Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2024-15 - Water Rate IncreaseORDINANCE NO. L5 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, ADDING SECTION 13.04.115 TITLED "DEFINITIONS;" AND AMENDING SECTION 13.04.120 TITLED "RATES AND CHARGES —WATER —SCHEDULE" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN TEXAS; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Georgetown (the "City") last modified its water rates in October 2023; and WHEREAS, the City has completed a cost of service study for the water utility service territory; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to implement water rates that recover the cost of water service for all customer classes; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to implement a water rate structure that promotes water conservation, equity in billing, and the reduction of peak water demand; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to amend the current water rates and adopt proposed rates, effective for all utility services provided on and after April 1, 2024. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS THAT: SECTION 1. The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. SECTION 2. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby found and declared to be true and correct and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. SECTION 3. Section 13.04.115 and Section 13.04.120 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown, Texas are hereby amended to read as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein. SECTION 4. All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and resolutions, in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any force and effect. SECTION 5. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or s6z" --15 application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. SECTION 6. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to attest. This ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect on April 1, 2024. PASSED AND APPROVED on the 1 sc reading at regular meeting of the City Council of Georgetown, Texas, on this the I Z'il% day of MAXLk , 2024 PASSED AND APPROVED on the 2nd and final reading at a regular meeting of the City Counci I of Georgetown, Texas on this the 2G!!day of ATTEST: Robyn Densmore, City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: V—� Skye ass n, City Attorney THE CITIY OF GEORGETOWN: -Z,O2Iq - 15 Exhibit A Sec. 13.04.115 Definitions "Dwelling Unit" means a building or portion thereof that includes sleeping, cooking, eating, and sanitation facilities, designed and used for residential occupancy by a single household. A Dwelling Unit does not include temporary overnight accommodations. "Residential Customer" means a customer who receives water service at a service address used primarily for residential purposes where the water is used for domestic purposes such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, and toilet flushing. Examples of residential customers include Single -Family Residential Customers and Multifamily Residential Customers. Residential customers do not include commercial customers, Industrial Customers, outdoor -only customers, resale customers, or temporary use customers. "Single -Family Residential Customer" means a Residential Customer whose meter is connected to, and exclusively serves, one Dwelling Unit at a service address used exclusively for residential purposes. "Multifamily Residential Customer" means a Residential Customer whose meter is connected to one or more other Dwelling Units at a service address used primarily for residential purposes. The term can include customers at apartment units, condominiums, townhouses, and mobile homes. "Non -Residential Customer" means a customer who is not a Residential Customer. Examples of commercial customers include: retail stores, restaurants, doctors' offices, houses of worship, and office buildings. "Recreational vehicle" or "RV" includes a: (A) "house trailer" as that term is defined by Section 501.002, Transportation Code; and (B) "towable recreational vehicle" as that term is defined by Section 541.201, Transportation Code. "Recreational vehicle park" or "RV Park" means a commercial property: (A) that is designed primarily for recreational vehicle transient guest use; and (B) for which fees for site service connections for recreational vehicles, as defined by Section 522.004(b), Transportation Code, are paid daily, weekly, or monthly. Sec. 13.04.120. Rates and charges —Water —Schedule. Rates and charges for water service are as follows: A. Single -Family Residential Service: Availability. This schedule applies to Residential Customers in single-family residences, or to residential locations with a water meter for each Dwelling Unit. 2. Customer Base Charge per month. Meter Size Inside Citv Limits Outside City Limits %-inch meter $27.30 $32.85 3/4-inch meter $40.95 $49.25 1-inch meter $68.25 $82.10 1'/2-inch meter $136.50 $164.15 2-inch meter $273.00 $328.35 3. Monthly Customer Volumetric Charge, per 1,000 gallons for inside and outside City limits: Up to and including 7,000 gallons $2.30 Over 7,001 gallons, up to and including 15,000 gallons $3.45 Over 15,001 gallons, up to and including 25,000 gallons $6.05 Over 25,001 gallons $10.60 4. Residential Customers may request a low-income water discount that is 30 percent (30%) below the current base rate for the meter size that is applicable. a) Request for a low-income discount must be made in writing. b) To qualify for the discount, customer or a permanent resident in the household must participate in the Medicaid Program and provide verifiable proof of that participation, such as an award letter or other official documentation. c) Requests for the low-income discount must be renewed annually. d) Customers qualifying for the sewer low-income discount will automatically receive the water discount. B. Multi -family Residential Service: Availability. This schedule applies to Multi -Family Residential Customers with domestic use only and more than one individual Dwelling Unit per water meter. 