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Board adopts report placing unpaid sidewalk-repair charges on tax rolls after DPW meeting with property owners
Summary
The Department of Public Works reported inspections and repairs from April 2012–April 2013 totaling $2.86 million; the city recovered $1.16 million and sought to place $162,486.35 as assessments on property tax rolls for 138 properties with outstanding invoices after negotiating removal of 11 properties from the list.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted the Department of Public Works (DPW) report of sidewalk and curb repairs and authorized placement of outstanding assessments on property tax rolls after DPW staff met with property owners and removed several disputed entries.
DPW official Robert Kwan appeared at the special 3:00 p.m. hearing with a report covering inspections and repairs performed April 2012 through April 2013. He said crews issued 3,094 notices to repair and 2,300 notifications to city agencies and utilities. "Repairs were done at a cost of $1,319,000 for notices to repairs, dollars 1,536,000 for X-1104s, for a total of $2,855,177.02," Kwan said. The department invoiced 1,369 property owners and recovered $1,156,524.65; 138 property invoices were reported as unpaid and listed for assessment totaling $162,486.35.
Multiple property owners testified about disputes, missed notices or damage. Tanya Clemens said she bought a house after a notice to repair was mailed two months before closing and asked DPW to forgive a $416 invoice because it had not been disclosed to the buyer. Other speakers raised workmanship, billing errors and communication problems; DPW said staff would meet with each and report back.
After the oral presentations, DPW staff conferred with property owners in the chamber, and Kwan returned and reported the department had removed 11 properties from the assessment list after resolving disputes. DPW asked the board to adopt the amended report of assessments for the remaining properties. The board adopted the resolution by roll call (11 ayes).
DPW will place the remaining assessments on property tax rolls per the city's sidewalk-inspection and repair program unless property owners resolve outstanding invoices directly with the department. The resolution adopted at the meeting removes the specific 11 properties Kwan identified from the roll and authorizes placement of the remaining outstanding amounts as assessments.
