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Police Chief Way stated that they do include labor costs, but not necessarily City labor costs. <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if the City had been paid back any of these costs. <br />Police Chief Way stated that, to his knowledge, the City has been paid back on a few of the <br />mown grass abatements. <br />Councilmember Dehen asked what the City has done to request payment. <br />Police Chief Way stated that notices have been sent to property owners. <br />City Attorney Goodrich noted that there will be an assessment hearing in September and these <br />can be put onto their property taxes, similar to a water assessment. <br />Police Chief Way noted that the City had held six administrative hearings. <br />Councilmember Elvig noted the number of cleared ordinance complaints. <br />City Attorney Goodrich noted that the first abatement hearing was not a clean up project, but on <br />the possible revocation of the pawnbroker license. <br />Councilmember Jeffrey asked if the City was able to charge back the fees for the costs associated <br />with the hearings. <br />City Attorney Goodrich noted that the hearing for the pawnbroker have not been charged back. <br />He noted that for items 2,3, 4 and 5 on the list, the City geared up for hearings, and had a hearing <br />officer present, but were able to settle them, similar to a pre -trial situation. He stated that <br />because of these, there have been talks about streamlining the internal process so there doesn't <br />need to be as much time and money spent getting witnesses and exhibits set up. <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that the abatement process should have a requirement for the <br />defendant to produce information about what they feel their defenses are, so the City doesn't <br />have such heavy costs going in. <br />City Attorney Goodrich stated that the City could start doing this more thoroughly and noted that <br />this is a civil hearing process. <br />Police Chief Way stated that this is a learning process and he has started asking more questions <br />as to why people want to have a hearing, so he thinks the number of hearings will be kept down. <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he knows the City Attorney's fees cannot be recouped, but <br />asked if the hearing examiner fees could be recouped. <br />Police Chief Way stated that he was unsure how this could be done and still give people due <br />process. <br />City Council Work Session / June 3, 2008 <br />Page 2 of 16 <br />