HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-11-099 - Quarterly Storm Water Billing for Condominiums and Residential Properties With Storm Water Utility OnlyREPORT TO:Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
May 2, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: Dan Chapman, Deputy CAO and City Treasurer,
2347
PREPARED BY:
Joyce V. Evans, Deputy Treasurer/Director of Revenue, 2895
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
April 27, 2011
REPORT NO.:
FCS-11-099
SUBJECT:
Quarterly Storm Water Billing for Condominiums and
Residential Properties with Storm Water Utility Only
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND:
At the March 21 Finance and Corporate Services committee Councillor B. Vrbanovic conveyed
concerns relayed from Condominium property owners who do not normally receive a bill from
Kitchener Utilities but are now receiving monthly bills for SWM rates applying to their unit. This
concern was supported by the committee and staff agreed to review the matter and report back
on May 2. The committee also asked staff to review circumstances surrounding residential
property owners who do not have Kitchener Utility services but are receiving monthly bills for
SWM rates applied to their property.
The primary concern is that the costs to the City to produce the monthly bills are perceived to
negate the amounts being billed which range at about $4.20 per month. In addition, customers
see it as an inconvenience and waste to pay bills on a monthly basis at such a small amount.
Staff was asked to investigate the feasibility of applying a different billing cycle for these
property owners.
REPORT:
Revenue and Information Technology staff have reviewed the feasibility of billing Condominium
and residential property owners with no other Kitchener Utility services except the SWM rate on
a quarterly basis. It has been determined that quarterly billing can be set up for these property
owners. The timing of the change in planned subsequent to the June SWM billing in July. The
first quarterly bill covering July, August and September SWM charges is scheduled to be issued
in October.
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It is not possible to aggregate the bills at the condominium corporation level as the billing
system is built on the property ownership database and SWM charges are assessed against
land owners (not utility meters) as a fundamental principle of the program. This differs from
water and sanitary sewer usage which is attached to utility meters and can therefore be
associated to tenants or condominium corporations.
Communications to the affected property owners will be sent out in June to notify the change in
billing schedule for the SWM rate.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Foundation: Effective and Efficient Government
Goal: Customer Service
Strategic Direction: Monitor level of service and customer satisfaction.
Ensure is service delivered in an effective and cost efficient manner
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None, apart from internal staff time to program the change in the billing system and prepare
communications to residents.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The condominium community and residential property owners with only SWM rate utility
services have expressed their views on the SWM rate billing frequency both to staff and to
members of Council. Staff have responded to these concerns.
Communications to the affected property owners will be sent out in June to notify the change in
billing schedule for the SWM rate.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Dan Chapman, MPA, CA, Deputy CAO and City Treasurer (Finance and
Corporate Services)
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