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Home My WebLink About6/6/2001 - STAFF REPORTS (16) DATE: June 6, 2001 TO: City Council FROM: Director of Finance and Treasurer SEWER SERVICE CHARGES—FISCAL YEAR 2001-02 RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that Council, after conducting a public hearing on this matter, adopt a resolution electing to have sewer service charges for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, collected on the Riverside County property tax rolls, in accordance with the terms and conditions of Ordinance No. 1111. The purpose of this action is to provide a more efficient means of collecting sewer service charges. SUMMARY: The Sewer Service Charges (currently $124.32 per year for a single family residence) will be placed on the property tax roll. The County will collect the charges along with the property tax payments and remit the charges to the City. BACKGROUND: The majority of the City's sewer service accounts were first moved to the County's tax rolls in fiscal year 1981-82. Prior to that year, each account was billed, and the payment processed, individually with the cost being absorbed by the City. The current system is a much more efficient method of collecting these fees, and has greatly reduced the paperwork formerly associated with their collection. Most of the costs associated with the billing of sewer service charges have been eliminated by transferring the collection effort to the County. The problem ofuncollectible accounts has also been significantly reduced. The procedure for placing these fees on the tax rolls requires that a public hearing be held on the matter. A list of all properties that are affected is on file in the Finance Department. Upon adoption of a resolution authorizing this manner of collection, the City will provide the necessary information to the County Auditor-Controller. The sewer service charge is not a tax, but a user fee. These fees pay for the operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Collection of the fees on the tax rolls is much simpler for the City, and generally, for the user as well. 11 Page 2 Sewer Service Charges—Fiscal Year 2001-02 APPROVED: David H. Ready Thomas M. Kanarr City Manager Director of Finance and Treasurer Attachment: 1. Resolution w, - � �UII 4 PROOF OF PUBLICATION This is space for County Clerk's Filing Stamp (2015.5.C.C.P) STATE OF CALIFORNIA - - — County of Riverside -- — - -------------------------------------------- I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of Proof of Publication of the County aforesaid;I am over the age of eighteen - years,and not a to or interested in the No 3254 Y 'a party tS' CITY OF PALM SPRINGS above-entitled matter.I am the principal clerk of a NOTICE OF HEARING RE: PROPOSED PLACEMENT OF SEWER printer of the,DESERT SUN PUBLISHING SERVICES CHARGES ON PROPERTY TAX ROLLS COMPANY a newspaper of general circulation, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that,the City Council tinted and published in the city of Palm Springs, of the City of Palm Springs will hold a public P P h' hearing on Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 7 00 County of Riverside,and which er news a has been P.M., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be newspaper heard, In the City Council Chamber, 3200 East adjudged a newspaper of general circulation by the Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. The purpose of said hearing is to determine' Superior Court of the County of Riverside,State of whether sewer service charges shall be placed on the property tax rolls for Fiscal Year 2001-02 California under the date of March 24,1988.Case The charges have been collected In this matter Number 191236;that the notice,of which the since Fiscal Year 1981-82 in order to reduce the administrative costs of collection. annexed is a printed copy(set in type not smaller All interested persons are invited to attend said hearing, and all persons who would be affected than non pariel,has been published in each regular thereby shall have the right to appear at said hearing and to file any and all objections they and entire issue of said newspaper and not in any may have to the method of collection of such supplementdates,to wit: charges. thereof on the following For any adddional information, contact Thomas M Kanarr, Fnance Director, 3200 East Tahquitz May 25th Canyyyon-Way, Palm Springs, California 92 62; y Patricia Sanders --------------------—-------—-------------—---------------- City Clerk PUB. May 25, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------- All in the year 2001 I certify(or declare)under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. 25th Dated at Palm Springs,California this--------------day May of--- ----------------------------------2001 — Signature RESOLUTION NO. 20061 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING SEWER SERVICE CHARGE BILLING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS sewer service charge rates are established by resolution of the City Council pursuant to Section 15.24.020 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code; and WHEREAS sewer service charge billing policies and procedures and sewer billing cycles are established pursuant to Resolution 11123 of the City of Palm Springs; and WHEREAS a sewer service charge billing policies and procedures study was made by the Department of Finance; and WHEREAS said study concluded with recommendations to City Council that, in the best interest of the users and the City of Palm Springs, the collection of sewer service charges be made a part of the assessments as authorized by Health and Safety Code Sections 5473, et seq; and WHEREAS the City Council has held a public hearing on the placement of sewer service charges on the Property tax rolls for Fiscal Year 2001-02. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby finds that the collection of the sewer service charges on the tax roll in the same manner, at the same time and subject to the same penalties as general taxes, is in the best interest of the users and the City of Palm Springs, Section 2. The laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of general taxes (including but not limited to delinquency, correction, cancellation, refund and redemption) are applicable to such charges, except that if any real property to which such charges relate has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or if a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereof, prior to the date on which the first installment of such taxes would become delinquent, then the lien which would otherwise be imposed shall not attach to such real property and the charges relating to such property shall be transferred to the unsecured tax roll of collection. Resolution No. 19825 Page 2 Section 3. That the Council has caused to be prepared an itemized written report and bill for each separate parcel of real property receiving sewer services which report is on file in the office of the City Clerk and by this reference is made a part hereof as though fully set forth herein. Section 4. That the City Council does hereby adopt the written report of sewer service charges itemized for each separate parcel of land. Section 5. That the cost of sewer service for each parcel of real property as set out in the report shall be a lien on such parcel of land, in accordance with the provisions of this resolution, Health& Safety Code Section 5473.8, and Section 15.24.020 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code. Section 6. That certified copies of this resolution, together with said report and bill attached thereto, shall be delivered to the Riverside County Auditor- Controller on or before August 10, 2001, and shall be made a part of the tax rolls, all in accordance with Section 5473 et seq. of the California Health& Safety Code and other provisions of the law applicable thereto. ADOPTED THIS day of 12001 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By: I . City Clerk City Manager REVIEWED &APPROVED as to form