§ 9.04.270. Conditions of service—Liability for charges; relief from liability for certain residential units

It is hereby found that the discharge of sewage from any premises into the sewage system benefits the owner of such premises and such owner is hereby made primarily liable for the payment of the regular service charges provided for herein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the owner of a residential unit which has its own separate sewer service may notify the city finance director, in writing under penalty of perjury and on a form provided by the city finance director, that the owner desires the service charges for the premises to be sent to the occupants or persons in possession, charge, or control of the premises if said occupants or person make application to the city requesting that sewer service be provided to the premises.

In said written form, the owner shall agree to be responsible for the payment of charges provided to the premises in the event that the occupants or persons in possession, charge or control of the premises fail to make application to the city requesting that sewer service be provided to the premises or, if they have done so, fail to pay the service charges when due.

Applicants for sewer service other than owners may be required by the finance director to provide a security deposit with the city as a precondition to the city allowing said persons to receive and pay the sewer service charges. The amount of the security deposit required of the occupants or persons in possession, charge, or control of the premises, who are requesting continuance of the sewer service shall be reasonably determined by the finance director based upon the credit worthiness of the occupant or persons in possession, charge, or control of the premises, residential unit who is seeking to continue sewer service to the residential until, but not greater than the maximum for such deposits as may be specified by ordinance of the city or laws of the state. The security deposit must be paid in full to the finance director no later than seven days before the date when sewer service to the occupants or persons in possession, charge, or control of the premises is to commence. The city council may by resolution, establish standards to be followed by the finance director in determining the credit worthiness of applicants for new sewer service.