Chapter 13.20
SEWER BILLINGS
Sections:
13.20.030 Charges monthly – Failure to mail no relief of payment responsibility.
13.20.040 Billing commencement date – Request for discharge.
13.20.060 Establishment of classifications – Appeal – Hearing.
13.20.070 Rates and charges adopted.
13.20.080 Violation – Penalty.
13.20.010 Applicability.
This chapter shall apply and extend to all of the area defined in the comprehensive sewer system plan as now adopted and hereafter amended and enlarged by the council of the city. (Ord. 651 § 1, 1974).
13.20.020 Definitions.
Definitions within the construction of this chapter apply as follows, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
A. “Commercial units” means business or transient accommodations (including, but not limited to all businesses licensed under the codes of the city) other than residential units; i.e.:
1. Each unit of motels, hotels, or transient accommodations;
2. One business operated under a single business identity and having independent sanitary facilities;
3. A combination of a business and a single-family residence in a single building that provides more than one sanitary facility, is considered to be both a domestic unit and a commercial unit;
4. Where there are multiple businesses situated in a single building each operating independently of the other, each individual business shall be considered as an individual commercial unit.
B. “City” means the city of Milton, Washington, or as indicated to be, a city official in discharge of duties connected therewith.
C. “Council” means the city council of Milton.
D. “Domestic units” means residential accommodations designed for, or occupied by, one family, i.e., a single-family dwelling.
E. “Multiple units” means residential accommodations consisting of the same number of domestic units as there are dwelling units, i.e., multiple-family dwellings such as duplexes, triplexes or apartments.
F. Repealed by Ord. 1166. (Ord. 1166 § 1, 1991; Ord. 651 § 2, 1974).
13.20.030 Charges monthly – Failure to mail no relief of payment responsibility.
Charges for furnishing sewer disposal service will be billed on a monthly basis. The charges provided for in this chapter shall apply wherever sewer service is available pursuant to the specifications of Chapter 13.16, whether or not a connection to the sewer system has, in fact, been made. The billings will be mailed to the owner of the property where the available sewer service is located. Failure to receive said bills shall not relieve any person from the legal obligation to pay the same, nor shall it relieve the responsible person from the enforcement of the lien as provided in this chapter. In the event property changes ownership prior to the last day of the month in which a sale is made, billing for the entire calendar month will be charged to the seller. (Ord. 651 § 3(a), 1974).
13.20.040 Billing commencement date – Request for discharge.
A. Every residence, building, plant or other structure to whom sewer service is available on April 1, 1974, will be billed for service commencing on that date. Buildings constructed or remodeled to involve the previous sanitary facilities to the extent that a change in classification becomes necessary after April 1, 1974, will be billed at the first billing after habitation or use of the structure or 30 days after the issuance of the sewer connection permit, whichever event occurs first.
B. All buildings and structures no longer requiring sewer disposal service because of being demolished or removed may be discharged from the utility service charge upon written request and upon prior written approval of the council. (Ord. 651 § 3(b), 1974).
13.20.060 Establishment of classifications – Appeal – Hearing.
The city reserves the right to establish classifications and to determine the classification of a customer service for the purpose of affixing a sewer service disposal rate. In event there arises a dispute relating to the type of customer receiving sewage disposal service and the corresponding service rate, the determination made by the city shall be binding upon the customer receiving sewage disposal service; provided, that a customer shall have the right to appeal said determination to the council. Upon receipt of an appeal, the council shall set a date for hearing on said appeal and shall hear and determine the matter. The determination by the council shall be binding and final; provided, that the aggrieved customer may petition for review of the council’s action to the Superior Court of Pierce County. (Ord. 651 § 4, 1974).
13.20.070 Rates and charges adopted.
A. The council adopts, establishes and fixes the monthly sewer service rates and charges and monthly commodity charges for each customer class as follows:
1. Domestic and Residential Business Service Charges and Commodity Charges:
February 16, 1992 - 1993
|
Classification |
Monthly Rates |
Monthly Service Charge |
Commodity Charge $x100 Cubic Ft of Water Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(through 2/15/92) |
|
|
|
Domestic unit. |
$22.75 each |
19.80 |
.60 |
|
Accessory building connected with a domestic unit & capable of providing living quarters or individual habitations. |
22.75 each |
19.80 |
.60 |
|
Dual or multiple units per unit. |
22.75 each |
19.80 |
.60 |
|
Residence with a “Home Occupation” as defined per MMC Section 17.08.380. |
22.75 each |
19.80 |
.60 |
|
Business in the same building with a residence, and with a common sanitary facility shall be charged. |
32.49 each |
19.80 |
.60 |
|
Business in the same building with a residence with individual sanitary facilities shall be charged. |
