Title
Sewer Rates - For the purpose of amending the Code of the City of Annapolis concerning potential rate increases for metered sewer use.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Ordinance No. O-50-15
Introduced by: Alderman Arnett
Referred to
Environmental Matters Committee
Economic Matters Committee
Finance Committee
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Sewer Rates
FOR the purpose of amending the Code of the City of Annapolis concerning potential rate increases for metered sewer use.
BY repealing and re-enacting with amendments the following portion of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2014 Edition:
Section 16.16.010
SECTION I: BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:
Chapter 16.16 SEWER SERVICE
16.16.010 - Rate.
A. 1. The charge for sewer service to users within the City shall be based on water consumption, as defined in Subsection (A)(2) of this Section as follows:
a. A minimum fixed charge shall be billed each connection each quarter for water consumption and shall be based on water meter size as follows:
|
Meter Size |
Fixed Charge |
|
1 inch or less |
$11.71 |
|
1½ inch |
$58.58 |
|
2 inch |
$93.73 |
|
3 inch |
$187.44 |
|
4 inch |
$292.88 |
|
6 inch |
$585.77 |
b. Consumption shall be billed to each connection each quarter at the following rates:
Residential Usage Charges
Per Thousand Gallons
Non-Residential and Multifamily Usage
Charges Per Thousand Gallons;
Prior to June 30 each year, the City shall complete a cost of service rate study and report the results to the Council. If the rate study indicates an increase of rates is necessary to cover the cost of service, and the increase is less than five percent, the rate increase will automatically occur and no council action will be required. If the necessary rate increase is five percent or greater, the Council shall be required to act affirmatively by establishing and adopting a rate increase prior to the start of each fiscal year.
2. For the purposes of this Section, "water consumption" is determined by the actual water consumption in each quarter. An annual two percent rate increase shall be in effect from July 1, 2015 until June 30, 2018 for sewer charges set forth in this chapter.
B. A resident may request in writing to make monthly payments. There shall be a four percent surcharge for this service.
C. Sewer service shall not be extended to any user outside of the City except by written agreement approved by ordinance. The ordinance shall expressly find, upon a determination issued by the Director of Public Works, that existing and/or funded facilities, capacity and infrastructure are sufficient to serve the user outside the City in addition to existing and reasonably foreseeable City users. The terms of each such agreement shall bind the user, its successors and assigns, according to its terms which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter. The agreement shall make specific reference to the ordinance authorizing it and be recorded in the land records for Anne Arundel County. The charge for sewer service to users outside the City shall be twice that charged to users within the City.
D. In addition to the charge required by the provisions of Subsection C. of this Section, sewer service to users outside the City shall make annual payments to the City in amounts equivalent to City real property taxes which would be imposed if the property were in the City.
E. All costs incurred in extending sewer service to users outside the City, including but not limited to costs incurred in extending existing sewer mains, shall be paid by the user. All improvements to existing public infrastructure made in extending sewer service to users outside the City, shall be built to City standards and shall be transferred to public ownership upon such terms and conditions as the Director of Public Works shall require.
F. Whenever property outside the City receiving City sewer service is annexed into the City, the charge for such service shall be reduced to that charged for users in the City and the payments required under Subsection D. of this Section shall abate as of the date of annexation.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FURTHER ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this Ordinance shall take effect from the date of its passage.
EXPLANATION
CAPITAL LETTERS indicate matter added to existing law.
Strikethrough indicates matter stricken from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments.