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Home My WebLink About6/16/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (13) "Ts DATE: June 16, 2004 TO: City Council FROM: Director of Finance and Treasurer SEWER SERVICE CHARGES — FISCAL YEAR 2003-04 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, 2005, 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. The City will pass along the payments to the Desert Water Agency. 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 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 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. APPROVED: David H. Read Thomas M. Kanarr City Manager Director of Finance and Treasurer Attachment: 1. Resolution q19 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS NOTICE OF HEARING 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 will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at 7:00 P.M., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the City Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. The purpose of said hearing is to determine whether sewer service charges shall be placed on the property tax rolls for Fiscal Year 2004-05. The charges have been collected in this manner since Fiscal Year 1981-82 in order to reduce the administrative costs of collection. All interested persons are invited to attend said hearing, and all persons who would be affected thereby shall have the right to appear at said hearing and to file any and all objections they may have to the method of collection of such charges. For any additional information, contact Thomas M. Kanarr, Finance Director, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California 92262; (760) 323-8229. Patricia Sanders City Clerk 9�� 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 No.a456 c09Y or patian spRV4VGs IV4D'0'OQ:E ON' ffEAPVNG above-entitled matter.I am the principal clerk of a BE: PROPOSED pt.A,rp9C{�r 07 SFWES printer of the,DESERT SUN PUBLISHING SERVICE G 7Az s,dls PPGPErTv COMPANY a newspaper of general circulation, y printed and published in the city of Palm Springs, NOTICE IS i iEREBv GIVEN that,the Olt council i hearing city WyPalm YPJea Illl hol daaP700I County of Riverside,and which newspaper has been p M thereafter as the matter me Y be adjudged a newspaper of general circulation b the i heard�in Thee city council chamber, 3200 ast gg y wtz canyon Way, Palm Spnngs, California Superior Court of the County of Riverside,State of TheQpm Posey of said ncarmg Is to determine I^ whether sower service charges shall be placed on California under the date of March 24,1988.Case the property tax roes:or pascal vear the m 5. The charges have been collected In this manner Number 191236;that the notice,of which the � since r--local Year toes-32 In order to reauca me annexed is a printed copy(set in type not smaller administrative costs of cou 1 ate All Interested persons are invited to attend saki than non pariel,has been published in each regular hearng, and all persons who would ear aatasaid thoieby shall have the rl9ht all app y and entire issue of said newspaper and not in any hearing and to fit e any and oolieiion of such supplement thereof on the following dates,to wit: may have to the method of chat ges contact Thomas f-or any additional information, East Iai d?6tz M, Krnarr, Fin n nys,ai,, st California 92262; June 3r4 canyon way, --------_---------—_ ____________ f7go 323-3229. Patrols Sa Cerk city l _—--------—__----- PUB. June 3, 2004 All in the year 2004 I certify(or declare)under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated at Palm Springs,California this----2V----day 2004 of-------- �--Junne---�—,---------------> v (N_ /� -------'---------------------'------------------ Signature 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 2004-05 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. 193 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 6, 2004, 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 12004 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By: City Clerk City Manager REVIEWED & APPROVED as to form