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Board hears public objections to DBI delinquent charges, accepts amended report and removes properties
Summary
After lengthy public comment from property owners alleging due‑process and permitting problems, the Board accepted DBI staff amendments to the report of delinquent charges, removed identified properties from the list, and adopted the amended report by a 10‑0 roll call.
The Board of Supervisors held a committee‑of‑the‑whole hearing on the Department of Building Inspection’s (DBI) report of delinquent charges on May 19. DBI senior housing inspector Matt Lewton opened the hearing, explaining the department’s longstanding practice of requesting special assessment liens for code enforcement costs and noting that property owners had been noticed and offered in‑house hearings.
During public comment dozens of property owners and representatives described a range of problems: disputed property lines and incorrect assessments, permit holds tied to separate department reviews, delays caused by internal DBI system errors, and requests for waivers or suspension of assessments while repairs or legal actions are completed. Mahal Emberton (owner at 201 Ashton Avenue) testified that DBI inspected her property after a 311 complaint about music and that subsequent permit holds and additional city department requirements delayed a permitted fence repair. Noel Carrasco said a judge had ruled the alleged violation was not on his property yet assessments persisted for four years.
DBI staff later reported back to the board that, during a sidebar, a set of properties and line items had been identified for removal from the report. The board accepted the amendments “without objection,” and the clerk recorded a roll call on item 16 with the amended report; the board adopted item 16 with 10 ayes.
Why it matters: The hearing and subsequent amendments highlight disputes about DBI processes, accuracy of property records, and the use of assessment liens as a mechanism for cost recovery. Multiple property owners asked the board to require clearer notice, better internal recordkeeping, and more accessible appeals and remediation paths.
What happens next: DBI staff will work with affected property owners in the hallway and follow up on individual cases; the amended report will be filed and acted on as adopted by the board.
Representative quotes: Matt Lewton, DBI senior housing inspector, told the board this is the 29th year the department has presented such a report. Mahal Emberton said, “DBI used this music complaint to conduct an unconstitutional search of our property and filed a notice of violation requiring a permit to repair the fence.” Noel Carrasco told the board his matter has persisted for four years despite a judge’s ruling.
Article note: This report summarizes testimony from numerous speakers and the board’s subsequent adoption of the amended DBI report.
