(A) Security Deposit. A refundable security deposit, the amount of which shall be established by resolution of the Council, shall be charged for the activation of sewer services. The deposit may be paid in two monthly installments at the discretion of the Director. Upon receipt of a written request from the customer, the Director may waive the deposit required under this section if during the preceding 18 months the applicant’s payment history with any public utility or government entity evidences that the applicant has timely paid their bills for 12 consecutive months or for other reasons that protect the City’s interests. All deposits shall be retained by the City as security for payment of future utility service charges until all utility services are terminated or discontinued and the account is closed with the outstanding balance on all utility accounts paid in full. The customer’s deposit may be returned to the customer if there have been no late utility payments during the prior 12 months on the customer’s account.

(B) In the event a customer’s deposit has been refunded or waived as herein provided, the Director may require a new deposit as a condition of continued service in the event the customer fails to pay the charges required under Chapter 10, 12 or 14, when each bill is due and payable for any three billing periods within the prior 12 month period. The three billing periods need not be consecutive.

(C) No more than one deposit shall be required and retained when multiple services are received on the same account.

(D) Owner Guarantee. A property owner may pay the deposit required for utility services on behalf of a tenant, or the deposit may be waived on behalf of a tenant, if the property owner meets the waiver requirements set forth in subsection (A) of this section, and if, in either situation, the property owner agrees to be financially responsible for the payment of any and all unpaid amounts due for utility services provided to the tenant and the tenant consents to the City’s disclosure of the tenant’s utility account information to the property owner. (Ord. 06-1012, passed 6-26-2006; Am. Ord. 11-1238, passed 5-9-2011; Am. Ord. 14-1298, passed 8-18-2014; Am. Ord. 23-1583, passed 9-25-2023. Formerly 12-2-3)