Chapter 13.26
SEWER RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
13.26.030 Sewer rates for lots connected to the sewer system.
13.26.040 Reduction in residential sewer rates and charges for low-income customers.
13.26.050 Cancellation of sewer rates for unconnected lots.
13.26.060 Other charges, fees, penalties, deposits and credits.
13.26.065 Sewer system development charges.
13.26.067 System development charge administration.
13.26.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall be defined as follows:
“City” means the city of Ocean Shores, Washington, a duly organized noncharter code city.
“Lot” means a lot as platted or created by subsequent division of a lot or parcel, or an equivalent lot as depicted by the city engineers on the utility lot designation maps of the city on file in the office of the city clerk/treasurer; provided, however, that in cases where a single-family residential structure physically occupies parts of two lots, such lots shall be deemed to be one lot for the purposes of this chapter.
“Sewer system” means the existing or future sanitary sewage collection and treatment system serving the city consisting of pressure and/or vacuum lines to the treatment plant, a treatment plant, pump and/or vacuum stations, and some gravity collector lines.
“Waterworks utility” means the combined water system, sewer and storm drainage system of the city, together with all additions thereto and betterments and extensions thereof hereafter made, and including any plants, facilities and equipment for refuse collection and disposal should they later be combined with or made a part of such municipal water, sewage and storm drainage utility. (Ord. 553 § 1, 1993)
13.26.020 Rates and charges.
The rates and charges set forth in this chapter shall be considered rates and charges for the sewer system within the waterworks utility. It is found and declared that the classifications, rates and charges set forth in this chapter are fair and equitable. (Ord. 553 § 2, 1993)
13.26.030 Sewer rates for lots connected to the sewer system.
The rates and charges for sewer service to lots connected to the sewer system within the corporate limits of the city are fixed and established as follows:
A. The rates and charges for sewer service to lots are fixed and established as follows:
|
1. Flat Rate Services $/Unit/Mo. |
|
|
Customer Class |
Amount |
|
Residential |
$21.90 |
|
Motels/Hotels/Apts/Condos Type 1 |
$23.45 |
|
2. Service Charge $/Unit/Mo. |
Amount |
|
Commercial/Other |
$21.90 |
|
Motels/Hotels/Apts/Condos Type 2 |
$21.90 |
|
3. Volume Charge – Per Cubic Foot |
Amount |
|
Commercial/Other |
$0.04445 |
|
Motels/Hotels/Apts/Condos Type 2 |
$0.02128 |
B. Sewer Rates Standards and Policies.
1. Residential: is a flat rate per month; the residential rate applies to single-family dwellings.
2. Commercial: is a flat rate per month as set forth in subsection (A)(2) of this section, plus a volume charge per cubic foot of water consumption as set forth in subsection (A)(3) of this section.
3. Motels, Type 1: Motels, hotels, apartments, rooming houses, lodging houses and condominiums providing a rental or lease of more than thirty days shall pay a flat rate per month as set forth in subsection (A)(1) of this section.
4. Motels, Type 2: Motels, hotels, apartments, rooming houses, lodging houses and condominiums providing a rental or lease for thirty days or less shall pay a flat rate per month as set forth in subsection (A)(2) of this section, plus a volume charge per cubic foot of water consumption as set forth in subsection (A)(3) of this section.
5. Schools, churches, nursing homes, sanitariums, rest homes, hospitals and other users not otherwise classified shall pay commercial rates.
6. The city council may enter into contracts with sewer users deviating from the rates in this section where special circumstances dictate; provided, that such rates shall not be discriminatory.
7. Except as set forth in a separate contract for sewer service, sewer rates, charges, penalties, deposits and credits (collectively, “charges”) are set at one hundred seventy-five percent of the charges established in Chapter 13.26, for customers located outside of the corporate limits of the city.
C. Disputes. All questions or disputes regarding the appropriate rate to be applied to the structure shall be resolved by the city manager. Any appeal from the decision of the city manager shall be to the city hearing examiner.
