HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1982-477 RESOLUTION NO. 477
{ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA, FLORIDA,
APPROVING AND ADOPTING A UTILITY BILLING
COLLECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR RESOLVING
DISPUTED UTILITY BILLS ; AND PROVIDING THAT
ALL RESOLUTIONS OR PARTS OF RESOLUTIONS IN
CONFLICT HEREWITH BE REPEALED TO THE EXTENT
OF SUCH CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFEC-
TIVE DATE .
WHEREAS , the City Clerk-Auditor has recommended that a
policy be established for the collection of utility bills and
resolution of disputed utility bills ; and
WHEREAS , the City Commission has approved of said recommenda-
tion and desires to adopt the policy as recommended;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the policy for the collection of utility
bills and the settlement and resolution of disputed utility bills
• as recommended by the City Clerk-Auditor , as set forth in that
certain writing entitled, "Utility Billing Collection Policy and x
Procedure for ResolvingDisputed Bills"p a copy of which is attached
hereto and made a part hereof as "Exhibit A" , be and the same is
hereby approved and adopted.
Section 2. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in
conflict herewith be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent
of such conflict.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be in force and take
effect immediately upon its passage and adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 24th day /j1�9982.
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YO -CO ISSI ONERR
ATTEST :
CITY CLERK-AUDITOR
APPROVED FOR FORM AND CORRECTNESS :
ByA;�
FRANK C. ADLER, City Attorney
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i UTILITY BILLING COLLECTION POLICY
AND PROCEDURE FOR RESOLVING DISPUTED BILLS
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1 . As adopted by the Commission on August 24,1982 the collection policy
of the City of Dania, Florida is as follows:
a) The bill will be considered delinquent thirty (30) days after the rendition
of a bill .
b) A delinquent bill will be mailed thirty three (33) days after billing date which
will include a 10% penalty and a notice stating the date by which the bill must be paid
to avoid interruption of service.
c) If the delinquent utility bill is not paid on or before the loth day after de-
linquent billing, service will be discontinued.
d) After payment is made, service will be turned on and a $5.00 turn on fee will
be assessed on the next bill .
e) All owners of accounts delinquent for more than two (2) billing periods ( 4 months)
shall be notified by certified mail that the meter will be pulled if the bill is not
paid within 15 days of date of notification and the outstanding bill will be applied
as a lien against the property and a fee of $25.00 will be assessed to reinstall the
meter. Billing will cease after the meter has been pulled and will not commence
until the time of reinstallation. (Ord. H208)
f) Collection procedures for hardship cases will be worked according to Ordinance
#62 Section 31-35 (c). Whenever any utility customer who is a qualified elector of
the City is in impoverished or destitute circumstances and shall file with the City
Manager an oath (copy attached) , the City Manager shall thereafter make an investigation
- into the facts set forth in such oath; and if the City Manager determines the facts
to be true and that the applicant is in impoverished and destitute circumstances, the
Manager shall , in his descretion, be empowered to grant the applicant credit for utility
bills for such period of time as the conditions set forth in such oath shall exist
or the facts shall warrant, provided further that in no event shall the utility bill
for any month exceed the minimum of 2,000 gallons.
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2. On all regular bills, the telephone number of the City appears for the customer
to call on disputed bills and payment of bills. For information and/or determination
of a disputed bill , customers should use the following chain of command until a
mutually satisfying arrangement is reached:
a) Customer Service:
1 . Clerks
2. Utilities Supervisor
b) City Manager
c) City Commission
3. Inquiries concerning a disputed utility bill may be made at the Utilities Department
at City Hall. Hours are Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
excluding holidays. Telephone 921-8700
4. A copy of these procedures will be mailed to all utility customers and distributed
to all new customers when deposits are made.
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OATH
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF BROWARD SS:
CITY OF DANIA
The undersigned. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .on oath desposes and says that affiant is
a qualified elector of the City of Dania:
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That affiant is in destitute circumstances and has no money with which to
pay the City of Dania for water consumed or to be consumed; that affiant makes
this affidavit for the purpose of inducing the City of Dania to extend credit for
utility bills.
Affiant's Signature
Subscribed and sworn to
before me this day
of
� Notary Pu is
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UTILITY BILLING COLLECTION POLICY
AND PROCEDURE FOR RESOLVING DISPUTED BILLS
1 . As adopted by the Commission on August 24,1982 _ the collection policy
of the City of Dania, Florida is as foMws : - �—
a) The bill will be considered delinquent thirty (30) days after the rendition
of a bill .
b) A delinquent bill will be mailed thirty three (33) days after billing date which
will include a 10� penalty and a notice stating the date by which the bill must be paid
to avoid interruption of service.
c) If the delinquent utility hill is not paid on or before the IOth day after de-
17nquent billing, service wi11 be discontinued.
d) After payment is made, service will be turned on and a $5.00 turn on fee will
be assessed on the next bill .
e) All owners of accounts delinquent for more than two (2) billing periods ( 4 months)
shall be notified by certified mail that the meter will be pulled if the bill is not
paid within 15 days of date of notification and the outstanding bill will be applied
as a lien against the property and a fee of S25.00 will be assessed to reinstall the
meter. Billing will cease after the meter has been pulled and will not commence
until the time of reinstallation. (Ord. 008)
f) Collection procedures for hardship cases will be worked according to Ordinance
02 Section 31-35 (c) . Whenever any utility customer who is a qualified elector of
the City is in impnva !shrd or destit,Ca rircum.,tocces and shall file with the City
Manager an oath (copy atrachud) . the City Managec shall thereafter make an investigation
into the facts set forth in such oath; and if the City Manager determines the facts
to be true and that the applicant is in impoverished and destitute circumstances, the
Manager shall , in his descretion, be empowered to grant the applicant credit for utility
bills for such period of time as the conditions set forth in such oath shall exist
or the facts shall warrant, provided further that in no event shall the utility bill
for any month exceed the minimum of 2,000 gallons.
2. On all regular bills, the telephone number of the City appears for the customer
to call on disputed bills and payment of bills. For information and/or determination
of a disputed bill , customers should use the following chain of command until a
mutually satisfying arrangement is reached:
a) Customer Service:
1 . Clerks
2. Utilities Supervisor
b) City Manager
c) City Commission
3. Inquiries concerning a disputed utility bill may be made at the Utilities Department
at City hall . Hours are Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:30 A. M. - 5:00 P.M.
excluding holidays. Telephone 921 -8700
4. A copy of these procedures will be mailed to all utility customers and distributed
to all new customers when deposits are made, y
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