City proposes utility-code changes: defines excessive use, 12-month payment plans; raises shutoff fee to $50

Finance Director Stephanie Harris presented proposed code changes to standardize one-time water adjustments, define excessive usage, create payment-plan rules and raise the disconnection/reconnection fee.

Harris said staff recommends defining excessive usage as 2.5 times a household—s average usage over the past three months and allowing adjustments to the sewer charge that reflect a customer's average sewer bill for that period. Harris also proposed the water portion of a leak or break be adjusted by 50% of the metered excess, and that customers who set up a payment plan prior to delinquency may repay outstanding amounts over up to 12 months. "We found that 2.5 times the average water usage is a pretty consistent standard among in the industry," Harris told the board.

The presentation included operational detail: staff estimated they had issued roughly 200 shutoff notices in a recent cycle and performed roughly 50–60 actual shutoffs; of those scheduled for shutoff day, only about 9 remained off by the shutoff date after many customers paid. Harris said the proposed $50 fee for disconnection and reconnection is intended to reflect actual staff time and administrative costs.

Board members asked for more detail and costing before the ordinance is finalized; the mayor cautioned about adding fees on residents who may already be under financial strain and asked staff to show how the fee amount was derived. The ordinance implementing these code changes was scheduled for formal consideration at the December 2 board meeting.