D. Each motel, hotel, apartment house, rooming house, condominium and recreational vehicle park and campground shall receive one monthly bill for each water service installation and failure to pay the bill in full promptly shall result in appropriate enforcement measures against all units thereof, and the city shall not provide individual sewer service bills for each unit of such motel, hotel, apartment house, rooming house, condominium or recreational vehicle park and campground unit unless each unit has its own water service, and in such event each unit shall be charged the rate as fixed in subsection (A)(1) of this section.
(Ord. 1087 § 1, 2022; Ord. 909 § 1, 2012; Ord. 789 § 3, 2005; Ord. 773 § 3, 2004; Ord. 740 § 4.1, 2002: Ord. 733 § 4, 2002; Ord. 725 § 4.1, 2001: Ord. 712 § 2.1, 2000: Ord. 705 § 4.1, 2000: Ord. 666 § 4.1, 1999: Ord. 625 § 1, 1997: Ord. 602 § 1, 1996: Ord. 553 § 3, 1993)
13.26.040 Reduction in residential sewer rates and charges for low-income customers.
A. Definitions.
“Total yearly household income” means total household income of all people living in the household. This includes, but is not limited to, wages, Social Security less deductions and amount paid directly to nursing home for care of spouse or amount paid for in home care, retirement benefits, veteran’s benefits, pensions and annuities, unemployment, L&I benefits, interest, dividends, capital gains, etc., without adjustment for any business or other losses or expenses.
B. Residential customers whose qualifying income is at or below one hundred twenty-five percent of the currently available national poverty guideline as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be entitled to a reduction of the sewer rates and charges established in Section 13.26.030(A).
C. Qualifying income shall be the total yearly household income of all people living in the residence for the calendar year immediately preceding the year the reduction is applied for.
D. For those residential customers who qualify under the provisions of subsections (B) and (C) of this section, the sewer rates and charges established in Section 13.26.030(A) shall be fixed at the rate of one-half of the amount established in Section 13.26.030(A).
E. Such a reduction in sewer rates and charges shall take effect on the first day of the month following the receipt of a written request from the residential customers together with copies of their Internal Revenue tax forms as detailed in subsection (C) of this section.
F. An approved application for reduction in sewer rates and charges under the provisions of this section shall be valid for a term of twelve months. No sooner than thirty days before, nor later than thirty days after the expiration of that term, the residential customer may reapply for an additional twelve-month term. The process for the submission, review and approval of that renewal shall be the same as for the initial application.
G. The reduction in rates contemplated under this section shall only be available to noncommercial customers.
(Ord. 1087 § 2, 2022)
13.26.050 Cancellation of sewer rates for unconnected lots.
A. In those cases where structures physically occupy parts of two or more lots, the rates and charges established in Section 13.26.030 shall be eliminated as it applies to the lot or lots which are not serviced by sewer. Such elimination of charges shall be instituted on the first day of the month following the issuance of an occupancy permit.
B. In those cases where property owners have taken steps to divide previously platted residential lots into smaller parcels, the rates and charges established in Section 13.26.030 shall be eliminated. Such elimination of charges shall be instituted on the first day of the month following the submission to the city of a written request from the property owners together with copies of the documents recording the sale on the records of Grays Harbor County.
C. Before the elimination of charges outlined in subsections (A) and (B) of this section are instituted, it shall be necessary for the customer to be current in all waterworks utility charges and fees for all lots affected by this procedure.
