South Pasadena Council directs staff to pursue collections, outreach after water and sewer delinquencies top $1.7 million

Summary

City staff told the council the utility enterprise has more than $1.7 million in past due water and sewer charges and recommended a phased collection strategy that would prioritize large commercial accounts, expand outreach to enroll eligible low‑income customers, and consider selling long‑inactive debt to collectors.

Alma Medina, assistant to the city manager, told the council at a Nov. 19 study session that the water and sewer enterprise currently shows roughly $1.7 million in delinquent accounts — up from $1.6 million when the report was prepared — made up of both active and inactive accounts across single‑family, multifamily, commercial and private‑fire accounts. “Tonight's study session will be a water and sewer fund overview in relation to our current billing delinquencies,” Medina said, explaining the constraints of Proposition 218 on rate setting, the city's existing low‑income 40% water‑rate reduction program and the availability of payment plans.

Staff said most of the largest dollar balances are concentrated in a small number of commercial accounts, and that long‑outstanding “5+ year” balances largely stem from the city’s 2019 transition from in‑house billing to a muni‑billing vendor. Medina told the council inactive…

South Pasadena Council directs staff to pursue collections, outreach after water and sewer delinquencies top $1.7 million

Summary

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