Chapter 13.14
REDUCED RATES FOR LOW-INCOME CITIZENS
Sections:
13.14.020 Low-income citizen discount.
13.14.040 Application for discount.
13.14.050 Requirements for eligibility for discount.
13.14.060 Penalty for false information.
13.14.080 Waiver of connection charges for properties owned or developed by certain organizations.
13.14.010 Definitions.
A. “Utility discount” means a discount granted pursuant to the terms of this chapter to a low-income citizen, the amount of which is applied against outstanding obligations of the customer of the City of Airway Heights for utility services.
B. “Low-income citizen” means a person who:
1. Resides within the City of Airway Heights;
2. Is 18 years of age or older on the date of application;
3. Receives utility service from the City of Airway Heights;
4. Is the head of a household;
5. Meets the eligibility requirements in AHMC 13.14.050.
C. “Renter” means a person renting/leasing a dwelling unit in the City. (Ord. C-779 § 2, 2012; Ord. C-744 § 3, 2011)
13.14.020 Low-income citizen discount.
Low-income citizens who meet the requirements set forth in AHMC 13.14.050 shall be entitled to a reduction in water and sewer service charges as established by City resolution. (Ord. C-779 § 3, 2012; Ord. C-744 § 4, 2011)
13.14.030 Low-income disabled citizen discount.
Repealed by Ord. C-779. (Ord. C-744 § 5, 2011)
13.14.040 Application for discount.
A. In order to qualify for the rate reductions set forth in AHMC 13.14.020, a person must file an application for the reduction with the Clerk-Treasurer at least 30 days prior to a billing date upon which the rate reduction is to be effective. Applicants must meet the requirements for eligibility set forth in AHMC 13.14.050.
B. Submission of an application for a utility discount shall constitute an affidavit by the applicant that all information provided in such application is true and correct to the best of the applicant’s knowledge.
C. The customer must renew their application annually in accordance with the renewal date specified on the application to continue to receive the discount. (Ord. C-779 § 5, 2012; Ord. C-744 § 6, 2011)
13.14.050 Requirements for eligibility for discount.
Each recipient of a utility discount must meet the following criteria:
A. The rate reduction shall only apply to utility charges for service to a residence. The residence for which the rate reduction is requested must be the applicant’s place of residence.
B. As a renter the applicant must have a utility account in their name with the City and the utility bill must be paid by the renter and not by the owner/landlord/property manager.
C. The applicant must be the head of household for the residence for which the rate reduction is requested.
D. The utility account must be in the applicant’s name or the name of the applicant’s spouse or co-tenant.
E. No person may claim a rate reduction for more than one dwelling unit during the same billing period.
F. For purposes of this chapter, the applicant must be able to provide proof of eligibility in a program assisting low-income persons as stated in the current water system rates and sewer system rates resolutions. (Ord. C-779 § 6, 2012; Ord. C-744 § 7, 2011)
13.14.060 Penalty for false information.
Providing false information to the City in an application for a low-income discount shall forfeit the low-income citizen’s eligibility for future discounts and shall be a misdemeanor. Additionally, the low-income citizen shall be required to repay the amount of any discount received based upon such false information. (Ord. C-779 § 7, 2012; Ord. C-744 § 8, 2011)
13.14.070 Waiver or delay of collection of tap-in, connection or hookup fees for low-income persons and certain organizations.
The City Manager, or his/her designee, pursuant to AHMC 13.14.080, may waive or delay collection of tap-in charges, connection fees, or hookup fees, including, but not limited to, general facilities charges (“GFCs”), for low-income developments, a class of low-income persons, or a nonprofit organization, public development authority, housing authority, or local agency that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or affordable housing as defined in AHMC 13.14.080 to connect to lines or pipes used by the City of Airway Heights to provide utility service. As used in this section, the provision of “utility service” includes, but is not limited to, water, sanitary or storm sewer service. (Ord. C-1101 § 2, 2025)
13.14.080 Waiver of connection charges for properties owned or developed by certain organizations.
A. The City Manager, or his/her designee, may waive connection charges for properties owned or developed by, or on the behalf of, a nonprofit organization, public development authority, housing authority, or local agency that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or affordable housing, including a limited partnership as described in RCW 84.36.560(7)(f)(ii) and a limited liability company as described in RCW 84.36.560(7)(f)(iii).
B. In any decision to waive connection charges under this section, the City Manager, or his/her designee, must identify how the connection charges shall be funded, and shall be permitted to designate using the City’s general funds, grant dollars obtained by a developer or the City, or other identified revenue stream.
C. At such time as a property receiving a waiver under subsection (A) of this section is no longer operating under the eligibility requirements under subsection (A) of this section:
1. The waiver of connection charges required under subsection (A) of this section is no longer required; and
2. Any connection charges waived under subsection (C)(1) of this section shall be immediately due and payable as a condition of continued service.
D. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Affordable housing” has the same meaning as in RCW 36.70A.030.
2. “Connection charges” means the one-time capital and administrative charges, as authorized in RCW 35.92.025, that are imposed by a utility on a building or facility owner for a new utility service and costs borne or assessed by a utility for the labor, materials, and services necessary to physically connect a designated facility to the respective utility service.
3. “Emergency shelter” means any facility that has, as its sole purpose, the provision of a temporary shelter for the homeless and that does not require occupants to sign a lease or occupancy agreement.
4. “Permanent supportive housing” has the same meaning as in RCW 36.70A.030.
5. “Transitional housing” has the same meaning as in RCW 84.36.043. (Ord. C-1101 § 4, 2025)