HomeMy WebLinkAbout2756 Eliminate Summer Use Surcharge on Utility Rates and ChargesOrdinance No. 2756
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING
SECTION 13.05.030, MONTHLY WATER RATES, IN CHAPTER 13.05,
UTILITY RATES AND CHARGES, OF THE PORT TOWNSEND
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ELIMINATE SUMMER USE SURCHARGES
WHEREAS, Port Townsend Municipal Code (PTMC) section 13.05.030 (C)
currently imposes a summer use surcharge for water use; and
WHEREAS, City Council determines that the summer use surcharge should be
eliminated, for the following reasons: the surcharge was imposed to encourage
conservation in the summer months, and water rates are sufficiently high to encourage
water conservation without the surcharge; the City Council believes that curtailing
water use by public education and voluntary compliance rather than surcharge is
preferable public policy; the surcharge generates only modest revenue (approximately
$10,000 per year) to the water utility fund, which fund is balanced by other revenues;
the cost to administer the surcharge is considerable in terms of staff time changing and
re-changing billing rates for the summer months; and the City has received a number of
complaints concerning the imposition and need for surcharge, and
WHEREAS, if the need arises for regulation of water use through use of a
surcharge on rates, the .City can re-impose the surcharge, and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend does
ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 13.05, Utility Rates and Surcharges, Section 13.05.030
Monthly water rates, subsection "C" Volume Charges and Summer Use Surcharges, is
hereby amended to eliminate the summer use surcharges, and shall read as follows:
13.05.030 Monthly water rates.
C. Volume Charges o'-~ e ...... T To,~ e .... ~ ..... All water use for customers
within the city shall be charged a volume rate of $1.75 per 1,000 gallons or portions
thereof, customers adjacent to the city limits will be charged a volume rate of $2.40 per
1,000 gallons or portions thereof, and all water use for customers in the outside-of-city
(Tri-Area) service area shall be charged a volume rate of $2.55 per 1,000 gallons or
portions thereof.,
Ordinance 2756
~ ....... r ..................... ~..,~ ~ ........................... ,~ ~ gallons per
1. ~ For irrigation meters inside the city, the meter charge shall be based on meter size
with a volume charge of $1.75 per 1,000 gallons. For irrigation meters adjacent to the
city, the meter charge shall be based on meter size with a volume charge of $2.40 per
1,000 gallons. For irrigation meters outside-of-city (Tri-Area) service area, the meter
charge shall be based on meter size with a volume charge of $2.55 per 1,000 gallons.
Should there be a period during which meter readings cannot be obtained under a
normal reading schedule, the volume charge shall be calculated by averaging the prior
consumption for the two months immediately preceding the period for which a meter
reading cannot be obtained. Charges for the next month during which actual meter
reading is taken shall be adjusted for the difference between the average and the actual
metered volume for the two-month period involved together with the appropriate meter
rate. Where there is a circumstance which, in the reasonable judgment of the finance
director, would make the volume charge calculation erroneous, the volume charge shall
be established under such other method as the finance director deems reasonable and fair.
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.
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of its
publication in the manner provided by law.
Ordinance 2756
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a
regular meeting thereof, held this 5th day of February, 2001.
Geoff Masci, Mayor
Attest:
Approved as to Form:
John P. Watts, City Attorney
1/31/2001 9:24 AM [13.05.030]
caG-Ord{ 1305030 Water rates 113000.doc}
Ordinance 2756