Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. UB- 03-C005RESOLUTION NO. 03-05 A RESOLUTION OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF CHARGES AND RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ELECTRIC AND WATER SERVICE SUPPLIED BY AZUSA LIGHT &WATER. WHEREAS, the Utility Board/City Council is empowered to impose reasonable collection policies for a variety of utility services; and WHEREAS, the Utility Board/City Council has determined that the users of these services should not financially overburden other users of these services; and WHEREAS, Azusa Light & Water proposes to implement the following additions and changes to the current charges and Rules and Regulations: Electric Rule No. 8 to limit the credit card payment option to $500.00 or less. 2. Water Rule No. 7, to offer the credit card payment option to $500.00 or less. NOW, THEREFORE, THE UTILITY BOARD/CIN COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, DOES FIND AND DECLARE THAT: SECTION 1. Adoption of Amendments. The City Council hereby adopts the amendment to the Schedule of Charges and Rules and Regulations set forth in Exhibit "A" which is attached to this Resolution and is incorporated herein as set forth in full. SECTION 2. Effective Date. The amendments to the Charges and Rules and Regulations shall become effective on February 1, 2003. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED t4K29th clay of January 2003. Cristina 0 . Mayor 0 ATTEST: 1,- 'G Vera Mendoza City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CITY OF AZUSA ) I, Vera Mendoza, City Clerk of the City of Azusa, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 03-05 was duly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the Azusa Utility Board/City Council on the 29th day of January 2003, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, STANFORD, ROCHA, CHAGNON, MADRID NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Vera Mendoza City Clerk EXHIBIT "A" Proposed Changes to Rules and Regulations ELECTRIC RULE CHANGES Changes to take effect February 1, 2003, text to be deleted is highlighted in S}F�ebt. Changes to take effect February 1, 2003, text to be added is highlighted in underline. Text that is not highlighted is current and is being provided for context and reference. Amendment to Rule No. 8 Rendering and Payment of Bills F. CREDIT CARD CHARGE: The credit card payment option is limited to $500.00 or less. If the customer's credit or debit card payment is rejected or payment returned to Azusa Light & Water, there will be a $20.00 return fee added to the customer's account in addition to the original payment. A notice will be mailed to the customer, notifying them to pay the total amount due in cash, cashier's check, of money order by the due date on the notice. If the charges are not paid by the due date, the utility service will be discontinued. In addition, credit card or debit card payments will not be accepted on the customer's account for a period of six months. A second returned credit or debit card payment will result in the account being permanently prohibited from accepting further debit or credit card transactions. When the credit card account number is given over the telephone, it is required to send by facsimile, proof of identification to prevent credit card fraud. WATER RULE CHANGES Amendment to Rule No. 7 Rendering and Payment of Bills E. CREDIT CARD CHARGE: The credit card payment option is limited to $500.00 or less. If the customer's credit or debit card payment is rejected or payment returned to Azusa Light & Water, there will be a $20.00 return fee added to the customer's account in addition to the original payment. A notice will be mailed to the customer, notifying them to pay the total amount due in cash, cashier's check, or money order by the due date on the notice. If the charges are not paid by the due date, the utility service will be discontinued. In addition, credit card or debit card payments will not be accepted on the customer's account for a period of six months. A second returned credit or debit card payment will result in the account being permanently prohibited from accepting further debit or credit card transactions. When the credit card account number is given over the telephone, it is required to send by facsimile, proof of identification to prevent credit card fraud. RESOLUTION NO. 03-C4 A RESOLUTION URGING THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO REJECT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED SHIFT OF LOCAL VLF REVENUES AND TO HONOR THE 1998 COMMITMENT TO RESTORE THE VLF WHEREAS, prior to 1935, cities and counties collected property taxes on motor vehicles to fund essential local public health and safety services; and WHEREAS, in 1935, the Legislature first enacted the Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Act, replacing the property tax on vehicles with a 1.75 percent fee charged against the value of the motor vehicle; and WHEREAS, in 1948, the rate of the VLF was increased to 2 percent of the value of the vehicle; and WHEREAS, in 1986, the voters voted overwhelmingly to constitutionally