2. Multi -Family Residential Base Charge per month. a) Inside City Limits - $27.30 multiplied by the number of Dwelling Units b) Outside City Limits - $32.85 multiplied by the number of Dwelling Units 3. Multi -Family Residential Volume per Dwelling Unit will be calculated using the following formula: Volume per Unit (total billable volume in gallons,per the meter) = q of dwelling units served by the meter a) Monthly Multi -Family Residential Volumetric Charge applied per Dwelling Unit, per 1,000 gallons for inside and outside City limits: Up to and including 7,000 gallons $2.30 Over 7,001 gallons, up to and including 15,000 gallons $3.45 Over 15,001 gallons, up to and including 25,000 gallons $6.05 Over 25,001 gallons 1 $10.60 b) Example: Shows calculation method for monthly Multi -family Residential Volumetric charges only Total billable Multi -family Volume, per the Meter = 500,000 gallons Total Number of Dwelling Units served by the Meter = 14 Volume per Unit = Soo.Aoo = 35,714 gallons per dwelling unit Volumetric Tiered Structure Unit Dwelling Total Usage, Rate Charge per Usage Units per the Meter 1,000 gallons (k als) Served k als) Up to and including 7,000 7 14 98 $2.30 $225.40 gallons Over 7,001 gallons, up to and 8 14 112 $3.45 $386.40 including 15,000 gallons Over 15,001 gallons, up to and 10 14 140 $6.05 $847.00 including 25,000 gallons Over 25,001 gallons 10.714 14 150 $10.60 $1,590..00 Total Multi -family Residential 35.714 500 $3,048.80 Volumetric Charges C. RV Park Service: 1. Availability. This schedule applies to RV Parks whose meter is sized to provide both residential service and fire flow from the same meter, where the meter is at least four (4) inches or bigger. RV Parks with meters smaller than four (4) inches will be charged the applicable commercial rate depending on the meter size. Eight (8) Recreational Vehicle sites at an RV Park, whether occupied or not, are equivalent to one (1) Dwelling Unit. 2. RV Park Base Charge per month. a) Inside City Limits - $40.95 multiplied by 1/8th the number of Dwelling Units b) Outside City Limits - $49.25 multiplied by 1/8th the number of Dwelling Units 3. RV Park Volume per Dwelling Unit equivalent will be calculated using the following formula: Volume per Unit (total billable volume in gallons, per the meter) = # of dwelling units served by the meter a) Monthly RV Park Residential Volumetric Charge applied per Dwelling Unit equivalent, per 1,000 gallons for inside and outside City limits: Up to and including 7,000 gallons 1 $2.30 Over 7,001 gallons, up to and including 15,000 gallons 1 $3.45 Over 15,001 gallons, UP to and including 25,000 gallons $6.05 Over 25,001 gallons $10.60 b) Example: Shows calculation method for monthly RV Park Volumetric charges only Total billable RV Park Volume, per the Meter = 500,000 gallons Total Number of dwelling units served by the Meter = 112 slots = 112/8 = 14 Dwelling Units Volume per Unit = sno.000 — 35,714 gallons per dwelling unit Volumetric Tiered Structure Unit Dwelling Total Usage, Rate Charge per Usage Units per the Meter 1,000 gallons k als) Served k als Up to and including 7,000 7 14 98 $2.30 $225.40 gallons Over 7,001 gallons, up to and 8 14 112 $3.45 $386.40 including 15,000 gallons Over 15,001 gallons, up to and 10 14 140 $6.05 $847.00 including 25,000 gallons Over 25,001 gallons 10.714 14 150 $10.60 $1,590.00 Total RV Park Residential 35.714 500 $3,048.80 Volumetric Charges D. Non -Residential Service: 1. Availability. This schedule applies to Non -Residential Customers who meet one of the following criteria: a) Water usage is primarily due to manufacturing of a product and irrigation usage is metered separately; b) Municipal facilities that agree to curtail water usage at the Utility's discretion based on drought measures and conservation practices; c) Customers that operate a restaurant with a meter size of less than two inches; d) Customers with installed and qualifying on -site evaporative cooling equipment; e) Customers utilizing reclaimed water; f) Irrigation -only meters; or g) Customers whose use is not covered by a specific rate schedule. 2. Non -Residential Customer Base Charge per month. Meter Size I Inside City Limits I Outside City Limits 3/4-inch meter $40.95 $49.25 1-inch meter $68.25 $82.10 1'/z-inch meter $136.50 $164.15 2-inch meter $273.00 $328.35 3-inch meter $655.20 $788.00 4-inch meter $1,146.60 $1,379.00 6-inch meter $2,511.60 $3,020.65 8-inch meter $4,368.00 $5,253.35 Fire Hydrant Meter $655.20 $788.00 3. Monthly Non -Residential Volumetric Charge, per 1,000 gallons for inside and outside City limits: Customer Type Meter Size Tier 1 Rate Tier 2 Rate Tier 2 Threshold Small <2" $3.05 $8.20 300,001 gallons Commercial Large 2" $3.05 $8.20 600,001 gallons Commercial Large 3" $3.05 $8.20 900,001 gallons Commercial Large 4" $3.05 $8.20 4,000,001 Commercial gallons Large 6" $3.05 $8.20 6,000,001 Commercial gallons Large 8" $3.05 $8.20 8,000,001 Commercial gallons Manufacturing <8" $3.05 Municipal $3.05 Interruptible Restaurant $3.05 Evaporative $3.05 Cooling Fire Flow $3.05 Irrigation Only $5.05 $10.80 500,001 gallons Fire Hydrant $10.75 Meter Reclaimed $1.60 Water E. Fire Hydrant Meter/Bulk Water: Applicability. This section applies to bulk water customers authorized by the City to take water from a pre -determined fire hydrant having a fixed bulk meter. a) A $1,500 deposit is required prior to use unless water is prepaid (bulk water). b) Usage is read and billed monthly. c) Monthly base rate is established in Section 13.04.120.C.2 "Fire Hydrant Meter." d) Monthly volumetric charge is established in Section 13.04.120.C.3 "Fire Hydrant Meter." d) Additional requirements pertaining to fire hydrants used for bulk water delivery are in Chapter 13.35 (Fire Hydrant Use) and Chapter 13.36 (Cross Connection Controo. F. A customer may request an exemption to the rates provided in this Section for leaks that occur on the customer side of the meter. The request shall be in writing and addressed to the City Manager or his or her designee, who, after a review of the circumstances of the request, may approve or disapprove the exemption request in his or her sole discretion. G. All other provisions for City utility service shall apply, except as provided in this Chapter.