(A) Commencing October 1, 2017, the beginning of the current fiscal year, there is hereby levied upon every person, firm, partnership, corporation, municipality, or association engaged in the business of offering or providing electricity to the public in the city a franchise fee of 7% on the gross receipts resulting from the sale of electricity.
(B) On or before the last day of each month, said company providing electricity shall pay to the General Fund of the city 7% of the gross receipts as provided in division (A) above from the preceding month as a franchise fee. All late payments not paid within one month after the passage of the ordinance codified herein shall draw interest at the rate of 1% per month. After default for six months, a penalty of 5% shall be added in addition to the interest charges.
(C) All companies providing electricity on the last day of each month shall submit to the City Treasurer a full, complete, and detailed statement of the income and gross receipts from the sale of electricity. All such businesses shall at any reasonable times during business hours permit the city, through its officers, agents, or representatives, to inspect the books and records of any such business for the purpose of verifying such report or reports.
(D) The franchise fee levied and provided for by this section shall be paid to the City Treasurer, who shall, upon payment thereof, give a receipt, properly dated, and specifying the person paying the same, and the amount thereof, and the time for which the same takes effect. The Treasurer shall keep a record of the receipts so issued.
(E) It is hereby made the duty of any person, firm, partnership, corporation, and municipality or association desiring to exercise, conduct, or engage in any franchise within the provisions of this chapter, to pay to the City Treasurer the amounts specified for the franchise fee, as provided for in this chapter. The amount of the franchise fee shall be due and payable to the City Treasurer immediately after such person shall begin business in any franchise within the provisions of this chapter.
(F) The City Attorney may bring suit in the name of the city against any person, corporation, firm, partnership, municipality, or association in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of such fee levied by this chapter upon the failure of such person, corporation, firm, partnership, municipality, or association to pay the same as provided.
(Prior Code, § 3-817) (Ord. 2017-808, passed 8-21-2017)