dedicate the proceeds of the VLF to fund city and county services; and WHEREAS, in 1998, a period of strong economic growth, the Legislature approved the use of a portion of the rapidly growing state General Fund to reduce the VLF payments of vehicle owners. This amount, known as the "offset", grew in future years to a 67.5 percent offset against the amount owed. The amount paid to local governments in lieu of the reduced VLF payment is known as the "VLF backfill"; and WHEREAS, the 1998 legislation and subsequent enactments contain clear provisions that when insufficient funds are available to be transferred from the General Fund to fully fund the offsets and backfill amount that the VLF offset shall be reduced and VLF payments increased; and WHEREAS, during the previous budget crisis ten years ago, the State's ERAF shift began depriving Azusa of its former share of local property tax, a reduction in revenue to nearly $1 million every year; and WHEREAS, in light of that revenue loss, revenues derived from the VLF and backfill are of critical importance in funding vital local services, and WHEREAS, the Governor's proposed elimination of the backfill would result in Azusa suffering a devastating annual reduction of $932,000 during this fiscal year and $2,004,000 beginning in July, which would mean an immediate 10% cut in the General Fund budget; and WHEREAS, nearly half of Azusa's General Fund budget goes to Fire and Police services, this magnitude of cuts would either require across-the-board service reductions and lay-offs or an even deeper immediate 20% cut to non -safety departments; and WHEREAS, any failure by the Legislature to maintain the VLF backfill or restore the VLF will cause widespread disruption not only in Azusa but in local government services essential to the well-being of California citizens and their cities and counties; and WHEREAS, Governor Davis' proposal to divert $4 billion in local VLF backfill payments over the next 17 months fails to honor the 1998 commitment and is a direct assault on local services that will be felt by every California resident; and WHEREAS, shifting $4.2 billion in locally controlled revenues for local services is neither equitable nor fair. No state program or department has been asked to shoulder such a disproportionate share of the budget pain. These cuts come on top of the nearly $5 billion each year that is transferred from local services to fund state obligations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OFAZUSA, CALIFORNIA, that if the state General Fund can no longer afford the expense of part or all of the VLF "backfill" that the Legislature and Governor of California are hereby respectfully urged to implement the provisions of current law providing for the reduction of the VLF offset in bad economic times and to restore the VLF in an amount necessary to reduce the VLF backfill; and supports the call by the Speaker of the Assembly to take this action; and RESOLVED FURTHER, that the City of Azusa hereby expresses its profound appreciation to the Speaker of the Assembly and all legislators who support such VLF restoration legislation. APPROVkD o� this 21" day of January, 2003. Cruz -Madrid, Mayor I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 215' day of January, 2003, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, STANFORD, CHAGNON, ROCHA, MADRID NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Vera Mendoza, City Clerk 0 0 RESOLUTION NO. 03—C3 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF AZUSA DECLARING PUBLIC NUISANCE WHEREAS, hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth or flammable vegetation, including native and ornamental vegetation, where growing upon or in front of real property often attain such growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to said or adjacent improved parcels or which are otherwise noxious or dangerous; and WHEREAS, the presence of hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth or flammable vegetation, including native and ornamental vegetation, upon or in front of real property are conditions which endanger the public safety and constitute a public nuisance and therefore should be abated; and WHEREAS, such hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth or flammable vegetation, including native and ornamental vegetation, are a seasonal and recurrent nuisance on or in front of real property located within the City of Azusa (the "City"); and WHEREAS, the City has a duty to protect the public safety and to take any and all actions necessary to abate a public nuisance; and WHEREAS, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department conducts annual inspections to verify existing hazards and public nuisances where such hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth or flammable vegetation, including native and ornamental vegetation, on the hereinafter described real property; and WHEREAS, Division 12, Part 5 of the California Health and Safety Code (Sections 14875 through 14922, inclusive), authorizes the City Council, by resolution, to declare a public nuisance and to authorize the abatement thereof.