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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2622 Utility RatesOrdinance No. ~' ~ ~' ~' AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING CHAPTER 13.05, UTILITY RATES AND CHARGES, SECTIONS 13.05.030, MONTHLY WATER RATES, 13.05.040, SEWER RATES, AND 13.05.050, STORMWATER UTILITY SERVICE RATES OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE, TO REFLECT SYSTEM NEEDS AND SERVICE COSTS EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 1998 WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend provides water service to the residents of Port Townsend and outside the city's municipal boundaries, and wastewater (sewer), and stormwater control services including flood control and surface water collection, channelization and management, and surface water pollution avoidance for city residents, which services are both a regional benefit and a direct benefit to property owners and occupants; and WltEREAS, the City's most recent rate study demonstrates that without an increase in rates charged for these services, the rates will fall below the actual cost of serving water and wastewater customers; and WltEREAS, stormwater control system costs and needs have increased during the past year. This ordinance imposes a $0.60 per month increase in the stormwater single family residence fee to implement the 1998 City Budget. After the conclusion of numerous public hearings, workshops, and meetings, the City Council finds this fee to be equitable and necessary to meet increasing needs for system construction, maintenance and improvement; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it essential that the City's water and wastewater utility rates charged to the City's customers accurately approximate the deliverable costs for such services, and accurately reflect the cost to serve each customer class. Based on the City's rate studies, the Council finds that the rates established in this ordinance meet these requirements; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby repeals the previous "average winter water use" (AWWU) method of establishing monthly wastewater rates, and replaces this method with a more equitable and simple means of computing wastewater usage, NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend ordains as follows: SECTION 1. Section 13.05.030, Monthly water rates (subsections A and E) of Chapter 13.05 Utility Rates and Charges, of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby amended and shall be codified by the Code Reviser to read as follows: 13.05.030 Monthly water rates. The following monthly rates shall be charged by the city and collected by the city treasurer for the use and furnishing of water service, all such rates and charges to be made and paid on a monthly basis: A. Meter Charge. All water used, except for closed connection for fire protection, shall be metered. Monthly service charges and standby fees shall be based on meter size and the quantity of water provided to the customer and shall be paid regardless of whether the service is on or off. The meter charge shall be based on the following schedule: Outside-of-City Inside City Adjacent to City (Tri-Area) Meter Size (Per Month) (Per Month) (Per Month) 5/8- 3/4" meter , ~.,,,,~ .... $13.00 , · o.,~,,~ .... $17.00 , ~,,.,,.,~ .... $18.00 1" meter ~ 30,00 ~ 39,00 .,~", .-,,,~^ 42.00 1-1/4" meter -,,..,,v~ ^^ 45.00 .,,~..,,,~" ~" 59.00 ~,,.,..,~" ~ 64 , O0 1- 1/2" meter o,,.~,, .... 60,00 ...., ,,.,,,, 79.00 "~, J.,,,,"^ 85,00 1-3/4" meter ~90 78.00 ~ 102.00 9-7r60 110.00 2" meter o~.,,,,°~ ~"96,00 1 .... ~.,~,, 126.00 ..... ,~.,,.,,,, 136.00 3" meter ,~o, ,,o.,,_,^~ 181,00 ,. ~,,.,~,"'" "~ 236,00 ~.,.,,~"" ~' "" 255.00 4" meter ,.o,,.,,o ..... 301,00 ~,o~.,,o"~" "~ 393.00 J ~"~, o .,,,,"" 424 .00 6" meter .,,,,,.~.,,~'" ~^ 603.00 ""^, ~,~,.~.,"~ 787,00 "~", .,,,. '^ ~,~ 849 .00 8" meter o~v.ov°"' ~" 964,00 1 ' ""~,~,,.,v~ 1.259.00. .... ~ ~,,. 15 1,358.00 A manifold meter installed for irrigation purposes only shall not be subject to a meter charge in addition to the charge for the main service meter. B. Where meters for residential customers larger than five-eights inch by three-quarter inch have been installed for the convenience of the city, the customer shall be assessed a meter charge only for the three-quarter inch rate. C. Volume Charges and Summer Use Surcharges. 