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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM VIII-A-1 CITY OF AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM M WASHINGTON Agenda Subject: Date: Ordinance No. 6331 October 26; 2010 Department: Attachments: Budget Impact: Public Works Ordinance No. 6331 $ N/A Sewer Meter Informational Brochure Administrative Recommendation: Ci Councif to introduce and ado t Ordinance No. 6331. Back round Summa : Ordinance No. 6331 amends Section 1120.186 of Aubum City Code to aid in the administrafion of the use of sewer meters to measure sewage discharge into Aubum's sanitary sewer system. The City of Auburn typically bills non-single family residential sewer customers based on their metered potabte water usage. There are some cases where the only accurate way to measure the volume of wastewater entering the sewer system is by using a sewer meter. Such cases include sites where the source of water is not metered or sites where a significant amount of water is removed as part of an industrial process. Current city code addresses the use of sewer meters, but staff has concluded that modifications are necessary to more effectively administer those accounts. A summary of the code changes are as follows: 1_ The requirement to have the meter calibrated is more specific, and the consequences offailure to do so, such as reverting to billing based on water usage, are spelled out in more detaiL 2. Meter readings will be taken by City meter readers, and will no longer be called in or sent in by the property owner. 3. The consequences for inoperative meters, such as reverting to billing based on water use or revoking the option to use a meter are spelled out in more detail. Staff has also developed an informational brochure to assist customers in understanding application reguirements and design standards. W1101-6 04.6.2 Reviewed by Council & Committees: Reviewed by Departments & Divisions: ❑ Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: ❑ Building ❑ M&O ❑ Airport 0 :Finance ❑ Cemetery ❑ Mayor ❑ Fiearing Examiner ❑ Municipal Serv. 0 Finance ❑ Parks ❑ Human Services ❑ Planning & CD ❑ Fire ❑ Planning ❑ Rark Board ZPublic Works 0 Legal ❑ Police ❑ Planning Comm. ❑ Other 0 Public Works ❑ Human Resources Action: Committee Approval: DYes ❑No . Council Approval: OYes ❑No Call for Public Hearing Referred to Until Tabled Until Councilmember: Wa nec Staff: Dowd Meetin Date: : November 1, 2010 Item Number: VIII.A.1 - BUIR:N * MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED ORDINANCE NO. 6 3 3 1 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, AMENDING SECTION 13.21.186 OF THE AUBURN CITY CODE RELATING TO SEWER METERS WHEREAS, the City of Auburn ("City") in managing its sewer utility, provides for direct metering of sewage discharge in certain instances in order to fairly and accurately monitor the flow of wastewater in to the sanitary sewer system; and, WHEREAS, staff has recommended amending the provisions related to direct metering in order to provide for easier administration of the meters and to provide clear guidance to utility customers; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN as follows: Section 1. Amendment to Citv Code. That section 13.20.186 of the Auburn City Code be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows; 13.20.186 Sewer meters. Sanitary sewer meters monitor, measure, record and totalize the flow of wastewater into the sanitary sewer system. This information is then used to generate a sewage bill for the site. Installation of sanitary sewer meters are discouraged by the city; however, O{ o* ic d°+°rmincrl hv the s*,Citv Enaineer may determine that a sewer meter is the only appropriate device thaf will allow for the accurate measurement of waste water being sent into the public sewer system: Sites where a sewer meter mav be allowed or- required include, but are not limited to facilities where the water source is not metered or facilities where industrial processes remove a sianificant amount of inetered water from the waste stream. If allowed or required, then sa4-the meter shall be installed URdefand operated pursuant to the following conditions: - A. B----aevvage -Sewer meters shall be owned, operated and maintained by the property owner; heweveF, Ordinance No. 6331 October 19, 2010 Page 1 of 4 B. Sewer meters shall be selected and installed consistent with Citv of Auburn desiqn standards. C. Sewer meters shall continuallv totalize the flow passinq throuqh the meter and disqlav the meter reading in ccf (1 ccf = 100 cubic feet). D. The owner shall provide the City access to read the sewer meter, Mandav through Friday 7:00 a.rri. to 5:00 p.m. E A side sewer repair permit shall be obtained for the installation, replacement, or modification of sewermeters ' GF. The propertv owner shall have the gewage-sewer metersr-sha#-be Calibrated aRRUa4y-once per calendar vear by the manufacturer or a-a-the manufacturer's authorized tefrepresentative at the owner's expense. A copy of the calibration report shall be furnished to the s*City Public Works Department on or before December 31 of that year. D. Ce~~ir.no rv+ ~h.~ll w n~n+irrni ~.