SIMI VALLEY : Council Drops Fee for Quake Victims
Simi Valley homeowners seeking loans to repair earthquake damage will not be charged a $25 fee by the city to research whether their property is in a flood zone, the council has decided.
In a 5-0 vote, the City Council agreed Monday night to drop the fee the city normally charges to provide a letter to property owners stating flood-zone status. The exemption, however, applies only to earthquake victims.
A notarized letter concerning flood-zone status is required by many banks and lenders, including the Small Business Administration, which is offering low-interest loans to those making earthquake repairs.
The city’s research fee covers the cost of looking up the property, confirming its status and producing the notarized letter for the resident. After the city’s flood zone was reduced in size last month, about 1,200 residents were dropped from the flood area.
A City Council resolution in January eliminated several other fees for earthquake victims, including those for building permits.
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