HomeMy WebLinkAbout3330 Revising Port Townsend Municipal Code Chapter 13.03, System Development Charges for Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Connections and Amending the RatesOrdinance 3330
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Ordinance 3330
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, REVISING PORT
TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 13.03, SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
CHARGES FOR WATER, SEWER, AND STORMWATER CONNECTIONS AND
AMENDING THE RATES
WHEREAS, Chapter 13.03 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code establishes a water
and a sewer system development charge ("SDC") as authorized by Chapter 35.92.025 of the
Revised Code of Washington; and
WHEREAS, the City has not increased the SDC rate since 2014; and
WHEREAS, the City contracted with the FCS Group to conduct a rate study and make
recommendations for amendments to the SDC rate structure, which study showed that the SDC
rates should be adjusted for inflation and for the cost of capital improvements already made to
the water and sewer systems as well as those near-term future system improvements
programmed for construction in the current Capital Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, based on the recommendations of the consultant and staff, Council believes
it to be in the best interests of the utility to increase the rates in two phases, and to conform the
Code to current practice.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend do ordain as
follows:
Section „. Chapter 13.03 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is amended as set
forth in Exhibit A. Language to be stricken is indicated by strikeout, and language to be added is
indicated by underlining.
Section 1.w Sever bil ,j3�, If any sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance should be
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause or phrase or work of this ordinance.
Section 3, EffectiveDate. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days
after the date of its publication in the manner provided by law. Publication of this ordinance shall
be by summary thereof consisting of the title.
Ordinance 3330
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ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting
thereof, held this 20th day of February 2024.
Attest:
Aly AA
,gam ....::.....
i I°es
City .4or
avid., �Wal�e
Mayor
Approved as to farm:
W
Ili ireenwo m d
City Attorney
Exhibit A
Sections:
13.03.010 Purpose.
13.03.020 Equivalent residential unit defined.
13.03.030 Water system development charge.
13.03.040 Sewer system development charge.
13.03.050 Equivalent residential unit factors.
13.03.055 Stormwaterstem development char. e.
13.03.060 System development charge in addition to other charges.
13.03.070 Collection of system development charges.
13.03.080 System development charge credit.
13.03.090 Repealed.
13.03.100 Penalty for unauthorized hookup.
13.03.110 System development charge deferrals for low-income housing.
13.03.115 Deferral of fees.
13.03.120 Exemptions.
13.03.010 Purpose.
Pursuant to the authority provided in RCW 35.92.025, the city of Port Townsend has determined
that it is reasonable and in the public interest to enact and impose a system development charge
(SDC) for the purpose of recovering a proportionate share of the actual and projected capital
costs of water and sewer facilities from those properties within the utility service areas which, as
a part of their development and use, create the need for those facilities.
13.03.020 Equivalent residential unit defined.
For the purposes of this code, one "equivalent residential unit" or "ERU" is defined as a water
service connection to a residential unit, commercial use or industrial use, with a five -eighths -inch
or three -quarter -inch meter. Larger connections to the city's water system will be referred to in
terms of "equivalent residential units" for purposes of determining an equitable proportionate
amount for SDCs. A method for calculation of the equivalent residential units for hookups larger
than one ERU is included in PTMC 13.03.050.
13.03.030 Water system development charge.
A. The city has evaluated the capital cost of the city's existing water system and the projected
cost to expand the general facilities to meet the projected needs associated with new and
expanded needs of the water system customers. The general facilities include source of supply,
treatment, storage, transmission and major regional pumping facilities.
B. A one-time SDC for each new customer shall be assessed based upon the customer's fair and
equitable share of the general facilities. The SDC shall be determined by multiplying the total
number of ERUs for the service(s) to be installed by $5,603 as of April 1, 2022.
C. If a local improvement district pays for any of the general facilities described above, they may
be eligible for an appropriate credit to the SDC. C. If a local improvement district pays for any of
the general facilities described above, they may be eligible for an appropriate credit to the SDC.
13.03.040 Sewer system development charge.
A. The city has evaluated the capital cost of the city's existing sewer system and the cost to
expand the general facilities to meet the projected needs associated with new and expanded
needs of sewer system customers. The general facilities include the interceptor system, major
regional pumping facilities and the wastewater treatment facility, outfall, compost facility and
associated facilities necessary to treat and dispose of the wastewater.