~cauIhr + iOtalI- r_~.,ine~hr~~ inh vvv-vvc~yc -rrr~~F~ - anan--rrcrrr~~~~B~Af-~ e r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ • ' feadIRgS-. G Reqardless of whether the City has previously allowed or required the installation and use of a sewer meter, the Gity shall, after qivinq the property owner 30 workinq days' notice and opportunity fo cure the defect, bill the property owner for sewaae based on metered water usaqe for the propertv for any of the following reasons 1. The owner fails to submit a calibration report 2. The calibration ceport indicates that the meter cannot be calibrated, and will not accurately measure flow. 3. The citv. becomes aware that the meter is malfunctioninQ, or unexplained anomalies in the meter readinqs are identified. If the source of the wastewater is not metered potable water (e.q. contaminated qroundwater), the Citv mav, after providinq 15 workinq davs' notice of its intent to do so elect to use previous vears' and/or months' readinas as a basis for sewer charqes. The Citv shall adtl an additional 50% surcharae until such time as the Owner provides a fully functional calibrated meter. H If a meter is found to be inoperative or inaccurate, the property owner must repair or replace the defective meter within 30 davs of beinq notified of the problem. If the property owner , t.. ~ , fails to comply with these conditions the citv _mau charqe the owner for all expenses incurred in restoring compliance including, but not limited to. staff time, leqal expenses, . consultant costs and the cost of repairs and_ equ'rpment calibration. In cases where the City acts unilaterallv to obtain comqliance, a. monthlv surcharqe of 10% will be added to the bill until such time as the Finance Director determines is necessary. The citv may revoke the riqht to use a sewaqe meter at anv time and the sewer bill shall be calculated based on total water Volume utilized as Ordinance No. 6331 October 19, 2010 Page 2, of 4 measured by the water meter. At.the Finance Director's discretion in .cases bf continued non-compliance, the citv mav also revoke the riaht to discharqe to the sewer system. -(Ord. 5852 § 1, 2004.) . Section Z. Implementation: The Mayor is hereby authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directions of this :legislation. Section 3. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the . . application thereof. to any person or circumstance shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this.ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances: Section 4. Effective date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force fve days from and after its passage, approval and publication as - provided by law. , INTRODUCED: PASSED: , APPROVED: CITY OF AUBURN PETER B. LEWIS MAYOR ATTEST: Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk Ordinance No. 6331 October 19, 2010 Page 3.of 4 APP D FOR : aniel B. Heid; City Attorne - , Published: Ordinance No. 6331 ' October 19, 2010 Page 4 of 4 ~ CITY OF ; * WtiS1111V G1 V 1V PERMIT CENTER SANITARY SEWER METERS Inforrnational Brochure Septernb+er 2010 Prepared by: City of Auburn Customer Service Center (253) 931-3010 FAX (253) 931-3053 PERNII`I' CENTER ^ INFORIVIATIOlvAL BROCHURE FOR SANI'TARY SEWEI2 NNIETERS The standard b'illing practice for non-single family customers of the City of Auburn's Sewer Utility, is to base the monthly charges for sewerservice on water use data. The City recognizes that in some'situations, metered water use does not accurately reflect the volume of water discharged to the sewer system. Per Aubum City Code (ACG) 13.20.186, the use of sewer meters for billing purposes is discouraged by the City, but will be allowed if, "a sewer meter is the only appropriate device that will allow for the accurate measurement of wastewater being sent into the public sewer system." Sewer meters will be owned and maintained by theprope.rty owner. Permitting a Sewer Meter A side sewer repair permit shall be obtained for the installation, replacement, or modification of sewer meters. Along with the application form for that permit, the applicant must submit the following items: ' 1. A letter describing the need to use a sewer meter as the only device which will appropriately measure the volume of wastewaterthat you dischazge into the sewer system. . **Note: The applicant may submit the letter described in Item 1 to be "pre-approved" before preparing and submitting an official permit application.** 2. A site plan showing adjacent streets, buildings; on-site sewer lines, proposed meter location, proposed location of remote register/readout, access points for meter readers, parking azeas for meter readers, and any other item that may affect the efficient reading and inspection of the meter. 3. A written description of the access procedures for meter readers (including potenrially locked gates, alazm systems etc.) ' 4. Specifications for all equipment being installed, and a statement from the manufacturer stating that the meter is appropriate for the proposed application. • 5. Construction drawirigs for the installation of the equipment. Design Standards Location: The sewer meter may be installed in a manhole, on a buried pipe, or in a vault. The sewer meter register must be located under cover or in a weather proof box mounted in an easily accessible location. Register: the register must include a totalizer which constantly displays cumulative quantities of discharged wastewater in ccf (1 ccf = 100 cubic feet). Meter: The meter must be of a type and size appropriate to its application as verified by the manufacturerand the City Engineer.