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Home My WebLink About[08b] 2018 Fee Schedule Amendment Council Agenda Item 8b MEETING DATE: February 5, 2018 AGENDA ITEM: 2018 Fee Schedule Amendment SUBMITTED BY: Finance BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: None PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Council adopted the 2018 fee schedule on December 4, 2017. Council notified sewer only property owners they are required to connect to city water services by 7/1/16. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: SEWER ONLY ACCOUNTS: Council notified 27 property owners they were required to city water services by 7/1/16. Of these accounts, 11 were resolved. A few of the accounts are not in an area where services are available and one cannot connect for valid business reasons. These sewer only accounts are charged sewer based on metered well water usage. The council adopted a 2018 fee for sewer only accounts to collect a higher sewer usage fee than the general city sewer usage rate to encourage the accounts to connect to water. Legally the city may struggle to force a property owner to connect at the property owner’s cost. When the higher sewer usage fee was adopted, a couple issues came up. 1. For those unable to connect to water (no services available or valid business purpose), the higher fee seems to punish them unjustifiably. 2. The sewer only usage fee was not meant for contracted users such as the CSB main campus. The fee schedule for the CSB should be listed separately at the general city sewer usage rate as assumed and agreed upon. 3. A higher sewer usage rate for those that are refusing to connect may not be justifiable for usage compared to other sewer users. The sewer treatment costs of the sewage for sewer only accounts are no different than general users; therefore, they should not be charged more. After working with the city attorney, staff recommends removing the sewer only usage rate from the fee schedule. The sewer only sewer usage fee will be the same as the general sewer usage fee. For the sewer only accounts refusing to connect to city water service (where mains are available and no valid business reason to not connect), staff recommends charging the water line charge. Water is available for them just the same as property owners using the services. The city is paying to maintain the water services in this area and should be charging all users for the available services (whether they use the service or not). The city has the right to collect for these fixed costs. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: $2,700 ATTACHMENTS: Request for Council Action – Fee Schedule Amendment 2018 Fee Schedule Appendix C REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Consider adopting the proposed 2018 fee schedule amendments. Page 1 per 1000 gallons $4.95per 1000 gallons$4.95per 1000 gallons$1.10per account per bi-month$6.15per 1000 gallons$6.76 variesper billing cycle $24.00per unit per bi-month $34.00per unit per bi-month dopted Fees A 10%, minimum $10.00per bi-month period Appendix C-Utility Rates Industrial$16.00per billable acre per bi-month AgricultureNo charge Institutional$16.00per billable acre per bi-month Commerical$24.00per billable acre per bi-month 30 gallon cart$25.00per bi-month60 gallon cart$28.00per bi-month90 gallon cart$50.00per bi-month Public FacilityNo charge Minimum Charge$3.00per bi-month Residential-urban$4.20per unit per bi-month Mixed Use Facility$4.20per unit per bi-month Commercial/Industrial$4.20per unit per bi-month Single Family Dwelling$3.00per unit per bi-month Second Recycling Cart$18.00per bi-month Duplex Residential Dwelling$3.00per unit per bi-month Multi-Family Dwelling (not duplex)$12.00per billable acre per bi-month Senior Citizen (Over 65 years of age)$19.00per bi-month "Appendix C" City of St. Joseph Residential solid waste management services$0.10excludes recycling Utility Charges - 2018 Rates Round-up utility bill to the nearest $1 to help improve city parksTaxable for non-residential users, fee includes sewer only accounts where water services are available and property owner is able to connectTaxable for non-residential usersTaxable for non-residential users Sewer Only Accounts (based on well water metered usage)Units are determined by unit - see ordinance how to calculateUnits are determined by billable acre Contract User line charge unit calculated based upon sewer gallons treated.SF Residential rate based on the previous year Nov/Dec water usage. Usage rate charged to CSB contracted sewer metered services. # Ord2018 403.00407.00502.18 1007.00 s s Taxable Taxable Taxable Taxable Type Round-Up ProgramWater Charges Water Fixed Charge401.00 Water Usage401.00 Sprinkler Usage401.00 MDS Test Fee Sewer Charges Sewer Fixed Charge403.00 Sewer Utility Rates403.00 Refuse ChargesStreet Light UtilityStorm Water FeeUtility Late Fee Sewer Only Utility Rate