A. Sanitation Rates: The council by way of resolution shall set the monthly rates for sanitation services provided by the city. The sanitation rates may be adjusted annually effective July 1 of each year based on May to May consumer price index for all urban consumers ("CPI-U") or the findings of a cost of service study by resolution of council.
B. Service Fee Payable To City: Unless sanitation service is terminated as described in subsection 10-5B of this article, the rate which constitutes the sanitation service fee shall be payable to the city by every person for every single-family residence and multi-family residential dwelling unit, building or property that is purchased, owned, leased, used or occupied from which an activity is carried on which generates refuse, upon which refuse is found or which is connected to a water source of any type, irrespective of whether or not refuse services are being utilized if city sanitation services are available.
C. Account Activation Fee: A nonrefundable activation fee will be charged for the activation of any utility account. No more than one activation fee will be required when the customer is signing up for multiple utility services with the city, at one location, at the time of the initial application.
D. Security Deposit: A refundable deposit in an amount to be set by resolution of council may be charged for activation of sanitation services. Such deposit shall be retained by the city as security for payment of future utility service charges until all utility services are terminated and the account is closed with the outstanding balance on all utility accounts paid in full. Upon receipt of a written request from the applicant, the city manager may waive the deposit required under this section if during the preceding eighteen (18) months the applicant's payment history with any public utility or government entity evidences that the applicant has timely paid their bills for twelve (12) consecutive months. The customer's deposit may be returned to the customer if there have been no late utility payments during the prior twelve (12) months on the customer's account.
E. New Deposit: In the event a customer's deposit has been previously refunded or waived, the finance director may require a new deposit as a condition of continued service in the event the customer fails to pay the charges required, when each bill is due and payable for any three (3) billing periods within a twelve (12) month period. The three (3) billing periods need not be consecutive.
F. Monetary Amounts Set By Resolution: All fees, charges, rates, penalties and deposits referenced in this chapter shall be set by resolution of council.
G. Owner Guarantee: A property owner may pay the deposit required for utility services on behalf of a tenant, or the deposit may be waived on behalf of a tenant, if the property owner meets the waiver requirement set forth in this section, and if, in either situation, the property owner agrees to be financially responsible for the payment of any and all unpaid amounts due for utility services provided to the tenant and the tenant consents to the city's disclosure of the tenant's utility account information to the property owner. (Ord. 15-848, 11-23-2015)