Minutes-02/09/1983

Motion Cox second Stevens to approve first draft of the fringe area study as presented. Rohret opposed. Carried TePaske asked if council wanted to act as full negotiating committee or appoint a sub committee. Council agreed by consensus to act as a whole in working with the fringe area study. Dates set for special meetings to consider areas of fringe area study as 7:00 p.m. before the regular meetings in March, April and May. Areas 3, 4 and 5 will be considered in March, areas 2 A and 2 B in April and areas 1 A and 1 B in May. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 62 and 57 SO AS TO REQUIRE WATER AND SEWER BILLS TO BE PAID BY THE PROPERTY OWNER RATHER THAN THE TENANT was introduced by Rohret and seconded by Spivey. Downes stated that he checked with FHA and the city cannot amend any ordinance without approval according to terms of the loan agreement. O'Keefe asked what the problems have been and why the council was considering changing the ordinance. Mayor Potter asked the clerk to respond to this question. Clerk pointed out many collection problems and problems with shutting off water to the apartments. Hoefer stated that the city must be consistent. If it bills the owners of multiple dwelling units it must also bill owners of single family home who rent them out. O'Keefe asked if the city utility director would read meters and council replied that he would. Hoefer stated that if one apartment dweller did not pay the water bill, the city could not shut off his water because the apartment buildings do not have individual outside shut off valves, and it is not adviseable to shut off the whole building when seven other tenants have paid their bill on time. Potter stated that the city has not had much problem with single family units. Clerk read the ordinance and it was duly considered by the council. Brown asked attorney about FHA rulings. Hoefer stated that she was not aware of them. Stevens stated that it seems favorable to FHA because it would be more of a guarantee of payment. Brown stated that the council had the option of changing the ordinance or billing the tenants individually when it was requested in October. The city billed tenants and bills were not all paid. City cannot shut off one apartment. He felt that the city tried it the other way and should now change the ordinance. Hoefer stated that the owner could work it out with the tenant. O'Keefe stated that the water bills vary too much and they wanted to be fair to their tenants.