Report 2015-134 Recommendation 4 Responses

Report 2015-134: Residential Building Records: The Cities of San Rafael, Novato, and Pasadena Need to Strengthen the Implementation of Their Resale Record Programs (Release Date: March 2016)

Recommendation #4 To: San Rafael, City of

To verify that new property owners are aware of the health and safety concerns at their properties and any corrections they need to make, San Rafael should develop a process to ensure that it receives homeowners' cards.

1-Year Agency Response

The "homeowner's cards" are entitled, "Returned Receipt and Buyer's Certification." If the receipt is not signed and returned to the City of San Rafael within 30 days following the issuance/posting of the resale report, a reminder letter is generated and mailed to the property owner.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

On August 1st and Sept 6th City Council held public study sessions in order to hear testimony from all interested parties on whether or not to maintain our Resale program in it's present state. No determination was made, and staff is now in the process of preparing a list of options for modification of the program based on the public testimony heard. That will be presented to Council at some future date to be determined. At that time, it will be determined if the program will continue. Should the program continue in its current form, procedures for monitoring the return of confirmation cards will be developed and explored.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

See May 21, 2016 memorandum forwarded via email to Myriam Czarniecki. On April 4, 2016, the performance audit report was presented to the San Rafael City Council. The City Council directed staff to return with options to the residential building records program. A report on the options will return to the City Council in June/July 2016. Web links to the staff report and streaming video of this public meeting are provided in this memo.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2015-134

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.