Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation will supplement Chapter 1147 of Columbus City Code to provide authorization for the Director of Public Utilities to enact a rule that will provide a discount on the current Wet Weather Charge for customers who exceed the detention requirements of the City's Stormwater Drainage Manual.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact is estimated to be very small.
Title
To amend Chapter 1147 of the Columbus City Code by enacting Section 1147.21 to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to promulgate a rule that allows a credit on the Clean River Sanitary Sewer Charge for any customer that exceeds the detention requirements of the Stormwater Drainage Manual.
Body
WHEREAS, previously, Columbus enacted a stormwater fee applicable to Columbus residents for the purpose of creating a stormwater utility to address stormwater issues inside the City; and
WHEREAS, Columbus' stormwater fee is based on calculating impervious surfaces for each customer, with 2000 square feet being referred to as an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU); and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Code Section 1149.12 authorized the Director of Public Utilities to enact a rule that provided for credits from the stormwater fee; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to that authority, the Director enacted a rule that allows a credit from the stormwater fee for customers that exceed the detention requirements of the Stormwater Drainage Manual, as such customers are discharging less stormwater to the City; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, Columbus created the Wet Weather Charge to assist the City in paying for capital projects required by a consent order with Ohio EPA, and the Wet Weather Charge was based on the same ERU calculation as the stormwater fee; and
WHEREAS, the Department inadvertently allowed customers who were receiving a stormwater credit on their ERU count to also receive a credit on their Wet Weather Charge; and
WHEREAS, allowing a credit on the Wet Weather Charge for all customers that exceed the detention requirements of the Stormwater Drainage Manual is consistent with the rational for allowing a credit on the stormwater fee, and will not cause any significant fiscal impact as such credits are already being provided; and
WHEREAS, the Director should be authorized to enact a rule allowing any customer that exceeds the detention requirements of the City's stormwater drainage manual to receive a credit on the Wet Weather Charge; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus City Codes,1959, are hereby supplemented with the enactment of a new section 1147.21, reading as follows:
1147.21- Credits.
The director shall promulgate rules and regulations which allow for a credit in the wet weather charge for properties other than single family residential properties.
SECTION 2. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.