Chapter 13.30 WATER RATES AND CHARGES

Chapter 13.30
WATER RATES AND CHARGES

Sections:

13.30.040 Low income assistance program.

13.30.010 Meter rates.

(1) The following schedule of meter rates shall be the basic rate for 400 cubic feet or less of water used by the consumer:


Meter Size	Inside City Rate	Outside City Rate
3/4"	$21.56	$32.35
1"	$53.92	$80.91
1-1/2"	$98.83	$148.27
2"	$172.53	$258.79
3"	$226.45	$339.68
4"	$273.16	$409.75
6"	$323.48	$485.25

(2) The above listed rates are the basic rates for 400 cubic feet or less of water used, and the city shall charge the following amount of water used in excess of 400 cubic feet and up to and including 1,000 cubic feet per month as follows:


Inside City Rate	Outside City Rate
$2.36 per each 100 cubic feet	$3.52 per each 100 cubic feet

For every 100 cubic feet of water used over 1,000 cubic feet, the city shall charge the following:


Inside City Rate	Outside City Rate
$1.81 per each 100 cubic feet	$2.70 per each 100 cubic feet

(Ord. 597 § 2, 2012; Ord. 566 § 2, 2009; Ord. 515 § 2, 2004; Ord. 470 § 2, 2000; Ord. 461 § 2, 1999; Ord. 381 § 2, 1994; Ord. 225 § 2, 1980)

13.30.020 Trailer parks and apartments.

Trailer parks, apartment houses, and motels renting units as apartments, without individual meters, will be charged in addition to the minimum and meter charges the sum of $4.88 per unit for each apartment, trailer, and/or unit over and above the regular bill. (Ord. 597 § 3, 2012; Ord. 566 § 3, 2009; Ord. 515 § 3, 2004; Ord. 470 § 2, 2000; Ord. 461 § 3, 1999; Ord. 381 § 4, 1994)

13.30.030 Connection charges.

(1) Service charges for meter installation shall be $980.00, up to a three-quarter-inch meter, for installation within the corporate limits of the city of Forks.

(2) Service charges for meter installation shall be $1,115, up to a three-quarter-inch meter, for installation outside the corporate limits of the city of Forks. (Ord. 597 § 4, 2012; Ord. 566 § 5, 2009; Ord. 381 § 3, 1994; Ord. 225 § 3, 1980)

13.30.040 Low income assistance program.

(1) Purpose. This section is designed to relieve low income senior citizens and/or disabled citizens from the effect of the city’s water service charges as permitted by RCW 35.92.020(5) and Article 8, Section 7 of the State Constitution.

(2) Water Rate Charges for the Low Income Assistance Program.

(a) Eligibility. Low income senior citizens’ water rates are available to individuals that meet the following conditions:

(i) The water rates account shall be in the name of the individual owner or renter certifying eligibility for low income senior citizen rates; and

(ii) That individual shall be or exceed 62 years of age at the time of filing; or

(iii) That individual is disabled, and able to provide proof of the disability from another governmental agency, as:

(A) Defined in RCW 74.18.020(4) (blindness), RCW 71A.10.020(2) (developmentally disabled), or RCW 71.05.020(1) mentally ill; or

(B) Determined by the Social Security Administration; or

(C) Determined by the Department of Veterans Administration and said individual had received an honorable or general discharge from military service.

(iv) Income eligibility shall be determined by utilizing the individual’s certified gross income and comparing that to the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). Any individual certifying in their application to have income levels at or below the amounts found within those guidelines for a similar-sized household as the applicant’s shall be determined to have met the income criteria required for participation in this city program;

(v) Is the sole occupant or head of household.

(b) Only one domestic water charge reduction will be given for each applicant and for each property served.

(d) Rates. Those that are approved for participation in this specific program shall be charged 75 percent for water services provided by the city with this discount rate being applied to any current and/or future water services rate structure approved by the city council in accordance with the city’s laws, regulations and/or procedures.

(e) Application. Individuals must apply at Forks City Hall annually. The application will require information on age of the applicant, with copies of documents proving the qualifying basis for inclusion of the applicant into the low income assistance program, and household income must be notarized.

(f) Determination of eligibility shall be made by the city clerk/treasurer based upon information given in the annual application of the low income senior citizen.

(g) Period of Validity of the Application. Upon approval of the application, the household will receive the reduced rate beginning the first day of the month following the date of the application through December 31st of the year in which the application is made. Renewal shall be effective from January 1st of the renewal application’s year so long as the renewal application is made by January 31st of the renewal year.

(h) Appeals. Where a difference of opinion exists regarding eligibility under this section the city council shall make the final determination upon written notice of appeal to the city council by the applicant.

(i) False Representation. Any person making a false representation in order to secure reduced water rates pursuant to this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(3) Upon publication of such guidelines, usually in February of any given calendar year or shortly thereafter, the city shall utilize the new guidelines for the determination of household eligibility for this program. City administrative staff shall be empowered to comport their review to such guidelines upon their publication in the Federal Register. Further, city administrative staff may modify and alter the notarized application in a manner that reflects the utilization of these poverty guidelines, as well as in any manner as to comport with other applicable state and federal laws. (Ord. 565 § 1, 2009; Ord. 552 §§ 1 – 3, 2007; Ord. 228 §§ 1, 2, 1980; Ord. 225 § 5, 1980)

13.30.050 Annual rate increase.

The rates listed in FMC 13.10.010, 13.30.010, 13.30.020 and 13.30.030 shall be increased annually in January by a percentage equal to the annual percentage increase indicated in the Consumer Price Index All Urban Consumers (CPI-U for the Seattle-Tacoma Bellevue area) All Items Category, as indicated for the June to June period of the previous year. (Ord. 566 § 6, 2009)