DATE: July 19, 2016
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Utilities and Environmental Services
SUBJECT
Title
Report and Special Assessment for Delinquent Sewer Bills and Water Bills Incurred by Property Owners
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment I) confirming the report and assessment for delinquent water bills and sewer bills, and authorizing the delinquent charges to become a special assessment against the properties if not paid by August 1, 2016.
Body
BACKGROUND
The City provides water and sewer services to almost all residents and businesses within the City limits. The exceptions are a small number of properties that receive water service from the East Bay Municipal Utility District or sewer service from Oro Loma Sanitary District. In addition to in-City customers, Hayward provides sewer service to about 900 "sewer only" customers, mainly located in unincorporated Alameda County, as well as water or sewer service to a number of other customers outside of the City limits. Hayward issues bimonthly billings for water and sewer service, after the service has been provided. The Hayward Municipal Code states that responsibility for water and sewer bills lie with the person or entity that requested service, i.e., the account holder of record. For sewer-only accounts, however, ultimate responsibility rests with the property owner, regardless of the name on the account.
While the vast majority of customers pay their water and sewer bills in a timely way, there are some past due accounts that become subject to collection, including late notices and fees. The most effective collection measure available to the City is to discontinue water service for unpaid charges. However, the City has no ability to shut off water to sewer-only customers and it is not feasible to discontinue sewer service. With respect to multi-family customers, discontinuing wa...
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