Chapter 13.56
FEES, CHARGES AND BILLING
Sections:
13.56.010 Imposition of charges – Purpose.
13.56.020 Changes to fees, rates and charges.
13.56.030 Rates – Annual user notification.
13.56.040 Charges – Review by city.
13.56.050 Charges – Determination generally.
13.56.060 Minimum base rate.
13.56.070 Residential users.
13.56.080 Commercial and industrial users.
13.56.090 User classifications.
13.56.100 Multiple classifications on same meter.
13.56.110 Monthly user service charges.
13.56.120 Unmetered service charges.
13.56.130 Service outside city limits.
13.56.135 Maximum service charge for residential users.
13.56.140 Charges when meter not operating.
13.56.160 Service connection fees.
13.56.170 Engineering fees.
13.56.180 Construction – Inspection service and fee.
13.56.190 Construction – Bonding and insurance.
13.56.200 Billing – Address.
13.56.210 Billing – Computation and collection.
13.56.220 Billing – Payment time and penalties.
13.56.230 Revenues – Deposit in sewer fund.
13.56.240 Revenues – Use restrictions.
13.56.250 Appeal – Procedures.
13.56.260 Appeals – Review.
13.56.270 Appeals – Recomputation of charges.
13.56.010 Imposition of charges – Purpose.
Charges for connections to the public sewer system and subsequent sewer services shall be levied and imposed by the city for the purpose of funding operations, maintenance and improvements thereto. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 1, 1983)
13.56.020 Changes to fees, rates and charges.
All fees, rates and charges stated within Chapters 13.32 through 13.60 SMC may be changed at any time in the future by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 16, 1983)
13.56.030 Rates – Annual user notification.
Each user must be notified at least annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate and that portion of the user service charges which are attributable to wastewater treatment services. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(k), 1983)
13.56.040 Charges – Review by city.
The user service charges shall be reviewed and revised at least biennially to reflect actual costs of operation and maintenance, replacement and financing of the treatment works, and to maintain the equitability of user service charges with respect to proportional distribution of the costs of operation and maintenance according to each user’s contribution to the total wastewater loading of the treatment works. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(j), 1983)
13.56.050 Charges – Determination generally.
A user service charge shall be levied on all users served by public sewer, and the charge shall be determined as set out in SMC 13.56.060 through 13.56.130. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2, 1983)
13.56.060 Minimum base rate.
A minimum base rate shall be charged monthly for each residential dwelling unit and each commercial business, as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 92-120 § 1, 1992; Ord. 89-109 § 1, 1989; Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(c), 1983)
13.56.070 Residential users.
A use charge to a residential user shall be based on said user’s average monthly water consumption for the previous months of November, December, January and February as read from the user’s water meter, except as provided in this chapter. In the case where water service has been turned off for not more than one month during the four winter months, the three remaining months of record shall be used for calculating the average. Residential sewer users not having a previous consumption for at least three of the months called for herein shall have their sewer consumption determined by administrative policy. (Ord. 95-120 § 2; Ord. 92-120 § 1, 1992; Ord. 89-109 § 1, 1989; Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(a), 1983)
13.56.080 Commercial and industrial users.
Commercial and industrial user charges shall be based on the user’s metered water consumption, except as provided in this chapter. Where separate nonsewer use related meters are installed by the user, a sewer charge will not be levied on that meter. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(b), 1983)
13.56.090 User classifications.
User classifications shall be comprised of, but not limited to the following:
A. Residential.
1. Single-family (per dwelling unit);
2. Multiple-family (per dwelling unit);
3. Mobile home park (per dwelling space);
4. Travel trailer park (per dwelling space).
B. Commercial I.
1. Barbershops and beauty shops (each);
2. Car dealers (each);
3. Churches (each, without garbage disposal);
4. Department stores (each);
5. Drive-in restaurants (each, without garbage disposal);
6. Fraternal clubs (each, without food service);
7. Grocery stores (each, without meat cutting);
8. Hardware stores (each);
9. Hotels and motels (each);
10. Laundromats (each);
11. Light industrial (each, flow less than 25,000 gpd, BOD less than 400 mg/l, SS less than 450 mg/l);
12. Medical, dental and veterinary clinics (each);
13. Pharmacies (each);
14. Print shops (each);
15. Professional offices (each business);
16. Schools (each, without food preparation);
17. Service stations (each);
18. Taverns (each);
19. Warehouses (each).
C. Commercial II.
1. Churches (each, with garbage disposal);
2. Drive-in restaurants (each, with garbage disposal);
3. Full-service restaurants and fraternal clubs (each, with food service, no garbage disposal, with grease trap);
4. Institutions (each, hospitals, schools, nursing homes).
D. Commercial III.
1. Bakeries (each);
2. Full-service restaurants and fraternal clubs (each, with food service, no garbage disposal, without grease trap);
3. Grocery stores (each, with meat cutting and/or bakery);
4. Meat markets (each).
E. Commercial IV.
1. Septic haulers (each).
F. Industrial.
1. Any facility that discharges effluent to the sanitary sewer for any 24-hour period which equals or exceeds any one of the following criteria:
a. Flow greater than 25,000 gpd,
b. BOD greater than 1,500 mg/l,
c. SS greater than 1,500 mg/l,
d. pH greater than 9.0,
e. pH less than 6.0. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(d), 1983)
