HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 21896: WATER BILL ADJUSTMENTS City of
ort rthur
Texas
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT-ADMINISTRATION
Date: April 27, 2021
To: Ronald Burton, City Manager
From: Donald Stanton, Interim Director of Water Utilities
RE: Proposed Resolution No. 21896-Water Bill Adjustments
Nature of the Request:
City Council allows approval of certain utility bill adjustments in accordance with Sections
110-98 and 110-99 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Port Arthur. The accounts listed
in the attachment of the proposed resolution are needed adjustments because of malfunctioning
equipment or qualifying leaks.
Staff Analysis, Considerations:
This resolution includes an attachment, "Exhibit A", which lists accounts that are
recommended for adjustment approval.
These customers have worked diligently with us to get the account resolved, have had all
leaks repaired, have decreased consumption and have had their malfunctioned equipment
replaced when required.
Budget Considerations:
Recommendation is that the City Council adopt Proposed Resolution No. 21896, which
authorizes the adjustment of the attached water bills detailed in Exhibit A by the City Manager.
Recommendation:
These adjustments are recommended by staff, per the customers' request. I recommend that the
City Council adopt Proposed Resolution No. 21896, authorizing water bill adjustments or
listed citizens/businesses by the City Manager.
P. R. No. 21896
4/27/21 bw
Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING WATER AND SEWER
ADJUSTMENTS TO CERTAIN UTILITY ACCOUNTS
DUE TO LEAKS AND/OR EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION
WHEREAS, Sections 110-98 and 110-99 of the City of Port Arthur Code of Ordinances
as it pertains to procedures for adjustment of water bills for residential and commercial
customers, and providing for publication; and,
WHEREAS, Sections 110-98 and 110-99 of the Code of Ordinances establish
procedures for adjusting water billings; and,
WHEREAS, the attached water bill adjustments are presented for City Council approval
as a result of repaired water leaks and/or malfunctioned equipment having been replaced.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR:
THAT, in accordance with Section 110-98 and 110-99 of the Code of Ordinances, the
Council does hereby request approval for water adjustments as detailed in the attached Exhibit
"A"; and
THAT, a copy of the caption of this Resolution shall be spread upon the Minutes of the
City Council.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS day of
2021 at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the
following vote:
AYES: Mayor
P. R. No. 21896
4/27/21 bw
Page 2 of 2
Councilmembers:
NOES:
Thurman"Bill" Bartie
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION:
Sherri Bellard Ronald Burton
City Secretary City Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Valecia Tizeno Donald Stanton
City Attorney Interim Director of Water Utilities
APPROVED FOR AVAILABILITY OF
FUNDS
2On 0 bpkLt tr-
Kan y Daniel
Interim Director of Finance
J4J1ç
Clifton Williams, CPPB
Purchasing Manager
EXHIBIT A
(Utility Adjustments)
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D D 111
9/9/2019 Port Arthur,TX Code of Ordinances
Sec. 110-93.-Billing procedures and service to delinquents.
The procedure for billing and payment of utility bills appears in article IV,sections 110-252-110-254.No service shall be furnished
to any person who is delinquent in the payment of any bill for water furnished on the premises to which service is desired,or to such
person at any other premises in the city.
(Code 1961,§24-53;Ord.No.00-60,§2, 10-3-2000)
Sec.110-94.-Turn-on charge.
No water service will be turned on again until all charges are paid in full or other acceptable payment arrangement made,and shall
include, but not be limited to,all charges noticed in sections 110-63 110-70(a),(b),and(c)and 110-95.See the water rate schedule.
In order to assist those citizens that have been relocated to Port Arthur as a result of Hurricane Harvey,the city waives the initial
turn-on fee on the condition that the person applying for the service can show proper identification showing residence in one of the
affected areas.
In an effort to assist the non-profit organizations providing volunteer workers in the repairing/rebuilding homes affected by
damages from Hurricane Harvey,the city waives the turn-on charge on the condition that the non-profit organization provide property
identification of status.The turn-on charge waiver is for a period not to exceed one year from September 5,2018.
(Code 1961,§24-55;Ord. No.05-63,§ 1,9-13-2005;Ord.No.05-64,§3, 9-13-2005;Ord. No.07-16,§ 1,2-14-2007;Ord.No.08-101,§4,
9-23-2008;Ord. No. 16-38 §2(Exh.A),5-31-2016;Ord. No. 17-33, §4,9-12-2017)
Sec.110-95.-Customer demand rereading charge.
