Chapter 14.28
SEWER SERVICE—RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
14.28.010 Monthly sewer rates.
14.28.020 Schedule 1: Single-family residential and duplex.
14.28.030 Schedule 2: Single-family residential and duplex without water service.
14.28.040 Schedule 3: Triplex, multifamily, mobile home and trailer parks.
14.28.050 Schedule 4: Commercial.
14.28.060 Schedule 5: Hotel/Motel.
14.28.070 Schedule 6: Industrial.
14.28.085 Schedule 8: Regional plan partners.
14.28.100 Billing—Payment—Liens.
14.28.110 Rates, charges and classifications.
14.28.120 Customer water meter leak and repair—Meter tests and bill adjustments.
14.28.010 Monthly sewer rates.
Monthly sewer rates are identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule, effective with the January billings of the affected year. (Ord. 2010-0723 § 1, 2023)
14.28.020 Schedule 1: Single-family residential and duplex.
A. Basic Charge for Each Meter Served. Single-family residential and duplex sewer rates are identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule.
B. Consumption Charge. In addition to the basic charge, each single-family residence or duplex shall pay a monthly basic charge identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule.
C. Averaging for Summer Consumption Charge. During the billing months of June, July, August, September and October, the consumption charge for each such month shall be based on the average water consumption of the preceding billing months of November, December, January, February and March recorded for that account.
D. Administrative procedures shall be established to determine an equitable average to use for charging summer consumption, using historical data from the city utility billing system where available, or using a pre-determined default number for customers, for new accounts established after September 30th of the preceding year.
E. Customers installing an irrigation meter for outside watering only will be exempt from the summer sewer average charge and will be billed for sewer charges based on actual usage for their household meter account.
F. Administrative procedures shall be established for customers to request a reduced level of service when an address is vacant. This request exempts the customer from the summer sewer average charge, and all sewer charges will be paid based on consumption. A reasonable fee will be charged to the account to cover the administrative costs of processing this request.
G. Eligible low-income senior citizens and disabled customers living in single-family residences shall receive a discount of seventeen percent of the monthly basic charge for sewer services. The city shall establish the eligibility requirements that must be met in order to receive any discount. (Ord. 2010-0723 § 1, 2023)
14.28.030 Schedule 2: Single-family residential and duplex without water service.
Single-family residential and duplexes without water service sewer rates are identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule. (Ord. 2010-0723 § 1, 2023)
14.28.040 Schedule 3: Triplex, multifamily, mobile home and trailer parks.
A. Basic Charge. Charges for triplex, multifamily, mobile homes and trailer parks having more than two single-family units or spaces sewer rates are identified within the most recent council-adopted master fee schedule.
B. Consumption Charge. In addition to the basic charge, each single-family residence or duplex shall pay a monthly consumption charge identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule.
C. Averaging for Summer Consumption Charge. During the billing months of June, July, August, September and October, the consumption charge for each such month shall be based on the average water consumption of the preceding billing months of November, December, January, February and March recorded for that account.
D. Administrative procedures shall be established to determine an equitable average to use for charging summer consumption, using historical data from the city utility billing system, or using a predetermined default number for customers for new accounts established after September 30th of the preceding year.
E. Customers installing an irrigation meter for outside watering only will be billed for sewer charges based on actual usage for their household meter(s).
F. Administrative provisions shall be established for customers to request a reduced level of service when an address is vacant. This request exempts the customer from the summer sewer average charge, and all sewer charges will be paid based on consumption. A reasonable fee will be charged to the account to cover the administrative costs of processing this request. (Ord. 2010-0723 § 1, 2023)
14.28.050 Schedule 4: Commercial.
A. Basic Charge. Each commercial account that is served shall pay a monthly basic charge identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule.
B. Consumption Charge. In addition to the basic charge, each commercial account shall pay a consumption charge for each cubic foot consumed in a month greater than a consumption of eighty-four cubic feet unit. Charges are identified within the most recently approved master fee schedule. (Ord. 2010-0723 § 1, 2023)
14.28.060 Schedule 5: Hotel/Motel.
A. Basic Charge. Each unit of accommodation of a hotel or motel that is served shall pay a monthly basic charge per unit, as identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule. Hotel/motel sewer charges are identified within the most recently adopted master fee schedule.
B. Consumption Charge. In addition to the basic charge, each hotel/motel account shall pay a consumption charge for each cubic foot consumed in a month greater than a consumption of eighty-four cubic feet. Charges are identified within the most recently approved master fee schedule. (Ord. 2010-0723 § 1, 2023)
14.28.070 Schedule 6: Industrial.
With respect to industrial users, the charges for treatment of wastes shall be sufficient to provide proportionate revenue to pay the expenses of operation and maintenance of such facilities, to provide debt services, and to provide a margin for reserve. Determination of appropriate charges shall be based upon the nature of the waste and shall consider at least BOD, suspended solids and volume. The city will establish industrial user rates on a case-by-case basis. Providing information necessary for determination of appropriate industrial user rates shall be the responsibility of the industry. Review of the industrial rate shall be undertaken periodically to ensure equitable charges. (Ord. 1686-1106 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1673-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1671-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 7 (part), 2003)
14.28.085 Schedule 8: Regional plan partners.
Under the provisions of the regional water and wastewater plan, the city will provide sewer services to the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Corrections Center under a separate utility service agreement approved by the council. Rates and charges for sewer services applicable to the regional plan partners will be set forth in this agreement and are not subject to Section 14.28.0801. (Ord. 1921-0518 (part), 2018; Ord. 1686-1106 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1673-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1671-0206 § 1 (part), 2006)
14.28.090 Appeals.
A. Any customer who believes that an assessed user charge, billing or notice of delinquency is out of compliance with this chapter may appeal such charges, billing or notice of delinquency pursuant to the appeal process defined in this section.