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 $2.20 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 $2.35 per 1,000 gallons or portions thereof, except as provided below: 1. For single-unit residential and duplex customers with individual meters, inside the city the volume charge shall be $1.75 per 1,000 gallons plus an additional $0.88 per 1,000 gallons for water use in excess of 11,000 gallons per month during the summer use period. For single-unit residential and duplex customers with individual meters, adjacent to the city limits, the volume charge shall be $2.20 per 1,000 gallons plus an additional $1.10 per 1,000 gallons for use in excess of 11,000 gallons per month during the summer use period. For single-unit residential and duplex customers with individual meters, outside-of-city (Tri-Area) service area, the volume charge shall be $2.35 per 1,000 gallons plus an additional $1.18 per 1,000 gallons for use in excess of 11,000 gallons per month during the summer use period. The summer use period shall be the meter reading periods for usage during June, July, August and September. 2. For duplex customers with a joint meter and multifamily customers with three or more units inside the city, an additional $0.88 per 1,000 gallons will be assessed for water used in excess of an average of 11,000 gallons per unit for the summer use period. For duplex customers with a joint meter and multifamily customers with three or more units adjacent to the city, an additional $1.10 per 1,000 gallons will be assessed for water used in excess of an average of 11,000 2 Ord. gallons per unit for the summer use period. For duplex customers with a joint meter and multifamily customers with three or more units outside-of-city (Tri-Area) service area, an additional $1.18 per 1,000 gallons will be assessed for water used in excess of an average of 11,000 gallons per unit for the summer use period. The additional charge shall be based on the total meter reading for all meters used to serve the customer. 3. For irrigation-only 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-only meters adjacent to the city, the meter charge shall be based on meter size with a volume charge of $2.20 per 1,000 gallons. For irrigation-only meters outside-of-city (Tri-Area) service area, the meter charge shall be based on meter size with a volume charge of $2.35 per 1,000 gallons. Beginning September 1, 1998, all irrigation meters shall be charged a monthly base fee regardless of whether service is on or off, except when an irrigation tap serves a premise that is also served by a domestic tap, in which case a monthly base fee will only be charged when the tap is turned on. 4. 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 treasurer, would make the volume charge calculation erroneous, the volume charge shall be established under such other method as the treasurer deems reasonable and fair. D. Water Charge Method. Meter reading shall be done on an monthly basis. E. Private Fire Protection. Monthly service charges for private fire protection systems shall be as follows: Adjacent to Inside City Tri-Area City Limits 2" $,,,.,,, 10,50 $,~,.,,., 13,50 $,~-.,,., 13,50 · ,.~,., 18,00 ~,..,I 23.00 ~,,.,, .... 23,00 6" .,~,..,o ........ 36.00 -,~..~o 46,00 -,~.~o .... ,46,00 F. Commercial and Contract Customers. The monthly meter charges for commercial and contract customers inside the city shall be the same as provided in subsection A of this section with an additional volume charge of $1.75 per 1,000 gallons used unless a current contract specifically provides for an altemative rate schedule. Commercial and contract customers located adjacent to the city limits shall be charged a volume charge of $2.20 per 1,000 gallons used unless a current contract specifically provides for an alternative rate schedule. Commercial and contract customers located outside the city limits (Tri-Area) shall be charged a volume charge of $2.35 per 1,000 gallons used unless a current contract specifically provides for an alternative rate schedule. (Ord. ~ § 1, 1997; Ord. 2609 § 3,1997; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997; Ord. 2496 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2488 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2445 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2434 § 2, 1994; Ord. 2389 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2381 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2341 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2289 § 2, 1992; Ord. 2068 § 2, 1987; Ord. 1979 § 4, 1983; Ord. 1941 § 2, 1982; Ord. 1830 § 1, 1979; Ord. 1789 § 2, 1977; Ord. 1601 § 4, 1970; Ord. 1471 § 1, 1965; Ord. 1372 § 1, 1959; Ord. 1172 § 1, 1944; Ord. 1110 § 22, 1939). 3 Ord. SECTION 2. Section 13.05.040, Monthly sewer rates (subsections A, B, and C) is hereby amended and shall be codified by the Code Reviser to read as follows: 13.05.040 Monthly sewer rates. The following monthly rates shall be charged by the city and collected by the treasurer for the use and furnishing of sewerage service, all such rates and charges to be made and paid on a monthly basis: A. Single-Unit Residential and Duplex Customers. The monthly rate for each single-unit residence or duplex shall be $38.50 per month if monthly water consumption exceeds 2,500 gallons. The monthly rate for each single-unit residence or duplex whose monthly water consumption is 2,500 gallons or less shall be $34.50 per month. B. Multifamily Customers. 