HomeMy Public PortalAboutOrd. 874 - Continuous Utility BillingORDINANCE NO. 874
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MCCALL, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE
STATE OF IDAHO, AMENDING TITLE VI -UTILITY SERVICES, OF THE CITY CODE,
MCC 6.4.150, TO IMPLEMENT CONTINUOUS UTILITY BILLING; PROVIDING FOR
EXEMPTIONS; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; REPEALING CONFLICTING
PROVISIONS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of McCall currently allows approximately 200 (and growing) seasonal
customers to tum services on or off at their discretion; and
WHEREAS, this practice by customers is becoming more common and is impacting the
operating revenue of the sewer and water funds; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council are cognizant of their duty to heed the well being and
best interests of the citizens of the City of McCall as a whole, and that sometimes such best
interest of the community as a whole will be in conflict with the interests of some individuals
residing in the community; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council desire to provide the best utility customer service
possible at the most reasonable rates attainable and believe it is their duty to take the necessary
actions to minimize losses and undue administrative costs caused by customers who tum
services on or off at their discretion; and
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2008 the City Council adopted Ordinance 855 authorizing the
issuance of sewer revenue bonds; and
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2008 the City Council adopted Resolution 08-10, setting the sewer
base rate to a rate that would make it possible for the City to pay the revenue bonds; and
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2009 Council directed staff to review the Sewer rate model to
determine if it would be possible to reduce the base rates; and
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2009 Council directed staff to pursue a code change to authorize
continuous utility billing; and
WHEREAS, on January 21, 2010 Council had a water/sewer rate model work session; and
WHEREAS, a Public Hearing was held on February 11, 2010 to hear public testimony
regarding continuous utility billing; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council desire to minimize service revenue losses from
accounts that have turned off service and is of the opinion that under certain conditions, to
mitigate such loss, it is reasonable for all service accounts to pay the base rate even when
service has been turned off; and
Ordinance No. 874
April 22, 2010
WHEREAS, some expenses related to the water and sewer utilities are not dependent upon
actual use of those utilities; and
WHEREAS, some expenses related to the water and sewer utilities are necessary in order to
maintain those utilities and allow them to be available when needed; and
WHEREAS, some of the expenses related to the water and sewer utilities are payments on
bonded indebtedness that do not change regardless of usage; and
WHEREAS, continuing to allow seasonal customers to tum off water service with resulting
non-collection of base water and sewer utility charges places an undue burden on other utility
customers and jeopardizes the City's ability to operate and maintain its water and sewer
utilities; and
WHEREAS, requiring all water and/or sewer utility customers to pay base rates, subject to
certain exemptions, will improve the financial viability of those utilities; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable to consider, on a case-by-case basis, an exemption for certain
classes of accounts, including irrigation-only accounts and accounts held by governmental
entities; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council believe it is in the best interest of all rate payers that
all rate payers pay the base water and/or sewer charges, subject to certain exemptions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of
McCall, Valley County, Idaho as follows:
Section 1.
Title 6, Chapter 4, Section 150 shall be amended to read as follows:
6.4.150: FEES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR TURNING ON/OFF WATER,
AND SEWER SERVICES CHA.RGE8 TURNING OFF 'Ni\.TER:
Whenever the owner of any premises connected with the city water supply system and/or
sewer collection system, or his their legally authorized agent, desires to begin sewer and/or
water service .. he the owner or agent shall notify the city treasl:1rer Utility Billiftg Specialist
City at least 48 hours in advance and pay a tum on fee in the amount set from time to time by
the city council by resolution and shall be charged the full monthly rate for the month in which
service begins. Whenever the owner of any premises connected with the city water supply
system or sewer collection system, and receiving such water sef\'ice and/or sewer services, or
his their legally authorized agent, desires to discontinue such service, he the owner or agent
shall notify the city treasl:1rer Utility BiUiftg Specialist City in writing at least 2 (two) days in
advance. A fee shall be charged for such turnoff in the amount set from time to time by the city
council by resolution .. and the full moftthly rate shall ae charged f'Qr the moftth ift 'lfhich service
is discofltiRl:1ed. Beginning when the water and/or sewer service is first turned on after April
Ordinance No. 874
April 22, 20 I 0
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22,2010 and during any subsequent time period in which sewer and/or water service is turned
off, there will be no reduction in the monthly water and sewer base charges.
Section 2.
Title 6, Chapter 4 shall be amended to add a new Section 151, to read as follows:
6.4.151: EXEMPTIONS
A water user which is also a public, governmental entity, or a water user with an account
which is for irrigation water only, may apply to the City for permission to temporarily suspend
water service and the associated monthly charges related thereto. If the City grants such
permission, the water user will pay a tum off fee, the water account and corresponding
wastewater account (if any) will be placed on hold, and monthly water and wastewater charges
shall be suspended until such time as the water user pays the tum-on fee and the water service
is restored to the water user's account. This section providing for exemptions shall expire on
July 1, 2013 and thereafter no exemptions will be granted.
Section 3. Severability.
This ordinance is hereby declared to be severable. Should a court of competent jurisdiction
declare any portion of this ordinance invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full
force and effect and shall be read to carry out the purpose(s) of the ordinance before the
declaration of partial invalidity.
Section 4. Effective Date.
This ordinance is effective immediately after its passage and publication as required by law.
PASSED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF McCALL, IDAHO, THIS 22
DA Y OF APRIL, 2010.
CITY OF McCALL
Valley County, Idaho
Ordinance No. 874
April 22, 2010
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