HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-2007 ITEM V-DACITYOF
a WASHINGTON
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject:
Date:
Leak Adjustment Request
January 17, 2007
Department:
Attachments:
Budget Impact:
Finance
Letter of Request, Utility Leak
Adjustment and Policy and Procedure
100-52
Administrative Recommendation:
City Council approve an additional water utility adjustment to account number 31697, for Amber Cook, in
the amount of $1,784.72.
Background Summary:
The customer had a large leak in line between the meter and the house. Once the leak was discovered
(10/20/06) the customer had the leak repaired (10/31/06) and submitted $2,426.24 in repair bills.
The customer's utility account was billed $2,501.78 in water consumption for 825 units due to the leak
and the account was credited $500.00, which is the maximum credit allowed per policy. The customer
would normally have been billed $217.06 (water only) for the same period leaving a balance of $1,784.72.
This has created a considerable financial hardship and the customer is requesting an additional
adjustment.
W0205-3
F4.5.2
Reviewed by Council & Committees:
Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
❑ Building ❑ M&O
❑ Airport ❑ Finance
❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor
❑ Hearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Serv.
® Finance ❑ Parks
❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD
❑ Fire ❑ Planning
❑ Park Board ® Public Works
❑ Legal ❑ Police
❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other
❑ Public Works ❑ Human Resources
❑ Information Services
Action:
Committee Approval: ❑Yes ❑No
Council Approval: ❑Yes []No Call for Public Hearing
Referred to Until _I_I
Tabled Until
Councilmember: Wagner Staff: Coleman
Meeting Date: February 5, 2007 Item Number: V.D
AUBURN * MODE THAN YOU IMAGINED
December 20, 2006
City of Auburn
Utility/Finance Dept
25 West Main
Auburn,WA 98001
RE: 29311 108`h Ave SE
Auburn,WA 98092
I am requesting an additional adjustment on my water bill, account 31697.
Once the city employee confirmed I had a leak I was turning the water off for the day and
only turning the water on when my son and I had to. I received bids from 2 plumbers
and also 2 very different opinions on how to go about this do to the nature of the area
where the water line goes into the house.
I had a very large leak in the line between the house and the meter, but there was no
water working its way up because the line is on a hill and drained down a green belt
behind the house.
The billing for 09/21/06 to 11/20/06 was 2326.58, with the $500.00 credit adjustment the
total is 1826.58. This is a considerable financial hardship and I would appreciate the city
approving additional adjustment.
Sincerely,
1 �
Amber Cook
crrY OF .1�
Utility Account Leak Adjustment
Rates based on Outside City Limits
)gWWASHINGTON
Customer Name: Amber Cook
Account Number: 31697
Property Address: 29311 108th Ave SE
Total Consumption Billed Cycle 1 755
Billed Cons
I
Unit $
Total
14
$
2.25
$ 31.50
16
$
2.70
$ 43.20
725
$
3.08
$ 2,229.38
755
$ 43.20
$
$ 2,304.08
Total Adjustment Bill Cycle 1 $ (2,220.15)
Total Consumption Billed Cycle 2 70]
Consumption used same 33
period previous year
Adjusted I Cons
Unit $
1
Total
14
$ 2.25
$
31.50
16
$ 2.70
$
43.20
3
$ 3.08
$
9.23
33
$ 43.20
$
83.93
Consumption used same 49
period previous year
Billed Cons Unit $
Total
Adjusted I Cons
Unit $ 1
Total
14 $ 2.25
$
31.50
14
$ 2.25
$ 31.50
16 $ 2.70
$
43.20
16
$ 2.70
$ 43.20
40 $ 3.08
$
123.00
19
$ 3.08
$ 58.43
70
$
197.70
49
$ 133.13
Total Adjustment Bill Cycle 2
$ (64.58)
Total Leak Adjustment on Account
$ (500.00) Maximum Leak Adjustment per Policy
x Leak Repair Verified
Lot is Inside City Limits
x Lot is Outside City Limits
Rates are Inside City Limits
x Rates are Outside City Limits
x Copy of Receipts or Repair Bill
Letter Explaining Leak Repair in Lieu of Receipts
4 Billing Cycle
11/1L/ZC/Ci0 ZZ: 14 ZC)JZbybbbb BREWER CP OF AUBURN PAGE 01
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-PIN Peter S. Lewis, Maya
WASHINGTON 23 = Main Slitat * Auburn WA =01-49De * ww 01-aubum,wa.us * i 3-931-411ONG
CITY OF AUBURN
REQUEST FOR WATER LEAK ADJUSTMENT
MW/, fax or dellver this completed form to., City of Auburn Finance Department 25 West
Main Street, Auburn, WA 98001 Fax, 23-3-876-1900 Phone. -253-937-3038
CustomerL,�c
DaaeAddress where leak occurred! _ ____..------- _1_��
City account no ---� 9___- ___-- Phone 4a�-)70f::5D—loo
I hereby notify the City of Auburn Finance Department that I have sustained a water leak
at the above address and that it has been repaired. I am enclosing a copy of the repair
bill and/or materials receipt. I am requesting an adjustment to my utility billing per City
Policy, I understand that signing this form does not guarantee a billing adjustment will
be made. / �y
Approximate date leak noticed 7_ Date leak rep aired—
Leak repaired by
Exact location of leak
------------- ------------ -----------------------------------
4-01L —
Signature of Customer -_ __ -- - __ 6----------------
'Z�v°1� �� ` FOR CITY USE 001
