City attorney outlines enforcement steps: subpoena records, assessments, liens as last resorts

City attorney Chuck (speaker 6) advised the Finance Committee on legal options for businesses that under-report or fail to respond to requests for records. He recommended starting with a records demand (the treasurer subpoenas records), then issuing an assessment if records are inadequate; that assessment can be appealed to the committee and, if not appealed, becomes enforceable. "So I think the 1st thing you would want to do is have Laurie as the treasurer subpoena their record so she can ask them," Chuck said, laying out the initial steps.

Chuck described the typical enforcement ladder: subpoena and document review, followed by an assessment and an appeal period (roughly 20-30 days), and then court remedies including liens on property if the city must enforce collection. He called injunctions an "extreme measure" that would require substantial preparatory work and suggested discussing more sensitive measures in executive session. The committee asked staff to send formal letters to non-responding businesses and to prepare documentation if legal steps are needed.