B. FTI'e tiye A[,I°1 I, ' Z? A one-time SDC for each new customer shall be assessed based on
the customer's fair and equitable share of the ���rstew_aater general facilities. '11a,-1.111 SDC for �a�a�xu�Cltt
Nil y sid, flls1.. 1)r a I) w � ,,:ist(,ny,,1ter coiim a 1"n(�.��..ghall N, tk� 1� QmQned ha,ed.or) 1) d(11��.i
tf dtt ^,1 �lpa, 1 Idifig g;rkag1 s accora1iNi�g"jp ter Jaw1Row i,n, 1a1wtl.e, tmmor ar(.Jdinofls to Strg.rct�_�re's
forlrt b )C 1rtlt t t.�tt 1_ the effeclive date art this se t on jhe SDC shall be based op the
increase hl SJZC LD1 t1"rc„strrICtUre, r plctil"itc1d t-)ased on the diffiereiiee be wr t g t1h a0s�rcsQl��ap°c
1�lta.. the addition g ttwmm ' c c'or le adt�ton, ts dc_ l..�
..
strl9� LIR S for which 51.11: s i� ere llyaid.Q?,ri �rr° to the �.ff dive (.lama. orthis . . __. . „
arr difir nal ("I a igtt ,fir�T v, 1)C-sha11 tie dr.rte nri-H eel
7
rru"u7�)
1Qltwm,r r, 'Smr
t,
j�11t:`)1750
S
p -.� rt 1°'
gt.��ttl1
1,501 1.0()0 l,,
.-
1 )10
�...mea.
$5,258
�wm
1 901 2 600 l°f
.. f)
>�r 11111
1
TheV C`,.8�y.�„rppltu,Qgyffly ��ii���,�;omiCnercial develop ,nt sll„ipll The deie ][I rli_lled hay multiplying the
total number of ERUs for the service(s) to be installedV) 258. 4y$344,5 -w, < 1:.January—1 -S-OI-. ;
an<l lay 4,7.8s1 ;lly lil ;.lir%e,tc...;Irorgth wastewator.
C. If a local improvement district pays for any of the general facilities described above, they may
be eligible for an appropriate credit to the SDC
13.03.050 Equivalent residential unit factors.
A. The ERU factors for determining the proportional equivalent of various sizes of water meters
shall be in accordance with the following table:
(0.38(flow of customer)/(flow of Std.
ERU))+(0.387(BOD of customer)/(BOD of
Wastewater
Water Meter
Meter
Equivalent
Equivalent
Factor (ERU)
Factor (ERU)
3/4" meter
1.0
1.0
1 " meter
2.5
1.4
1-1/4" meter
3.75
1.6
1-1/2" meter
5.0
1.8
1-3/4" meter
6.5
2.4
2" meter
8.0
2.9
3" meter
15.0
11.0
4" meter
25.0
14.0
6" meter
50.0
21.0
8" meter
80.0
29.0
B. If the wastewater strength
exceeds the SIC number one criteria, the SDC shall be adjusted to
reflect the higher cost associated
with treating high strength waste. The high strength ERU
formula is:
(0.38(flow of customer)/(flow of Std.
ERU))+(0.387(BOD of customer)/(BOD of
Std. ERU))+(0.233(1'SS of customer)/(TSS
of Std. ERU)) = Equivalent ERU
where: flow of Standard ERU is assumed
to be 5,236 gallons per month
BOD of Standard ERU is
assumed to be 14 pounds per
month
TSS of Standard ERU is assumed
to be 14 pounds per month
C. If the actual water meter size installed is increased to improve customer service, provide for
fire sprinkler installation, or if the water meter size used to establish the sewer SDC
overestimates the volume of wastewater discharged to the city sewer system (for example, on-
site recycling or irrigation), the director of public works shall determine the appropriate ERU
based upon the typical benefits the customer receives from the general facilities of the water and
sewer system.
13.03-055Stortnivater
.. . ............ . IM)
LEJIFect i ve April ),� 20, .24, a"one1 ime SIX.. f'or ea(,'Ji cu st(,)jj,wr Shall be assesse,(j basvd orl
.. . . . . . . . ................
c,LNotricr's,,fi6r and shirc of .01c,g, I'kilities Nasc(J ot'i thc Cust in . s
area as defined hi the most rec nt edition Wcsie �i W jsj j, V t ),,�,ylvv"ater
I" " ' ' I -
'-""_i . .. ......... — _)" "" , '
�4""�qqp -lent MaIlLML The SDC shall be, acvold �, g,,Yi p ljmvirt table;
.. . . . . . '' ll-- -11111111-1-11-111111 1—, 1 _ � III 11 -111,11, - 1-111- -111111-1--
t Se yi(, e_unq
For A), SN"',
ousAwa,V 30'! S1,
13.03.060 System development charge in addition to other charges.
The system development charge for water and sewer imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be in
addition to any permit fees or charges imposed by council resolution, any connection or tap
charges for the actual cost of connecting to the city's water and/or sewer systems, system
extension and replacement costs, and to all other charges or costs imposed by ordinance or
agreement.
