(a) Monthly Payments. The monthly consolidated utility bills authorized pursuant to this Chapter shall be paid on or before the due date indicated on such bill, which date shall not be less than fifteen (15) days from the date of billing. The due date for all monthly utility bills, and for those accounts paid quarterly, as authorized by divisions (b) and (c) of Section 1030.01
, shall be established by the Finance Director and set forth in the Utility Billing Rules and Regulations.
(b) Returned Items Handling Fee.
(1) There is hereby established a returned item handling fee, as set forth in the City's Fee Schedule, Appendix A to the City Government Code. Said returned item fee shall be added to the customer's utility bill as a handling charge when a check or automated clearing house (ACH) transaction submitted as payment for a utility bill is not honored for any reason by the bank on which it is drawn. The Finance Director may recommend adjustments to said returned item fee to the City Council as needed.
(2) If the payment that was returned was made to avoid disconnection or to be reconnected, water utility and/or sanitary sewer utility services shall be disconnected immediately. The returned item handling fee must be paid, in addition to the full amount of the returned payment in order for services to be reconnected.
(c) Extension of Time to Pay Utility Bill. The Finance Director is hereby authorized to grant an extension of time for the full payment of a utility bill, not to exceed forty-five (45) calendar days from the due date, in cases of indigency, poor relief and similar conditions. Such extensions may be granted per utility account but no more than two (2) extensions shall be granted to the same account per calendar year. Any such extensions shall be granted in accordance with the Utility Billing Rules and Regulations.
(Ord. 84-35. Adopted 07/12/84; Ord. 89-78. Adopted 11/21/89; Ord. 06-12. Adopted 01/26/06; Ord. 08-52. Adopted 08/14/08; Ord. 09-79. Adopted 11/24/09; Ord. 2023-38. Adopted 12/28/23; Em. Ord. 2024-01. Adopted 02/08/24; Ord. 2024-02. Adopted 02/22/24)