Agenda Packets - 1995/03/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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190 11 II Y Mounds View City Council Page 9 Regular Meeting March 20, 1995 1 would no longer be required to collect delinquent bills from 2 multifamily accounts. 3 4 Brager emphasized the need for residents with delinquent water 5 service bills to contact the City staff so that financial 6 arrangements can be made. 7 8 9 - MOTION/SECOND: - - Hankner/Blanchard to -Approve - the--Formal 10 Introduction of Ordinance No. 551 Relating to the Procedure for 11 Shutting Off Water Service for Delinquent Accounts and Amending 12 Title 900, Chapter 906, Sections 906. 11 and 906. 13 of the Mounds 13 View City Code and Adopt Resolution No. 4692 14 15 Councilmember Trude expressed concern regarding the new water 16 shut off policy which would provide only two notices for delinquent 17 bills as opposed to the previous policy which would provide four 18 notices. If residents of an apartment building were to see a water 19 shut off notice in the hallway of their building, they would be 20 able to come to City Hall and file a written request for a hearing 21 to slow the process until arrangements for payment were made. 22 Trude felt the policy would put a heavy burden on residents of 23 multifamily buildings. 24 25 Mayor Linke commented that approximately $30, 000 had just been 26 certified onto taxes because of delinquent water bills not being 27 paid. He felt it was unfair that the taxpayers of the community 28 were required to pay for those delinquent accounts. 29 30 Councilmember Hankner related that the proposed collection 31 policy would complement the community's goals of establishing a 32 tenants' organization so those people will be afforded the 33 opportunity to accept responsibility for things that are happening 34 to them, rather than counting on government to take care of things 35 for them. It would compel the start-up of a tenants' organization 36 as well as an owners' organization, allowing those members to be 37 responsible. 38 39 Hankner said the important part of this policy change is to 40 offer an appeals process so that anyone who disagrees will be able 41 to bring the issue before the Council to explain. That would 42 require apartment owners to be accountable for the delinquent 43 charges and to explain before the Council why they have not paid 44 their water bill. Hankner felt this policy change was a step 45 forward for the City. 46 47 Trude said an automatic payment plan should be offered to 48 avoid water shut off because of lost or misplaced bills.