From
Cora Snyder
Title
Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinance, Chapter 26, "Utilities and Services" relating to fees for water and wastewater services
Presenter
Gabe Johnson, Public Works Director
Recommend Action
Approve
Analysis
A cost of Service Study has been conducted which determined the required water and wastewater rates necessary to continue to provide such services to the community in compliance with federal and state regulations as well as community standards. The rates represent a revenue increase of 4.76% with the increases generally distributed equally across all customer and rate classes.
On August 12, 2020 the Finance and Government Committee reviewed the rate proposal and recommended the rate changes set forth below, as did the City Council at its August 21, 2020 budget workshop.
Financial Consideration
The rate changes contained in this ordinance are expected to generate $3,429,211 in additional revenues for the FY 2020/2021 Water Wastewater Fund.
Body
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26, “UTILITIES AND SERVICES” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS BY CHANGING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF ARTICLES II AND III THEREOF, RELATING TO CHARGES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND TO BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2020
WHEREAS, the water and wastewater systems of the City are supported by revenues from an enterprise fund dedicated to support of these utility systems and;
WHEREAS, a cost of service study has been conducted to determine costs and necessary rates to be charged in order to continue to provide water and wastewater services as required and;
WHEREAS, the City Council Finance and Government Committee has reviewed the proposed rates, concurs with, and recommends the rates set forth herein and;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. THAT Article II, Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances, Section 26-23, Section 26-24, Section 26-25, Section 26-29 and Section 26-30, and that Article III, Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances, Section 26-32 and Section 26-33 are amended to read as follows, changing the charges for provision of municipal utility services as set out herein which are to become effective October 1, 2020.
"Sec. 26-23. - Water rates.
A. Monthly charges. The water rates to be charged and collected by the city from all customers obtaining service from the waterworks system of the city shall be and are hereby fixed as follows:
Quantity Classification Rate
Per 1,000 gallons, total usage 3,000 gallons or less Residential $0.12
Per 1,000 gallons, if total usage more than 3,000 gallons,
up to and including 20,000 gallons Residential $4.42
Per 1,000 gallons, all quantities over 20,000 gallons Residential $7.93
Per 1,000 gallons Commercial $4.92
Per 1,000 gallons Industrial $4.92
Per 1,000 gallons Governmental $4.14
Monthly Base Charges (per Meter Size)
⅝˝ or ¾˝ $ 16.23
1˝ $ 20.88
1¼˝ $ 24.97
1½˝ $ 27.11
2˝ $ 44.65
3˝ $138.43
4˝ $171.61
6˝ $257.29
8˝ $358.09
10˝ $373.62
12˝ $393.12
B. Additional units. A minimum fixed charge per month for water services furnished shall be made for the first water connection made to quarters upon any premises and a unit charge of two dollars and thirty-five cents ($2.35) per month shall be made for each additional unit on such premises. The Director of Public Works shall determine whether additional units exist on any premises.
Sec. 26-24. - Billing; delinquency; service restoration charges.
A. Water meters shall be read monthly and the consumer billed in writing or electronically, showing the amount of water consumed and the charges due by the consumer thereon; and such bill shall be due and payable within twenty-one (21) days from the rendition thereof. Such billing shall be deemed sufficient when sent to the last known address of the consumer. If such bills are not paid within thirty-five (35) days after the date of mailing thereof, water service shall be discontinued as to such nonpaying consumer and shall not be renewed until the full amount of said bill has been paid. In addition, further collection efforts will incur the following schedule of fees at the time the account is identified for each step in the collections process. Said service fees shall be:
$ 20.00 Final notice tag
$ 40.00 Turned off for non-payment
$ 50.00 Locked after turned off for non-payment
$ 75.00 Meter pulled or plugged after locked and turned off for non-payment
$ 40.00 Damaged/Broken Lock or Plug
$100.00 Unauthorized jumper connections, plus estimated usage
$ 30.00 Return trip charge
$ 50.00 After-hours service
$150.00 Tamper Fee, plus cost of applicable replacement parts
Should the water bill duly owing is paid by a check or electronic debit which does not clear the bank upon which it is drawn in a normal manner, a charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid at the time said check is redeemed. If the check is not redeemed in the specified time, and the water is disconnected, the above service charge schedule shall apply.
B. If payment is not received and processed within five (5) days of the due date, a late fee shall be assessed and applied to the bill. The late fee shall be 10.0% of all current charges, excluding tax and charitable contributions.
Cross reference-Meter reinstallation charge after removal for commission of offense, § 26-2.
Sec. 26-25. - Water service rates at building construction sites (not taken through a fire hydrant).
Until such time that a water meter may be installed to accurately measure all water usage at any construction site, the builder or developer shall pay the following charge per month or part thereof, based on the square footage of construction per structure. Charges begin thirty (30) days from the date taps fees are paid and billed each month until the permanent meter is installed.
Square Feet Amount
Less than 2,500 $ 55.50
2,500 to 7,499 $ 111.02
7,500 to 19,999 $ 266.43
20,000 to 49,999 $ 799.33
50,000 to 99,999 $1,376.64
Over 100,000 $2,053.91
Sec. 26-29. - Raw water rates.
