Staff proposes raising lien‑amnesty cap to $7,500; application and admin fees also to increase

Tony Raimondo, Development Services director, briefed the commission on proposed changes to Sanford—s lien‑amnesty program at the Oct. 27 work session, recommending a single cap of $7,500 (up from $5,000), an application fee increase to $250 (from $100), and an administrative fee increase to $500 (from $400).

Raimondo reviewed the program—s history: the city formerly used a sliding scale and later simplified to a flat‑fee structure. He told commissioners his staff spends substantial time on each application: "just to research the lien amnesty application is about 6 to 8 hours of work for a staff member," he said, noting that historical research on long‑running liens multiplies staff time. Raimondo said raising fees is intended to make the program less attractive to repeat commercial offenders who allow liens to accumulate and then pay a relatively modest flat amount.

Raimondo and commissioners discussed whether the city could impose different caps or fees for residential versus commercial properties. Raimondo warned of equal‑protection and excessive‑fine legal issues and said staff—s current view is a single fee for all property types, although the city attorney will review legal options. Commissioner discussion emphasized the need to balance fairness for small property owners with deterrence for larger commercial offenders.

Raimondo urged the commission to act quickly because the existing deadline for the current amnesty approach is imminent, and staff recommended moving the ordinance through first reading so the new terms can take effect in the near term. He also said empirical results from prior rounds show almost no applicants pay only 50% of their fines as sometimes described — "Almost none," he said — highlighting that the program often does not fully recover staff time or long‑running liabilities.

City Attorney Green told commissioners she would review the legal questions on differentiating residential and commercial treatment. The commission directed staff to seek first reading at the upcoming regular meeting and to provide any legal analysis on alternatives before final adoption.