Title
Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 704-706 BLAIR AVENUE. (File No. CG1904E3, Assessment No. 190162)
Hearing Date(s)
Date of LH: 2/06/2020; 4/30/2020
Time of LH: 9:00 AM
Date of CPH:
Tax Assessment Worksheet
Postcard Returned by: Erik R Veblen
Cost: $217.02
Hauling Service(s) Provided: Garbage Service; Jul 1 - Sep 30 2019
Type of Order/Fee: Trash Hauling
Billing Time Period: 3rd Quarter of 2019 (July 1 - September 30)
Invoice Date(s): July 1 - September 30
Returned Mail/Notice Concerns?:
Stated Reason for Appeal (if given): I am the landlord for this property. The tenant is responsible for paying this bill. I have been receiving notices that the bill was going unpaid. I have responded to the garbage Company in writing and on the phone many times, I have requested copies of the bill. I have never received copies of the past due bills/ charges. When I spoke to the representative of the Company (and her supervisor) they assured me they would get back to me. They have not. I believe the property is being double charged but cannot be certain because I have not seen the bills. The property is currently a two family dwelling. However, during Q3 2019, it was being billed for two accounts; 704 Blair Avenue and 706 Blair Avenue. While 704 Blair Avenue was only being charged for a 35 gallon cart with every other week service, 706 Blair Avenue was being charged for a 64-gallon cart and a 96 gallon cart. This means that my property was being charged for three separate carts when it should only be charged for two separate carts. I finally took the service out of the tenants name and put it in mine approx Jan 1 2020, The current charges are in control.
Staff Comments: Staff was able to confirm that hauler has been erroneously billing two separate accounts for the property starting in May 2019. The account in question is listed as 706 Blair Avenue and was being charged for both a 64-gallon cart and a 96-gallon cart. The other account for the property was under 704 Blair Avenue and was being charged for a 35-gallon with every week service. The property as a whole is listed as a two family dwelling and is therefore only required to provide service for two carts. However, they were being erroneously charged for three. The property owner stated that they should not have been charged for the 64-gallon since it was not being used at that time.
In the case of payment, not only did the property owner pay the full amount that they should have been charged for just the 94-gallon container ($102.44), they also paid well over the original invoice amount of $188.70. The resident made two payments during the course of the service period. One for the invoice amount of $188.70 on 07/25/2019 & and additional payment of $387.05 on 08/25/2019. Therefore staff recommends removing the assessment. Staff will reach out to the garbage hauler to request that the $387.05 be added as a credit to the account for 706 Blair Avenue, as well as the difference between the original invoice amount of $188.70 and the $102.44 that should have been charged ($86.26). Staff will also reach out to the hauler to ensure that there is only one account for the property.
Body
WHEREAS, the Office of Financial Services Real Estate Section has attached to this Council File both a report of completion outlining the costs and fees associated with Collection of Delinquent Garbage Bills for services during July to September 2019. (File No. CG1904E3, Assessment No. 190162) and the assessment roll including all properties for which these assessments are proposed for Council ratification; and
WHEREAS, the City Council’s Legislative Hearing Officer has reviewed an appeal of this assessment and developed a recommendation for the City Council with respect to this assessment; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing having been conducted for the above improvement, and said assessment having been further considered by the Council and having been considered financially satisfactory; Now, Therefore, Be It
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Saint Paul City Charter, said assessment is hereby deleted.