Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes a decrease in the outside city Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) charge for the Wet Weather Program within the sanitary sewer rate section of the Columbus City Codes.
The rate structure includes a charge related to each customer's contribution to wastewater flow during periods of wet weather. Since wastewater flow during wet weather directly corresponds to impervious area, the charge recovers costs of construction of projects necessary to meet the requirements of the two consent orders that mandate elimination of wet weather flow from Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows. This charge is assessed based on each property's measured impervious surface area. Each ERU is based on the previously determined Stormwater ERU of 2000 sq ft. Residents are charged at one ERU per residence. All other customers are charged based on measured impervious area divided by 2000 sq ft to determine an actual ERU count. This charge recovers the debt service costs and other expense of all projects related to correcting wet weather overflows. This charge for 2006 is currently $1.31 per ERU inside city and $.51 per ERU for outside city customers.
Outside city customer ERUs were based on estimates that have since been updated to accurately reflect the estimated impervious surface areas in suburban communities. The actual measured ERU counts are higher than originally estimated and a reduction in the outside city ERU rate is warranted. The calculated change reduces the outside city rate from $.51 per ERU to $.34 per ERU.
Fiscal Impact: This rate change will still generate approximately $1.2 million in 2006. The reduced rate times the increased ERU count will generate the same revenue required by the rate model from outside city customers so there is no change in estimated total revenue.
Title
To amend Chapter 1147 of the Columbus City Codes 1959, to change sanitary sewer service rates relating to the outside city equivalent residential unit charge beginning April 1, 2006, the earliest date allowed by law and to repeal the existing Section being amended
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to change the outside city equivalent residential unit rate from $.51 per ERU to $.34 per ERU, effective April 1, 2006, the earliest date allowed by law, and
WHEREAS, updated counts of ERUs in suburban communities have resulted in an increased total of ERUs within those communities, and
WHEREAS, the changed rate is based on a rate study that used the cost of service recovery methodology; and
WHEREAS, the increased count of outside city ERUs times the proposed rate of $.34 per ERU will generate the same revenue required by the rate model from outside city customers, and
WHEREAS, City Council finds that it is appropriate to enact a reduction in the outside city ERU rate; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That effective April 1, 2006, the earliest date allowed by law, Section 1147.11 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and is hereby amended to read as follows:
1147.11 Rate Schedules.
(b) Charges Outside Corporate Limits. For the purpose stated in Sections 1147.02 and 1147.12, there is hereby charged to each user situated outside the corporate limits of the city, having any active sewer connection with the sewerage system of such city or otherwise discharging sewage, industrial wastes, other liquids, either directly or indirectly into the city's sewerage system, sewer charges as hereinbefore provided, and in the amount determinable as follows:
(1) For any such lot, parcel of land, building or premises having any connection with the city's sewerage system or otherwise discharging sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly into the city's sewerage system, such charge shall be based upon the quantity of water used thereon or therein as the same is measured by a water meter or meters there in use, as hereinafter described, and there shall be charged:
The charges as prescribed in the rate schedule as follows: SEE SPREADSHEET ATTACHED
SECTION 3. That effective April 1, 2006, the earliest date allowed by law, existing Section 1147.11, (b) of Chapter 1147 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, be and is hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.