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•CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> Committeemember Regina Williams-Preston stated, So you have the two dollars ($2) a month for
<br /> residential and five dollars ($5) a month for non-residential. For clarity's sake, how does that
<br /> impact rental properties?Are those still considered residential since the landlords own the home?
<br /> Mr. Horvath replied, My understanding is that residential, in this case, is considered one (1) and
<br /> two (2) unit. So, if you have one (1) or two (2) units, you are still residential. Then it is based on
<br /> how many meters you have. So, if there is one (1) meter and two (2) units, they will be charged
<br /> two (2) dollars. If you have an apartment complex and you have more than two (2) units, you will
<br /> be charged at the commercial rate which is the five-dollar ($5) rate. Having said that, if you have
<br /> a building and it has thirty(30) apartments in it, and you have one (1)meter, they will get one (1)
<br /> five-dollar($5) charge per month. That is the way it is currently written.
<br /> Committeemember Williams-Preston interjected, So, it depends on the number of meters.
<br /> Mr. Horvath replied, Number of meters, that is right. Tax parcel and meter, yes.
<br /> Committeemember Williams-Preston followed up, I don't know if that happens in real life having
<br /> one(1)meter for thirty(30) apartments.
<br /> Mr. Horvath replied, I talked to our water billing office and I don't know of any apartment
<br /> complexes that don't have that, actually. The one (1) example they came up with, which was the
<br /> most units they could find was East Race Villas. Those eight (8) villas all have separate meters.
<br /> So, in that particular case, each one(1) of those villas will be charged five dollars ($5)per month.
<br /> Real quickly, we are still working on the income-based rate and are still planning on having a
<br /> proposal for the Council by June. We are working with the service providers right now, especially
<br /> trying to make that income verification easier for us, and also because we think it will be helpful
<br /> to have the cumulative impact for those parties. So, if they come in for heating assistance, for
<br /> instance, they can flag that, and we can find other programs and discounts as well.
<br /> Committeemember Williams-Preston asked,And this is something you have to deal with,with the
<br /> State? Is there anything we can do as a body to help?
<br /> Mr. Horvath replied, I don't think so yet, but we will have a group meeting on a regular cadence.
<br /> If we find the need to bring something,we will,but we will for sure need to have an ordinance that
<br /> comes from the Council. We will then take that to the IURC. I do know Indianapolis is also
<br /> approaching them and are asking them to consider this. So, they are at least starting to think about
<br /> how they are going to move on some of these things going forward and deal with these issues. In
<br /> advance of having that,we will have a dialogue with the IURC just to make sure we aren't bringing
<br /> something in front of Council that they are not good with.
<br /> Councilmember Voorde stated, I don't know if they would apply, necessarily, but there is a
<br /> distinction in assessing things whether or not it is residential or commercial. I thought that, and
<br /> maybe I'm wrong, but the distinction between a residential and commercially assessed property
<br /> was five(5)units. I'm not sure about that but I know there is a distinction and if it's already there,
<br /> you could just use that, you know? Just trying to make things easier,just like my last suggestion.
<br /> Mr. Horvath replied, Sure. I do know it is somewhat dependent on the ordinance. I do know we
<br /> have a number of local ordinances and trash, for instance, is four (4) units and under, I'm pretty
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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