HomeMy WebLinkAbout3147 Exempting Low-Income Qualified Customers from Certain Utility Fees Ordinance 3147
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ORDINANCE NO. 3147
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND RELATED TO LOW-
INCOME RATES; EXEMPTING LOW-INCOME QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS FROM
CERTAIN UTILITY FEES AND AMENDING CHAPTER 13.05 OF THE PORT
TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, the City has the authority under RCW 35.92.020(5), RCW 35.67.020(5), and
RCW 74.38.070 to charge different utility rates for low-income customers; and,
WHEREAS, Chapter 13.02 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code currently provides that
customers who qualify for the low-income rates pay 50% of the base rates and surcharges for
water, sewer, and stormwater charges; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to grant utility customers who qualify and are
currently participating in the City's low-income utility rate program further assistance, by
preventing the accumulation of base rates and surcharges when those customers' water has been
temporarily shut-off.
NOW THEREFORE,the City Council of the City of Port Townsend do ordain as
follows:
Section 1. Amendment. Section 13.05.160 is amended to read as follows:
13.05.160 Payment of base rate—Abandonment of service and removal of meter.
A. All premises, whether occupied or vacant, shall be charged a base rate, based on meter size
consistent with the adopted fee schedule, for reservation of systein_capacity. A customer may
request that a meter water and sewer to the property be totally abandoned, in which case the city
will permanently remove the meter. The owner will no longer be considered a current customer,
and upon application to restore ferwater and sewer in the future will be required to pay all
current applicable fees and charges, including but not limited to SDCs, connection, and drop-in
fees.
B. Utility customers who are participating in the low-income fee program established in Chapter
13.02, and whose water has been temporarily shut off, shall not be charged a base rate on water
or sewer, or be charged a water or sewer surcharge or be charged a late fee for up to one month
during a given temporary shut-off period. A customer is eligible for the provisions of this
subsection twice in any one calendar year. Customer shall pay stormwater fees and surcharges
and shall pay reconnection charges.
(Ord. 2953 § 1, 2007; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997).
Ordinance 3147
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Section 2. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance, or the application of the provision
to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date
of its publication in the manner provided by law.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a meeting
thereof, held this 16th day of February, 2016.
Deborah S. Stinson
Mayor
Attest: Approved as to Form:
Joanna Sanders, CMC Steven L. Gross
City Clerk City Attorney