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Home My WebLink About2732Ordinance No. 2732 (Amending or Repealing Ordinances) CFN=110 — Water/Sewer/Garbage Rates & Policies Passed - 7/7/1987 Amending Ch. 7.06.860 Single Adjustment or Credit Amending Secs. 7.02.300 [formerly 7.06.860] and 7.02.310 [formerly 7.06.8801 Amended by Ord. 3486 Readopting, re-enacting, ratifying & confirming rates & fees by Ord. 3534 Amended by Ords. 3627;3779;3819;38643901;3915 f ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE of the City of Kent, Washington, amending Kent City Code Chapter 7.06.860, authorizing a single adjustment or credit of fifty percent (50%) of charges exceeding a single month's average consumption caused by a leaking or broken water pipe on private property. wS` oP) WHEREAS, the City of Kent maintains a water utility 3019 system, including a system of rates charged for water consumption under Kent City Code Chapter 7.06 established pursuant to RCW 35A.11.020; and WHEREAS, the City has established a fixed monthly rate of one dollar and sixty-four cents ($1.64) per one hundred cubic feet of water plus a monthly charge for service and meter usage for users inside and outside of the City of Kent; and WHEREAS, substantial and costly leaks to private water pipes and water appurtenances located on private property between the City's meter and residence or structure occur without notice to customers of the utility system (in most reported cases). It is only upon notice from the City to its customer through monthly billings that quantities consumed by the customer are greatly in excess of normal consumption that the customer is aware that a water leak exists; and WHEREAS, it is in the City's interest to encourage prompt repair of broken and leaking water supply systems and appurtenances on private property not regulated by the City in order to conserve the City's supply of potable water; and WHEREAS, a policy of authorizing on a one time basis only an adjustment for credit of fifty percent (50%) of those amounts exceeding established normal usage as determined by the City upon verification of private system repair will foster prompt payment of customer utility accounts and the immediate repair of such damaged or broken water systems; and WHEREAS, such a policy will also enhance conservation of scarce water resources available to the City of Kent for development, provide for a greater system efficiency, and reduce the administrative costs to the City in pursuing enforcement and collection actions against such system customers; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Council finds that accidental leaks to or failure of private water systems located on private property adversely impact the City's ability to provide adequate water resources and administration of the operational and billing systems associated with the water utility. The Council further finds that providing for a rate adjustment through a credit for one-half (1/2) or fifty percent (50%) of volumes consumed above normal or average consumption for a single month as determined by the City will encourage prompt repair of broken or leaking private water supply system pipes and appurtenances, and will benefit the City by aiding the conservation of the City's potable water supply. The City further finds that a one-time monthly rate adjustment or credit for volumes exceeding normal usage of volumes conditioned upon verification of system repair will aid in more prompt payments of utility accounts which may otherwise be in dispute because of accidental system leaks and will reduce administrative costs to the City in pursuing enforcement and collection of delinquent accounts. Section 2. The Council finds that the adjustment or credit on a one-time or single basis does not constitute a gift beyond the powers granted to the City as a noncharter code municipality under the Washington State Constitution in that the City shall receive direct benefits and consideration in exchange for such a policy. follows: Section 3. Kent City Code Section 7.06.860 is amenaed as �M 7.06.860. WATER RATES WITHIN THE CITY OF KENT. A. The monthly rate is one dollar and sixty-four cents ($1.64) per one hundred cubic feet, plus a monthly demand charge for service and meter as follows: 5/8 inch x 3/4 inch 2.20 1 inch 2.45 1-1/2 inch 3.30 2 inch 4.00 3 inch 13.95 4 inch 16.80 6 inch 28.10 8 inch 37.59 10 inch 48.46 B. For lifeline qualified water service customers, the monthly rate is forty-five cents ($0.45) per one hundred cubic feet plus a monthly demand charge for service and meter as set forth in KCC 7.06.860(1). C. Eligibility criteria for lifeline rate shall be as established by City Council. (0.2370, §1(part)) D. Subject to the right of access and inspection by a representative of the City, water service customers of the City may apply for a single monthly rate adjustment not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of usage for amounts above the average water usage caused by an accidental water leak or water line failure occurring on property owned by or subject to the exclusive control of the customer located between the City's water meter and owner's residence or structure. The average water usage shall be the total volume of water consumed during the preceding six (6) months of measurement divided by six (6) under normal use conditions where the City determines that a leak or water system line failure did not exist. The rate adjustment is permitted for one (1) month only with credit to be given the customer's account only after verification of leakage or water system failure and verification of corrective repairs. All repairs shall occur within thirty (30) days of application to the City. Following an application for - 3 - rate adjustment provided under this Section, the City shall be entitled to access, ins ect, and approve the customer's water system repair prior to granting a rate adjustment. 7.06.880. WATER RATES OUTSIDE CITY OF KENT. A. The monthly rate is two dollars ($2.00) per one hundred cubic feet plus a monthly demand charge for service and meter as follows: 5/8 inch x 3/4 inch 2.20 1 inch 2.45 1-1/2 inch 3.30 2 inch 4.00 3 inch 13.95 4 inch 16.80 6 inch 28.10 8 inch 37.59 10 inch 48.46 B. For lifeline qualified water service customers, the monthly rate is forty-eight cents (0.48) per one hundred cubic feet plus a monthly demand charge for service and meter as set forth in KCC 7.06.880(1). C. Eligibility criteria for lifeline rate shall be as established by City Council. (0.2370,§l(part)) D. Subject to the right of access and inspection by a representative of the City, water service customers of the City may apply for a single monthly rate adjustment not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of usage for amounts above the average water usage caused by an accidental water leak or water line failure occurring on property owned by or subject to the exclusive control of the customer located between the City's water meter and owner's residence or structure. The average water usage shall be the total volume of water consumed during the preceding six (6) months of measurement divided by six (6) under normal use conditions where the City determining that a leak or water system line failure did not exist. The rate adjustment is permitted for one (1) month only with credit to be given the customer's account only == after verification of leakage or water system failure and verification of corrective repairs, such repairs to occur within thirty (30) days of application to the City. Following an application for rate adjustment provided under this Section, the City shall be entitled to access, inspect, and approve the customer's water system repair prior to granting any rate adjustment. Section 4. Effective date. This ordinance shall take effect and be enforced five (5) days from and after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law. Section 5. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivisions, section or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the ordinance, or the validity or its application to other persons or circumstances. ATTEST: MARIE JENSE ITY C ERK APPRO ED AS TO FORM: SANDRA DRI LE, CITY ATTOR E PASSED the _2_day of APPROVED the day of PUBLISHED the day of DAN KELLEHER, MAYOR - 5 - , 1987. , 1987. , 1987. I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordinance No. 273=), , passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the Mayor of the City of Kent as hereon indicated. 4900-170 (SEAL) MARIE JEN , CITY ftERK - 6 -