Untreated water taken from the city's contracted water rights in Joe Pool Lake shall be metered by a meter approved by the director of public works or designee and charged at nine dollars and twenty-seven cents ($9.27) per one thousand (1,000) gallons and a monthly administration fee of one hundred thirty-eight dollars and forty-three cents ($138.43).
Sec. 26-30. - Water taken from fire hydrants.
Water taken from the city's fire hydrants, other than that used by the various municipal departments for authorized purposes such as firefighting, street cleaning and system flushing, shall be metered by an approved meter obtained from the public works department, possessing a City of Grand Prairie logo and backflow prevention device. A refundable deposit of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) shall be charged. Water taken from fire hydrants shall be charged at a rate of nine dollars and twenty-seven cents ($9.27) per one thousand (1,000) gallons and a monthly administration fee of one hundred thirty-eight dollars and forty-three cents ($138.43).
Sec. 26-32. - Wastewater Rates.
A. Monthly charges. The wastewater service rates to be charged and collected by the city from all customers obtaining services from the wastewater system of the city shall be and are hereby fixed as follows:
Quantity Classification Rate
Per 1,000 gallons Residential $4.51
Per 1,000 gallons Commercial $5.83
Per 1,000 gallons Industrial $5.83
Per 1,000 gallons Government $4.84
Monthly Base Charges (per Meter Size)
⅝˝ or ¾˝ $ 14.76
1˝ $ 15.98
1¼˝ $ 18.63
1½˝ $ 19.43
2˝ $ 23.16
3˝ $ 34.30
4˝ $ 45.54
6˝ $ 70.66
8˝ $ 99.96
10˝ $127.98
12˝ $143.38
(1) Residential: Gallons of wastewater shall be based on average water usage during the months of November, December, January and February of each fiscal year (cold months' usage). To be eligible, there must be water consumption equal to or greater than 1,000 gallons of water for a minimum of 3 (three) months. For those with water consumption for all four (4) months, the highest usage month may be dropped for the purpose of computing the winter average. All other residential accounts, including customers moving within the city will be billed at eighty per cent (80%) of their current water consumption until a cold weather months' average is established. Those persons who reside in single-family residences shall be charged for a maximum of 12,000 gallons until a cold weather month's average is established. Wastewater billing shall be based on the lower of the current month's usage or cold months' average usage.
(2) Commercial/Industrial/Governmental: Gallons of wastewater shall be billed based at eighty per cent (80%) of water consumption, unless the Director of Public Works determines that a condition exists that would cause wastewater discharges to be unusually high. In such cases, the director may require that a wastewater meter be installed at the customer's expense. Said meter shall be installed pursuant to plans and specifications approved by the Director of Public Works, be installed in an approved location, be calibrated annually with a copy of the results provided to the City and have a totalization device. The calibration shall be witnessed by a representative of the Director of Public Works. If a meter which measures the wastewater ceases to function properly, the volume shall be determined by immediately reverting to reading the water meter and using that volume for determination of sewage volume. If the Director finds that it is not practicable to measure the quantity of sewage by the aforesaid meters, he shall determine the quantity of the sewage in any manner or method he may find practicable in order to arrive at the percentage of water entering the sanitary sewer system of the City to determine the sewer service charge.
(3) Additional units: A minimum fixed charge per month for wastewater services furnished shall be made for the first water connection made to quarters upon any premises and a unit charge of three dollars and eleven cents ($3.11) per month shall be made for each additional unit on such premises. The Director of Public Works shall determine whether additional units exist on any premises.
(4) When city does not supply water: The charges set forth above are based upon the amount of water used as measured by a single meter in increments of one thousand (1,000) gallons. Where the water is furnished to single-family residential customers by a source other than the city, the monthly charge for wastewater service shall be a flat rate of forty one dollars and eighty-two cents ($41.82) or estimated otherwise by adding to the base wastewater charge an amount determined by multiplying the number of persons per household by the average gallons per capita per day for water use inside the home (as calculated annually by the utility) times 30.42 days divided by 1,000 times the current wastewater charge per 1,000 gallons. All other customer classes connected to the sanitary sewer who have a source of water supply must have a meter approved and tested by the public works department on that source of water supply, and the volume charge as set forth hereinbefore, shall be based on the sum of the volumes delivered by all sources of supply. In order to utilize the alternate methodology to estimate the flat rate, the customer must furnish the number of persons in the household and update such upon request by the City.
B. Reserved.
C. Reserved.
D. Outside city: The rates to be charged for sewer service to all persons, firms or corporations by the city at locations outside the city limits of said city shall be negotiated under a separate contract.
Cross reference-Industrial waste charges, § 26-57.
Sec. 26-33. - Billing; delinquency.
A. The provisions of Article II, Section 26-24 shall apply to wastewater charges as well.
Cross reference-authority to disconnect service, § 26-61."
SECTION 2. That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect validity of the remaining portions thereof.
SECTION 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall be effective on October 1, 2020.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 15th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2020.