1. Base Charges. For multifamily residences with three or more charge shall be based on the water meter size. The base charge shall be: units, the base monthly 5/8-3/4" meter 1" meter 1-1/4" meter 1-1/2" meter 1-3/4" meter 2" meter 3" meter I z.. j ..Il IIIUItLII Wastewater- In City $26,00/month 36.00/month 42,00/month 47.00/month 61.00/month 75,00/month 286,00/month Only 4 Ord. 4" meter ,J ..... d[/, I dll,,,V,,,,,'- 364.00/month 6" meter 6-25:zTO/month 546.00/month 8" meter ....., -~.., v,' ,,u,,,,'- 754. O0/month 2. Total Charges. The total monthly multifamily charges shall be the base charge plus a charge of $2.60 2,70 per 1,000 gallons of water actually used, rounded to the nearest hundred gallon amount, with the maximum per gallon charge capped at 4,000 gallons per unit. C. Commercial Customers. Commercial accounts shall be charged the same base rate, based upon meter size, as multifamily customers. However, commercial customers shall be charged an additional amount of $2.65 2.70 per 1,000 gallons of water used, rounded to the nearest hundred gallons, with no maximum cap on additional charges, or if a commercial customer generates high-strength waste or waste with high variability in loadings, charges shall be on a commodity basis and provided in Chapter 13.24 PTMC. D. Industrial and Contract Customers. The city may establish rates and charges for industrial and large user customers that have unique or special use characteristics. The rates and charges shall be based on existing contract conditions, costs of service, including waste volume and strength, and such other factors deemed relevant in establishing reasonable rates and services in the judgment of the director of public works. E. For all classes of users subject to metered rates, should there be a period during which meter readings cannot be obtained under a normal reading schedule, volume charges 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 the actual meter reading is taken shall be adjusted for the difference between the average and the actual metered volume for the period involved together with the appropriate meter rate. Where there is a circumstance which, in the reasonable judgment of the treasurer, would make the volume charge calculation erroneous, the volume charge shall be established under such other method as the treasurer deems reasonable and fair. (Ord.__ § 2, 1997; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997; Ord. 2556 § 1, 1996; Ord. 2489 § 1, 1995; Ord. 2434 § 1, 1994; Ord. 2382 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2342 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2302 § 1, 1992; Ord. 2287 § 2, 1992; Ord. 2063 § 1, 1987; Ord. 2055 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2026 § 1, 1986; Ord. 1980 § 2, 1983; Ord. 1942 § 3, 1982; Ord. 1872 § 1, 1980; Ord. 1791 § 1, 1977; Ord. 1657 § 1, 1973; Ord. 1508 § 3, 1967). SECTION 3. Section 13.05.050, Monthly stormwater rates, subsection A is hereby amended and shall be codified to read as follows: 13.05.050 Monthly stormwater rates. A. Single-family residential fees. The monthly service fee for each single-family dwelling shall be $5.40 6.00, provided that the impervious surface on the lot shall not exceed 3,000 square feet. If the impervious surface exceeds 3,000 square feet, the rate established in subsection B below shall apply. B. Commercial/multi-family and all other fees. The monthly fee for all other property within the city not covered by subsection A above shall be according to the following formula: (Impervious area/3,000 sq. ft.) x single-family rate = monthly fee. 5 Ord. C. State highway charge. Pursuant to RCW 90.03.525, the city may charge a monthly fee for state highway right-of-way. (Ord. ~ § 3, 1997; Ord. 2579 § 1, 1997; Ord. 2274 § 1, 1991; Ord. 2071 § 2, 1987; Ord. 2065 § 1, 1987; Ord. 2054 §§ 2, 4, 1986). SECTION 4. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such order or judgment shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remainder of any part of this Ordinance. To this end, the provisions of each clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this law are declared severable. The rates contained in this ordinance shall apply to all billings beginning February 1, 1998. Read for the first, second, and third times and passed by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this 15th day of December, 1997. Attest: Pam Kolacy, City Clerk 0 12/10/97 ca §Ord{CH13-05.doc} Julie ~(Cullo ch,' l~Yo~f~-~ c4- Approved as to Form: ~Attor~ey 6 Ord.