Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing - Consideration of an Addition to the Citywide Fee Schedule for Vacant Property Registration.
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From: Steven Mendoza, Interim Community Development Director
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Colette Penalosa, Management Analyst
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR VACANT PROPERTY REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION.”
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BACKGROUND
On May 13, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing and introduced Ordinance No. 2638 to add a new Chapter 8.22 to the Westminster Municipal Code implementing a vacant property registration system. Second reading of the Ordinance is part of this same June 10, 2026 City Council meeting. If adopted, the Ordinance will become effective July 11, 2026. By its terms, the Ordinance will not be implemented until August 1, 2026.
Section 8.22.030 of the Ordinance provides that registration must be accompanied by an annual fee. The City engaged Revenue & Cost Specialists, LLC (RCS) to prepare a cost of services study for this fee. Based on the cost detail worksheets, the amount of the fee shall be set at $500.
California Environmental Quality Act
The adoption of this fee does not meet the definition of a project as defined by California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378 because adopting these fees does not commit the city to any actions which have the potential to result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no budget adjustment requested at this time. The fee in the Community Development Department has been developed to recover an annual cost of $62,000 for Vacant Property Registration and Inspection. Although the fee will go into effect when the Ordinance is effective, no fees will be charged until ordinance implementation begins on August 1, 2026.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
If the recommendation in this report is adopted, the City will implement a vacant property registration system to recover the cost of the program.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution Establishing a Fee for Vacant Property Registration
2. Cost Detail Worksheet
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager