(A) Payment of water bills. Water accounts are due when bills are rendered. Each and every bill rendered shall be plainly marked with a date after which a penalty as set forth in the city’s fee and fine schedule shall be added, and each bill shall be mailed or otherwise rendered to the consumer not less than ten days prior to such penalty date. If such bill has been not paid on or prior to such penalty date, said penalty shall be added and, thereafter, such bill shall not be considered paid unless and until the original amount plus the penalty is fully paid.
(B) Delinquency of water bills. When the water bill for any premises remains unpaid for ten days after the due date, such water account shall be deemed delinquent.
(C) Notice of delinquency. When a delinquency occurs, the city shall give written notice to the person, firm or corporation in whose name the account is registered in the records of the City Department of Municipal Services, and like notice shall be given by the city to the owner of the premises in connection with which such water was used, if such owner is other than the user and if his or her name and address is registered in the city’s records in the Department of Municipal Services. No notice to the owner is required if the owner’s name and address is not registered in the city’s records in the Department of Municipal Services.
(D) Form of notice of delinquency. The form of notice of delinquency as aforesaid shall be in such form as the Department of Municipal Services may from time to time prescribe and shall inform the person notified of the amount of the delinquency, and shall also inform such person that the water service
shall be discontinued if the delinquency continues to exist at the end of five days from the date of mailing of said notice.
(E) Right of appeal.
(1) Any water consumer whose account is delinquent as aforesaid, or any tenant whose water service is to be discontinued because of the delinquency of the owner of the premises wherein such tenant resides, may appeal the question of delinquency or make a request for independent service to theCity Administrator.
(2) TheCity Administrator or designee shall have the authority to make such decisions and to enter such orders as may be appropriate to resolve the appeal or request for independent service.
(F) Water to be shut off.
(1) In each case where delinquent water bills are not paid within the period established above and theCity Administrator or designee has not entered an order to the contrary, the water being furnished to such premises shall be shut off by the city and shall not thereafter be restored until such time as the delinquent bill is fully paid or a payment plan is executed by the party responsible for payment of the bill and is accompanied by a down payment to be determined by the City Administrator or designee, and a turn-on-fee as set forth in the city’s fee and fine schedule is paid in accordance with the payment plan agreed to by the parties.
(2) The payment plan shall require minimum monthly payments in an amount to be determined by the City Administrator or designee and applied to reduce the delinquency, plus an agreement to pay all future billings on a current basis. The payment plan shall also provide for immediate shut off and disconnection of water services to the premises without notice if the responsible party fails to comply with its term and provisions.
(3) If a default by the responsible party in performing pursuant to the terms of the payment plan occurs, water service will be terminated and shall not be restored until all outstanding amounts for water service are paid in full, the turn-on fee is paid as established by the city’s fee and fine schedule and an acceptable security deposit in an amount determined by the City Administrator or designee is made.
(4) The City Administrator or designee is authorized to establish guidelines for implementing the terms of this section.
(Prior Code, § 52.25) (Ord. 06-007, passed 1-24-2006; Ord. 2014-007, passed 2-11-2014; Ord. 2015-033, passed 11-10-2015; Ord. 2022-046, passed 8-23-2022)