Sec. 17-38. - Water shutoff hardships.

The city administration shall be charged with establishing a water service shutoff policy pursuant to the following conditions; (1)

Those seeking relief from water shutoffs due to financial or medical hardships will appeal to the city's administrative process for relief. Medical hardship is defined as a medical condition of a customer or member of the customer's household in which the cessation of water service would create a health hazard. Medical documentation of the condition must be presented to substantiate the hardship. Financial hardship is defined as a death, disability or incapacity of the customer or a member of the customer's household that causes a substantial impact on the income of a customer or customer's household. Financial documentation of the loss must be presented to substantiate the hardship.

(2)

Appeals of the city administration decision regarding a "water shutoff" for medical or financial hardships may be appealed to the city council sitting as the claims committee within 7 days of the city administration's decision. Appeals must be heard within 21 days upon receipt by the city.

(3)

Upon the filing of a hardship request with the city administration by a customer, the customer's shutoff shall be stayed until the matter is heard and decided by the City Council. Should a hardship not be granted, the customer shall have five (5) business days to pay prior to shutoff.

(4)

Any substantive changes to the administration's shut-off policy shall be transmitted to the city council and entered into the record. The new policy shall not take effect for thirty days after transmittal and shall be posted on the city's website.

(Ch. 687, § III, 11-21-17)