Opening and closing statements for less than the normal billing period shall be prorated. If the total period for which service is rendered is less than one month, the bill shall not be less than the monthly minimum charge applicable. For purposes of expediency, closing bills may be estimated for the final period to permit the customer to pay the closing bill at the time service is discontinued.
(Prior code § 14.65.002; Ord. 94-1 § 1, 1994)
Statements for service shall be rendered at the end of each billing period. Statements shall be payable upon presentation. If payment is not received within 20 days of the billing date a ten percent late fee will be added to the billing. If payment is not received within 60 days of the billing date, service shall be discontinued. A reconnection charge and additional penalties will be imposed and collected prior to renewing service following a discontinuance. The amount of the fees are established by resolution of the council.
(Prior code § 14.65.003; Ord. 94-1 § 1, 1994)
Separate bills will be rendered for each service connection or meter installation except where the city has, for its own convenience, installed two or more meters in place of one meter. Where such installation is made the meter readings will be combined for billing purposes.
(Prior code § 14.65.004; Ord. 94-1 § 1, 1994)
In case any such charges remain unpaid at the time specified for fixing the tax rate of the city, if the property is owned, controlled or in the possession of the same person who owned, controlled or was in possession of it during the time such charges were incurred, or if the only transfers made of the property since the date such charges were incurred have been transfers by gifts, descent, or devise, the amount due for such charges may be added to and become a part of the annual taxes levied against the land served by the city facilities. Such charges so added constitute a lien on the land. If the taxes are divided and made payable in two installments, the unpaid charges may be added to and become a part of the first installment. The council shall include in the statement of tax rate transmitted to the tax authorities the amount of such charges to be levied against the land served, which amount shall be included in the tax bill.
(Prior code § 14.65.007; Ord. 94-1 § 1, 1994)
In addition to all other charges of the city, the following deposits and fees shall be imposed and collected upon the opening of any account with the city for water services provided by the city.
A. 
Deposit. Upon the opening of any account with the city for water services provided by the city, there shall be deposited with the city, by the person opening the account, or on his or her behalf, an amount equal to twice the average monthly service charge for such water service. The average monthly service charge for such water service shall be computed based upon the average monthly service charge for the premises during the 12 month period preceding the opening of the account. The public works director shall, where applicable, identify those new accounts in which the historical water use of the premises for which the service is requested is not comparable to the projected water use for the premises. For such accounts, the average monthly service charge for purposes of computing the deposit shall be based upon the average of the average monthly service charge during the 12 month period preceding the opening of the account of that class of users within the city whose water use is comparable to the use proposed by the new account holder. The public works director shall, where applicable, determine the users which shall constitute the class of users for purposes of determining the amount of the deposit. Such determination shall, generally, be based upon the projected water use taking into account the size of the premises and nature of the use.
B. 
Application of Deposit. Such deposits shall be held by the city to secure payment of the charges incurred for such account. Should any sums be owing to the city for services provided on such account upon termination of such account, the city may apply the deposit to the amount owing, refunding the balance, if any, to the account holder. Should the application of the deposit to the amount owing not fully satisfy the account, the application thereof by the city shall not alter or diminish any other legal remedies that the city may have against the account holder for satisfaction of the balance due.
C. 
Refund of Deposit. The full amount of the deposit shall be refunded to the account holder after 12 consecutive months of services provided without the imposition of a delinquent charge. If, after the deposit is refunded, a valid termination notice is issued by the city, to the account, a new deposit shall be imposed and collected in an amount computed in accordance with the provision of this chapter. Payment of the deposit shall be due on or before the last day of the month following the date of the notice of the imposition of the deposit. In the event the deposit or any part thereof remains unpaid 30 days after the date of the notice, water services shall be discontinued and a turn-on fee established by resolution of the council shall be imposed and collected prior to resuming service.
D. 
Right to Appeal. Should the determination of the public works director as to the class of users, projected use, applicable deposit, or other determination under this ordinance be contested, the party responsible for the premises shall have the right to request review of such determination by the public works director, and if not satisfied after such review, may appeal such determination by filing a written appeal with the city clerk in conformance with Chapter 13.44 of this title.
E. 
New Account Set-Up Fee. Prior to the opening of any new account for water services provided by the city, an account set-up fee as established by resolution of the council shall be imposed and collected from the person opening the account.
(Prior code § 14.65.008; Ord. 94-1 § 1, 1994)