City of Oakland Property Leins - Sneaky fees Oakland, California

In the process of getting a refinance on my home, it was discovered that a Lien was placed on my property by the City of Oakland.  What?  You say, a lien?!  Upon further research, it is discovered that the lien came from Waste Management (city garbage service).  Here we go - let's see who passes the buck first...

Call Waste Management.  "OH MY", they say - "...this IS unfortunate.  I see here that you have a 12-year stellar bill pay history with us, but apparently 2 years ago you were one month late paying a bill.  The City takes ALL late bills and begins processing them - it's just something we have NO control over - and apparently they placed the lien on your property at that time, and added the fee to your Property Taxes (which you paid a year ago...)."  I say "So, the lien is still there..."  "Oh yes, you have to pay them to take it OFF."

Let's call the City of Oakland, shall we? "Yes, that will be a $50 Demand letter fee, to remove the Lien, and a $10 Notary fee for the paperwork."  Could someone have sent me a late bill, maybe, instead of all this? "Oh yes, you receive many notices (none of which, apparently, include stopping your service), and we give you 90 days before we place a lien" But Waste Management says the lien was placed within a month of delinquency? "Oh.  Hmm.  Well, it'll be a $60 fee to remove this lien."