Torrance Municipal Code Art. 3 Refund of Monies Collected

Subject to the provisions of Section 21.3.5. of this Article, the City Manager shall refund in whole or in part or cause to be refunded monies collected by the City where:

a) The money was either paid by the claimant or received by the City through mistake, inadvertence, or error of law or fact; or

b) The claimant was entitled to an exemption from payment of monies collected or received but neglected or otherwise failed to claim such exemption at the time of payment; or

c) The exercise of a right or privilege for which the money was paid was made illegal or physically impossible before such exercise began without the fault of the person making the payment or the person entitled to exercise the right or privilege; or

d) A refund is otherwise provided by law.

a) When a refund is made under the provisions of this Article, the City shall retain from the amount so refunded twenty (20) percent thereof for administrative expenses, but not to exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). If, in the opinion of the City Manager or the City Council, the City was at fault, such retained amount may be waived.

b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, when a refund is made pursuant to paragraph c) of Section 21.3.1. due to the physical impossibility of a person to exercise a right or privilege offered by the Park and Recreation Department, the City shall retain from the amount so refunded no more than One Dollar ($1.00) for administrative expenses; except, however, where the fee charged by the City for such exercise exceeds Ten Dollars ($10.00), the City shall retain for administrative expenses no more than Two Dollars ($2.00).

All requests for refunds shall be made in writing on forms provided for this purpose by the City. Such requests may be initiated either by an officer of the City or by the person claiming the refund.

In order to qualify for a refund under the provisions of this Article, claims must be filed not later than one hundred (100) calendar days from the date the money is collected or received by the City, except that where the claim for refund is based upon Section 21.3.1., the claim must be filed not later than one hundred (100) calendar days from the date on which the exercise of the right or privilege for which the money was paid was made illegal or physically impossible.

Any refunds payable under the provisions of this Article shall first be applied to pay any debt owed by the applicant to the City.