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BACKGROUND <br /> It is common practice for municipalities to provide utility bill adjustments for customers <br /> who experience surprise water losses through undetectable water leaks on the <br /> customer's side of the water meter. This has been a historic practice of the City that is <br /> now proposed to be formalized with an administrative policy that will provide a framework <br /> from which City Utilities staff can address customer requests for bill adjustments due to <br /> leaks on a consistent and equitable basis. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> The proposed amendment to Municipal Code Section 14.04.140 (Attachment 1) would <br /> allow the City Manager to adopt an administrative policy to credit utility bills after a <br /> customer has repaired certain types of water leaks. The amendment would add a new <br /> Subsection B.4. as follows: <br /> 4. Leaks. The city manager may implement an administrative <br /> policy for utility bill adjustments after a consumer repairs a water <br /> leak which was not readily discernable and is beyond the control <br /> of the consumer. <br /> If the Council adopts the proposed ordinance, the City Manager would consult with the <br /> Operations Services Department to prepare an administrative policy to address which <br /> water leak situations may warrant a utility bill credit. It is anticipated that such a policy <br /> would determine that, for example, a toilet bowl leak is readily discernable so would not <br /> qualify for a credit; in contrast a fractured pipe in a concrete pad would qualify. <br /> With installation of the new automated water metering infrastructure, customers and City <br /> Utility staff will be better able to track water usage and potential leaks, warranting this <br /> municipal code amendment to allow the City Manager to formalize a policy to adjust bills <br /> after certain water leaks are repaired. <br /> Submitted by: Fiscal review: Approved by: <br /> lve. <br /> Kathleen Yurchak Tina Olson Nelson Fialho <br /> Director of Operations Director of Finance City Manager <br /> and Water Utilities <br /> Attachments: <br /> 1. Ordinance to amend Municipal Code Section 14.04.140, Subsection B. <br /> Page 2 of 2 <br />