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Home My WebLink AboutORD 2007-78 - Collection & DisconnectionWHEREAS, The City of Georgetown last updated its collection and disconnection policies in 2003; and WHEREAS, The City of Georgetown now has inter -local agreements with Jonah Water Special Utility District and Chisholm Trail Special Utility District; and WHEREAS, The City of Georgetown wishes to implement utility policies that are reasonable and fair, without being cumbersome; and WHEREAS, The City of Georgetown wishes to implement utility policies that assure financial responsibility and act as a deterrent to non-payment of utility bills; and on and WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to amend the current utility policies, effective on all utility accounts on and after November 1, 2007. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED N-.5 B COUNCIL •O. GEORGETOWN, SECTION 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance implements Finance Policy End 4.0 of the Century Plan - Policy Plan Element, which states: "The City will conduct all municipal operations in an efficient business -like manner and sufficient financial resources for both short-term and long-term needs are provided," and further finds that the enactment of this ordinance is not inconsistent or in conflict with any other Century Plan Policies, as required by Section 2.03 of the Administrative Chapter of the Policy Plan. SECTION 2. Article VII "MISCELLANEOUS" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown, Texas is hereby amended to read as follows: A. Payments shall be considered timely and not delinquent if the payment is received prior to the due date (15 days following the billing date for service), e .+ or payment is received in the overnight depository by 8:00 a.m. the following day, When the said due date falls on a weekend or a legal City holiday, such time for payment shall be extended to the next business day. B. When payment is not received by the due date, a ten percent penalty will be added to the account, and a final notice will be mailed. if payment is not received within ten days following the due date (or the next business day, if a weekend or City holiday,) a Field Customer Service Representative (FCSR) will be 0". cW671lLIM Collection and Disconnection Fees and Policies Page 1 of 3 dispatched to the location to disconnect the utility service. An additional $30.00 service charge will be added to the account at this time, and for each subsequent trip, whether the meter is disconnected, a notice is delivered, or a field collection of payment is received by the FCSR. If the account is disconnected, the customer will be required to pay the account in full, by cash, credit card, or money order, before services will be reconnected. in addition, the customer may be required to make the standard utility deposit pursuant to Section 13.04.230. C. After a utility bill has been mailed to the address provided by the customer for that account, the customer is responsible for payment. If the customer has not received a bill, the customer is responsible for obtaining the amount of the bill from the Utility Office and for making timely payment. D. Exceptions to Service 1. Utility customers that do not have water and electric service through the City, but do have unmetered City services; including, but not limited to garbage, wastewater, and stormwater drainage, may have their water or electric service disconnected by their non -City provider through an inter -local agreement between the City and that entity, if payment for their City utility account is not received by the 10` day following the due date on the utility bili (or the next business day, if a weekend or City holiday.) 2. A hand delivered final notice will be provided to past due City utility customers on the 10th day following the due date (or the next business day, if a weekend or City holiday) informing them that a disconnection of utilities has been scheduled with their non -City provider of the utility, and that they have 24 hours to pay the past due balance to the City or the disconnection will be completed. If the account is disconnected, the customer will be required to pay the account in full, by cash, credit card, or money order, before services will be reconnected. Rules and times of reconnection will be determined by the entity performing the reconnection of utilities. 01919F��• •- A. New account or transfer account charge $30.00. In order to transfer utilities from one location to another, any outstanding bill on the current account must be paid prior to trans€er. The final bill for the original account will be transferred to and payable on the due date of the new account. B. After hour connect / reconnect charge at customer's request: $50.00. This charge is in addition to any other charges already accrued, and is applicable to utility meter connects and reconnects taking place any time other than regular business hours (Monday — Friday, 8:00 AM — 5:00 PM,) including weekends and City holidays. C. Exceptions / Fees 1. Disconnection by Non -City entity: Determined by entity disconnecting utility service. Payment is to be made to the City, in addition to the Final Notice Fee and past due balance. The City will reimburse the Non - City entity for the Disconnection Fee. 2, Late Penalty Waiver a. A customer who is 60 years of age or older may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the #Rpa 20, 1 disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. Age must be verifiable. Waiver applies only to the account holder or their spouse. b. An industrial or larger customer, with an existing contract or development agreement with the City, may enter into an additional contract with the City to waive late penalties in return for specific payment arrangements. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. c. A customer who is disabled, as authorized by the Federal Social Security Administration, may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non- payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. A customer's disabled status must be verified by an Award Letter from the Social Security Administration. Waiver applies only to the account holder or their spouse. SECTION 3. All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and resolutions, in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any force and effect. SECTION 4. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to attest. This ordinance shall become effective and be in full force on all utility accounts on and after November 1, 2007. PASSED AND APPROVED on First Reading on the 251h day of September 2007. PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the 9th day of October 2007. ATTEST: THE CITY OF Sandra D. Lee By: City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Patricia Carls, City Attorney 0jq401 Collection and Disconnection Fees and Policies `_•- of 3