45.48 total |
39.60 |
.60 |
2. Commercial and Industrial Service Charges and Commodity Charges.
a. Service charges for commercial and industrial sanitary users on the following table shall be a fixed charge per month:
Fixed monthly service charge:
through
|
12/15/91 |
12/16/92 |
1993 |
|
$10.30 |
$9.15 |
$9.15 |
b. Commodity Charges. In addition, the users on the following shall pay the appropriate flow rate per each 100 cubic feet of metered water use, as identified in Table I:
TABLE I
RATES FOR COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL USER GROUP
|
SIC NO. CODE |
Monthly Rate (through 12/15/91) |
12/16/91– 12/15/92 |
12/16/92 – 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
10. Food processors |
$5.835 |
Varies w/ Strength |
Varies w/Strength |
|
11. Bakeries (manufacturers) |
2.368 |
3.17 |
3.33 |
|
12. Candy producers |
2.469 |
4.48 |
4.73 |
|
13. Soft drink beverage manufacturers |
1.588 |
2.30 |
2.40 |
|
14. Seafood processors |
1.805 |
2.59 |
2.71 |
|
15. Paperboard mills |
2.368 |
|
|
|
16. Book printers |
1.559 |
|
|
|
17. Map printers |
1.502 |
|
|
|
18. Commercial printers |
1.502 |
1.85 |
1.93 |
|
19. Business form printers |
1.502 |
1.85 |
1.93 |
|
20. Photo engravers |
2.065 |
3.10 |
3.25 |
|
21. Chemical processors |
1.718 |
1.91 |
1.99 |
|
22. Plastic/synthetic resin manufacturers |
1.415 |
|
|
|
23. Paint manufacturers |
2.816 |
3.30 |
3.46 |
|
24. Fertilizer manufacturers |
1.545 |
1.72 |
1.79 |
|
25. Food adhesive manufacturers |
1.535 |
|
|
|
26. Asphalt shingle manufacturer |
1.733 |
2.01 |
2.10 |
|
27. Clay products manufacturer |
2.036 |
|
|
|
28. Ceramic tile manufacturer |
2.036 |
|
|
|
29. Concrete readymix supplier |
1.863 |
2.09 |
2.19 |
|
30. Lime manufacturer |
1.733 |
1.84 |
1.92 |
|
31. Ferrous foundries |
1.819 |
2.03 |
2.11 |
|
32. Metal can producers |
1.242 |
1.37 |
1.42 |
|
33. Platers |
1.473 |
1.51 |
1.56 |
|
34. Coating and engraving servicers |
1.978 |
2.87 |
3.02 |
|
35. Vehicle parts manufacturer |
3.119 |
3.04 |
3.18 |
|
36. Aircraft part manufacturers |
1.473 |
1.70 |
1.76 |
|
37. Bus maintenance depot |
3.495 |
3.30 |
3.47 |
|
38. Gas producers & distributors |
1.675 |
|
|
|
39. Meat distributors |
1.935 |
3.27 |
3.45 |
|
40. Grocery stores |
1.935 |
2.53 |
2.66 |
|
41. Meat & fish markets |
2.123 |
3.27 |
3.45 |
|
42. Bakery stores |
2.339 |
3.17 |
3.33 |
|
43. Auto dealers |
2.065 |
2.18 |
2.29 |
|
44. Restaurant |
3.986 |
4.69 |
4.95 |
|
45. Tavern |
1.545 |
1.89 |
1.98 |
|
46. Hotels & motels |
1.545 |
1.89 |
1.98 |
|
47. Commercial laundries |
2.859 |
3.85 |
4.06 |
|
48. Laundromats |
1.516 |
1.85 |
1.93 |
|
49. Photo studios |
1.343 |
1.73 |
1.81 |
|
50. Funeral services |
1.733 |
2.10 |
2.19 |
|
51. Photo finish laboratories |
1.343 |
1.78 |
1.86 |
|
52. Body & paint shops |
2.065 |
2.18 |
2.29 |
|
53. Auto repair, repair and paint shops |
2.065 |
2.18 |
2.29 |
|
54. Car washes |
1.532 |
1.86 |
1.94 |
|
55. Drive-in cinemas |
2.816 |
2.18 |
2.29 |
|
56. Bowling alleys |
2.065 |
2.44 |
2.56 |
|
57. Nursing homes |
1.473 |
1.92 |
2.01 |
|
58. Hospital |
1.689 |
2.05 |
2.15 |
|
59. Other commercial users domestic strength |
1.67 |
2.00 |
2.09 |
|
60. Schools |
1.67 |
2.00 |
2.09 |
|
61. Restaurants - out of city |
5.98 |
7.04 |
7.43 |
|
62. Laundromats - out of city |
2.27 |
2.78 |
2.90 |
|
63. Grocery stores - out of city |
2.90 |
3.80 |
3.99 |
|
64. Commercial laundries - out of city |
4.29 |
5.78 |
6.09 |
|
65. [no entry] |
|
|
|
|
66. Other commercial uses - out of city |
2.51 |
3.00 |
3.14 |
c. Food Processors Commodity Charges. Charges for any customer in Code Classification 10 shall be determined using the monitored result basis set forth in the Official Code of the City of Tacoma at Sections 12.08.390 and 12.08.400, which sections are adopted by reference as though set forth herein in full, under the following formula as applied to Milton customers:
1991: $.85 x the rate established by the City of Tacoma + $.70
1992 and 1993: $.85 x the rate established by the City of Tacoma + $.60
3. Calculation and Review of Commodity Charges. The monthly commodity charge for all customer classes other than industrial and commercial shall be based on the winter average water use. The winter average water use shall be determined on the water consumption of January, February, November and December.
