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Home My WebLink About6/1/2005 - STAFF REPORTS c u m '4 N �RIOERI ED`E3 Oq<IFORN�P City Council Staff Report DATE: June 1, 2005 PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING SERVICE CHARGE BILLING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO PLACE SEWER SERVICE CHARGES ON THE PROPERTY TAX ROLLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: Department of Finance SUMMARY The Sewer Service Charges (currently $124.32 per year for a single family residence) will be placed on the Fiscal Year 2005-06 property tax rolls. The County will collect the charges along with the property tax payments and remit the charges to the City. This charge has not been changed since Fiscal Year 1993-94. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution No. of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, establishing sewer service charge billing policies and procedures. STAFF ANALYSIS: 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 of uncollectible 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. Item No. City Council Staff Report June 1, 2005 -- Page 2 Sewer Service Charges on Tax Rolls 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. If the Wastewater Treatment Plant is sold to the Desert Water Agency during the fiscal year, the fees collected,will be split pro rata based on a 365 day year. ralg GraSes David H. Ready, City�ager Director of Finance & Treasurer RESOLUTION NO. 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 2005-06. 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. 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 Treasurer 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 5,2005, 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 1 st day of June, 2005. David H. Ready, City Manager ATTEST: James Thompson, City Clerk CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No, is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS RE: PROPOSED PLACEMENT OF SEWER SERVICE CHARGES ON PROPERTY TAX ROLLS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, will hold a public hearing at its meeting of June 1, 2005. The City Council of the City of Palm Springs meeting begins at 6:00 P.M., in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether sewer service charges shall be placed on the property tax rolls for Fiscal Year 2005-06. The charges have been collected in this manner since Fiscal Year 1981-82 in order to reduce the administrative costs of collection. REVIEW OF PROJECT INFORMATION: The staff report and other supporting documents regarding this matter are available for public review at the City Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please contact the City Clerks Department at (760) 323-8204 if you would like to schedule an appointment to review these documents. COMMENT ON THIS APPLICATION: Response to this notice can be made verbally at the Public Hearing and/or in writing before the hearing. Written comments can be made to the City Council of the City of Palm Springs by letter (for mail or hand delivery) to: James Thompson, City Clerk 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way P.O. Box 2743 Palm Springs, CA 92263 Any challenge of this proposal may be limited to raising only those issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk at, or prior, to the public hearing. (Government Code Section 65009(b)(2)). An opportunity will be given at said hearing for all interested persons to be heard. Questions regarding this case may be directed to Craig A. Graves at (760) 323-8229. Si necesita ayuda con esta carta, portavor Ilame a la Ciudad de Palm Springs y puede hablar con Craig A. Graves telefono (760) 323-8229. ames Thompson City Clerk 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 party to or interested in the above-entitled matter.I am the principal clerk of a printer of the,DESERT SUN PUBLISHING COMPANY a newspaper of general circulation, No.2250 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING printed and published in the city of Palm Springs, c ry 0 FPA M SPRINGS County of Riverside,and which newspaper has been HE: PROPOSED PLACEMENT OF SEWER adjudged a newspaper of general circulation by the SERVICE CHARGES ON PROPERTY TAX ROLLS Superior Court of the County of Riverside,State of NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council California under the date of March 24,1988.Case of the City of Palm Springgs, California, will hold a public hearing at its meet lng of June 1,2005 The Number 191236;that the notice,of which the City Council of the City of Paim Springs meeting begins at 6:00 P.M., in the Council Chamber at annexed is a printed copy(set in type not smaller City Hall, 3200 E. Tahpuitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. than non panel,has been published in each regular The purpose of this hearing is to determine and entire issue of said newspaper and not in any whether sewer service charges shall be placed on supplement thereof on the following dates,t0 wit: the property tax rolls for Fiscal Year 2005-06.The PP g charges have been collected in this manner since Fiscal Year 1931-82 in order to reduce the admin- May 21e1,2005 istrative costs of collection. REVIEW OF PROJECT INFORMATION;The staff ------------------`----------------------------------------- report and other supporting documents regarding this matter are available for public review at the City Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m.and 5 00 _______________________________________________________________ p.m. Monday through Fridayy. Please contact the Qty Clerks Department at (/60) 323-8204 If you All in the year 2005 would like to schedule an-appointment to review I certify(or declare)under penalty of perjury that the — these documents.--- - foregoing is true and correct. toOthiis notice°can be made APPLICATION: at thesPobliic Hear ng and/or In writing before the hearing.Writ- ten comments can be made to the Cityy Council of 1 California this-----I't----day the City of Palm Springs by letter lfor mail or hand delivery) to: of--e--- Ju Clerk --' ---------------2005 3200eE.Thompson, ah Pit Cao Cagan Way Spill ne-- q y / P.O. Box CA 9 Palm Sp. o 27 922fi3 - �+.._.�.-- Any challenge of this proposal may be limited to --------'-- ------------------------------------------ raising only those Issues raised at the public �y Si nature hearing described In this notice, or In written cor- g respondence delivered to the City Clerk at,or pri- or,to the ppublic hearing (Government Code Sec- --^' ticn 66009(b)(2)) An opportunity will be given at said hearing for all Interested persons to be heard.Questions regard- Ing this case maybe directed to Craig A. Graves at(760) 323-8229. Si necesRa ayuda con esta carts,porfavor Items a Is Ciudad de Palm Springgs yy pueda hriblar con Craig A. Graves telefono (/60) 323-8229. /a/James Thompson City Clark PUB. May 21, 2005