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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-06-27; City Council; 10110; Amendment to Utility Billing9 z 0 z b 0 b u b 0 H a b a Ln 1-1 1 J% co b N I a, 00 ON 00 N z 0 v a J C± z Z v (a) CI' OF CARLSBAD — AGENr ` BILL �/ 0 AB# /O, //O TITLE: MTG. 6-27-89 DEPT.E i N AMENDMENT TO UTILITY BILLING RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution Nos. ? '.g/'/and clarifying the 10% late fee on $10.00 charge for posting Notice ITEM EXPLANATION: DEPT. HD.04 _ CITY A CITY MG . �9a.:rand Ordinance No. i✓s'77 utility accounts and adopting a of Water Service Termination. In April, 1988, the City Council adopted Resolution Nos. 88-138 and 88-139 and Ordinance No. NS-14, which approved a 10% late fee on overdue utility accounts. The Finance Department instituted the late charge on bills for the period ending August 15, 1989. After the first year of operating with the late fee, staff believes the Ordinance needs revisions for clarification. Also, because of limitations imposed by the billing cycle, staff recommends that the period for payment be reduced from 30 to 20 days. The items necessary for clarification result from a review of the Ordinance by the City Attorney's office. Previously, the Ordinance used the terms, "10% charge", 10% late charge" and "penalties" interchangeably. Further, the reconnection fee sometimes was referred to as a service charge. These items have been rectified in the proposed Ordinance. The intent of the Ordinance was to add a late charge on the subsequent bill if the customer has not paid. Bills usually are issued on the first of every month, allowing 28 to 31 days between billings. However, to issue the bills on the first, the bills must be entered into the system by the twenty-fifth, thereby necessitating a period of less than 30 days. Staff suggests that the Ordinance be changed to allow a payment period of 20 days. The majority of water customers pay within this time. Also, the water customer who have called our office accept the idea of a late fee and recognize the need for getting payment in within the processing cycle. The agenda bill that proposed the late fee contained an informational item concerning posting notice of water shut-off two days before the scheduled disconnection of service. This posting consists of a cardboard notice hung on the front door of the residence. The notice says that the property owner has until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday (i.e. the next day) to pay their water bill without being subject to a reconnection fee or service disconnection. The purpose of the door hangers is to cut down on the number of actual disconnections that had to be made. This goal was accomplished -- turn-offs averaged between 150-175 per month before the notices and are now between 29-59. However, staff has noticed that some residents consistently are waiting for the door hanger notice before paying their water bill, ignoring written notice that was delivered by mail the week before. Page Two of Agenda Bill No. 144" PO Other cities charge $10 for the posted notice. Staff recommends that Council adopt a $10 fee for posting notice of termination of water service. This agenda item does not include any rate increases for trash, sewer and/or water. FISCAL IMPACT: The clarifications within the Ordinance have no fiscal impact. The establishment of a fee for posting notice of termination could increase revenue by roughly $30,000.00. EXHIBITS: 1. Results on posting notices before water service termination. 2. Resolution No. g LA l'l adopting the revision of refuse collection rates for the City of Carlsbad. 3. Resolution No. d 9 -/-7 adopting the revision of water rates and changes for the City of Carlsbad. 4. Ordinance No. A/-S- %%amending Title 13, Chapter 13.12 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code by the amendment of Section 13.12.020 to adjust sewer service charges. i --A Number Notices Posted Number Water Shut -Offs July August 199 29 September 233 230 45 October 270 43 November 289 59 December 303 39 January 361 No shut-off February 287 71 March 53 April May 184 187 50 39 210 3/ EXHIBIT 1 3 11 I I ill 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 89-214 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COui�CIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, REVISING THE MONTHLY REFUSE COLLECTION RATES FOR THE CITY OF CARLSBAD WHEREAS, ti-e City of Carlsbad has contracted with Coast Waste Management, Incorporated for refuse collection services within the City; and WHEREAS, the city adopted Resolutions No. 8868, establishing rates for refuse collection services; and WHEREAS, the City adopted Resolution No. 6460 establishing a trash rate index to initiate rate negotiations, and evidence has been provided and verified that the index "trigger" has been exceeded. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the rate for once -a -week collection of residential refuse shall be a monthly charge of $7.60, an increase of 65 cents. 3. That the rate for once -a -week on premise collection of residential refuse shall be a monthly charge of $9.77, an increase of 84 cents. 4. That the monthly rates to be charged for commercial collections shall be: /// I S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19' 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 NUMBER OF PICKUPS PER WEEK No. of Bins 1 2 3 4 5 6 $47.95 $77.57 $107.20 $136.81 $166.44 $196.06 COMMERCIAL CAN STOPS 5. That the monthly charge for apartments and condominiums shall be: No. of Units 1 - 3 $7.60/Month per unit 4 - 5 7.09/Month per unit 6 or more 6.86/Month per unit 6. That the following rates shall apply to special pickups of refuse: a) Drag -on box services shall be charged at the rate of $27.50 delivery charge per box. The following dump charges apply to the following classes of drag -on boxes. A. (19 cu. yds. or less) $142.32 B. (20-29 cu. yds.) 161.32 C. (30-39 cu. yds.) 180.12 D. (40-49 cu. yds.) 196.56 (The above rates include the applicable dump fees.) Demurrage charges on drag -on boxes shall be $3.00 per day in the event the drag -on box is not dumped a minimum of one time a week. Customers requiring more than one dump from a drag -on box shall receive a refund of the original $27.50 delivery fees, this refund may be in the form of a credit against the customers accounts with the refuse collector. N ,I a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 121 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 b) Special pick-ups of items such as water heaters, washers, dryers. etc. shall be individually negotiated at a reasonable rate between collector and customer. Before any pick-up of such items is made, customer shall be notified of charges. 