Ord. 2577-A - Amending Ordinance 2157 (Wastewater Discharge Fees) COUNCIL BILL NO. 3116
ORDINANCE NO. 2577
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2157 (WASTEWATER DISCHARGE FEES) TO
MODIFY THE CALCULATION PROCEDURE USED FOR WINTER AVERAGING THAT
PROVIDES THE RESIDENTIAL MONTHLY SEWERAGE CHARGE AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, on November 1, 1995, the Woodburn City Council adopted
Ordinance 2157 approving placement of charges on wastewater discharge
utilizing water use monitoring or other estimating methods for the operation and
maintenance of municipal sewerage systems, providing for such charges and the
collection thereof; and
WHEREAS, Section 5 of the Ordinance specifies a "winter averaging"
calculation procedure for residential customers that estimates and sets the
customer's monthly sewerage charge for the entire year; and
WHEREAS, with the City's computer software system used for water and
sewer billing, a modification to the winter averaging calculation is necessary so
that the Ordinance aligns with the capabilities of the system and reflects the City's
calculation procedure; NOW THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF WOODBURN ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 5.13. of Ordinance 2157 is amended to read as follows:
Section 5. Monthly Sewerage Charae: The monthly sewerage charges
required by Section 1 of this ordinance will be according to the following
schedule:
B. Residential minimum plus volume method will be the average
consumption of water for the three (3) winter months of January, February, and
March, and it will be considered as the amount of sewage discharged from
each dwelling unit. The winter month average will be determined by the water
meter readings taken or other needed estimating methods by Public Works for
unusual cases. General estimating and billing methods are outlined below:
1 . In the first year of the minimum plus volume method
implementation, the January, February, March bills will be based on the actual
consumption for each month. Starting in April, each of the following twelve (12)
months will be billed based on the average of the three (3) winter months
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Ordinance No. 2577
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(January, February, March). Every year a new average will be calculated using
the immediately preceding winter month's consumption.
2. Residential structures that are served by the city sewerage
system, but not connected to city water, will be billed at the city wide residential
average consumption rate of 700 cu. ft. per unit.
3. If the winter average exceeds three other consecutive months'
average, then at the request of the property owner, the city may replace the
winter average with the average of three other consecutive months for the
remaining future annual billing cycle. There shall be no extra charge for the
adjustment. Also, Public Works shall make adjustments to wastewater charges
for properties disrupted by natural disaster that affects the flow of wastewater to
the city system.
a. Replacement of residential winter average with average of other
three consecutive months and adjustment of charges:
i. If the winter average exceeds three other consecutive
months' average, then at the request of the property owner, the city may
replace the winter average with the average of three other consecutive months
for the remaining future annual billing cycle.
ii. The wastewater charges to an account when three-month
average is implemented to replace winter average shall be adjusted as outlined
below:
Amount of credit shall be limited to the summation of actual revenue received
in three months under consideration less summation of calculated revenue in
the same three-month period that is used to develop lower billing average.
b. Adjustment to wastewater charges for properties disrupted by a
natural disaster affecting wastewater flow:
i. Public Works will evaluate the disruption to wastewater flow
because of a natural disaster and make adjustment accordingly. During the
period while a structure is being rehabilitated and there is no wastewater flow,
there shall be no wastewater charge based on the winter average, otherwise
an estimate that reflects the use of least flow will be used.
4. If there is no occupancy of buildings during the winter months,
then the average of two (2) prior months, (e.g. September and October), or 700
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Ordinance No. 2577
cu. ft., whichever is less, may be used for billing purposes, until and unless a
representative average of the winter months is developed or estimated.
5. For new structures or new customers, the city-wide residential
average of 700 cubic feet per unit per month may be used until an actual
average can be calculated using three (3) full months following occupancy. If
the calculated average is below 700 cu. ft., then the calculated average will be
used for billing, and a credit shall be given deducting the summation of the
three-month average from the actual revenue received during that period. If
the calculated average is above 700 cu. ft., then the city-wide residential
average of 700 cul ft. will be used for billing purposes until the next winter
average is calculated. For new structures, the sewer charges begin when the
certificate of occupancy is issued, or three (3) months after the installation of the
water meter unless the owner notifies the city that the building is not occupied.
6. All sewer structures located within 300 feet of an adequate city
sewer main, and experiencing septic system failure, must connect to the city
sewer system. No new subsurface wastewater treatment and disposal (septic
tank system) shall be allowed within the city limits.
7. There will be no additional charge for consumption analysis and
adjustments other than that for leak adjustments as outlined in Section 9.
8. When a dwelling unit has been occupied for not less than 10 days
and/or the water consumption for the month is below 100 cu. ft., then partial
month daily water consumption method may be used to project consumption
for that month under consideration for averaging purposes.
Section 2. Emergency Clause. This ordinance being necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety since it is in
City's best interest to adopt the winter averaging calculation procedure prior
to January 2020, an emergency is declared to exist and this ordinance shall
take effect immediately upon passage by the Council and approval by the
Mayor.
Approved as to form: LZe
City Attorney Date
Approved:
Eric Swenson, Mayor
Page 3 Council Bill No. 3116
Ordinance No. 2577
Passed by the Council 24 1
Submitted to the Mayor J
z)e
Approved by the Mayor
Filed in the Office of the Recorder
ATTEST:
Heather Pierson, City Recorder
City of Woodburn, Oregon
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Ordinance No. 2577