*Authorize Bureau of Environmental Services to reimburse the property owner at 13786 SE Bush St for sewer user fees in the amount of $2,352
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Fusae Scott (the Owner) has been the ratepayer at the property located at 13786 SE Bush Street (the Property) since March 20, 1996. Since July 1, 1993, sewer user fees have been billed to Portland ratepayers who cause or permit the discharge of sanitary sewage from a property in their possession into sewer facilities owned or maintained by the City. The Owner was billed sewer user fees for the Property from March 20, 1996 to March 13, 2023.
- On or about February 15, 2023, the Owner discovered, through an inspection of the sanitary system on their property which was performed by a private contractor, that the property is not connected to the City sanitary sewer system. The Bureau of Environmental Services reviewed City plumbing records to confirm that the property is not connected to the City sanitary sewer system.
- City Code section 17.36.090.A. allows the Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services to authorize sewer adjustments for billing errors, limited to the most recent three years of billing from when the Bureau is notified of the error. The Bureau of Environmental Services issued a reimbursement to the Owner for the most recent three years of billed sewer users fees, from January 31, 2020 to March 13, 2023, on March 16, 2023.
- The Owner paid sewer user fees for the Property, to the City, in an amount estimated to be $2,352 from March 20, 1996, to January 31, 2020. The Owner did not receive sanitary sewer service from the City for these user fees. However, City Code 17.36.090A. does not grant the Bureau authority to refund charges for this period.
- The remaining amount billed for services not provided is $2,352. A refund for this amount will occur within the water/sewer billing system (Cayenta). Environmental Services will see a reduction in the usual daily revenue and cash for this transaction, with no budgetary expense occurring in BES’ cost elements
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Authorize the Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services to reimburse the property owner at 13786 SE Bush Street in the amount of $2,352 for sewer user fees collected by the City in error for the period from March 20, 1996 to Jan 31, 2020.
- The Mayor and City Auditor are hereby authorized to pay for the refund from the Sewer System Operating Fund Budget when demand is presented and approved by the proper authority
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because the Owner must be reimbursed as quickly as possible the funds that were collected in error; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) protects public health, water quality and the environment. It provides sewer and stormwater collection and treatment services to accommodate Portland’s current and future needs. BES protects the quality of surface and ground water and conducts activities that protect and restore our watersheds. The services provided by BES are paid by our ratepayers through user fees approved annually by Council.
In August 2016, via Ordinance No. 187926, City Council authorized changes to PCC 17.36 to more clearly allow the BES Bureau Director to authorize reimbursement payments to customers for billing errors. Assuming certain conditions are met, the Bureau Director is authorized to reimburse for up to three years of billing errors. Requests for reimbursement beyond that period may be put forth to City Council for authorization.
Fusae Scott has paid sewer user fees for the property located at 13786 SE Bush Street for the discharge of wastewater into the City sanitary sewer system, since March 20, 1996. In February 2023, BES was notified by Fusae’s daughter, Judy Tillery, that the property is not, and has not been, connected to the City sanitary sewer system. BES has confirmed that Fusae Scott was the ratepayer, the property is not connected to the City sanitary system, and sewer user fees were billed and collected in error. Under the authority of City Code section 17.36.090.A., BES has provided Fusae Scott a credit for the most recent three years of sewer user fees which were billed in error. However, PCC 17.36.090.A. does not allow the Bureau to grant adjustments, waive fees, or pay refunds prior to the most recent three years.
This ordinance facilitates fair and equitable BES sewer billing by ensuring the ratepayer is not charged for services that the City has not provided. This ordinance authorizes the Bureau to estimate sewer user fees which were billed to and paid by Fusae Scott in error between March 20,1996 and January 31,2020 and to refund those fees to the ratepayer.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
No budget changes or additional costs are expected to result from this Ordinance.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
The proposed ordinance will benefit BES ratepayers by ensuring equitable, accurate and appropriate sewer user billing.
100% Renewable Goal
This action has no positive or negative impact on the City’s goal of meeting 100 percent of community-wide energy needs with renewable energy by 2050.
Budget Office Financial Impact Analysis
This action reimburses a property owner. While not budgeted, the total expense of this ordinance is immaterial and the bureau will absorb this cost within its existing FY 2022-23 budget.
Agenda Items
328 Consent Agenda in April 26, 2023 Council Agenda
Passed
- Commissioner Dan Ryan Yea
- Commissioner Rene Gonzalez Yea
- Commissioner Mingus Mapps Yea
- Commissioner Carmen Rubio Yea
- Mayor Ted Wheeler Yea