Chapter 14.32
STORMWATER UTILITY RATES
Sections:
14.32.030 Service charge rates.
14.32.040 Credits for qualified existing or new stormwater facilities.
14.32.045 Bimonthly rate table.
14.32.050 System development charge.
14.32.060 Rate adjustments and appeals.
14.32.070 Billing procedure and collection.
14.32.080 Annual review of charges and fees.
14.32.090 Effective date of service charge.
14.32.010 Definitions.
The following words when used herein shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) “Best management practices (BMPs)” means the best available and reasonable physical, structural, managerial, or behavioral activities that, when used singly or in combination, eliminate or reduce the contamination of surface and/or ground water.
(2) “Commercial properties” include commercial, multifamily residential – three units or greater, industrial and institutional properties.
(3) “Developed” means that condition of real property altered from its natural state by the addition to or construction on such property of impervious ground surface or other manmade physical improvements such that the drainage characteristics of the property or portion thereof are affected.
(4) “Duplex” means any structure which contains no more than two residences or two residential units which are within a single structure and are used primarily for residential purposes.
(5) “Dwelling unit – single-family” means a structure consisting of one detached building in which there are facilities for the living accommodations of one family.
(6) “Equivalent residential unit (ERU)” means and shall be equal to 3,900 square feet of impervious surface and is the measure of impervious surface to be used by the utility in assessing service charges and system development charges against each parcel of property.
(7) “System development charge” means that fee authorized by the council and charged by the utility to property which is developed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, which charge reflects a proportionate share of the utility’s capital costs attributable to the newly developed property.
(8) “Impervious surface” means a hard surface area which either prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil mantle as it entered under natural conditions prior to development, or a hard surface area which causes water to run off the surface in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow from the flow present under natural conditions prior to development. Common impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, roofs, sidewalks, walkways, patios, concrete or asphalt paving, driveways, parking lots, storage areas, areas which are paved, graveled, or made of packed earthen materials and other surfaces which similarly impede the natural infiltration of surface and stormwater. Open, uncovered flow control or water quality treatment facilities shall not be considered as impervious surfaces.
(9) “Manual” means the most recently adopted technical drainage manual that describes the requirements for drainage review, drainage plan and report submittal, hydrologic analysis and design, flow control design, water quality design, and other technical requirements.
(10) “Natural surface water drainage system” means such landscape features as rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands.
(11) “Parcel” means the smallest separately segregated unit or plot of land having an identified owner, boundaries and surface area which is documented for property tax purposes and given a tax lot number by the Clark County assessor.
(12) “Person” means any individual, firm, company, association, corporation or governmental agency.
(13) “Program” means the stormwater management program.
(14) “Service charge” means the bimonthly fee levied by the utility upon all developed real property within the boundaries of the utility as authorized by WMC 14.32.020 and 14.32.030.
(15) “Storm drainage system” means constructed drainage facilities and any natural surface water drainage features that do any combination of collecting, storing, controlling, treating or conveying surface and stormwater.
(16) “Stormwater” means water originating from rainfall and other precipitation that is found in drainage facilities, rivers, streams, springs, seeps, ponds, lakes, and wetlands, as well as shallow ground water.
(17) “Stormwater management program” means the services provided by the city relating to surface and stormwater drainage, including but not limited to basin planning, facilities operations and maintenance, regulation, financial administration, public involvement, drainage investigation and enforcement, aquatic resource restoration, surface and stormwater quality and environmental monitoring, natural surface water drainage system planning, intergovernmental relations and facility design and construction.
(18) “Undeveloped parcel” means any parcel which has not been altered from its natural state by the construction, creation or addition of impervious surface.
(19) “Utility” means the city of Washougal, Washington stormwater utility, a utility which operates and maintains the surface and stormwater drains, channels and facilities, outfalls for storm drainage and the rights and interests in property relating to the system. The boundaries of the utility are the corporate limits of the city.
(20) “Water quality treatment facility” means a drainage facility designed to reduce pollutants once they are already contained in surface and stormwater runoff. Water quality treatment facilities are the structural component of BMPs. When used singly or in combination, water quality treatment facilities reduce the potential for contamination of surface and/or ground water. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1602 § 1, 2007)
14.32.020 Rate structure.
(1) It shall be the policy of the city that the rate structure to be applied in establishing the amount of service charges and system development charges assessed against each parcel of developed real property within the boundaries of the utility shall be based upon the amount of impervious surface contained within each parcel of property as set forth below.
