Chapter 15.12
RATES – REVENUES – PERMIT FEES*
Sections:
15.12.020 Sanitary sewer service charges – Within corporate limits.
15.12.030 Sanitary sewer service charges – Outside corporate limits.
15.12.040 Sanitary sewer service charges – When payable.
15.12.050 Penalties for delinquent payment.
15.12.060 Enforcement of collection – Lien – Shutoff of water.
*For the statutory provisions authorizing cities and towns to control the rates and charges for the use of sewer systems, provided that rates charged be uniform for the same class of customers or service, see RCW 35.67.020.
15.12.010 Revenues.
The rates to be charged for sanitary sewer service shall be fixed by ordinance or resolution, and shall be adequate to provide for ordinary maintenance, bond redemption, operational costs of the system and for a betterment reserve to provide for replacement, extensions and additions to the system not otherwise provided for in this article. (Ord. 3489 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1540 § 1, 1971; Ord. 862 § 3, 1956).
15.12.020 Sanitary sewer service charges – Within corporate limits.
(1) There is levied a monthly sanitary sewer disposal service charge against all improved properties connected to the city sanitary sewer, said sewage disposal service charge being in the amount as established from time to time by resolution of the city council.
As a condition to the furnishing of such sanitary sewer service, the city may require a deposit, as set from time to time by resolution of the city council. Such deposit shall be made to the water department through the finance department of the city. No interest shall be paid on such deposit. Such deposit may be applied by the city, at any time, in whole or in part, to the payment of any delinquent amount due for such sanitary sewer disposal service. Upon the applicant’s advising the department of finance of the city that such sanitary sewer service is no longer required by the applicant and the surrender of the receipt for such deposit, and providing all service charges payable by the applicant are fully paid at said time, the city shall return the deposit to the applicant, and further sanitary sewer disposal service shall not be furnished to the property for which the applicant had made such deposit until a new deposit is made with the city.
(2) Notwithstanding the charges fixed by any such resolution, whenever any person shall discharge into the sanitary sewer system waste materials which, in the judgment of the director of field services (director of public works) of the city, require treatment in excess of that required for normal domestic sewage, such person shall pay such special rates for sewage disposal service as shall be fixed by resolution of the city council.
(3) Any person having his own water supply, or a public water supply other than that of the city, but who uses the sanitary sewer system of the city for the disposal of sewage or waste materials, shall pay a monthly sanitary sewer disposal service charge equal to the residential sanitary sewer service charge, payable by other users of the sanitary sewer disposal service residing within the city, as fixed by any such resolution. Such sanitary sewer service charge shall be paid to the city through its finance department.
As a condition to the furnishing of such sanitary sewer service, the city may require a deposit, as set from time to time by resolution of the city council. No interest shall be paid on such deposit. Such deposit may be applied by the city, at any time, in whole or in part, to the payment of any delinquent amount due for such sanitary sewer disposal service. Upon the applicant’s advising the department of finance of the city that such service is no longer required by the applicant and the surrender of the receipt for such deposit, and providing all service charges payable by the applicant are fully paid at said time, the city shall return the deposit to the applicant, and further sanitary sewer disposal service shall not be furnished to the property for which the applicant had made such deposit until a new deposit is made with the city. (Ord. 3489 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1891 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1794 § 2, 1976; Ord. 1540 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1465 § 1, 1970; Ord. 914 § 1, 1957).
15.12.030 Sanitary sewer service charges – Outside corporate limits.
(1) There is levied a monthly sanitary sewer service charge against all improved properties located outside the corporate limits of the city and being furnished with the city’s sanitary sewer service through the city’s sanitary sewer system. Said sewer disposal service charge shall be in the amounts as set forth from time to time by resolution of the city council. As a part of such service charge, each such improved property shall pay such additional amount, as provided by any such resolution of the city council, as shall be necessary to reimburse the city for existing disposal facilities financed by the city as pumping stations, interceptor lines and treatment facilities.
(2) All accounts for such sanitary sewer disposal shall be kept by the city in the name of the applicant for such service. As a condition to the furnishing of such service, the city may require a deposit as set from time to time by resolution of the city council, said deposit to be made to the water department through the department of finance of the city. No interest shall be paid on such deposit. Such deposit may be applied by the city, at any time, in whole or in part, to the payment of any delinquent amount due for such sanitary sewer disposal service. Upon applicant’s advising the department of finance of the city that such service is no longer required by the applicant, the surrender of the receipt for such deposit, and providing all service charges payable by the applicant are fully paid at said time, the city shall return said deposit to the applicant and further sanitary sewer disposal service shall not be furnished to the property for which the applicant had made such deposit until a new applicant shall make a like deposit with the city. All billings for such service shall be mailed to the applicant who makes such deposit. All such billings shall become delinquent if not paid within 30 days after the date shown on any such billing and shall thereafter be subject to a penalty payment as provided under LMC 15.12.050. (Ord. 3489 § 1, 2023; Ord. 2762 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2552 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1794 § 3, 1976; Ord. 1540 § 1, 1971; Ord. 1465 § 2, 1970).
15.12.040 Sanitary sewer service charges – When payable.
The rates and charges in LMC 15.12.020 and 15.12.030 for sanitary sewage disposal service shall be due and payable with the monthly water bill of the city and shall become delinquent at the same time the monthly city water bill becomes delinquent as provided by the present ordinances of the city and future amendments thereto. (Ord. 3489 § 1, 2023; Ord. 914 § 3, 1957).
15.12.050 Penalties for delinquent payment.
(1) Any delinquent sanitary sewer disposal service charge shall have added thereto a penalty charge, as set from time to time by resolution of the city council. Such penalty charge shall be assessed for each full 30-day period of delinquency.
(2) If any employee of the city is required to make a call in person upon the delinquent account debtor for the purpose of attempting to collect such delinquent account, an additional penalty, as set from time to time by resolution of the city council, shall be added to such account regardless of whether or not the same is collected as a result of such personal demand for payment. (Ord. 3489 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1891 § 2, 1978; Ord. 1540 § 1, 1971; Ord. 914 § 4, 1957).
15.12.060 Enforcement of collection – Lien – Shutoff of water.
(1) The aforesaid charges and penalties, if any, for sanitary sewage disposal service shall be a lien upon the property against which the charge is levied, superior to all other liens or encumbrances except those for general taxes, special assessments and city water service. Enforcement of such lien, or liens, shall be in the manner provided by law for the enforcement of the same.
(2) In addition to said lien rights, in the event that any such charge for sewage disposal service is not paid before delinquency, the city shall have the right to shut off the water or disconnect the sanitary sewer line furnished to the premises for which any such charge is delinquent, without further notice. Said water shall not be turned on again or sanitary sewer reconnected until such charge, including penalties, if any, together with a charge as set from time to time by the city council for turning on said water or reconnecting said sanitary sewer service, has been paid to the city. (Ord. 3489 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1891 § 3, 1978; Ord. 1540 § 1, 1971; Ord. 914 § 5, 1957).