CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE

PUBLIC WORKS/UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

 

To:                  Mayor and City Commission

 

From:              Richard D. Sala, City Manager

 

By:                  Mike Shields, Director of Public Works 

 

Date:               February 12, 2008

 

Subject:           Amendments to the Utility Billing Ordinance

 

In November 2007, the City Commission adopted changes to the City’s Utility Billing ordinance which was last revised in the early 1990s.  These changes are to be implemented using the new computer software program and will be effect this month.

 

During our final review of the implementation phase, staff noticed two scriveners’ errors that could cause some interpretation concerns while implementing the amended ordinance.  The first one is regarding references to past due notices, which no longer exist  and the second is a simple math error making the discontinuance of the utility service off by one day.

 

In discussions with the City Attorney’s Office, their opinion was to notify the Commission about these corrections and get their approval.

 

As reflected in the attachment, staff is recommending the removal of the language regarding past due notice and the change in discontinued utility service from the 32nd day to the 33rd day.

 

Recommendation:

 

The Administration recommends Commission’s consideration and approval of a motion to correct the Utility Billing Ordinance scriveners errors removing references to past due notices and correction of discontinuance of the utility service days and amend the ordinance accordingly.

ATTACHMENT

 

Section 3.        The City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale hereby amends Section 70-6, entitled "Billing procedure, delinquent accounts,” of the City of North Lauderdale Code of Ordinances as follows:

Sec. 70-6. Billing procedure; delinquent accounts.

 

(a)   Bills for the city utility services shall be rendered once per month, based on the rate structure then in effect, and shall be due when rendered and past due 28 fifteen (15) days subsequent to the billing date.

 

(b)   If payment has not been received by the city by the delinquency date, a "past due" notice and amount due shall be printed on the customer's subsequent monthly bill

 

(c)  (b)  If payment is not received during regular business hours within seven thirteen (13) days of the "past due" notice, date (or 28 days after the billing date), a late payment fee of $10.00 $15.00 shall be charged to the customer's account and a remainder, in the form of a door hanger, will be delivered to the service address.

 

(d)   (c)  If "past due" payment is not received during regular business hours on the 28th 5th 18th day following the "past due" notice date (or 32 days after the billing date), utility service will be discontinued on the 29th 32nd  33rd day.