If a customer demands that his meter be reread by city personnel,there will be a rereading charge added to the customer's next
bill,unless the rereading shows that the actual usage was lower than the customer's billing reading.Refer to the water rate schedule.
(Code 1961,§24-56;Ord.No. 16-38, §2(Exh.A), 5-31-2016)
Sec. 110-96.-Payment averaging.
The city manager shall be authorized to implement a policy for payment averaging available to consumers with active water
accounts for at least 12 consecutive months at the same address and who have had no payment delinquency.Account history shall be
used to establish equal,average payment.Accounts shall be reconciled annually for under or over payments,and accounts shall be
reviewed annually for adjustment of average payment.If bills are running 20 percent or more above average for at least a three-month
period,the city can increase the average payment required based on actual usage.
(Code 1961, §24-57)
Sec. 110-97.-Adjustment of water bills as a result of Hurricane Harvey.
The city manager or his designee can adjust water bills up to$1,000.00 for leaks caused by Hurricane Harvey beginning September
5,2017 to December 5,2017.Any adjustment in excess of$1,000.00 shall be forwarded to the city council for approval.
(Ord.No.05-80,§2, 10-13-2005;Ord.No.08-101, §5,9-23-2008;Ord.No. 16-75 §2(Exh.A), 12-27-2016;Ord. No. 17-33,§5,9-12-2017)
Sec. 110-98.-Procedures for water utility billing adjustments.
(a) No adjustments will be made for any error in billing for water service, unless such error is called to the attention of the
water and sewer department in writing,on forms prepared by said department for that purpose,within six months of
the date of the billing claimed to be in error.
(b) Adjustment shall only be made to non-commercial accounts,and are made under the following circumstances and
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9/9/2019 Port Arthur,TX Code of Ordinances
conditions:
(1) Leaks documented by the customer.
(2) The excessive water charge must be at least$100.00 over the average water charge for the prior six months,and
$100.00 over the water charge for the same month of the prior year.
(c) The adjustment amount will be limited to the amount charged for water,in excess of the average water charge over the
past six months.
(d) The customer will be billed for all water registered on the meter to cover the city's cost for lost water,and related direct
costs according to the water rate schedule.
(e) Adjustment for water and sewer will be limited to one per 12-month period.
(f) There shall be no adjustment over$5,000.00 without the final approval of the city council.
(Ord.No.06-108,§2, 12-4-2006;Ord. No.07-47,§2,7-31-2007;Ord. No. 16-38 §2(Exh.A), 5-31-2016;Ord. No. 16-75.§2(Exh.A), 12-
27-2016)
Sec. 110-99.-Procedures for water utility billing adjustments commercial accounts.
(a) Adjustment may be made to commercial accounts,only with city manager final approval,and under the following
circumstances and conditions:
(1) In the event of leaks documented by the customer.
(2) The excessive water charges must be at least$100.00 over the average water charge for the prior six months,and
$100.00 over the water charge for the same month of the prior year.
(b) The customer will be billed for all water registered on the meter according to the water rate schedule to cover the city's
cost for lost water,and related direct costs.
(c) Adjustment for water and sewer will be limited to one per 12-month period.
(Ord.No. 11-58,§ 1, 10-18-2011;Ord. No. 16-38 §2(Exh.A), 5-31-2016;Ord. No. 16-75 §2(Exh.A), 12-27-2016)
Sec. 110-100.-Lien imposition.
(a) When delinquent charges imposed by this article for utility service remain unpaid,the director of finance,his/her
designee or such other official as designated by the city manager,may impose a lien against the real property to which
such service was delivered.The lien shall include and secure the delinquent charges,penalties,interest and collection
costs.The lien shall be perfected by filing a notice containing a legal description of the property and the utility account
number for the delinquent charges in the real property records of the county in which the property is located.
(b) The lien authorized in this section shall not apply to bills for service connected in tenant's name after notice by the
property owner to the municipality that property is rental property.
(c) The lien authorized by this section shall not apply to homestead property as protected by the Texas Constitution.
(d) The lien authorized in this section is superior to all liens except a bona fide mortgage lien in the real property records of
the county where the property is located.
(Ord. No.09-50,§2,7-28-2009)
Secs. 110-101-110-130.-Reserved.
ARTICLE III.-SEWERS
DIVISION 1.-GENERALLY
Sec. 110-131.-Design.
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