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Home My WebLink About2488 Water Rate IncreaseOrdinance No. -~f~ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING SECTION 13.12.220, MONTHLY WATER RATES, OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend provides water service to the residents of Port Townsend and outside the City's municipal boundaries; and WHEREAS, the City's most recent rate study demonstrates that without an increase in water service rates, the rates will fall below the actual cost of serving water customers; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it essential that the City's utility rates charged to the City's water customers accurately approximate the cost to deliver water service, NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend does ordain as follows: Section 1. Chapter 13.12, Section 13.12.220, Monthly water rates of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby amended and shall be codified by the City's Code Reviser to read as follows: 13.12.220 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, with 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: Meter Size Inside City Outside City 5/8" by 314" e~ rm~,~, $11.55/month 1" .,.,'~. ,:~,~.,, ,..,.,,,h 26.90/month 1-1/4" ~o ~r~ .... h 40.40/month 1-1/2" ~ '~"'^~**' 53 90/month 1-3/4" ,:,: or~ .... h 70 15/me, nth 3" ~ 161.75/month 192.55/month 4" OC~ ffal~.*h 269.55/month 6" Cl~ Cn/~--*~ 539.20/month 8" o~ ~n~_,~ 862 70/ th .... ~ .......... mon $15.45/month 36.05/month 54.10/month 72.25/month 93.95/month 115.55/month 216.60/month 361.00/month 722.15/month 1,155.40/month 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. 0.00 0.00 Where meters for residential customers larger than five-eighths 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. B. Volume Charges and Summer Use Surcharges. All water use for customers within the city shall be charged a volume rate of $1.55 1.64 per 1,000 gallons or portions thereof, and all water use for customers in the outside-of-city service area shall be charged a volume rate of $1.95 2.19 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 $1.55 1.64 per 1,000 gallons plus an additional $0.78 0.82 per 1,000 gallons for water use in excess of 11,000 gallons ($g-:-_34 2.46 total) per month during the summer use period. For single-unit residential and duplex customers with individual meters, outside-of-city service area, the volume charge shall be $1.95 2.19 per 1,000 gallons plus an additional $0.9°,, 1.10 per 1,000 gallons for use in excess of 11,000 gallons ($2.93 3.29 total) 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 $9.7°,, 0.82 per 1,000 gallons will be assessed for water used in excess of an average of 11,000 gallons ($g-:34 2.46 total) 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 service area, an additional $9.98 1.10 per 1,000 gallons will be assessed for water used in excess of an average of 11,000 gallons ($2.92 3,29 total) 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 $1.55 1.64 per 1,000 gallons. For irrigation-only meters outside-of-city service area, the meter charge shall be based on meter size with a volume charge of $!.95 2.19. per 1,000 gallons. A standby or monthly service charge for irrigation-only meters will not be assessed for full month periods during which the meter is turned off by the city. The city shall assess a turn-on, turn-off charge for such requests at a rate provided by ordinance. 4. Should there be a period during which a meter reading 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 the 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. C. Water Charge Method for Single-Family and Duplex Uses With Individual Meters. For single-family residences and duplexes with individual water meters, meter reading shall be done, at a minimum, on a bimonthly basis. Charges for the month during which the meter is not read shall be calculated by averaging the prior consumption for the two months immediately preceding the period for which a meter reading is not obtained. Charges for the month during which the actual meter reading is taken shall add the meter rate to an adjusted volume charge which adjusts for the difference between the average calculated for the previous month and the actual metered volume for the two-month period involved, charged at the rates established under subsection B of this section. D. Private Fire Protection. Monthly service charges for private fire protection systems shall be as follows: Inside City Outside City 2" $10.10 $12.63 4" 17.05. 21.31 6" 34.38 42.98 For private fire protection systems, in areas outside the city limits, the city will specify the hydraulic capacity and flow capability of its distribution system under specified flow and demand conditions at the request of the customer. It is the customer's responsibility to evaluate private fire protection requirements and to verify the adequacy of the city's water system to meet those requirements. E. 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 $1.56 1.64 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 shall be charged a volume charge of $!.95 2,19 per 1,000 gallons used unless a current contract specifically provides for an alternative rate schedule. (Ord.,?41?8 § 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). 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. 1995. ~~/ Jo~ M. ClUe, Mayor Attest: / ~ng City Clerk T~n°th~ ~lgfahan' City Ati°17n~l 1 //9)gg,/95~5~XWater{, 312_220. do~