7. That a 10% late fee will be assessed against bills not paid within five days of the payment due date billed. 8. That the commercial rates established hereby shall be effective December 1, 1988. 9. That the residential rates established hereby shall be effective December 1, 1988. 10. That the rates and charges established buy this Resolution shall on their effective day supersede the rates previously established. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, held on the 27th day of June , 1989, and by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Pettine, Mamaux and Larson NOES: None j ABSENT: None G L UDE A. LEWIS, Mayor ATTEST: ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City C1 rk (SEAL) I 11 2 3 4 5 6 7' 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 89-215 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD REVISING WATER RATES AND CHANGES WHEREAS, Section 14.04.030 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code empowers the City Council to, from time to time, by resolution, adopt rules and regulations for the operation and maintenance of the Water Department of the City, and for furnishing water to users, and empowers the Council to, by resolution, modify rates, charges and penalties respecting water service. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the hereinafter stated regulations respecting water rates, charges, billing and related regulations shall become effective for all water billed after July 15, 1989. I. Generally. The schedules rates, compensations, charges and minimum charges as set out in this resolution are fixed and established as the rates, compensations, charges and minimum charges to be charged and collected by the City for domestic water and water service, except as otherwise specifically provided. II. Water Charges. a) There shall be a separate monthly water standby charge for each consumer; provided that there shall be only one monthly standby charge for each equivalent dwelling unit, each agricultural and individual consumer, and each institutional consumer as follows: For a 5/8" meter $ 4.40 For a 3/4" meter $ 4.40 For a I" meter $ 5.45 For a 1 1/2" meter $ 5.90 For a 2" meter $ 6.40 For a 3" meter $12.30 For a 4" meter $15.40 For a 6" meter $15.40 For a 8" meter $23.70 10 11 12 13 14I15 16 17 18 19( 20 21 22 23 24, 25 26 27 28 3. (I) When one meter serves multiple dwelling U1111ts or multiple equivalent dwelling units, 2 the first unit shall pay the unit rate based on the above schedule and all other units bl shall pay $2.53 for each additional multiple residential unit. (2) In the event no water is used through the meter or the property becomes vacant, the monthly standby charge will be charged and paid by the owner thereof. b) The rates to be charged for potable water suppl ied in any one month through meters are as follows: All consumers $.98/100 cubic feet c) All agricultural consumers who meet the Metropolitan Water District Southern California requirements for agricultural consumers receive a pro -rate share of the agricultural rebate the City receives monthly from the Costa Real Municipal Water District. d) There shall be a monthly charge of five dollars Per month for all water connections supplying non - metered water for fire sprinkler purposes. All maintenance or repairs to °ire service systems from the water main to the be off valve shall be paid for the consumer and shall be charged on the regular water billing. All fire service systems shall be equipped with a meter by-pass which shall be paid for and installed at the consumer's expense. In the event water is served through the fire service system, the City Water Department and the Fire Department shall estimate the amount of water used and the regular charge therefore shall be put on the customer's bill and shall be paid by the consumer. e) A monthly fee of one dollar shall be paid for each five rooms in any hotel, rooming house or motel, in which no cooking is allowed. f) A monthly fee shall be charged for each individual living unit contained in any motor court, motel, hotel or rooming house or other transient type habitat which allows cooking in rooms in the amount of $.70 in addition to other charges established. 9) A reconnection charge of twenty dollars ( will be assessed for the restoration of service after it has been terminated for non-payment or is scheduled to be terminated within the next 24 hour period. 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19j 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 h) A late fee of 10% of the billed amount will be assessed if the bill is not paid within 20 days of the date billed. i) A charge of $10.00 will be assess if the bill remains unpaid and the City posts a notice of termination at the address. III. Payment or Bills All water bills are due and payable at the C,ty Nall of the City of Carlsbad upon presentation and are delinquent if not paid within five days of the payment due date billed. Delinquent bills will be assessed a 10% late fee. IV. Meter Reading, - Water District. For convenience in the reading of meters and preparation of water bills, the department is expressly authorized to divide the City into districts. These dictrirtc may, from time to time, be revised or changed as necessary or desirable, in order to equalize the work of reading meters and billing. The meters in each district so established shall be read and water bills based on such meter readings, shall be prepared and mailed to the consumers in each district on approximately the same day of each and every month, except when Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays intervene. V. Bills - Mailings. Unless the applicant for water service directs otherwise, all bills will be mailed to the premises whe-e service is furnished. VI. Change of Ownership or Occupancy Notification. It