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Council reviews draft utility-billing ordinance updates on shutoffs and after-hours fee
Summary
Staff reviewed proposed amendments to the utility code to align shutoff rules with state law for heat emergencies, add an after-hours service fee (draft lists $30) and clarify billing for accounts shut off for delinquency; staff said fee language can be clarified and returned to council.
City staff and counsel outlined proposed language changes to the municipal code chapter on water and sewer to (1) align shutoff/reconnect rules with recent state legislation protecting customers during heat-related events, (2) add an after-hours service charge to cover on-call public-works responses (draft ordinance identifies a $30 after-hours charge in the text), and (3) clarify how minimum charges and late fees accrue for accounts that have been shut off for nonpayment.
Council asked multiple clarifying questions about whether the after-hours amount covered the labor costs for an on-call two-hour minimum and whether the $30 was flat or per trip. Staff clarified the draft intends a flat $30 after-hours charge but offered to revise the ordinance text to be clearer or to change the structure before a formal reading and vote.
