sr-052582-6fGS:SS:JS
Council DTeeting: May 25, 1982
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: NEW ti~ATER BILLING SYSTEM
introduction
1a1AY 2 5 1982
Santa Monica, California
This report recommends that the City Council approve a more
modern water billing system.
Background
The Data Processing staff and the staff of the Water Division of
the General Services Department desire to change from the present
water billing system, which involves stuffing a bill and a return
envelope into an envelope, to a more modern system involving a
mailer similar to the sample which is actacried.
The cost of the new system for printing and for the. forms is the
same as the existing system, but there will be a considerable
labor savings in the new system. There will not be a monetary
savings because we will not be able to reduce our two personnel
in the Water Division because they are needed to answer the
telephone and serve the counter. They will be able to provide
needed support for other Water Division programs, especially the
toxic chemical program.
1v1AY 2 ~ 1982
GS;SES:JAS
Co::ncil hIeeting: May 25, 192 Santa Dlonica, California
From time to time there are requests to use the City water bills
for stuffing messages for distribution to the community. The new
system, if approved, will not provide this opportunity. The staff
believes that stuffing messages in the water bills is not of much
vavue because 1) it takes two months to complete all of the billing
cycles, and 2) because the bills and the messages are only received
by approximately one-fourth of the population, therefore, it is
ne_essary to mail any message by alternative means if it is desired
for all the citizens to receive the message. The Seascape is an
excellent publication which is received by all the citizens of
Santa bYOnica.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council approve the change in the
water billing system.
Prraared by: Stan Scholl
Attachment: Sample of new bill mailer