(a) The wastewater rates shall be calculated as follows:
(1) For all accounts, residential, commercial, multifamily dwelling (four-plex or larger), mobile home park, and apartment complex, there shall be a base rate for every unit, dwelling unit, or space that is connected to the wastewater system. The base rate is as follows:
Residential unit | $11.88 |
Non-residential unit | $19.44 |
Note: The first months' base rate for wastewater service for new customer accounts shall be prorated based on the number of days left in the billing cycle.
(2) A multifamily dwelling (four-plex or larger), a mobile home park with more than ten spaces, or an existing apartment on a single meter shall be given a five percent vacancy allowance against the total number of dwelling units, spaces, or units in computing the total number of dwelling units, spaces or units for which a base rate charge is due on each dwelling unit, space or unit.
(3) In addition to the monthly base rate, each wastewater account shall be charged for wastewater discharge based on water usage. The charge for non-commercial accounts will be assessed at a rate of $ 1.62 per 1,000 gallons of water usage. The charge for commercial accounts will be assessed at a rate of $ 2.16 per 1,000 gallons of water usage. In making the assessment for residential, water usage shall be computed by taking 90 percent of the customer's average monthly water usage, as shown by city water records, for the months of December, January, and February immediately preceding the year in question. For commercial accounts, 90 percent of actual monthly water usage will be used in calculating the charge for wastewater discharge. In lieu of the foregoing water usage computation, a residential account will have the option of applying to the city water office for computation of water usage based on either of the following formulas:
a. One hundred gallons of water per day per person in the residential customer's household times the number of days in the billing period; or
b. Ninety percent of the actual water used by the customer during the current month as shown by the city's water records. Any option elected will be effective for a minimum of 12 months or until a history of consumption is established, whichever comes first.
(4) Wastewater rates; no history of consumption. Where there is no history of consumption to establish the average monthly water usage for residential accounts during the months of December, January, and February as stated in section (a)(3) of this section, an account will be billed for wastewater discharged at the monthly base rate fee plus charges based on current water usage. The water usage charge will be assessed at the rate of $1.50 per 1,000 gallons of water. When making this assessment, water usage shall be computed by taking 90 percent of the water used by the customer in the current month as shown by city water records. In lieu of the foregoing water usage computation, a residential account will have the option of applying to the city water office for computation of water usage based on either of the following formulas:
a. 100 gallons of water per day per person in the residential customer's household times the number of days in the billing period; or
b. 90 percent of the actual water used by the customer during the current month as shown by the city's water records. Any option elected will be effective for a minimum of 12 months or until a history of consumption is established, whichever comes first.
(5) The city manager or his representative shall have the authority to grant a vacancy allowance greater than that authorized by section 50-52(a)(2) upon presentation of records and documents by owners or operators which verify claims of a higher vacancy rate. The vacancy rate granted by the city manager or his representative shall not exceed the vacancy rate which is verified by said records and documents. The city manager or his representative shall have the right to review said vacancy allowance at any time and revise same but shall not review said vacancy allowance at any time and revise same but shall not review said vacancy allowance more than once per year at the request of the owners or operators.
(b) Surcharge. In addition to the rates prescribed in subsection (a) of this section, there shall be a surcharge of $2.00 per month per unit, space, or dwelling unit served by each meter. Of the above described surcharge, $1.35 shall be dedicated exclusively to capital equipment and use as authorized by the city council. To that end, the city treasurer shall deposit $1.35 of every $2.00 surcharge collected in the surcharge fund established by the city. The remaining $0.65 shall be deposited in the operations fund of the utility fund of the city.
(Prior Code, § 16-80; Ord. of 6-10-1986; Ord. of 5-17-1987; Ord. of 9-22-1992; Ord. of 12-27-1995; Ord. of 9-26-2000; Ord. of 9-28-2004; Ord. of 9-27-2005; Ord. of 9-22-2009; Ord. No. 058-2018, § 2, 12-11-2018; Ord. No. 035-2022, § 2, 9-27-2022)
Editor's note(s)—Section 8 of Ord. No. 035-2022 states that "this ordinance shall take effect for the October 2022 monthly utility billing cycle."