Visual Inspection of water meter performed b( .. ___-------_-_--- Date J I2-7 —0
Bill Cycles Adjusted
Reviewed/Calculated by -------- -----------
APPROVALS: ----- Utility Accounting Mgr
F:VUL1E\PRUCE0URE5IREQU"T FOR LFAK ADJUSTMENT
-----------------
Adjust: WATER SEWER BOTH
Date---- - ------------------
Finance Director --__ Mayor
(>$ 1,0000) (over $10,000)
AUBURN* MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE[
11/12/2006 a4i 41F FRQM: KCL
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BREWER CP OF AUBURN
253-884-6853 TQ=2532696000
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---- - 11/09/2006 15:08 2536308830 PRESTIM HOMES PAGE ei/01
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ADMINISTRATIVE
POLICY AND PROCEDURE
rl'rLE
UTILITY SERVICE WATER LEAK
sumjwr:
UTILITY BIL UNG a COLLECTION
wDL Nu&iBER: 100-52
ADJUSTMENT
BF A-MVEDATE
SUPERSEDES
PACE OF PREPARED BY:
MAYOR'SAPPROVAL
1219102
NEW
1 2 SHELLEY COLEMAN
1.0 PURPOSE:
To provide a procedure for approval, calculation and adjustment of water and sewer charges
(Single Family & Non -single family account classifications) where excessive water
consumption can be attributed to a water leak.
2.0 ORGANIZATION AFFECTED:
3.0 REFERENCES:
4.0 POLICY:
4.1 Customer must request adjustment in writing by completing a request form located at
the Finance Department in City Hall or the City website. Required information shall
include,
a. Name, service address where leak occurred and account number
b. Description of leak and date repaired
c. Copy of repair bill or materials receipts
d. Signature of customer
4.2 Upon receipt of the completed request form, a representative of the City Water Division
will confirm, through visual inspection, that the leak has been repaired.
4.3 Following confirmation of repair, Finance personnel will adjust no more that two (2)
billing cycles (4 months) 9 billed bi-monthly or 3 billing cycles if billed monthly. Single-
family account types will have water only adjusted. Non -single family account types,
where the customer's sewer bill may be based on the water consumption, will be
allowed an adjustment to the water, City sewer and Metro sewer charge, provided it can
be confirmed to the satisfaction of the Utility Accounting Supervisor that the additional
water volume was due to the leak and did not enter the sanitary sewer system..
4.4 The consumption used to determine the leak adjustment amount will be the actual
consumption from the same bill cycle of the previous year.
AMNINIMATIVE TITL& INDEXNO: PACENO: OR
POLICY AND PROCEDURE UTILITY SERVICE WATER 1100-52 2 2
4-4.1 - For new owners or renters occupying the residence for less than one year,
the consumption used to determine the leak adjustment amount will be one of
the following:
i. -An average of the water consumption in the three -complete billing
cycles immediately preceding the bill cycle in which the leak began.
ii. In the absence of three complete billing cycles, the water consumption
from the previous occupants for the same billing cycle in the previous
year.
iii. If neither of the above is applicable, the system average will be used.
4.5 One -leak adjustment per 12—month period per account will be authorized. If an
additional adjustment request is submitted for an account in the next or following
year(s), the Utility Accounting Manager will consult with the Water Utility Engineer to
determine if the City will require the customer to complete extensive repairs to the
service line andlor fixtures.
4.6 Customers will be eligible for a leak adjustment if the total dollar amount of the
adjustment for both water and sewer is greater than $50.00 (or $25.00 for a water only
account), not to exceed a credit of $500.00 for water only adjustments.
4.7 Leak adjustments shall have the following required approvals:
a) 1,000 or less — Utility Accounting Manager
b) Greater than $1,000 and less that $10,000 —Finance Director
c) Greater than $10,000 —Mayor
4.8 If the customer disputes the decision made by the City in which the disputed amount
exceeds $500.00, he or she may submit a written request to the City of Auburn Finance
Director for an administrative review of the adjustment by the City Council Public Works
Committee. Such request should identify the property, describe the leak and repair, and
state the basis for the request for an administrative review. The Finance Director must
receive the written request for administrative review within 15 days from the date the
City posted the adjustment to the account. Pending the decision on this review, the
customer who requests such review must continue to pay the disputed charge as billed
until the written decision of the Finance Director is provided. A decision of such an
administrative review will be provided within 30 days of receipt of the written request for
administrative review. Upon the written decision of the Finance Director, if an account
has been incorrectly charged, the account will be adjusted accordingly to cover all
billings occurring during the administrative review and all billings that preceded the date
of receipt of the written request for review, in accordance with City policy.