(A) A stormwater service charge shall be imposed on each and every lot and parcel of land within the city, which charge shall be assessed against the property owner thereof, who shall be considered the user for the purposes of this chapter. This charge is deemed reasonable and is necessary to pay for the all expenses incidental to the operation of the works, including legal expenses, maintenance costs, operating charges, repairs, lease rentals, and interest charges on bonds or other obligations, to provide a sinking fund required by IC 36-9-23-21, to provide adequate money to be used as working capital, and to provide adequate money for improving and replacing the works.
(B) Charge per ERU. The stormwater service charge shall be $6.66 per ERU per month. Any billings for stormwater service outside this time shall be on a per diem basis.
(C) Basis of charge. The stormwater service charge is a flat charge designed to recover the cost of rendering stormwater service to the users of the stormwater drainage system, and shall be the basis for assessment of the stormwater service charge.
(D) Classification of property. All properties within the city municipal boundaries will be assigned an equivalent residential unit (ERU), or a multiple thereof, based on the costs, including capital expenditures, of furnishing services to each property, with all properties having a rate assignment as follows:
(1) Residential improved. A monthly flat rate charge for stormwater service rendered to residential improved properties in the amount of one equivalent residential unit (ERU) equating to a rate of $6.66 per month.
(2) Non-residential improved. The monthly user fee for nonresidential improved properties will be determined using an ERU multiplier, which will be calculated by dividing the total impervious surface within the property by the base ERU of 3,318 square feet and then multiplying by $6.66 per ERU per month.
(3) Condominium. The monthly user fee for condominiums shall be 0.60 times the residential improved rate of $6.66, or $4.00 per month.
(4) Unimproved. The monthly user fee for unimproved properties shall be one-third the residential improved rate of $6.66, or $2.22 per month.
(5) Small non-residential. The monthly user fee for unimproved properties shall be one-third the residential improved rate of $6.66, or $2.22 per month.
(E) Property classifications. Property classifications shall occur once per year and shall not be prorated. Property classification shall be updated based upon best available data at the time of classification, including but not limited to aerial photography, county property type use, site knowledge, etc.
(F) Exceptions/exemptions. Except for public rights-of-way, city-owned properties, railroad lines, and paths that are eight feet wide or less with five feet of vegetation space on each side, there shall be no exceptions or exemptions from the assignment of stormwater ERUs and charges for any property.
(Ord. 082018, passed 8-20-18)