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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 11,2012 Page 21 Council could still review those cases individually and separately from this pol- icy. Councilmember Willmus spoke in support of such a case by case review. Councilmember Pust questioned how to handle situations when a homeowner contacted a neighbor or relative for assistance with a blockage and the City wasn't alerted immediately; and how those people would be covered and/or re- imbursed. Mr. Schwartz advised that, typically, a homeowner would have their private contractor clean a blockage in their line, but not the City line. Mr. Schwartz re- viewed various options to alert and educate the public about this policy; and re- minders to call the City first. Mr. Schwartz advised that it was typical that homeowners would incur costs after the City had been notified and verified where the blockage occurred. Ms. Davitt noted that most residents typically called their own plumber to look at the situation, and the plumber then called the City. At the request of Councilmember Pust, Mr. Schwartz concurred that this was a typical, industry-wide process. Councilmember McGehee observed that a blockage in a private line was less massive in volume that that in a City line. Mayor Roe questioned procedurally if it made more sense from staff's perspec- tive to have the policy adopted by motion as a policy, or as an ordinance and in- cluded as part of City Code supported by the City Council majority. Mayor Roe provided his rationale in considering it as an ordinance that may make it more public through publication and incorporated in City Code. City Manager Malinen advised that staff's recommendation was to have it re- main as a policy, not an ordinance or law, to allow more flexibility. City Man- ager Malinen noted that staff would administer the policy in whichever way the City Council chose to adopt it. Regarding educational aspects, City Manager Malinen opined that adoption as a policy and not an ordinance allowed for more flexibility for the City Council and the community as a whole. City Manager Malinen noted that, from staff's perspective, funding issues for the policy may come into play. Councilmember Pust stated that she thought policies and ordi- nances were equally enforceable. Pust moved, Willmus seconded, adoption of the Residential Sanitary Sewer Backup Cleanup Assistance Policy(Attachment A). Councilmember McGehee offered a friendly amendment stipulating that the policy be mailed out to all residential homeowners with the education sheets or