(2) The city shall determine the service charge for each parcel within the service area by the following methodology:
(a) All single-family dwelling units and accessory uses thereof are deemed to contain one equivalent residential unit.
(b) Each dwelling unit of a duplex structure is deemed to contain one equivalent residential unit.
(c) All other developed real properties within the utility boundaries, the utility shall determine the number of equivalent residential units by dividing the number of square feet of impervious surface on each property by 3,900 square feet per ERU; the total thus obtained will be rounded to the nearest half representing the equivalent residential units contained on such property. Each developed parcel of property shall be deemed to comprise a minimum of one equivalent residential unit.
(3) Property Exempt from Service Charges. The following special categories of property are exempt from service charges and system development charges:
(a) City street rights-of-way;
(b) Washington State rights-of-way; and
(c) Undeveloped parcels. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1602 § 2, 2007)
14.32.030 Service charge rates.
(1) For all single-family dwelling units and accessory uses thereof (one equivalent residential unit), the bimonthly service charge shall be as shown in the rate table adopted under WMC 14.32.045.
(2) For all other developed property within the boundaries of the utility, unless exempt as set forth above, the bimonthly service charge shall be as shown on the rate table adopted under WMC 14.32.045 per ERU multiplied by the number of equivalent residential units determined by the utility to be contained in such parcel.
(3) Date Range. If a date range for bimonthly service charge rates has expired, then the bimonthly service charge under this chapter shall remain at the latest established rate as shown in the rate table adopted under WMC 14.32.045, until such rate table is amended.
(4) For low to moderate income senior citizens, rates shall be charged per the chart listed below. For purposes of this section, “senior citizens” means those persons 60 years or older who have gross income of not exceeding the federal very low income level as listed on the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federal site for a two-person family in Clark County, Washington, in the last preceding calendar year. The city clerk shall develop such forms and/or affidavits necessary to qualify citizens for these categories and to administer the program.
|
Senior Citizens (Over 60) |
Bimonthly Rate |
|---|---|
|
Residential Rates – Making Less Than the Extremely Low Income Level Rates for a Two-Person Family in Clark County, Washington, as Listed on the Federal HUD Site |
As shown per the rate table adopted under WMC 14.32.045 |
|
Residential Rates – Making Less Than the Very Low Income Level Rates for a Two-Person Family in Clark County, Washington, as Listed on the Federal HUD Site |
As shown per the rate table adopted under WMC 14.32.045 |
(Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1797 § 3 (Exh. C), 2016; Ord. 1733 § 3 (Exh. C), 2013; Ord. 1681 § 1 (Exh. A-1), 2010; Ord. 1678 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1618 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1602 § 3, 2007)
14.32.040 Credits for qualified existing or new stormwater facilities.
(1) The city of Washougal recognizes that some commercial property owners have constructed private on-site stormwater quality and quantity mitigation facilities (“facilities”) which may aid the city in controlling the overall effects of stormwater pollution and those other problems necessitating that the city enact this chapter. Properties or portions of properties with facilities that meet one of the criteria listed below, to the city’s satisfaction, shall receive a reduction from the bimonthly fee charged under WMC 14.32.030 based on the table below, as currently enacted or hereafter amended.
|
Year |
Rate Credit Level |
|---|---|
|
Effective 1/1/2023 |
50% |
(a) Any property with a properly maintained water quantity and quality facility that meets or exceeds the design requirements of the 2005 Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington.
(b) Any property that has an active and valid NPDES permit that includes stormwater requirements. A copy of the permit and the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) shall be provided to the city.
(2) The property owner is responsible for providing all documentation necessary to demonstrate that the design and construction of any water quality and/or water quantity facility meets the above requirements. Documentation shall be by a licensed civil engineer with the state of Washington. In the event facilities or control measures address only a portion of the total property, the credit will be applied to only that affected portion. The property owner must maintain any water quantity and/or quality control facility in accordance with Department of Ecology maintenance guidelines and appropriate practice to ensure proper function and effectiveness of the facility. Failure to maintain the facilities within 30 days after written notice may be cause for termination of the credit granted in this section. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1681 § 1 (Exh. A-1), 2010; Ord. 1678 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 1602 § 4, 2007)
