CR 97-218 Utility Billing Ordinance ChangesNovember 25, 1997
G ~'
i
h 9
O P K \ ~
Council Report 97-218
Utility Billing Ordinance Changes
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve for first reading,
the changes proposed to Ordinance No. 715.21 and Ordinance No. 605.04.
Adoption of this motion will result in the first reading of the ordinance's being changed,
and will enable staff to begin the process for changing city policy for collection of
delinquent bills and subsequent assessment.
Overview
The city council adopted penalties for water, sewer and storm water, delinquent utility
billings. There is currently no penalty for delinquent refuse charges, which are also a
part of the utility bills. Staff would like to include a 10% penalty for delinquent refuse
payments. This will provide consistent application of our penalty to all utilities across
the board and will streamline our billing process. In addition, city council adopted a $50
service charge for placing a shut off door tag on a premise. Staff would like to eliminate
this process and eliminate the fees associated with this. We have determined that this
process is not cost effective. We will continue to send out one reminder notice for
delinquent bills.
Primary Issues to Consider
o Minimal increase on penalties assessed by including refuse in calculation
o Elimination of $50 service fee and also elimination of labor costs associated
with performing this task.
o Changes to utility bill collection process to eliminate shut off door tag
distribution.
Supporting, Information
o Ordinances
Post-it® Fax Note 767t
To -
Co./Dept
Phone #
. Yager Fes`" - ? 02
Finance Director
Hopkins City Code
605.09. Subdivision 1. Charges for Collection by the City. The charges for all
collection service performed by or contracted for the City shall be charged by and
paid to the City upon billing at rates as set forth by council resolution. Property
owners shall be liable to the City for all bills accruing through the use of refuse
services provided to that property whether the same be personally used by said
property owner, or the property owners renter, or lessee, or any other occupant of
the premises. The fee(s) for basic service shall be charged to all property owners
within the City Service Area whether or not service is used unless service is
canceled through notification of the city's finance department. Terms of which are
governed by the rules, regulations and procedures designated by the City. (Amended
Ord. No. 92-707)
Subd. 2. Due Dates. Refuse charges are due and payable on the due date stated
on the periodic city utility bill. Each billing for refuse which is not paid when
due, shall incur a 10& penalty charge on the current billed amount.
605.05. Prohibitions. Subdivision 1. Unauthorized dumpin The dumping,
depositing, placing or abandoning of any garbage, rubbish, hazardous waste, problem
materials, yard waste, junk, junk cars or parts thereof, animal wastes or remains, or
any other refuse on any private or public property, except the lawful storage of such
materials in authorized waste receptacles as permitted by the Chapter 605, is
prohibited. (Amended Ord. No. 90-685)
Subd. 2. Open storage prohibited. No person shall cause, maintain or permit
any Open Storage with the City of Hopkins for more than 72 hours, except that the
storage of building materials and equipment, such as pipe, lumber, forms, metal
parts, machinery and equipment is permitted at constructions sites during the period
of actual construction as evidenced by the records of the Inspections Department of
the City of Hopkins.
Subd. 3. Littering Prohibited. No person shall:
a) throw, allow or deposit any refuse in or upon any public place such as a
street, sidewalk, park, or private premise, or any other place within the
City except in public receptacles or other authorized waste disposal
containers;
b) place such refuse in any public or private receptacles in such a manner
that it can readily be blown or scattered by the elements to any public
or private property;
e) sweep or allow the sweepings of any such refuse into any gutter, street
or other public place from any building, lot, sidewalk or driveway;
d) allow or permit, scatter, place or abandon any refuse upon any private
property, whether occupied, controlled or owned by such person, or upon
property of any other except that such matter may be deposited in
authorized receptacles, as hereinabove provided;
e) operate, drive or move any vehicle anywhere in the City from which the
contents, load, debris, dirt, mud, refuse, is or is likely to be blown
dropped or otherwise deposited or scattered upon any public or private
property;
Hopkins City Code (Rev. 8/92) 715.17
715.17. Service disconnections. Failure to pay any account on or before the
due date, or the failure to maintain any deposit as hereinabove required or the
failure to secure and file a written guarantee as provided in 715.15 is
sufficient cause or reason to disconnect city water service to any such customer
or premises.
715.19. Unpaid charges. Unpaid city utility bills shall be certified to the
county director of property taxation for collection as other charges pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes, section 944.075, subdivision 3, and council resolution 82-
3039 as amended from time to time. The owner o£ the property shall be liable to
the city for all bills accruing through the use of water and sewer facilities
upon his premises whether the same be personally used by him or his renter or
lessee or other occupant of the premises. (Amended Ord. #92-712)
715.23. Inspections. The manager or designee shall have the right of access
at all reasonable hours of the day to enter any and all parts of any home,
dwelling or other premises for the purpose• of examining sewer and water
connections, including meter reading, repairs, disconnections and any other
related purpose. (Amended Ord. #92-712)
Section 715 3
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE 97-808
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FEES FOR
UTILITY BILLING
WHEREAS, the city currently assesses penalties for delinquent water, sewer, and
storm sewer payments, and;
WHEREAS, the city does not currently assess the same penalties for delinquent
refuse payments, and;
WHEREAS, to do so would provide consistency to all utility billing practices, and;
WHEREAS, complying with the provisions of Section 715.21 is administratively
cumbersome and not cost effective,
NOW THEREFORE, based on these findings, the City Council of the City of
Hopkins, Minnesota does hereby ordain:
Section 1; That the Hopkins City Code 605.04 be amended by the addition of
subdivision 2. Due Dates. Refuse charges are due and oavable on the due date stated
on the periodic city utility bill. Each billina for refuse which is not said when due, shall
incur a 10% aenalty charge on the current billed amount.
Section 2: That the Hopkins City Code be amended by removing Section 715.21 in its
entirity.
Section 3: The effective date of this ordinance shall be twenty days after publication.
First Reading December 2, 1997
Second Readirig December 16, 1997
Date of Publication December 24, 1997
Effective Date of Ordinance January 13, 1998
Charles Redepenning, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
Approve as to Form and Legality
City Attorney Date