Title
CHAPTER 27 AMENDMENTS - UTILITIES (B)
ORDINANCE NO. 0-03-78
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I OF CHAPTER 27 OF THE GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 27-1 RELATING TO PERMITS FOR USE OF THE GAS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS OF THE CITY; AMENDING SECTION 27-3 TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF THE CITY'S OR GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES' LOGOS, SERVICE MARKS OR TRADEMARKS; AMENDING SECTION 27-5 RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR UTILITIES TO PROMULGATE ENERGY CONSERVATION INCENTIVES; AMENDING SECTION 27-6 RELATING TO THE APPLICATION FOR SERVICE; AMENDING SECTION 27-7 RELATING TO CUSTOMER DEPOSITS; AMENDING SECTION 27-8 RELATING TO ACCESS TO PREMISES BY CITY EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND CONTRACTORS OF THE CITY; AMENDING SECTION 27-11 RELATING TO THE CONSUMER INDEMNIFYING THE CITY FOR CERTAIN LOSSES; AMENDING SECTION 27-14 RELATING TO COMBINED STATEMENTS FOR UTILITY SERVICES; AMENDING SECTION 27-14.2 RELATING TO METERED SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE FOR BILLINGS FOR OTHER SERVICES; AMENDING SECTION 27-14.3 RELATING TO DISHONORED PAYMENTS AND PENALTIES THEREFOR; AMENDING SECTION 27-15 RELATING TO SERVICE CHARGES AND CREATING NEW SUBSECTION (d) THEREOF RELATING TO FIELD VISITS; AMENDING ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 27 OF THE GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 27-21 RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF GENERAL SERVICE; AMENDING SECTION 27-22 DELETING REFERENCE TO TRANSMISSION ELECTRIC SERVICE; AMENDING SECTION 27-26.1 RELATING TO TESTS OF ELECTRIC METERS; AMENDING SECTION 27-96 BY ADDING DEFINITIONS; AMENDING SECTION 27-126.2 RELATING TO TESTS OF WATER METERS; AMENDING SECTION 27-135 RELATING TO CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL; CREATING SECTION 27-169.1 RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF WINTER MAXIMUM FOR WASTEWATER CHARGES; AMENDING SECTION 27-178 RELATING TO THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF WASTEWATER LATERALS; AMENDING SECTION 27-180.2 RELATING TO THE DISCHARGE OF FATS, OILS AND GREASE INTO THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM; AMENDING SECTION 27-271, DEFINITIONS RELATING TO NATURAL GAS; AMENDING APPENDIX A, UTILITIES (1) ELECTRICITY, SUBSECTIONS j., k., AND l., RELATING TO RETAINED, EXPANDED AND ATTRACTED LOAD RIDER AND BUSINESS PARTNERS RATE DISCOUNT RIDER; AMENDING APPENDIX A, UTILITIES (4)c TO DELETE THE CALCULATION OF WINTER MAXIMUM; AMENDING APPENDIX A UTILITIES (7)b RELATING TO CERTAIN SERVICE CHARGES; PROVIDING RENUMBERING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CODIFIER; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE (B)
Explanation
The City Commission at its meeting on May 12, 2003, authorized the City Attorney's Office to draft an amendment relating to our wastewater lateral policy and at its meeting on July 14, 2003, authorized further changes to Chapter 27. Periodically it is necessary to review and revise the provisions of the Code of Ordinances relating to utility service to address new products and services as well as changed business needs. Staff have identified a number of such changes that, in the interest of prudent business operations, will be recommended to be made to a number of provisions affecting the business relationship with customers of the combined utility system. These changes include, but are not limited to, amending the deposit requirements to allow credit checks for residential customers, to restrict refunds of deposits to residential accounts, to address rejected credit card and consumer bank draft payments as well as returned checks, and clarifying certain provisions of the business partners and "retained, expanded and attracted load" rider, tightening up the provisions relating to cross connections, and amending certain service charges.
Recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.