David Chiu called the hearing and the clerk recorded roll-call approval after DPW described the post-hearing changes. The board’s vote was recorded as unanimous on the amended list.

The board instructed DPW to proceed with placing unpaid assessments on the property tax roll per the existing program process, and DPW staff said they would work with property owners on any remaining disputes and report back as needed.