TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Justin Clifton, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Pedro Cevallos, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
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Consider the Levy of 2024 Delinquent Refuse Service Charges on the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Property Tax Roll
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RECOMMENDATION
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Conduct a Public Hearing;
Adopt Resolution No. 25-4864 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Affirming the Report of Delinquent Refuse Charges and Directing their Collection on the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Property Tax Roll; and
Direct the City Manager, or his designee, to file a certified copy of Resolution No. 25-4864 with the Riverside County Tax Collector and/or Auditor-Controller.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On July 21, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 20-4292, approving the report for 2019 for delinquent refuse service charges and certifying them for collection with property taxes (Vote: 4-0-1).
On July 6, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 21-4438, approving the report for 2020 for delinquent refuse service charges and certifying them for collection with property taxes (Vote: 5-0).
On June 21, 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 22-4591, approving the report for 2021 for delinquent refuse service charges and certifying them for collection with property taxes (Vote 5-0).
On August 1, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-4696, approving the report for 2022 for delinquent refuse service charges and certifying them for collection with property taxes (Vote: 5-0).
On July 2, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 24-4770, approving the report for 2023 for delinquent refuse service charges and certifying them for collection with property taxes (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Maintain a high performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability and organizational efficiency.
BACKGROUND
Under the City of Murrieta’s (City) franchise agreement with Waste Management for solid waste collection, the City has agreed to annually review whether to place liens on residential properties with delinquent refuse hauling service charges from a previous calendar year. The City Council must conduct a public hearing to consider the charges that remain delinquent from 2024 and then adopt a resolution certifying the delinquent fees for collection on the Fiscal Year 2025/26 property tax roll (Attachment 1). This hearing is an opportunity for any property owner to object to the fees imposed on their property.
The annual levy of delinquent fees from 2024, is in consideration of the City’s requirement of Waste Management that no residential property can have regular refuse service stopped due to unpaid fees. This was done because the City does not wish to encourage illegal dumping and has a mandatory service requirement for all properties in the community. Mandatory refuse service is also an important component of the City’s ability to meet the State’s mandatory landfill diversion requirements imposed by SB 1383.
On June 2, 2025, Waste Management sent notices advising property owners of overdue balances and collection efforts to recover payment to seek proactive payment prior to placing the fees on the property tax roll. As of June 16, 2025, delinquent refuse charges for 1,342 parcels payable to Waste Management total $485,277.27. Details on the properties and amounts at issue are included in Attachment 2. Including penalties and interest, the total proposed levy amount is $629,883.28. This levy is a pass-through charge. In accordance with the City’s franchise agreement with Waste Management, the City will remit any amounts collected from this action to Waste Management, less actual administrative costs incurred to process the collection and remittance of the delinquent charges.
PUBLIC NOTICING
Notice of this hearing was provided to the impacted property owners and published in accordance with the law. Additionally, this agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). Copies can be requested by contacting the City Clerk at CityClerk@MurrietaCA.gov.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City retains twelve percent (12%) of any amount collected pursuant to the collection of unpaid solid waste services to offset administrative costs incurred to process the collection and remittance of the delinquent charges. The amount of this collection is included in the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget under 1100000-40019.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 25-4864
2. 2024 Residential Delinquent Refuse Charges