13.03.070 Collection of system development charges.
A. SDCs must be paid at the time a water and/or sewer connection is requested. For purposes of
this section, a "connection" means the day the city receives a complete application for service as
provided for in Chapter 13.13 PTMC. The installation of additional infrastructure, such as water
or sewer main extensions, replacements, or other system improvements that are required as part
of a development or permits, even if the systems are charged for testing purposes, does not
constitute a "connection."
B. Charges so collected shall be used solely for capital improvements to the system to which the
charge is applicable. No service connection to the sewer and water system shall be made until all
SDCs have been paid.
13.03.080 System development charge credit.
A. The owner or previous owner of a property that has been assessed through a local
improvement district or through a special assessment for water or sewer general facilities shall be
given a credit towards payment of the SDC calculated under this chapter. The credit shall be
determined by prorating the current SDC as the required share against the previously paid
assessment for identified general facilities. The ENR index for each time period shall be the
method of establishing the value of the amount previously paid.
B. For existing customers that upgrade or expand their system ERU requirements, the customer
shall receive credit for the previous ERU for which an SDC was paid. No credit for reducing an
ERU demand will be granted.
C. If a property has disconnected water or wastewater services for more than five years, then
customer will be charged for SDCs for the total number of estimated ERUs prior to resuming
water or wastewater service regardless of whether the property is redeveloped or not.
13.03.090 System development charge adjustment.
Repealed by Ord. 3312. (
13.03.100 Penalty for unauthorized hookup.
In the event any connection to the city water or sewer system is made without paying the fees
required by this chapter, the owners of the property to which the connection is made shall be
required to pay a fine in the amount of 10 percent of the applicable SDC. Utility service shall be
terminated until all fees and penalties owing have been paid. (Ord. 3117 § 1 (Exh. A), 2014; Ord.
2579 § 1, 1997; Ord. 2390 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2380 § 1, 1993).
13.03.110 System development charge deferrals for low income housing
A. Program Established. In accordance with policy direction from the Port Townsend
comprehensive plan, the city may allow deferral of payment of system development charges
(SDCs) for a private or public nonprofit organization which is developing or constructing
housing units for low income households as defirled:"�wChaf1 t!�,r3 3 6 P 1 N1C
B. See PTMC 3.36.011 for program details
13.03.115 Deferral of fees.
The city manager is authorized to defer fees for projects that the city manager determines
promote substantial additional private sector jobs and/or leverage private sector investment so
that the city's tax base is substantially increased as a result of such project. The deferral shall:
A. Be on such terms and with such security (including recorded restrictive covenant or other
security) as determined by the city manager that protects the payment of the fee;
B. Not exceed a period of deferral of more than two years, or sale of property, whichever occurs
first;
C. Not include deferral of any costs of notices, publication and other costs to the city;
D. Include repayment in full with interest thereon at a rate commensurate with the annual one-
year U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, adjusted for constant maturities, as published in the Federal
Reserve Bulletin or otherwise available from the Federal Reserve Bank, computed annually on
unpaid balances. Interest calculated pursuant to this section shall not be compounded.
13.03.120 Exemptions.
A. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). All ADUs located within the city limits which have been
permitted and approved in accordance with PTMC 17.16.020 are exempt from the requirement to
pay SDCs pursuant to this chapter.
B. Properties Not Connected to the City's Wastewater System. All properties which are not
connected to the city's wastewater system shall be exempt from the requirement to pay SDCs
upon connection to the system, pursuant to this chapter; provided, that the property owner
demonstrates the following:
1. The property owner and/or the occupants of the property have paid monthly wastewater
service fees on a regular monthly basis, commencing any time during 1993; and
2. The property owner and/or the occupants of the property continue to make such
payments until connection of the property to the wastewater system is made; and
3. If such payments have been made in the past (commencing in 1993) but were
discontinued for any reason, in lieu of paying SI)Cs for connection to the wastewater
system, the property owner may pay all unpaid accumulated monthly wastewater service
fees, plus interest.