PLE-2022-07-supp-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

14.04.140 (Pleasanton Supp. No. 28, 7-22) 380 Alameda County, California, addressed to the person to whom notice is given; provided, however, that in the event such violation results in a public hazard or men- ace, then the director may enter upon the premises with- out notice and do such things and expend such sums as may be necessary to abate such hazard, and the reason- able value of the things done and the amounts expended in so doing shall be a charge upon the person so in viola- tion. D. Upon failure of any consumer billed or the owner of any premises to pay any water service charge subsequent to delinquency, the following action shall be taken by the city or the director to enforce such pay- ment: 1. In each case where any bill for water service remains unpaid after such bill becomes delinquent, and remains unpaid for 60 days thereafter the director shall: (a) disconnect the premises from the water system for nonpayment of water bills; and (b) cause an action at law to be brought on behalf of the city against the person responsible for payment of such bill to recover the amount of such bill and the costs of such action. 2. For situations involving significant unpaid amounts which have been delinquent for a long period of time involving accounts where service was requested by the property owner, the director may impose a lien on the property for the unpaid amount plus penalties as provided in California Government Code Section 43008. E. Whenever any premises have been discon- nected from the water system for any violation of this chapter, such premises shall not be reconnected to the water system until all delinquent charges have been paid, together with applicable charges as provided in the master fee schedule, and until a security deposit is estab- lished pursuant to Section 14.04.075. When any per- son’s premises have been disconnected from the water system under the provisions of this subsection, the direc- tor shall inform him or her of the reason for the discon- nection and of his or her right of appeal under this chap- ter. F. Notwithstanding the measures described above, the city manager, in consultation with the direc- tor of operation services, is authorized to administra- tively adopt, and amend as needed, a policy for discon- tinuance of residential water service for non-payment as required by California Health and Safety Code Section 116900 et seq. (the Water Shutoff Protection Act). The provisions of such administrative policy shall supersede any conflicting provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2216 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2192 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2093 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2019 § 1, 2011; prior code § 2-16.13) 14.04.140 Meter tests and adjustment of bills. A. Tests On Consumer’s Request. 1. A consumer may, on not less than one week’s notice, request that the city test the meter serving consumer’s premises. Where the accuracy of the record of the water meter is questioned by the consumer, such meter may be removed by the city at the consumer’s request, and shall be tested using a third-party meter testing agency selected by the city. Testing shall be in accordance with then current American Water Works Association M6 Water Meters standard practice. 2. Before testing any meter, the consumer re- questing the test shall make a deposit with the city in the amount of the estimated cost for the city to remove, re- place and have tested the meter in question. 3. A report showing the results of the meter test will be furnished to the consumer within 15 days after completion of the test. If consumer disagrees with the report’s findings, consumer may pay for a second test and report using a different third-party meter testing agency selected by the city. B. Adjustment of Bills for Meter Error or Leaks. 1. Fast Meters. If the test discloses an error against the consumer of more than two percent of the meter’s registry, the excess consumption on the three previous readings shall be credited to the consumer’s meter account. The city shall bear the entire expense of the test, and the deposit required by this chapter shall be returned to consumer. 2. Slow Meters. When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering more than three percent slow, the city may bill the consumer for the amount of the under- charged water based upon corrected meter readings for the period the meter was in service but not exceeding the previous three readings. The consumer who has re- quested the test shall pay for the meter test and labor to remove the old meter and reinstall an accurate meter. The city shall provide a cost estimate to the consumer prior to any work being done. 3. Nonregistering Meters. A nonregistering meter is a meter which has lost the ability to measure water flowing through it. The main indicator of this condition is the flow registering device fails to incre- ment was water passes through the meter. The city may bill the consumer for water consumed while the meter was nonregistering but for a period not exceeding six months at the minimum monthly meter rate, or upon an estimate of the consumption based upon the consumer’s prior use during the same season of the year if condi- tions were unchanged, or upon an estimate based upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other consumers