[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Rice Lake 9-13-2005
by Ord. No. 05-12; amended in its entirety 11-8-2005
by Ord. No. 05-16. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Those for which the assessed value for structures (as defined in Chapter 260) is greater than —0- or would be if the property was taxable.
One in which nonresidential uses are maintained at or in conjunction
with residential uses. Mixed-purpose uses shall be deemed nonresidential uses
for the purposes of determining the streetlighting charges.
A property containing four or more residential units, including those
which are occupied seasonally. Apartments and other buildings housing four
or more dwelling units shall be considered multiple family use property. For
the purposes of this chapter, multiple-family uses shall be considered nonresidential
land uses.
That use of land by commercial, retail, industrial, benevolent, nonprofit,
charitable, professional, service, institutional, and/or governmental facilities
and operations, but excluding single-family, two-family, and three-family
residential uses. Unplatted residential land is also considered a nonresidential
use for the purposes of this chapter.
A place of habitation occupied by a normal single-family unit or
a combination of persons who may be considered as equivalent to a single-family
unit for the purposes of this chapter.
That use of land which contains a dwelling unit or units designed
for permanent living quarters, to include single-family dwellings, duplexes,
and triplexes only. All apartment buildings and other residential housing
comprised of four or more dwelling units shall be considered multiple-family
dwellings.
The streetlighting system, as provided by the Rice Lake Utilities, includes
all poles, fixtures, wires, and other necessary appurtenances designed to
provide light for vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the streets and public
parking areas of the City.
The streetlighting system does not include traffic signals.
The streetlighting system includes any streetlights added to the current
system.
The streetlighting system includes holiday, seasonal, and ornamental
lighting.
Properties are swamp, forest, or agricultural uses if so determined by the City Assessor in accordance with Chapter 70 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Swamp, forest, and agricultural uses are exempted from charges for the cost of streetlighting. Property owned by the State of Wisconsin is also exempt from charges for the cost of streetlighting.
A.
General.
(1)
The Common Council hereby sets the rates to be recovered for the cost of streetlighting as shown in the rate schedule contained in § 216-4 of this chapter. Said rates shall be effective the 1st
of the month following passage and publication of this chapter.
(2)
The Common Council may, from time to time, as it deems
necessary, adjust the rates for streetlighting to be levied on all properties
within the City.
(3)
The rates shall reflect the ratable portion or share
that each property must bear to the actual cost to the City of providing streetlighting
for the street, alleys, and public parking, but exclusive of traffic signals.
(4)
In setting such rates, the City has considered, and shall
consider, in any rate adjustments, such factors as the size of the parcel,
the nature of the lighting provided, the use made of the property and any
other relevant factors. The rates are not nor shall not be disproportionate
between occupied properties of the same class of property within the City
(i.e., residential or nonresidential), unless there is a clearly identified
basis for making a distinction between one property and other properties of
the same class.
(5)
The actual cost to the City of providing lighting for
the street, alleys and other public parking lots in the City shall include
the actual cost billed to the City by the Rice Lake Utilities for the streetlighting
system and extensions to the same as well as all other actual costs including,
but not limited to, the costs of program oversight, administration, billing,
accounting, insurance, and financing reasonable program delinquencies.
B.
Residential. The rate charged to improved residential
parcels for streetlighting shall be a flat amount per parcel per month as
hereby determined by the Common Council and as adjusted from time to time.
C.
Nonresidential. The charge to nonresidential uses for
streetlighting shall be an amount per street foot for improved parcels as
determined by the Common Council.
A.
Residential. All charges for the cost of streetlighting
for residential parcels shall be billed on a monthly basis along with the
bill for solid waste disposal services. The monthly service charge herein
shall be billed to the record occupant of each lot, tract or parcel of land
as shown by the City's assessment and property tax records.
B.
Other. All other charges for the cost of streetlighting
shall be billed as the Council from time to time determines.
C.
Applicability of solid waste policies. All relevant policies
set for the administration of the solid waste service shall be applicable
to the billing to property owners for the cost of streetlighting, except for
not charging residents when they are not present.
D.
Delinquencies. When an account becomes 30 days'
delinquent, the Clerk-Treasurer's office shall send a thirty-day delinquency
notice both to the resident and the property owner, if they are different,
advising them that failure to pay within 30 days of the notice shall result
in assessment against the real property as set forth above. Any charges for
streetlighting services which shall become delinquent by 60 days shall be
made a special assessment and lien against the real property to which the
service was provided. A 10% penalty shall be added to the special charge,
and any such charges left unpaid shall accrue interest at 1.5% per month.
A.
Residential. Each residential parcel as defined in this
chapter shall pay a streetlighting charge of $8.24 per year.
B.
Nonresidential. Each nonresidential parcel which is subject
to a charge for streetlighting as defined in this chapter shall pay 69 cents
per street foot per year.
C.
Unimproved, vacant, swamp, forest, and agricultural parcels.
These parcels shall not be subject to any charge for streetlighting until
its use changes to either residential or nonresidential as herein defined.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon passage and publication.
