SUBJECT
Title
ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO WAIVE COPY FEES FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL ASSESSOR/RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK ISSUED IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED FROM 2024 WINTER STORMS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
In the winter of 2024, San Diego County experienced severe storms bringing intense rainfall and causing widespread flooding threatening life and safety, structures, and other critical infrastructure (“2024 Winter Storms”). The impacts from the 2024 Winter Storms caused widespread damage to public and private property as well as loss of important documents and records.
The County of San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (ARCC) is on the frontline of helping San Diego County families rebuild after the 2024 Winter Storms. ARCC is an essential repository for property-related records, property ownership records, and fictitious business name business records. ARCC’s property-related or business documents are necessary for our residents to qualify for relief funds and services from local, state, and federal agencies. Residents may also require these documents to claim insurance benefits and prove ownership of the property.
When the Governor issued Proclamations of a State of Emergency for the 2024 Winter Storms, ARCC was then able to only provide relief and issue Vital Records (birth, death, and marriage certificates) at no cost to those affected by the disaster. That did not include all the documents from the ARCC office necessary for our residents to file for key relief and begin the rebuilding process.
Today’s actions will complement the relief delivered by any Governor issued Proclamations of a State of Emergency by waiving all the fees for all other documents held by ARCC for those impacted by the 2024 Winter Storms. Waiving ARCC’s fees is another step forward in relief helping those impacted transition from victims to survivors and begin the rebuilding process.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
ASSESSOR/RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK, CHAIRWOMAN NORA VARGAS AND SUPERVISOR JOEL ANDERSON
1. Waive Board Policy B-29, Fees, Grants and Revenue Contracts, Department Responsibility for Cost Recovery and grant the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk's Office the authority to issue documents at no cost for those impacted by the 2024 Winter Storms Governor Proclaimed State of Emergency.
2. Adopt a resolution entitled "A RESOLUTION TO WAIVE COPY FEES FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL ASSESSOR/RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK ISSUED IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED FROM 2024 WINTER STORMS.”
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The 2024 Winter Storms significantly impacted the lives of those who were unfortunate to be in their path. Several of the winter storm victims live in under-served communities and on limited incomes and charging them a copy fee for important property-related and fictitious business name documents held by ARCC would create a barrier in equity as they try to rebuild and restore their lives. Waiving the copy fee will break that barrier and provide the necessary legal documents that meet the needs of those affected so they can identify housing opportunities, avoid becoming unsheltered and begin rebuilding their lives.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s actions support immediate assistance and the waiver of copy fees are appropriate as they support the County of San Diego’s Strategic Initiative of Sustainability to provide just and equitable access to County services and resource allocation in support of sustainable communities by building resilience in affected populations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Operational Plan in the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s Office. If approved, waiving copy fees for property and business documents will result in reduced revenues in the current fiscal year, estimated at approximately $10,000 which is a small portion of total annual copy fee revenue. The funding source will be existing General Purpose Revenue. A waiver of Board Policy B-29 is requested since the proposed fee waiver will not cover all operating costs. Unrecovered cost per Board Policy B-29 is estimated at approximately $10,000. There will be no increase in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (ARCC) is on the frontline of helping San Diego County families rebuild after the 2024 Winter Storms. ARCC is an essential repository for property-related records, property ownership records, and fictitious business name business records. ARCC’s property-related and business documents are necessary for our residents to qualify for relief funds and services from local, state, and federal agencies. Residents may also require these documents to claim insurance benefits and prove ownership of the property.
When the Governor issues a Proclamation of a State of Emergency, ARCC then has the ability to provide relief and issue Vital Records (birth, death, and marriage certificates) at no cost to those affected by the disaster, but it does not cover all the documents our residents need to access all the relief opportunities to support their rebuilding.
Waiving ARCC’s copy fees will complement the relief delivered by any Governor issued Proclamations of a State of Emergency and its suspension of vital record fees. It is another step forward in relief for those impacted to transition from victims to survivors and move forward in the rebuilding process after a disaster.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today's proposed action supports the Strategic Initiative of Community (Quality of Life) in the County of San Diego's 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by providing services that enhance the community through increasing the well-being of our residents.
Respectfully submitted,
NORA VARGAS JOEL ANDERSON
Supervisor, First District Supervisor, Second District
jordan z. marks, ESQ.
Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - RESOLUTION TO WAIVE COPY FEES FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL ASSESSOR/RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK ISSUED IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED FROM 2024 WINTER STORMS