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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2009-17 Water Leak PolicyRESOLUTION NUMBER 2009-17 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA, REPEALING RESOLUTION 849; RE- ESTABLISHING A WATER LEAK POLICY ON A CUSTOMER'S PROPERTY; PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY, REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, from time to time water losses occur due to the leaks on the customer side of the water meter or service line; and WHEREAS, in recognition of this problem and the City's desire to adopt a uniform policy allowing an adjustment to water bills involving such leaks; and WHEREAS, the City desires the policy to be fair, encourage customers to inspect their water systems frequently for leaks, and to repair leaks promptly, and therefore discourage adjusting water bills for repeat offenders; and WHEREAS, the Commission deems that this Resolution is in the best interests of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Winter Springs, Florida. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are deemed true and correct and are hereby fully incorporated by this reference. SECTION 2. AUTHORITY. This Resolution is adopted pursuant to the Ordinance, Chapter 166, Florida Statutes, and other applicable provisions of law. SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms in this Resolution shall have the meanings defined in the Resolution and the implementing resolutions adopted pursuant thereto. SECTION 4. LEAK ADJUSTMENT POLICY. The City Commission hereby adopts the following policy governing the adjustment of water leaks occurring on private property: I. Eli ig bility for Credit: A. Customer, residential or commercial, experiencing a water leak on the customer side of the water meter or service line must first have the water leak repaired; and, B. Customer wishing to apply for an adjustment to their water bill for excessive water use resulting from a leak on the customer's side of the water meter or service line must present the City a request for an adjustment and proof of repair of the leak causing the excessive water use; and, C. City has reviewed the billing period subsequent to the repair of the leak to ascertain that the water use is now normalized when compared to prior billing periods before the incidence of the leak reported by the customer. II. Calculation of Excess Water Usage Eligible for a Credit: A. Once a customer is determined to be eligible for an adjustment, the City will determine the appropriate water credit to be applied to the customer based on: 1. A review of the history of the customer metered water usage patterns for the last twelve (12) consecutive months or other period deemed appropriate but which is no more than twelve (12) consecutive months. 2. The water use deemed to be above (or in excess of) the average or normal water use for the month (or billing period) when the leak was detected. B. The credit, if any, will be based on the application of the rate for the first consumption block of use for the particular water customer classification requesting the credit multiplied (X) by the amount of water use determined to be in excess of the normal or seasonal use for this customer at the time the leak occurred; and, C. The credit, if any, may be calculated for a period of not to exceed two consecutive billing periods to encourage prompt repair of leaks; and, D. The credit, if any, should include all applicable taxes; and, E. A determination of the normal or seasonal use will be calculated by the City Manager or his designee. City of Winter Springs Resolution Number 2009-17 Page 2 of 4 III. Calculation of Excess Wastewater/Sewer Usage Eli~?ible for a Credit: A. Once a customer is determined to be eligible for an adjustment and it is deemed the customer had excessive metered water usage for the billing period in which the leak was detected, the City will determine the appropriate wastewater/sewer credit to be applied to the customer based on: 1. A review of the history of the customer metered wastewater/sewer usage patterns for the last twelve (12) consecutive months or other period deemed appropriate but which is no more than twelve (12) consecutive months. 2. The wastewater/sewer use deemed to be above (or in excess of) the average or normal wastewater/sewer use for the month (or billing period) when the leak was detected. B. The credit, if any, will be equal to the excessive wastewater/sewer usage charges calculated for and billed as a result of the excess water usage calculated in Section II. A. 2. of this policy; and, C. The credit, if any, may be calculated for a period of not to exceed two consecutive billing periods to encourage prompt repair of leaks; and, D. In no event will the adjusted usage charges exceed the maximum billing threshold for residential customers (there is no threshold for commercial customers); and, E. The credit, if any, should include all applicable taxes; and, F. A determination of the normal or seasonal use will be calculated by the City Manager or his designee. IV. Limitation on Eli ibility for an Adjustment: No adjustment to a customer's water bill due to a leak on the customer side of the water meter or service line will be permitted more than once a yeaz and no more than twice within ten yeazs. SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word, or portion of this Resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion hereto. City of Winter Springs Resolution Number 2009-17 Page 3 of 4 SECTION 6. REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS. All prior resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida. RESOLVED BY the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a regular meeting assembled this 23`d day of February, 2009. (SEAL) ATTEST: By: And a Lorenzo-Luaces, City Clerk Approved As To Legal Form And Sufficiency For The City Of Winter~Springs Only: B~~-'~ ~--- -~ Anthony A. Garganese, City Attorney CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA a ~~ - ,, B ~. ; y Jo .Bush, Ma}rax ~' ,.; ~~.- ;~ `~ -i_ City of Winter Springs Resolution Number 2009-17 Page 4 of 4