Title
An Ordinance Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Amending Chapter 51 Of The Code Of Ordinances Entitled “Water” To Update The Current Regulations Relating To Accounts And Procedures; Providing For A Severability Clause And A Repealer Provision, Codification, And An Effective Date.
Strategic Plan Focus
Economic Vitality
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the attached Ordinance.
Explanation:
The proposed updates to Chapter 51 of the City’s Water regulations are intended to modernize outdated language, improve customer service, and ensure the City has clearer procedures for billing, leak adjustments, and meter access. The ordinance streamlines how billing adjustments for leaks, faulty meters, and other leak- and non-leak-related issues are handled. The threshold to qualify for these adjustments is proposed to be reduced from 200% to 150%. The proposed ordinance change also provides for adjustments on a per-leak-event basis, rather than once per the property’s lifetime, if the property owner can provide documentation supporting the leak for both residential and non-residential properties. It also limits the City’s back-billing to a maximum lookback period of no more than 12 months.
The proposed ordinance also addresses unexplained leaks. Customers will now be eligible for one adjustment or credit every 36 months, rather than once over the property's lifetime. Customers can receive a credit or adjustment without documentation if approved by the Department Director or designee. It also changes the approval authority from the Finance Director to the Director of Public Utilities or designee.
The ordinance also strengthens the City’s ability to access water meters by allowing staff to remove obstacles, including gates, locks, animals, decks, sheds, turf, or vehicles, when property owners impede access. It also gives the City the right to disconnect water service or relocate the meter at the owner’s expense.
Section 51.142, which relates to payment agreements, has been updated to extend the number of monthly installments from up to 12 months to up to 24 months. It also lowers the requested down payment from 50% to 10%, provides for other relief related to down payment amounts, and stipulates that no interest will be charged on payment plans for leaks, faulty meters, and faulty meter transmission units.
Section 51.075, which addresses estimated readings due to failed meter transmission units, clarifies that usage during such periods of estimation will be adjusted to reflect usage equivalent to the average of the previous 12 months (with billed water usage greater than zero) or less than 12 months if 12 months of actual water usage are not available. Any excess above average usage will be calculated at the lowest rate tier for the corresponding account type. It also limits the City to back-billing customers for 12 months, versus the previous language allowing 60 months.
Additional updates clarify meter reading, testing, and billing procedures. Overall, these revisions create more consistent billing practices, clearer authority for meter access, and updated procedures that better support utility operations and equity in customer service.
Fiscal Impact:
Approval of this ordinance will lower the qualification threshold and allow credits for non-leak-related issues, resulting in an estimated fiscal impact of $450,000.00.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Phyllis Shaw, Deputy Director, Public Utilities
Vincent Morello, P.E., Director, Public Utilities
Chris O’Brien, Director, Public Safety