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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - April 16, 1992 Page - 3 - <br /> 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> A. Enforcement and Abatement Costs Related to the Property Located at 377 <br /> Herma Court and Authorizing the City to Place a Lien on the Real <br /> Property. <br /> This being the time and place for the Public Hearing on the above <br /> matter, Joann Scilley, Community Standards Coordinator, said the <br /> subject property was located at 377 Herma Court. She noted the <br /> property had a long history of Code violations. She said the City has <br /> tried to get the violations corrected, both through assistance and <br /> through compliance. <br /> She noted that Mrs. Niemeyer also owns property on Victoria Avenue. <br /> She said a fire had occurred on Victoria Avenue which spread rapidly <br /> because of an accumulation of materials inside the home similar to the <br /> conditions on Herma Court. She said the conditions impacted the <br /> ability of the fire fighters to save the home, and it was eventually <br /> demolished in 1988. <br /> She said the conditions are similar on Herma Court and pose a serious <br /> fire hazard as well as a life-safety risk to Mrs. Niemeyer and her <br /> neighbors. She said, as a result, the Planning and Building Department <br /> started a concerted effort to abate the conditions on the property on <br /> Herma Court. She said, although staff was concerned about the <br /> financial impact placed on Mrs. Niemeyer, they felt there was no <br /> alternative but to pursue court action to ensure compliance. She said <br /> in July 1990 the City Attorney obtained a Preliminary Injunction, and <br /> Mrs. Niemeyer has failed to clean up the property, so the City had to <br /> undertake enforcement activities. <br /> She said staff removed combustible materials; repaired a flue, a water <br /> heater, the front porch, a sink and drain; and painted the outside of <br /> the property as is permitted by the court. She said staff assisted <br /> Mrs. Niemeyer in folding and boxing goods and putting them in a 20-yard <br /> container and making arrangements to have them donated to a charity of <br /> Mrs. Niemeyer's choice. <br /> She said the total cost for all of the work, including enforcement, was <br /> $17,069.77. She said, if approved by the City Council , Mrs. Niemeyer <br /> will be billed. If the bill is not paid by August 1992 this amount <br /> will be placed as a lien against the property, which will be recovered <br /> in the event the property is sold. <br /> She noted there would be no interest charges, and this was the most <br /> cost-effective way for Mrs. Niemeyer to eventually pay for the work. <br /> She said the City has tried to offer Mrs. Niemeyer financial assistance <br /> and will continue to do so, and she may be eligible for a $1,500 grant <br /> against the charges. She said staff requested that the City Council <br /> adopt the Resolution and provided before-and-after photographs for the <br /> City Council to review. <br />