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Home My WebLink About6/19/2002 - STAFF REPORTS (21) DATE: June 19, 2002 TO: City Council FROM: Director of Finance and Treasurer SEWER SERVICE CHARGES — FISCAL YEAR 2002-03 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, 2003, 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 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. 001, OW A Page 2 Sewer Service Charges — Fiscal Year 2002-03 APPROVED: David H. Ready Thomas M. Kanarr City Manager Director of Finance and Treasurer Attachment: 1. Resolution Rim Z 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 19, 2002, 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 2002-03. 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 2002 PUB: June ' Y- Proof of Publication In Newspaper STATE OF CALIFORNIA County of Riverside Laura Reyes says: 1, 1 am a citizen of the United States, a resident of the City of Indio, County of Riverside, State of California, and over the age of 18 years. 2. 1 am the Office & Production Manager of The Public Record, a newspaper of general CITY OF PALM SPRINGS circulation printed and published in the City of NOTICE OF HEARING RE:PROPOSED PLACEMENT OF SEWER Palm Springs, County of Riverside, State of SERVICE CHARGES ON PROPERTY TAX ROLLS California. Said The Public Record is a NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that,the City Council of the City newspaper of general Circulation as that tells el Palm Springs will hold a public hearing on Wednesday,June g 19,2002,at]00P.M,oras soon thereafteras the matter may is defined in Government Code section 6000, be heard,inn the City Council Chamber,3200 East Tahqultz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, Caharnia The purpose of said its status as such having been established by hearing is to determine whether sewer service charges shall bet placed on the property tax rolls for Fiscal Year 1981,82 1,order Judicial decree of the Superior Court of the Ic reduce the administrative cost of callecUon. State of California in and for the County of All interested persons aremvited to attend said hearing,and all persons who would be affected thereby shall have the right to Riverside in Proceeding No. Indio 49271, appear at said hearing and to Poe any and all objections they may have to the method of oNlecilon of such charges. dated March 31, 1987, entered in Judgment For any additional Information, --,tact Thomas M. Kanarr, Book No. 129, Finance Director, 3200 East Thil liz Canyon Way, Palm page 355, on March 31, 1987. Springs,California 92262;760-323-8229, 3. The Public Record is a newspaper of Pounds Sanders general circulation ascertained and established June a,2002 City Clerk in the City of Palm Springs in the County of VICINITYMAP Riverside, State of California, Case No. RIC 358286, Piled June 8, 2001. 4. The notice, of which the annexed is a true printed copy was published in the newspaper Oil the following publication dates to wit: June 4, 2002 I certify under penalty of perjury that the above is true and correct. Dated at Palm Springs, California this 7th d4' e f Jne, 2002 -------- .-, _. es roductio a ger l�. 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 2002-03. 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. anc. 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 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, 2002, 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 2002 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By: City Clerk City Manager REVIEWED &APPROVED as to form o2Dd Z