HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-025 Irrigation Service ,
ORDINANCE NO. 98- 7 �3
AN ORDINANCE relating to irrigation service and capital charges; amending
Chapter 7.24.120 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, the accounts for the separate properties within the irrigation utility are
maintained by house and street address, parcel number, and by owner and customer
name and address; and
WHEREAS, in the past all irrigation assessments were sent only to the owner of
record, and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Municipal Code now requires that all bills and
notices be sent to the property address, and in numerous case the property is occupied by
renters and /or lessee; and
WHEREAS, most landowners, the irrigation committee and Council believe that all
bills and notices relating to irrigation charges should be sent to the owner of record;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Chapter 7.24.120 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
as follows:
7.24.120 Maintenance of accounts
All accounts of property receiving irrigation charges shall be kept on the
books of the Customer Service Utility Division by the house and /or street number
and under the account number assigned thereto and the name and address of the
owner or of the customer. All bills and notices sent out related to irrigation by the
Customer Service Utility Division shall be sent to the house and street number of
the owner of said property. If nonresident owners or agents desire personal notice
sent to a different address, they shall file an application therefor with the Customer
Service Division. Any changes in ownership and /or errors in the billing /mailing
address shall be promptly reported to the Customer Service Utility Division by the
owner and /or their agent.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 7th day of July 1998.
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ATTEST: John Puccinelli, Mayor
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Karen Roberts, City Clerk
Publication Date: 7 -10 -98
Effective Date: 8 -9 -98
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
• AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. ri
For Meeting of July 7, 1998
ITEM TITLE: AN ORDINANCE relating to irrigation service and capital charges; amending Chapter
7.24.120 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
SUBMITTED BY: Dueane Calvin, Water /Irrigation Manger
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Dueane Calvin 576 -6480
SUMMARY EXPLANATION: During 1996 -1997 an extensive review of rights, facilities, policies
and practices was conducted by a Council /Citizens Committee. From that review came several
recommendations that were subsequently submitted to Council for consideration and
implementation. The primary recommendation brought forward was for Council to consolidate the
Assessment LIDs into a single utility. Council reacted positively to that recommendation in April of
1997, and instructed staff to bring back legislation to implement this and several other
recommendations. Part of their consideration involved charges for services and the capital
improvement programs by the Utility. As there were several components to the package that would
'ncrease the level of charges for many to well above those historically levied to this group of
ustomers. Council therefore elected to spread the annual charges over the full course of the year,
and this was to be accomplished by breaking the annual costs into six equal bi- monthly payments.
Such charges were then be incorporated into the existing utility billing process and have a
independent line on the utility bill.
Subsequently, consultants and staff held several meetings to discuss options and issues related to
implementation of the Utility. From those meetings it was concluded that any process other than
billing the landowner for the irrigation charges was not practicable within the current billing system
and could result in a substantial loss of income for the Utility.
... continued .. .
Resolution Ordinance X Contract Other (specify)
Funding Source: N/A
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: \�'-'o
City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Pass ordinance at July 7, 1998 Council meeting.
,OUNCIL ACTION:
During work sessions staff shared these concerns about the irrigation charges with Council, and it
was agreed that all irrigations charges should remain the responsibility of the property owner, and
not be sent to the site address as has historically been done with other utility charges.
This policy should continue in place until such time as there is a positive mechanism and /or method
in place to actually monitor the amount of service (irrigation water) is being received by each
customer.
In amending Chapter 7.24 of the Yakima Municipal Code this unique aspect for billing the irrigation
charges was somehow overlooked by staff in the re -write process, and is now being brought
forward for corrective action.
Aik
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