shall be the duty of every person signing an application for water delivery and of every owner of property to which water is delivered to notify the Water Department of any change in the ownership or occupancy of the premises to which the water is to be furnished at least two days prior to such change. Every applicant shall be liable for the water furnished and metered in accordance with application until the Water Department receives written notice to cancel same and shut off the water 1 when the applicant's liability shall cease exce t 2 previous to such notice. EverP as to water used y owner of property is liable for water 3 furnished to any premises he has rented in the event t 4 pay the water bill, he tenant does not Water service shall not be given to any consumer upon 5 change of address until all delinquent charges owed b 6 former place of residence or business Y the consumer at a 7 Hall be paid. VII. Terminatin Accounts New Accounts - Char a for Turni 8 Water On or Off. Regulation of water service; turnin on n 9 supply, A ten dollar g and off of water ($10.00) charge will be made incident to the closing 10 of an account. A ten dollar ($10,00) charge will be made b 11 department for turning on the water supplyY the 1opening 2 incident to the o when requested by the consumer P 9 of a new account. 13 VIII. Non- a ment - Service Discontinuance. In the event that 14 any consumer shall be delinquent in the payment of his 15 department shall have the right forthwith to discontinue water bill, the 16 the premises of such delinquent consumer. A rewater service to connection charge of twenty 17 dollars ($20.00) will be assessed. Water shall not again be supplied to 18 him until all delinquent water service charges, plus t 191 reconnection charges, bhe late fees and 9 been paid. 20 IX. Restorin Service After Discontinuance 21 restoring service after delinquency - Procedures for q y period. If water service is cut off 22 or discontinued for failure to pay delinquent bills 23 again be established only in the event the consumer or the service may 24 service at such lace he applicant for P pays all delinquent bills, reconnection charges and 25 late fees, and makes such cash deposit as may be required 26 Department, q ed by the Water 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8', 91 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 When an owner or consumer has been delinquent in his water bills twice in succession or three times in any one calendar year, he shall be required to deposit a sum equal to an average two month's water bill upon such premises and pays, in addition thereto, the sum of twenty dollars ($2O.00) for turning on the water supply. Thereupon and not otherwise will water service again be made or established to the premises where the water bill has been delinquent. X. The Rates and Charges established by this resolution shall on their effective day supersede the rates established by Resolution No. 88-138. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED, by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 27th day of June , 1989, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Pettine, Mamaux and Larson NOES: None ASSENT: None UDE A. LEWIS,' Mayor ATTET• ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City Clerk (SEAL) { 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ORDINANCE NO. NS-77 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA AMENDING TITLE 13, CHAPTER 13.12 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 13.12.020 TO ADJUST SEWER SERVICE CHARGES. WHEREAS the City Council of the City of Carlsbad does, from time to time, establish sewer service fees to support the City's sewer maintenance operations; and WHEREAS, from time to time it is necessary to adjust sewer service fees to continue to cover operating costs; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Carlsbad does ordain as follows: SECTION 1: That Title 13, Chapter 13.12 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment of Section 13.12.020 to read as follows: 13.12.020 Sewer Service Charges Established. All persons whose premises in the City are served by a connection to the City sewer system whereby sewage or other waste material is disposed of through such system shall pay a sewer service charge as established by this section: MONTHLY SEWER 1. Residential SERVICE CHARGE A. For each single family dwelling $ 7.30 B. For each unit a duplex, flat, apartment, court, multiple dwelling, mobile home complex or trailer court 7.30 2. Commercial & Industrial A. For each unit of a motel, hotel, rooming, lodging or boarding house, ten units or less 2.90 ' - each additional unit over ten 2.20 - each unit with kitchen facilities 7.30 B. Bakeries, markets with disposals, mortuaries and restaurants 14.25 C. Schools and all other commercial uses not listed above 7.30 1 Z. N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28,1 MONTHLY SEWER SERVICE CHARGE D. Car washes, wash racks, laundries and other enterprises where water is the primary commodity to carry on said business and said water is discharged $7.30 per EDU into the sanitary sewer system. 0.56 per ea. 100 cubic feet E. Each enterprise where water is the primary commodity to carry on said business and said water characteristics exceed the sewer 0.72 x (180 + service area average for suspended solids (S.S.) [S-S.) - 360) F. For each unit of an office of commercial building or any establishment having facilities for trailers, campers, or boats 7.30 3. Late Charge A. Any bill outstanding five days after payment due date shall be assessed a ten percent (10%) late charge fee. EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective for the billing period beginning July 15, 1989, and the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and cause it to be published at least once in the Carlsbad Journal within fifteen (15) days after its adoption. INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the 27th day of June , 1989, and thereafter PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the llth day of July , 1989 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Pettine, Mamaux and Larson NOES: None ABSENT: None I/UDZEA. LEWIS, Mayor ATTEST: AA ,�° � ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City Cler (SEAL)