Council approves liens for unpaid code-enforcement fines, grants one conditional reduction and continues one case

The Larksburg City Council voted unanimously May 20 to confirm records of unpaid code-enforcement costs and to place those delinquencies as special assessments on Marin County property tax bills, concluding a public hearing and months of staff review.

City Community Development Director Mr. Mogensson told the council the city followed its multi-step enforcement process—courtesy notices and escalating administrative citations—and that the five properties on the staff list had failed to appeal or pay. He said staff had re-reviewed accounts after a prior hearing and corrected calculation errors: several properties were assessed commercial penalties in error and compounded late fees that historically had not been compounded were removed; two affected owners already received refunds.

During public comment multiple property owners described efforts to work with staff, conflicting guidance on permit requirements and long delays in plan check and inspections. One owner at 11 Locust presented email correspondence she said led her to believe staff had forgiven citations last August. Another, representing 10 Post Street, said plan checks and permits were in progress and asked for time to finish work.

After deliberation the council adopted the resolution placing unpaid fines, late fees and administrative costs on the properties’ tax records, while exercising case-by-case discretion. Council directed a specific adjustment for the 11 Locust property: the council will waive $2,900 in the 90-day-and-over late-fee category if the owner files for a required business license within 30 days. Council also agreed to continue the case for 212 Riviera Circle at the owner’s request and re-noted that any owner may still avoid a lien by paying outstanding amounts within 30 days of resolution adoption.

City staff told the council that the lean process is the final local administrative step before the county tax assessor collects through property tax bills, and that only the council (not staff) has the authority to waive or reduce assessed amounts. The council’s adoption was unanimous on a roll-call vote.

Next steps: owners will have 30 days to pay or present additional information; the council continued 212 Riviera Circle to June 17 to allow that owner to appear. The resolution directs staff to record liens for amounts remaining unpaid after the 30-day window.

What was decided: the council confirmed staff’s corrected calculations and authorized placement of liens, with one conditional reduction and one continued hearing. The council also signaled that staff should continue working with property owners who pursue timely permits.