For City Council Meeting November 10, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Yazdan Emrani, P.E., Director of Public Works
Title
Request City Council to Set a Public Hearing for December 8, 2026, to Consider the Placement of Liens for Delinquent Refuse Collection Accounts for the Second Quarter of the 2026 Calendar Year.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council set a public hearing for December 8, 2026, to consider the placement of liens for delinquent refuse collection accounts for the second quarter of the 2026 calendar year.
BACKGROUND
Each property owner on the “Proposed Address List for Delinquent Refuse Liens” is delinquent with payment of the refuse collection bills for their property. Although billed at the last known address on file for services provided, outstanding charges remain unpaid. Rental properties are the responsibility of the property owner. Consequently, liens are filed against the property for the total amount of any unpaid past-due charges for services rendered. A list of the properties affected by the proposed liens is included as Attachment 1.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The City seeks to place a separate lien against each 122 residential and 21 commercial properties to secure monies owed. If any of the properties are sold prior to collection or are sold prior to the placement of liens, the amounts owed may not be recovered. This action requires the City Council to schedule a Public Hearing to review and approve the placement of liens related to delinquent refuse accounts. Staff recommends that the Council set the Public Hearing for Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
Section 8.08.330 of the Rialto Municipal Code (RMC) authorizes the placement of liens against properties with refuse collection accounts that are more than 90 days delinquent. Lien placement requests brought before the City Council are for delinquencies that have accrued during the second quarter (April, May, and June) of 2026. After scheduling the Public Hearing, the City will mail official notices to the owners of the properties shown on the attached list of addresses not less than 21 days prior to the date of the public hearing, giving customers ample notice. Property owners may pay the delinquent balance prior to the public hearing, and those properties will be removed from the final list presented for Council action.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The placement of liens is not a ‘project’ under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), as it involves government fiscal activities that do not commit the City to any specific project that may result in a physical change to the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of this action complies with the City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Measure 8.43: Provide Solid Waste and Recycling Programs, which states: continue to meet the community’s needs for solid waste disposal and recycling and provide that operations are done in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
Placement of liens will secure $21,699.69 in delinquent refuse charges owed for services provided by Burrtec Waste Industries on the City’s behalf. The City receives an administrative fee of $5.00 per parcel when the lien is collected, which is allocated to Waste Management - Account No. 22127040-47910. The estimated total revenue to the City for this action is $715.00. San Bernardino County charges $0.30 per parcel, which is allocated to Delinquent Refuse Liens Account No. 28300000-23500. The total County charge for the placement of liens is $42.90.
During the 2025/26 Tax Assessment, the total amount submitted for delinquent accounts was $19,561.07. The total amount recovered is $17,724.36, or 90.61%. Eight (8) accounts remain unpaid for a total of $1,836.71; however, the tax bill for four (4) properties shows as paid on June 30, 2026, on the tax collector's website, so $1,101.62 will be cleared by the next apportionment. The other four (4) properties are in default for 2025, and the tax bills are still unpaid. After the next apportionment, approximately $735 will remain outstanding on four properties in tax default; these amounts remain secured by the lien and will be recovered upon redemption or sale.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget related to the placement of liens for unpaid trash disposal.
Licensing
A Business License application and payment of a Business License tax are not required for this action.
ATTACHMENTS
Residential & Commercial Lien List 2nd Quarter 2026