Pursuant to the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code, the Garden Grove Sanitary District may, following notice and a public hearing, impose liens on properties for refuse collection and disposal service bills that are delinquent for a period of sixty (60) days or more.  Republic Services bills customers quarterly for refuse collection and disposal services. If a billing is not paid, a reminder is mailed to the individual who is responsible for the service. In addition, if a tenant does not pay for the service, the landlord is notified of non-payment thirty (30) days prior to the public hearing. If a bill for service remains unpaid for a period of sixty (60) days, at the end of the fiscal year an assessment process will be implemented and a lien will be imposed on the property.

The last Republic Services billing for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 was prepared and mailed in February 2021, and all unpaid charges on that billing became delinquent as of May 1, 2021.  Sixty (60) days after the delinquency date, the delinquent amount, plus the associated penalty of 10%, may be filed with the County Auditor/Controller's Office.  Upon recordation by the County Recorder, the amount submitted by parcel shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as property taxes and shall be subject to the same penalties and to the same procedure for foreclosure as provided for general County taxes.  Prior to the delinquent amount becoming a lien against the property, the individual property owner is notified of the delinquent amount and the date and time of the public hearing. To further ensure that all parties are aware of the potential lien, a notice announcing this hearing date is published in a local newspaper.  The report of delinquent accounts is on file and available for review in the office of the City Clerk.  An updated report will be available at the June 22, 2021, Sanitary District Board meeting. In order for the delinquent charges to be placed on the County's property tax roll, the Board is required to hold a public hearing to approve the charges to be collected by parcel.

Delinquent charges for refuse collection and disposal services totaled $464,670 for Fiscal Year 2020-21.  Funds received from the County will be remitted to Republic Services less any franchise fees due to the City and any County administrative charges. 

It is recommended that the Garden Grove Sanitary District Board of Directors:

• Conduct a public hearing on the report of delinquent refuse collection and disposal fees;
• Adopt the attached Resolution adopting the report and authorizing the imposition of liens for the collection of delinquent refuse collection and disposal fees; and
• Direct staff to file the necessary documentation with the County for the collection of the delinquent charges on the property tax bills.