(a) The prices to be charged for rates or charges for the use and service of the sewerage system of the City of Girard to all consumers within the City of Girard, Ohio, on all billings are hereby fixed as follows:
Effective January 1, 2017: $7.52 on every one thousand (1,000) gallons of water used.
(b) Inflation Cost Adjustment in Rates.
(1) Beginning January 1, 2018, the base solid waste collection rates as set forth in subsection (1) shall be annually adjusted for the ensuing year to reflect changes which have occurred in the cost of living as established by the Consumer Price Index over the preceding 12 month period. The adjustment shall be in the same proportion that the average urban Consumer Price Index as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month of December of the then just completed year shall have increased over the said index figure for the month of December of the immediately preceding year.
(2) If City Council finds that the proposed solid waste collection rate schedule for the ensuing year, including the cost of living adjustment based upon the change in the Consumer Price Index, is insufficient to meet the needs and requirements of the City for operating and maintaining the Solid Waste Management System for the ensuing year or if City Council finds that the cost of living adjustment based upon change in the Consumer Price Index is otherwise inconsistent with the needs and requirements of the City for operating and maintaining the Solid Waste Management System, City Council shall by ordinance amend or modify the proposed adjusted solid waste collection rates accordingly.
(3) Nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be construed to restrain or restrict the authority of any future Council to either alter, amend or repeal the structure of Cost of Living Adjustments provided herein, or to implement any further increases or reductions in rates at any time, as Council at that time may deem appropriate.
(c) This section shall not affect existing sewer rates of outside commercial and/or industrial sewer customers whose rates are established under separately negotiated contracts with the City.