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Home My WebLink About2556 Wastewater-Sewer RatesOrdinance No. c~/~ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING SECTION 13.04.030, SEWER RATES, OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE, ADJUSTING MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER RATES FOR 1997 TO REFLECT THE COST TO DELIVER SEWER SERVICE WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend provides municipal wastewater (sewer) service to the residents of Port Townsend; and WHEREAS, the City's most recent rate study demonstrates that without an increase in sewer service rates, the rates will fall below the actual cost of serving City sewer customers; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it essential that the City's utility rates charged to the City's sewer customers accurately approximate the cost to deliver sewer service, NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend does ordain as follows: Section 1. Chapter 13.04, Section 13.04.030, Sewer Rates, of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby amended and shall be codified by the Code Reviser to read as follows: 13.04.030 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. 1. Average Winter Water Use Categories. For single-unit residences and duplexes, where each unit receives separately metered water service, each unit shall be charged a base rate, plus a charge per 1,000 gallons of metered water used, up to a fixed limit based on the customer's average water use calculated from meter readings actually taken during a four-month period between October 15th and March 15th, or average winter water use (AWWU). The AWWU shall be determined on April 1st of each year with the customer's maximum monthly rate from April 1st to March 30th of the next year being established by the AWWU. The AWWU category for determining monthly charges shall be established by averaging the water meter readings taken during the specified four-month period and rounding them up or down to the nearest thousand gallon amount. 2. Monthly Rates. The base monthly rate for each metered customer shall be $25.00 per month plus $2.44 $2.60 per 1,000 gallons of water used as established through the AWWU process. For duplexes with a single water meter, the charge shall be two times the base rate, plus a charge of $-2v~ $2.60 per 1,000 gallons AWWU. Monthly sewer charges where actual water usage in a particular month is less than the AWWU shall be calculated as a combination of the base rate plus a charge of ~ $2.60 per 1,000 gallons of water actually used, rounded to the nearest thousand gallons. If water meter readings are taken on a bimonthly basis, an averaging method to calculate monthly billing charges may be utilized. Charges for a monthly period during which the meter is not actually read shall be calculated by averaging the prior water consumption for the period during the two months immediately preceding the period for which a meter reading is not obtained, multiplying that average amount (not to exceed the AWWU maximum) by the volume charge per thousand gallons and adding that charge to the base charge. An adjustment for actual usage shall be made in the next monthly billing based on actual meter readings, if necessary. If the customer does not have a recorded four-month use to establish the AWWU or where during the four-month period used to calculate the AWWU there is a circumstance which, in the reasonable judgment of the treasurer, would make the AWWU calculation erroneous, the charge shall be set at the base rate plus the monthly rate for the customer's past AWWU, or the AWWU within the customer class, whichever amount is deemed to most accurately reflect the probable use by the customer. If there is a change in occupancy during the AWWU determination period for a particular year, the charge shall be set at the base rate plus the monthly rate for the prior customer's AWWU, or the AWWU within the customer class, whichever amount is deemed to most accurately reflect the probable use by the customer. B. Multifamily Customers. 1. Base Charges. For multifamily residences with three or more units, the base monthly charge shall be based on meter size. The base charge shall be: Wastewater - In City Only 5/8-3/4" meter 1" meter 1-1/4" meter 1-1/2" meter 1-3/4" meter 2" meter 3" meter 4" meter 6" meter 8" meter $25.00/month 35.00/month 40.00/month 45.05/month 58.75/month 72.55/month 275.1 O/month 350.15/month 525.20/month 725,30/month 2. Total Charges. The total monthly multifamily charges shall be the base charge plus a charge of $2.44 $2,60 per 1,000 gallons of water actually used, rounded to the nearest thousand gallon amount, with the maximum per gallon charge capped at 6,000 gallons per unit. {Sewer Rates} 2 Ord. 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 $-2v~ $2.60 per 1,000 gallons of water used, rounded to the nearest thousand gallons, with no maximum cap on additional charges, or if a commercial customer generates high- strength waste or waste with a high variability in loadings, charges shall be on a commodity basis and provided in Chapter 13.06 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 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. ~ § 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 2. 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. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of its publication in the manner provided by law. /Sewer Rates] 3 Ord. # c~,~' 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 ~ day of ~ ,1996. Attest: Pam~Kola ct~y, City C~le (k~ uli~cCulloch, Mayor Appro~ d.~s to Form: ~ Ti ~at/an,/~'ty Attorney CSANNIE\WP61 \PTMCODE\SWRRATE.ORD [Sewer Rates} 4 Ord.