Explanation
This ordinance amends Chapters 221 and 4307 and various sections in Titles 11, 31, and 33 of the Columbus City Codes to indicate the Department of Public Utilities will be also be known as Columbus Water & Power, updates the name of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, and repeals the existing sections being amended.
The Department of Public Utilities is using the new name, Columbus Water & Power, to clarify the services performed by its staff and better explain its role in building public improvements and maintaining services to the City and surrounding areas. The Department of Public Utilities conducted outreach to find out what the public’s understanding is of the services that it provides. The meetings revealed that the public does not know which services are provided by the Department of Public Utilities versus other City departments or private utilities.
The Division of Sewerage and Drainage is changing all references to its name throughout the Columbus City Codes. The change from “Division of Sewerage and Drainage” to “Division of Water Reclamation” more accurately describes the sustainable function of its operations and reflects the evolution across the industry regarding sanitary treatment and stormwater management as essential water resources.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact.
Title
To amend Titles 11, 31, and 33 and Chapters 221 and 4307 of the Columbus City Codes to indicate that the Department of Public Utilities will also be known as Columbus Water & Power; to update the name of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage to the Division of Water Reclamation; and to repeal the existing sections being amended.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities provides water supply, treatment, and distribution services to 1.4 million people across Central Ohio, oversees sanitary water reclamation and stormwater services, maintains Columbus streetlights, and supplies municipal power to a growing customer base approaching 20,000; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities conducted public outreach to gauge the public’s understanding of the services that it provides and found that the public’s perception was fundamentally inaccurate; and
WHEREAS, in order to clarify to the public and its customers the services performed by its staff and better explain its role in building public improvement and maintaining services to the City and surrounding areas, it is appropriate and in the best interest of the City that the Department of Public Utilities will also be known as Columbus Water & Power; and
WHEREAS, in order to more accurately describe the sustainable function of the Division and reflect the evolution across the industry regarding sanitary treatment and stormwater management as essential water resources, it is appropriate and in the best interest of the City to update the name of, and all references to, the “Division of Sewerage and Drainage” to “Division of Water Reclamation;” NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. City Council finds that it is appropriate for the Department of Public Utilities to also be known as Columbus Water & Power.
SECTION 2. City Council finds that it is appropriate to change the name of, and update all references to, the “Division of Sewerage and Drainage” to “Division of Water Reclamation.”
SECTION 3. That the existing Sections 221.01, 221.02, 221.05, 1105.12, 1131.05, 1133.03, 1133.07, 1133.16, 1137.01, 1139.01, 1139.04, 1139.08, 1141.03, 1141.05, 1141.08, 1141.12, 1145.02, 1145.04, 1145.12, 1145.20, 1145.30, 1145.44, 1145.50, 1145.64, 1145.77, 1145.94, 1147.01, 1147.05, 1147.06, 1147.07, 1147.08, 1147.09, 1147.12, 1147.20, 1149.02, 1149.09, 1149.10, 1149.13, 1153.01, 3124.05, 3124.11, 3311.18, 3343.19, 3343.23, 3357.01, 3389.131, and 4307.27 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby amended to read as follows:
SEE ATTACHED FILE
SECTION 4. That existing Sections 222.01, 221.02, 221.05, 1105.12, 1131.05, 1133.03, 1133.07, 1133.16, 1137.01, 1139.01, 1139.04, 1139.08, 1141.03, 1141.05, 1141.08, 1141.12, 1145.02, 1145.04, 1145.12, 1145.20, 1145.30, 1145.44, 1145.50, 1145.64, 1145.77, 1145.94, 1147.01, 1147.05, 1147.06, 1147.07, 1147.08, 1147.09, 1147.12, 1147.20, 1149.02, 1149.09, 1149.10, 1149.13, 1153.01, 3124.05, 3124.11, 3311.18, 3343.19, 3343.23, 3357.01, 3389.131, and 4307.27 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.