1-1101 Acquisition and Operation of Utilities. The City may own and operate any gas, water, heat, power, light, telephone, or other public utility for supplying its own needs for utility service or for supplying utility service to private consumers or both. It may construct all facilities reasonably needed for that purpose and may acquire any existing utility properties so needed; but no proceedings to acquire any such public utility shall be consummated unless the City has the money in the treasury to pay for acquisition or has made provision for paying for the property proposed to be acquired. The operation of all public utilities owned by the City shall be under the supervision of the City Manager.

1-1102 Rates and Finances. Upon recommendations made by the City Manager or upon its own motion, the Council may fix rates, fares, and prices for municipal utilities, but such rates, fares, and prices shall be just and reasonable. In like manner the Council may prescribe the time and manner in which payments for all such services shall be made, and may make such other regulations as may be necessary and prescribe penalties for violation of such regulations.

1-1103 Purchase in Bulk. The Council may, in lieu of providing for the local production of gas, electricity, water, and other utilities, purchase the same in bulk and resell them to local consumers at such rates as it may fix.

1-1104 Lease of Plant. The Council may, if the public interests will be served thereby, contract with any responsible person, co-partners or corporation, for the operation of any utility owned by the City, upon such rentals and conditions as it may deem necessary; but such contract shall be embodied in and let only by an ordinance approved by five (5) members of the Council. Such ordinance shall not be an emergency ordinance. In no case shall such contract be for a longer term than ten (10) years. [Revised 02/23/93, Ordinance 1439][Revised 4/5/94, Ordinance 1484]

1-1105 Public Utility--How Sold. No public utility owned by the City shall be sold or otherwise disposed of by the City unless the full terms of the proposition of sale or other disposition are embodied in an ordinance approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon at a regular or special municipal election. In the case of a water works or light plant, any sale, lease, or abandonment shall be subject, in addition, to the requirement of State law. [Revised 4/5/94, Ordinance 1484]