PROPOSED RATES, CHARGES AND PENALTIES FOR CHAPEL HILL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

(Excerpt from draft Stormwater Management Utility Ordinance)

Sec. 23-7.     Schedule of Fees and Charges.

      (a)  The schedule of fees and charges set out in this section is hereby adopted and shall apply to all zoning lots and tracts within the corporate limits of the Town, except as may be altered by credits or exemptions provided in this Article.

                     (1)     All zoning lots and tracts of land within the corporate limits of the Town shall be billed for one (1) Equivalent Rate Unit for each 2,000 square feet or fraction thereof of impervious surface area on the subject zoning lot or tract. 

(2)     The annual service charge per Equivalent Rate Unit shall be $3.75 per month $39.00 per year.

      (b)  There will be no service charge for zoning lots or tracts with fewer than 200 square feet of impervious surface area.

Sec. 23-8      Billing and Collection

   (a)  Method of billing.  Billing and collection of the Stormwater Management Utility service charges and any other rents, rates, fees, charges, and penalties for stormwater management services and facilities shall be administered by the Town Manager.

      (b)  Delinquencies.  Stormwater Management Utility service charge billings or other billings for rents, rates, fees, charges, and penalties associated with the Stormwater Management Utility shall be declared delinquent if not paid on or before January 5^th of the following year that billings are issued. Delinquent billings shall accumulate additional penalties at the rate established by the Town Council and shall run from the date of the original billing.of 2% for the month of January, and ¾ of 1% for each month thereafter.   This penalty shall be termed a delinquent payment penalty charge.

(c)  Appeal of disputed bills and adjustments.  If any citizen wishes to dispute a stormwater management utility service charge billing or any other rents, rates, fees, charges, or penalties adopted pursuant to this Article, that citizen must submit a written appeal within 60 days of receipt of the billing, stating the reasons for the appeal, and providing information pertinent to the calculation of the billed charge.  A timely appeal shall stay the penalty deadlines.  An appeal of a disputed bill shall be filed with the Town’s stormwater manager for review and disposition.  If the citizen is not satisfied with the disposition of the appeal, the citizen may further appeal the disputed charge to the Town Manager or his designee who shall make the final ruling on the validity of the appeal. 

 (d) Collection of delinquencies: The administrative remedies provided in this chapter shall be exhausted before recourse to a court of competent jurisdiction.