Council approves notice and two‑week review after Perry Apartments falls behind on water payments

City staff told the council on April 14 that Perry Apartments has two utility accounts with large outstanding balances and limited owner responsiveness. "They have 2 accounts with us. One of them is $9,000 past due," staff (speaker 6) said during the meeting.

Staff described repeated attempts to contact the landlord and on-site manager, delivery of certified notices, and unsuccessful calls. As a result, staff recommended posting notices on tenant doors to inform residents that water service could be cut off during daytime hours if the owner does not resolve the account within one week. Council members emphasized the harms to tenants and asked staff to include state complaint contacts in the notice; staff said the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services only assists tenants, and DBPR could not act in this case.

Council agreed to post notices and to revisit the matter in two weeks to determine whether to proceed with a daytime shutoff. Staff said the two accounts together average about $1,800 per month in charges and that some recent payments had been returned, creating additional arrears. The council asked staff to include contact information for tenant remedies and to coordinate outreach prior to any disconnection.

Why it matters: Cutting water service to occupied rental housing raises public-health and tenant‑rights concerns; council balanced enforcement and tenant protection by approving notices, allowing two weeks for resolution, and limiting any shutoff to daytime hours.

Next steps: Staff will post notices, include state complaint information, and return to council in two weeks with an update.