Chapter 11.50
SURFACE WATER BILLING PROCEDURE

Sections:

11.50.010    Billing procedure.

11.50.020    Delinquencies and foreclosures.

11.50.030    Surface water management fund.

11.50.040    Administrative procedures.

11.50.010 Billing procedure.

(1) All property subject to charges of the utility shall be billed based on the property characteristics existing on November 1st, of the year prior to the billing year and at the rate as set forth in FWRC 11.45.010 through 11.45.050. Billing year is the year that the bills are sent. The service charge shall be mailed to the name and address shown on the real property tax roll at the time annual property tax bills are prepared.

(2) The total amount of the service charge shall be due and payable to the city on or before April 30th and shall be delinquent after that date; however, if one-half of such service charge is paid on or before April 30th, the remainder shall be due and payable on or before October 31st and shall be delinquent after that date.

(3) Parcel characteristics affecting the service charge which are altered after November 1st of any year shall not be a basis for calculation of the service charge until after December 31st of the following year.

(Ord. No. 90-32, § 8, 2-13-90. Code 2001 § 16-141.)

11.50.020 Delinquencies and foreclosures.

(1) Delinquent service charges shall bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum, or such rate as may otherwise be authorized by law, computed on a monthly basis from the date of delinquency until paid. Interest shall be calculated at the rate in effect at the time of payment of the charges regardless of when the charges were first delinquent.

(2) The city shall have a lien for delinquent service charges, including interest thereon, against any property subject to service charges. The lien shall be superior to all other liens and encumbrances except general taxes and local and special assessments. Such lien shall be effective and shall be enforced and foreclosed in the same manner as provided for by RCW 35.67.200 through 35.67.290; except that the service charge lien shall be effective for a total not to exceed one year’s delinquent service charges without the necessity of any writing or recording of the lien with the county. The city may commence to foreclose a surface water management service charge lien after three years from the date surface water management charges become delinquent, in lieu of the provisions provided in RCW 35.67.230.

(Ord. No. 90-32, § 9, 2-13-90. Code 2001 § 16-142.)

11.50.030 Surface water management fund.

All service charges shall be deposited in the surface water management fund in the office of finance which fund is hereby created to be used only for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost and expense of maintaining and operating surface and stormwater management facilities, all or any part of the cost and expense of planning, designing, establishing, acquiring, developing, constructing and improving any such facilities, or to pay or secure the payment of all or any portion of any issue of general obligation or revenue bond issued for such purpose. Monies in such fund not needed for immediate expenditure shall be invested for the benefit of the surface water management fund.

(Ord. No. 90-32, § 10, 2-13-90. Code 2001 § 16-143.)

11.50.040 Administrative procedures.

The public works director shall develop administrative procedures relating to the imposition and collection of service charges including but not limited to:

(1) Procedures for the application and review of requests for adjustments to service charges including timely review and decision on adjustments for the first year of the service charge where a higher number of requests for adjustments is expected.

(2) Procedures for the filing of liens and initiation of foreclosure on delinquent accounts.

(Ord. No. 90-32, § 11, 2-13-90. Code 2001 § 16-144.)