(a) The City shall establish and maintain an administrative appeal procedure by which individual users may be heard regarding the reasonableness of charges levied upon them.
(b) A two step administrative dispute and appeal procedure shall provide for the following:
(1) Dispute provisions.
A. If a dispute should arise in regard to the user charge due, a notice shall be filed in the Water Department within twenty-five days of the billing mailing date.
B. A notice of dispute filed after the first fifteen day period shall not relieve the user of a five percent (5%) addition on an adjusted amount.
C. Filing a notice of dispute shall entitle the user to a hearing before an officer of the Collections Department as designated by the Service Director within fifteen days of the notice of filing.
D. If the dispute is not resolved to the satisfaction of the user, then each user has the right to file an appeal to the Service Director.
(2) Appeal provisions.
A. Within twenty-two days of the notice of filing, each user shall have the opportunity for written presentation and the right to have financial or legal counsel participate in such presentation to an Appeals Board appointed by the Mayor.
B. Each appeal shall be decided promptly, which decision shall either uphold the original determination or allow adjustment and/or repayment.
C. Each appeal decision shall include a written statement of reasons on which the decision is based.
D. Repayment shall be made, within ten days, of any amounts which are determined to be due the user or the City resulting from a ruling from the Appeals Board regarding the sanitary sewer charges provided under Section 924.07 et seq.
(Ord. 103(84-85). Passed 9-20-84.)