14.32.045 Bimonthly rate table.
|
Stormwater Rates |
Effective 1/1/2024 |
Effective 1/1/2025 |
Effective 1/1/2026 |
Effective 1/1/2027 |
Effective 1/1/2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Single-Family Residential (SFR) |
$34.44 |
$35.75 |
$37.11 |
$38.52 |
$39.98 |
|
Over 60 < Federal HUD ELIL for Two People in Clark County – 50% SFR Rate1 |
$17.22 |
$17.88 |
$18.56 |
$19.26 |
$19.99 |
|
Over 60 < Federal HUD VLIL for Two People in Clark County – 75% SFR Rate2 |
$25.83 |
$26.81 |
$27.83 |
$28.89 |
$29.99 |
|
Commercial Stormwater Rates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial |
$34.44 |
$35.75 |
$37.11 |
$38.52 |
$39.98 |
|
Credit Recipients |
$17.22 |
$17.88 |
$18.56 |
$19.26 |
$19.99 |
1 ELIL = Extremely low income level on the Housing and Urban Development federal site.
2 VLIL = Very low income level on the Housing and Urban Development federal site.
(Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1899 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1733 § 3 (Exh. C), 2013; Ord. 1681 § 1 (Exh. B-1), 2010; Ord. 1678 § 1 (Exh. B), 2010)
14.32.050 System development charge.
(1) Beginning on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, and thereafter in addition to other fees required by ordinance or pursuant to agreement, there is imposed upon the owners of property seeking to connect to the city’s stormwater system a system development charge. This system development charge is determined as the product of $478.00 times the number of equivalent service units (ESU) ($478.00 × ESU).
(2) The system development charge shall be paid and collected at the time of permit issuance for development and prior to actual development.
(3) Applicants for development shall be required to pay the stormwater system development charge in effect at the time the permit is issued. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1602 § 5, 2007)
14.32.060 Rate adjustments and appeals.
(1) Any person billed for service charges may file a request for rate adjustment with the city within two years of the date from which the bill was sent. Rate adjustment request forms shall be available at the city clerk’s office. However, filing of such request does not extend the period for payment of the charge.
(2) Requests for rate adjustment may be granted or approved by the city finance manager (residential and commercial accounts) or public works director (industrial accounts) only when at least one of the following conditions exists:
(a) The service charge bill was otherwise not calculated in accordance with this chapter.
(3) The property owner shall have the burden of proving that the rate adjustment sought should be granted.
(4) Decisions on requests for rate adjustments shall be made by the city finance director or public works director based on information submitted by the applicant within 30 days of the adjustment request except when additional information is needed. The applicant shall be notified in writing of the city’s decision. If an adjustment is granted which reduces the charge for the current year or two prior years, the applicant shall be refunded the amount overpaid in the current and two prior years.
(5) If the city finance director finds that a service charge bill has been undercharged, then an amended bill shall be issued which reflects the increase in the service charge. The city may include in the bill the amount undercharged for two previous billing years in addition to the current bill.
(6) Decisions of the city finance director on requests for rate adjustments shall be final unless, within 30 days of the date the decision was mailed, the applicant submits in writing to the city finance director a notice of appeal setting forth a brief statement of the grounds for appeal and requesting a hearing before the city council. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1602 § 6, 2007)
14.32.070 Billing procedure and collection.
(1) All property subject to charges of the program shall be billed based on the property characteristics existing one month prior to billing. All property is billed bimonthly beginning January 1st of each year.
(2) All service charges, system development charges and all other fees or charges hereafter established by the city council by ordinance shall be deemed to be levied upon real property.
(3) The city shall have a lien for all delinquent and unpaid charges and fees for storm drainage purposes, including without limitation service charges and system development charges, assessed against all parcels to which service was furnished, which lien shall have the superiority established by RCW 35.67.200 and shall be foreclosed in the manner provided in RCW 35.67.220 et seq.
(4) Service charges shall be deemed delinquent if not paid by the end of the month of the billing date. A late charge equal to 10 percent or $10.00, whichever is greater, of the delinquent service charge shall be imposed at the time of such delinquency and interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum shall be charged on all delinquent service charges and late charges. If the delinquent service charge or imposed interest is usurious under Washington law, then the maximum charge and/or interest rate allowable by law will be imposed. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1602 § 7, 2007)
14.32.080 Annual review of charges and fees.
The charges and fees established by this chapter and any other ordinances of the city council establishing charges and fees for the utility may be reviewed annually by the city council. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1602 § 8, 2007)
14.32.090 Effective date of service charge.
The service charge herein established shall apply on or after January 1, 2009, and shall be billed beginning in January 2009. (Ord. 1977 § 1 (Exh. C), 2024; Ord. 1855 § 1 (Exh. A), 2018; Ord. 1618 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1602 § 9, 2007)