13.56.100 Multiple classifications on same meter.
Where two or more user classifications apply to the same water meter use, then the higher use charge shall apply. Where two or more users are connected to the same meter, all user service charges shall be billed and mailed to the address specified in the service application. The billing shall indicate each individual base rate and one total use charge for metered flow. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(i), 1983)
13.56.110 Monthly user service charges.
(Editor’s note: Per SMC 13.56.020 the following rates are subject to change on an annual basis by the city council)
The sewer rates and charges for sewer users inside and outside the corporate limits of the city are established as follows:
A. Schedule S-1 (Inside Corporate Limits).
|
Class |
Monthly Base Rate ($) |
Use Charge (per 100 cf) |
|
Residential |
5.78 |
0.99 |
|
Commercial I |
5.78 |
0.99 |
|
Commercial II |
5.78 |
1.54 |
|
Commercial III |
5.78 |
2.11 |
|
Commercial IV |
8.00/load |
19.08 |
|
Industrial |
5.78 |
2.11 |
B. Schedule S-2 (Outside Corporate Limits). One and one-half times the rates of similar classifications in Schedule S-1 in subsection A of this section. (Ord. 92-120 § 1, 1992; Ord. 89-109 § 1, 1989; Res. 1112, 1988; Res. 1002, 1985; Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(e), 1983)
13.56.120 Unmetered service charges.
Users not having metered water service shall be charged the average use and base rate charge for all users within such users’ classification. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(f), 1983)
13.56.130 Service outside city limits.
User service charges for persons located outside the city limits shall be billed at one and one-half times the rates of similar user classifications within the city limits. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(h), 1983)
13.56.135 Maximum service charge for residential users.
The maximum sewer service charge to residential customers inside and outside the corporate limits of the city shall be limited to $16.00 during the regular billing periods of May, June, July, August, September and October. (Ord. 92-120 § 1, 1992; Ord. 89-109 § 1, 1989; Res. 1112, 1988; Res. 1070, 1987; Res. 957, 1983)
13.56.140 Charges when meter not operating.
If a user’s water meter is not operating during the billing period, the user service charge shall be equal to such user’s last monthly billing prior to the meter malfunction. (Ord. 92-120 § 1, 1992; Ord. 89-109 § 1, 1989; Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 2(g), 1983)
13.56.160 Service connection fees.
Where the city engineer determines an adequate sewer main exists, a service connection shall be provided to the applicant’s property line by city forces, except as allowed by the city engineer. All costs associated with providing a service connection shall be borne by the applicant. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 4, 1983)
13.56.170 Engineering fees.
A. Engineering fees shall be paid by all persons requesting engineering services of the city for the construction of sewer mains and appurtenances. Engineering services by the city are subject to staff availability. Fees are due and payable upon completion of the installation and prior to any connection permit approval.
B. Engineering fees are determined as follows:
1. Design, six percent of total construction cost;
2. Contract administration, three percent of total construction cost;
3. Construction inspection, three percent of total construction cost.
C. Fees for standard sewer tap installation shall be established and revised by council resolution. Nothing shall prevent additional charges for standby time or added work outside the control of city forces. (Ord. 92-117 § 5, 1992; Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 8, 1983)
13.56.180 Construction – Inspection service and fee.
The construction inspection service and fee shall be mandatory and not subject to request by the property owner. All construction costs shall be verified from actual invoices and receipts when the city is not responsible for contract administration. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 9, 1983)
13.56.190 Construction – Bonding and insurance.
Bonding and insurance for sewer construction shall be as provided in the Silverton improvement ordinance (see Chapter 12.08 SMC). (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 10, 1983)
13.56.200 Billing – Address.
Bills for user service charges shall be mailed to the address specified in the application for permit to make the connection, unless or until a different owner or user of the property is reported to the department of public works. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 6, 1983)
13.56.210 Billing – Computation and collection.
All collections of user service charges shall be made by the city manager/recorder by and through the department of finance. User service charges shall be computed and payable as provided in this chapter and the Silverton water ordinance (see Division I of this title). (Ord. 89-109 § 1, 1989; Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 7, 1983)
13.56.220 Billing – Payment time and penalties.
All collections of user service charges under this chapter are billed with the water utility bill and payable at the same time as water bills of the same billing period. Therefore, the billing procedures and penalties for user service charges shall be governed by the Silverton water ordinance (see Division I of this title). (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 5, 1983)
13.56.230 Revenues – Deposit in sewer fund.
The city manager/recorder is directed to deposit in the sewer fund all of the gross revenues received from charges, rates and penalties collected for the use of the sewage works, as herein provided. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 11, 1983)
13.56.240 Revenues – Use restrictions.
The revenues thus deposited in the sewer fund shall be used exclusively for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the sewage works, and payments of the principle and interest on any debts of the sewage works of the city. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 12, 1983)
13.56.250 Appeal – Procedures.
A sewer user who feels their fee or charge is unjust and inequitable as applied to their premises, within the intent of the foregoing provisions, may make written appeal to the city council requesting a review of the fee or charge. The written request shall, where necessary, show the actual or estimated average flow and/or strength of their wastewater in comparison with the values upon which the charge is based, including how the measurements or estimates were made. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 13, 1983)
13.56.260 Appeals – Review.
Review of the request shall be made by appropriate city staff, who shall determine if it is substantiated or not, including recommending action to the council, if necessary. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 14, 1983)
13.56.270 Appeals – Recomputation of charges.
If the request is determined to be substantiated, the fee or charge for that user shall be recomputed based on the approved revised flow and/or strength data, and the new charges thus recomputed shall be retroactive up to six months, as applicable. (Ord. 801 Art. 7 § 15, 1983)