a. The winter average shall be recalculated each year for each customer to which the winter average applies and the amount determined shall be used in the rate calculation for the succeeding 12-month period.
b. In the event a residential customer has had continuous service from the city water system for a 12-month period including the months used in the winter average calculation, the winter average established by said customer shall continue to be used until recalculated, as provided in subsection c of this section, even though the customer relocates to a new service address.
c. In the event that a customer does not have a unique and separate winter average, or is not in residence for a full winter average period, the director of public works shall:
i. Assign the winter average as determined by the whole class of customers connected to the system; or
ii. Use the months within the winter average period for which a record exists for the customer in determining the winter average.
d. Where a customer is connected to a water system not operated by the city of Milton, the customer shall provide copies of billings, showing water consumption, to the city of Milton at such intervals to allow proper and timely billing by the city of Milton for sewer rates. Such customer shall also pay the monthly service charge.
e. Where a customer is not connected to a public water system, the director of public works shall determine and establish the commodity charge taking into account like users. Such customer shall also pay the monthly service charge.
f. If a group of units is served by one water meter, the commodity charge per each 100 cubic feet of water used for each unit shall be determined by dividing the total water usage by the number of units served by that meter.
g. The commodity charge shall be determined as follows:
i. Industrial and commercial customer classes the metered monthly water use per 100 cubic feet shall be rounded up to the nearest 100 and multiplied by the commodity charges indicated therein.
ii. All other customer classes: the calculated monthly average water use based on the winter average shall be rounded up to the nearest 100 and multiplied by the commodity charges indicated herein.
B. All residential and commercial customers outside the city limits shall have a 50 percent surcharge on the service charge and on the commodity charge.
C. Where two or more classifications apply the higher rate shall be charged. Where one connection is made to serve more than one commercial unit the service charge and the commodity charge, shall be based on the total of the units served. Special or unusual situations may have rates established by contract or by determination by the council upon written request for such determination.
D. Any commercial business such as a service station so facilitated to receive discharge of sewage from other than commercial transporters or sewage disposal businesses may upon the approval of the public works department and upon the payment of a $100.00 fee receive an annual permit for such service to travel trailers, campers and similar recreational vehicles.
E. There shall be no commercial or private dumping of septic tanks into the Milton sewer service.
F. The effective dates of service charges and commodity charges shall take effect as set forth below:
1. Domestic and residential business service and commodity charges shall change on February 16, 1992 as set forth at Section 13.20.070A1 and shall continue in effect until otherwise amended.
2. Commercial and industrial service charges shall change December 16, 1991 and again December 16, 1992 as set forth at Section 13.20.070A2(a) and shall continue in effect until otherwise amended.
3. Commercial and industrial commodity charges shall change December 16, 1991 and again on December 16, 1992 as set forth at Section 13.20.070A2(b) and shall continue in effect until otherwise amended. (Ord. 1167 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1166 § 2, 1991; Ord. 1045, 1987; Ord. 827 § 1, 1980; Ord. 734 § 1, 1977; Ord. 651 § 1, 1974).
13.20.080 Violation – Penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as set forth in Chapter 1.08. (Ord. 651 § 6, 1974).