Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
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Ordinance 23-019, amending Title 25 of the Snohomish County Code relating to storm and surface water management
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DEPARTMENT: Conservation & Natural Resources
ORIGINATOR: Kent Barbeau
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Lacey Harper 2/28/23
PURPOSE: The ordinance amends provisions of Chapter 25.10 SCC and Chapter 25.20 SCC concerning definitions, due date for charges, credit for natural detention, interest, penalty and collection of delinquent accounts.
BACKGROUND: The legislature adopted ESHB 1410 modifying interest and penalty for certain types of residential property. The county has adopted in code the language of the affected RCWs as they existed before passage of the bill. The ordinance adopts the interest and penalty changes of ESHB 1410. Some delinquent ratepayers have substantial balances that are difficult to pay as a single amount. A need exists to adopt authority to enter into payment plans as a means of recovering delinquent charges without creating undo burden on the ratepayer in question. The ordinance adopts authority for the director to enter into payment plans. In the course of action to collect delinquent accounts, a property owner may not be identifiable making the debt uncollectible and leaving foreclosure as the sole option available to the county for collection of the delinquency. Some properties may lack sufficient economic value or have potential liability exposure making foreclosure an option that is not in the county's and public's best interest. The ordinance provides a means for the county council to extinguish service charge debt deemed uncollectible due to factors such as lack of economic value or inherent liability. The ordinance removes normal due dates of April 30th and October 31st in favor of referencing the statute governing due dates for tax collection. This will allow SWM charge due dates to be extended by the treasurer in the same manner as taxes...
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