21-047/06-15 Adopt Utility Billing Late Payment PolicyDocuSign Envelope ID: CClF069F-5AO5-4669-8E3B-399F456CC7A5
RESOLUTION NO.21-47
RESOLUTION ADOPTING UTILITY BILLING LATE PAYMENT POLICY
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a late payment policy for utility billing during
the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends updating the Utility Billing Late Payment Policy to
manage delinquencies charged to the user.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council for the City of Golden
Valley adopts the Utility Billing Late Payment Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Adopted by the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota this 15th day of June, 2021.
EDocuSlQned by:
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c,prj At. RAMS
Shepar . Harris, Mayor
ATTEST:
FT DocuSigned
by:
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Theresa c yma, City Clerk
DocuSign Envelope ID: CC1F069F-5A05-4669-8E3B-399F456CC7A5
Resolution No. 21-47
-2- June 15, 2021
EXHIBIT A
City of Golden Valley Utility Billing Late Payment Policy
Current Policy
The City currently applies a 10% penalty to past -due quarterly residential utility bills and a 5% penalty to
past -due monthly commercial and multi -family apartment utility bills. The City charges late penalties to
incentivize prompt payment to ensure sufficient cash flow to cover the City's costs to provide water,
including: timely payment to the City's water supplier, the City of Minneapolis; sewage and wastewater
treatment charges to the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES); recycling fees; and other
regular and emergency system maintenance costs.
The Finance Director considers a number of factors when evaluating requests to waive penalties and late
fees, including payment history, past penalties, and whether a past -due balance has been certified to the
county in prior years. The City does not shut-off any utilities due to non-payment. The City uses a
mechanism called certification once a year to recoup the outstanding balances through the property tax
system.
The City will consider write offs of penalties and fees (collectively, "Late Fees") according to the following
framework:
Customers may submit requests to waive Late Fees by calling 763-593-8010 or emailing
finance@goldenvalleymn.gov.
Penalty and late fee waivers will be granted under this policy if all of the following are true:
1. The customer that has received a late penalty due to non-payment by due date.
2. The customer has not received a write-off in the last three years.
Payment Options
The City offers a no -cost online payment option for customers preferring to pay by credit or debit card
(VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), or by automatic withdrawal (ACH) from a checking or
savings account. Customers may make payments by mail or by leaving payments in the drop box next to the
front door of City Hall. The system allows the customer to set up automatic monthly payment to help with
their budget. Email finance@goldenvalleymn.gov or call 763-593-8013 for additional information about
payment options.
The City will not consider requests for discounts or reductions in usage fees unless the reading was proven
to be incorrect. This policy shall remain in effect indefinitely until modified or terminated by City Manager
or City Council action.