B. Within seven business days of the date printed on the invoice (in the event of appeal of an assessed user charge or billing) or within seven business days of the date printed on the delinquency notice (in the event of an appeal of delinquency status), submit a written appeal to the city’s director of financial services by personal delivery or by first class mail to the city’s business address. The written appeal shall state (1) what is disputed; (2) specific dollar figures disputed; (3) explanation regarding why the billing and/or determination of delinquency appear inaccurate; and (4) specific details regarding the corrective action requested of the city, including specific dollar figures. If personally delivered, this written appeal must be received by the city within seven business days of the date printed on the subject invoice or notice, with the date printed on the subject invoice or notice not included in the seven-day date calculation. If mailed, the written appeal must be postmarked within seven business days of the date printed on the subject invoice or notice, with the date printed on the subject invoice or notice not included in the seven-day date calculation. The customer shall retain proof of postage and mailing for reference purposes.
C. Sewer service will be subject to disconnection seven business days following the respective appeal due dates specified in this section, in the event no written appeal is received by the city by the specified due dates.
D. The director of financial services will evaluate a written appeal timely submitted, and will issue written finding(s) and a determination within seven business days of receipt of the appeal, with the date of receipt not included in the date calculation. The written finding(s) and determination will be mailed to the customer’s address of record.
E. If the director of financial services determines that the charges are unwarranted, user charges for the subject account shall be corrected and the revised charges shall be retroactively applied for up to four months, with any credit applied to the subject account.
F. Should the customer disagree with the director of financial services’ written finding(s) and determination, the customer may appeal and proceed as final hearing to the city manager, or designee, pursuant to the process detailed herein. An appeal to the city manager, or designee, may be submitted in writing by personal delivery or by first class mail to the city’s business address. The written appeal shall specifically reference the director of financial services’ written finding(s) and determination, and shall state (1) what specific finding(s) and/or determination of the director of financial services is/are disputed; (2) specific dollar figures disputed; (3) explanation regarding why the director of financial services’ written finding(s) and/or determination appear(s) inaccurate; (4) specific details regarding the corrective action requested of the city, including specific dollar figures; and (5) whether an in-person hearing is requested or whether the matter is to be decided solely on the basis of the written submittal.
If personally delivered, the written appeal must be received by the city within seven business days of the date printed on the director of financial services’ written finding(s) and determination, with such printed date not included in the seven-day date calculation. If mailed, the written appeal must be postmarked within seven business days of the date on the director of financial services’ written finding(s) and determination, with such printed date not included in the seven-day date calculation. The customer shall retain proof of postage and mailing for reference purposes.
The city manager, or designee, will evaluate the appeal and, if an in-person hearing is not requested, will issue written finding(s) and determination within seven business days of the appeal receipt date (in the case of personal delivery), or appeal postmark date (in the case of mailing), with the appeal receipt date or postmark date not included in the date calculation. Such decision shall be final, and the written finding(s) and determination will be mailed to the customer’s address of record.
If an in-person hearing is requested, the in-person hearing shall be conducted by the city manager, or designee, within ten business days from the date of personal delivery or mailing postmark of the appeal to the city manager, or designee, with date of delivery or postmark not included in the date calculation. Following the hearing, the city manager, or designee, will issue written finding(s) and determination, within seven business days of the hearing date, with date of hearing not included in the date calculation. Such decision shall be final, and the written finding(s) and determination will be mailed to the customer’s address of record.
G. A scheduled disconnection for disputed charges shall be placed on hold pending the appeal process; provided, that disconnection may proceed seven business days following the respective appeal due dates specified in this section, in the event no written appeal is received by the city by the specified due dates; or immediately upon the final decision by the city manager, or designee, in the event the final decision upholds the pending disconnection.
H. The customer must pay all undisputed subsequent utility billing charges, penalties and fees in order to keep the appeal process active. Any undisputed charges left unpaid are subject to the disconnection process. (Ord. 1919-0318, 2018)
14.28.100 Billing—Payment—Liens.
Utility billing, delinquencies, collections and liens shall be as provided for under Title 3 of the Shelton Municipal Code addressing utility billings, delinquent charges and liens. (Ord. 1686-1106 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1673-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1671-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 7 (part), 2003)
14.28.110 Rates, charges and classifications.
The rates, charges and classifications provided in this title may be amended from time to time at the discretion of the city council and as provided for in the Shelton Municipal Code. Such amended rates, charges or classifications shall apply to and be binding upon users of the city sewer system whether inside or outside of the city limits. (Ord. 1921-0518 (part), 2018; Ord. 1686-1106 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1673-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1671-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 7 (part), 2003)
14.28.120 Customer water meter leak and repair—Meter tests and bill adjustments.
The provisions entitled, “Water Meter Leak and Repair” and “Meter Tests and Bill Adjustments” as set out in Title 15 of this code shall also apply to this title with respect to any impact on a customer’s sewer rate. (Ord. 1686-1106 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1673-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1671-0206 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1662-1205 § 1 (part), 2005: Ord. 1632-0904 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1610-0104 § 7 (part), 2004: Ord. 1605-1103 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1602-1003 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1585-0303 § 7 (part), 2003: Ord. 1583-0103 § 7 (part), 2003)
Code reviser’s note: Section 14.28.080 was repealed by Ordinance No. 1778-0111.