§ 28-198. Billing and payment; penalties.

(a)

Bills or statements for the stormwater utility fee shall be rendered monthly, in accordance with the regular utility billing cycle, by the utility billing division of the city for all properties subject to the fee. Bills shall be payable at the same time and in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as set for water in sections 28-188 and 28-190 of the Code of Ordinances. Any unpaid stormwater fees shall constitute a lien against the property, which lien shall be prior to all other liens on such property except the liens of state, county and municipal taxes and shall be on a parity with the lien of such state, county and municipal taxes. Such lien, when delinquent for more than thirty (30) days, may be foreclosed by the city in the manner provided by the laws of Florida for the foreclosure of mortgages on real property.

(b)

For properties normally receiving monthly municipal service bills for other services, the stormwater utility fee shall be included in the monthly utility bill rendered to the established customer.

(c)

For properties not receiving monthly municipal service bills for other services, the bill or statement for the stormwater utility fee shall be sent to the property owner as determined from the property appraiser tax rolls. In such cases, the utility billing division may render an annual bill or render a special monthly municipal service bill at the option of the property owner.

(d)

The owner of a property is ultimately responsible for all fees imposed under this article.

(e)

Persons owning property annexed into the City of Fort Lauderdale shall commence payment of the stormwater utility fees after the first year following the date of annexation.

(Ord. No. C-92-34, § 2, 7-21-92; Ord. No. C-96-57, § 3, 10-1-96; Ord. No. C-97-9, § 11, 3-18-97)