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Planning and Building Agency <br />www.santa-ana.org/pb <br /> Item # 30 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />July 20, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Recovery of Uncollected Costs for Abatement of Dangerous and Abandoned <br />Buildings <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Resolution Affirming the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Dangerous and Abandoned Buildings <br />Program Report and Authorizing the Transmittal of Uncollected Dangerous and <br />Abandoned Building Charge in the Amount of $59,313.79 to the Office of Auditor <br />Controller, County of Orange (Non-General Fund) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Adopt a resolution affirming the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Dangerous and Abandoned <br />Buildings Program Report and authorizing the transmittal of uncollected Dangerous and <br />Abandoned Buildings charge in the amount of $59,313.79 to the office of Auditor-Controller, <br />County of Orange. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The City’s Dangerous and Abandoned Buildings (DABS) Program is an effective tool in <br />abating unsecured and abandoned structures that are not properly maintained. When <br />not properly maintained and secured, such properties become an attractive nuisance and <br />harbor illicit and transient activities. Depending on the urgency and immediate threat to <br />public safety, life, and property, a violating property owner is given between two to 30 <br />days to abate the violations. <br />Pursuant to the Santa Ana Municipal Code, the City provides proper notice, and advises <br />each violating property owner of the need to address the violations. Upon the failure of <br />a property owner to comply and address the violations, the City proceeds with abatement <br />through its contractor. Abatement actions by the City range from the removal of trash <br />and debris and fencing of a property to board-up of an abandoned structure, and in an <br />exigent circumstance, demolition of an unsafe structure. After abatement, the Finance <br />and Management Services Agency bills the owner for all abatement costs until the <br />balance has been paid in full. The amount invoiced includes City-approved contractual <br />services providing board-up services, security, and recovery of City staff time. <br />Each year, the City finds it necessary to exercise legal recourse in order to recover the <br />uncollected costs expended for abatement of dangerous buildings and against reluctant