5a. Adoption of Ordinance, Chapter 19 - Water, Sewer and Sewage Disposal4
CI1'II OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
MEMORANDUM
TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM: Greg Sticha, Finance Director
DATE: December 13, 2010 '0
SUBJ: Adoption of Ordinance, Chapter 19, Chanhassen City Code
Water, Sewer and Sewage Disposal
PROPOSED MOTION
"The Chanhassen City Council adopts the attached ordinance amending
Chapter 19 of the Chanhassen City Code concerning Utility Billing."
City Council approval requires a simple majority vote.
BACKGROUND
This issue was presented to City Council at a work session on November 8, 2010.
DISCUSSION
• The purpose of this amendment is to:
o change billing process requiring City utility bills to be sent to property
owners only
• change the invoice due date from the 20` to the 20 of the following
month, as has been shown on the utility bills
• allow monthly billing for those customers who opt into electronic
billing and auto - withdrawal (ACH)
The benefits for these changes are:
• eliminating the time and money spent to process final bills when
tenants change in rental properties; sometimes three (or more) finals
are processed on a property each year
• reducing the need for the City to assist the property owner in collecting
past due water bills from past tenants
• coordinating the due date in the ordinance to match what has been the
standard on the City utility bills
• gives customers the option to budget their household expenses better
by receiving monthly bills
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Mr. Todd Gerhardt
December 13, 2010
Page 2
o customers who opt -in for monthly billing helps reduce the City's time
and money spent on printing, mailing (postage), and receipting bills
each month
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the attached ordinance amending
Chapter 19 of the Chanhassen City Code.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance Amending Chapter 19, Chanhassen City Code.
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CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19
OF THE CHANHASSEN CITY CODE
CONCERNING UTILITY BILLING
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN ORDAINS:
SECTION 1 . Section 19 -29 paragraphs (b) and (c) of the Chanhassen City Code are
amended to read as follows:
(b) A water usage account shall be maintained in the name of each property
owner connected to the City's water system. The city clerk shall prepare and
mail to the owner per of each premises connected to the City's water
system a statement for water usage furnished thereto during the preceding
quarter. All state s h a h r i f the wate eensum and t h e c - ges then -e fee,
Upon the request of a property owner the City will bill monthly if the
customer provides an automated deposit into the City's account and agree to
receive bills electronically.
(c) The city clerk shall compute the amount due to the city for water charges and
render a quarterly statement thereof. All amounts due as shown on the invoice
shall be payable at the municipal building on or before the 24M 21st day of the
following month in which the st atement invoice is p r-esented issued. A penalty of
ten percent shall be added to all accounts that are not paid in full by said due date.
This penalty shall be computed on the unpaid balance not paid by the appropriate
due date at the time each quarterly statement is prepared and presented. The city
reserves the right to shut off water service if the account is delinquent for an
unreasonable length of time as determined by the city.
SECTION 2 . Section 19 -51 paragraphs (b) and (c) of the Chanhassen City Code are
amended to read as follows:
(b) A sewer usage account shall be maintained in the name of each property
owner connected to the City's sanitary sewer system. The city clerk shall
prepare and mail to the owner, eeeupant of lessee of each consumer premises
connected with the sanitary sewer system a statement for sewer usage services
furnished thereto during the preceding quarter. The quarterly billings will be
based on winter quarter water usage unless that consumption proves inaccurate,
then actual quarterly usage measurements shall be employed. Charges for
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individuals connected to sewer but not water shall be billed on an assumed usage
rate. Upon the request of a property owner the City will bill monthly if the
customer provides an automated deposit into the City's account and agrees
to receive bills electronically.
(c) The city clerk shall compute the amount due to the city for sewage charges and
render a quarterly statement thereof. All amounts due as shown on the st atemen t
invoice shall be payable at the municipal building on or before the twin 21st
day of the following month in which the statement invoice is pr-esente d issued. A
penalty of ten percent shall be added to all accounts that are not paid in full by the
due date. This penalty shall be computed on the unpaid balance not paid by the
appropriate due date at the time each quarterly statement is prepared and
presented.
SECTION 3 . Section 19 -205 of the Chanhassen City Code is amended to read as
follows:
Suffaee - water- management fees shall be involved quarter-ly. A surface water
management account shall be maintained in the name of each property owner. The
city clerk shall prepare and mail to the property owner the City's surface water
management fee statement. Fees shall be involved quarterly. The amount due as
shown on the invoice shall be payable on or before the twentieth 21st day of the
following month in which the invoice is issued. A penalty of ten percent per quarter shall
be added to all accounts that are not paid in full by the due date. The penalty shall be
computed on the unpaid balance not paid by the due date at the time each quarterly
statement is prepared. Any prepayment or overpayment of charges shall be retained by
the city and applied against subsequent fees. Upon request of the property owner the
City will bill monthly if the property owner provides an automated deposit into the
City's account and agree to receive bills electronically.
SECTION 4 . This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2010, by the City Council
of the City of Chanhassen, Minnesota.
ATTEST:
Todd Gerhardt, Clerk/Manager Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on , 2010.)
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