(Ord. 553 § 5, 1993)
13.26.060 Other charges, fees, penalties, deposits and credits.
Other charges, fees, penalties, deposits and credits are fixed and established as follows:
A. Service rendered for less than a month: prorated by the day;
B. Emergency service calls during regular business hours: no charge;
C. Service calls during other than regular business hours, where it is determined that the problem is caused by failure of the customer’s service line or plumbing or piping: forty-five dollars;
D. Restoration of service after service has been discontinued by the city for violation of ordinance or for failure to pay sewer charges:
1. During regular business hours: forty-five dollars,
2. During other business hours: sixty dollars;
E. Penalty for delinquency: if sewer charges are not paid within twenty days from the date of billing, shall be imposed in accordance with Section 13.06.350;
F. Side sewer permit:
1. Administration and inspection: five hundred dollars for the first connection, plus an additional ten dollars for each additional connection to the same side sewer for the same owner,
2. Construction:
a. Single-family residential: two thousand seven hundred dollars for each connection point at the property line; provided, however, there shall be no charge when the connection point at the property line has been constructed and costs for connection assessed under a local improvement district.
b. Other: five thousand two hundred fifty dollars for each connection. Each service between two and twelve equivalent residential units (“ERUs”) shall be considered a single connection. Each service greater than twelve ERUs shall be subject to a fee based upon pro rata ERUs, actual cost, or other equitable basis for connection to the sewer system, but in no event less than five thousand two hundred fifty dollars.
c. General: the fees in this section are to provide for the approximate cost of constructing pit and valve assemblies or other improvements to allow for connection of property to the sewer system.
(Ord. 705 § 4.3, 2000: Ord. 675 § 5, 2000: § Ord. 660 § 2, 1999: Ord. 625 § 3, 1997: Ord. 608 § 2, 1996; Ord. 581 § 1, 1995; Ord. 553 § 6, 1993)
13.26.065 Sewer system development charges.
A. Effective on and after October 1, 2003, any property owner within the corporate limits of the city applying for a side sewer permit shall pay the following system development charge for the use of the sewer system, based on their water meter size:
|
Water Meter Size |
ERUs |
SDC |
|---|---|---|
|
5/8"—3/4" |
1 |
$510.00 |
|
3/4" |
1.5 |
765.00 |
|
1" |
2.5 |
1,275.00 |
|
1-1/2" |
5 |
$2,551.00 |
|
2" |
8 |
$4,080.00 |
|
3" |
16 |
$8,160.00 |
|
4" |
25 |
$12,750.00 |
For water meter sizes larger than four inches, charges will be proportional to established charges. For sewer connections where no distinct water meter exists, charges will be proportional to the equivalent residential units (ERU’s) established for that use.
B. The sewer system development charges for all residential and commercial customers located outside the corporate limits of the city shall be one hundred twenty-five percent of the applicable charge established under this section.
(Ord. 757 § 1 (part), 2003)
13.26.067 System development charge administration.
A. Revenues from sewer system development charges shall be accounted for separately from other funds. System development charges and interest earned thereon may be expended only for capital costs, including interest expense, for which the system development charges were imposed.
B. The following situations shall be exempted from payment of the system development charges as outlined in 13.26.065:
1. Alterations or expansion of an existing building where no additional or larger water meter connections are requested.
2. The replacement of a building or structure with a new building or structure of the same size and use where no additional or larger water connections are requested.
3. A change in water meter size shall not be exempted from payment of the system development charge; however, a credit shall be given for the current system development charge on the old connection size.
4. No system development fee shall be required, nor credited for a change in water meter size that results in a decrease in meter size.
5. Upon city council approval, an exemption from or a reduction in the amount of the system development charge on land development that provides low-cost housing may be made.
(Ord. 757 § 1 (part), 2003)
13.26.070 Sewer rates and charges, other charges, fees, penalties, deposits and credits for customers located outside of the existing city limits.
A. The sewer rates and charges for all residential and commercial customers located outside of the corporate limits of the city shall be one hundred fifty percent of the applicable rates established under Section 13.26.030.
B. The other charges, fees, penalties, deposits and credits for all residential and commercial customers located outside of the corporate limits of the city shall be one hundred fifty percent of the applicable rates established under Section 13.26.060.
C. Water rates and charges as well as other charges, fees, penalties, deposits and credits for other classes of customers located outside of the corporate limits of the city shall be fixed by the city council and written agreements shall be made between the city and each of these users.
(Ord. 553 § 7, 1993)