HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Council Action Form dated July 14, 2009 s
ITEM # 53
DATE: 07-14-09
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: REVISION OF SEWER UTILITY ORDINANCE TO ELIMINATE 5,000
CUBIC FOOT PER CALENDAR YEAR LIMIT ON SEWER RATE
EXEMPTIONS
BACKGROUND:
At its June 9, 2009 meeting, the City Council directed staff to prepare a sewer rate
ordinance revision removing the 5,000 cubic foot total calendar year exemption from
Section 28.304.9 of the Ames Municipal Code.
The sewer ordinance allows for an exemption from sewer charges if, in any month,
more than 2,000 cubic feet of water is used in such a way that the water does not reach
the sanitary sewer system. The current ordinance limits the exemption to 5,000 cubic
feet in a calendar year with the entire exemption granted over no more than two
consecutive billing periods. The exemption is based on the premise that the water does
not reach the sanitary sewer system so the Sewer Utility does not incur any costs. The
proposed revision will delete the 5,000 cubic feet limitation.
The revised Section 28.304.9 will read:
"Where a "yard meter"is not installed, but it appears in any month that more than
two thousand (2,000) cubic feet of water was used in a way that the water did not
reach the sanitary sewer, that amount of water shall be exempt from the sewer
rate on application to the City Manager or the City Manager's designee. The
total exemption allowed under this provision shall
Ealendar year-,with the entire exemption be granted over no more than two
consecutive billing periods."
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the proposed sewer rate ordinance revision which eliminates the 5,000
cubic feet per calendar year limit on sewer rate exemptions.
2. Do not approve the proposed sewer rate ordinance revision.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Sewer Utility does not incur any costs for water used in such a way that the water
does not reach the sanitary sewer system. The purpose of the current ordinance
provision is to provide customers with relief from sewer charges for one-time events
1
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where water is used in such a way that the water does not reach the sanitary sewer
system. The purpose can still be achieved by limiting the exemption to no more than
two consecutive billing periods within a 12-month period without limiting the total
exemption to 5,000 cubic feet.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative No. 1, thereby approving the proposed sewer rate ordinance revision which
eliminates the 5,000 cubic feet per calendar year limit on sewer rate exemptions.
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Sharon J Hjortshoj/COA To Diane R Voss/COA@COA
06/30/2009 02:15 PM cc Duane R Pitcher/COA@COA, Mike J Wheelock/COA@COA
OF-# bcc
Subject CAF for July 14 Meeting-Revision of Sewer Utility
Ordinance
Diane,
I placed a CAF on the shared drive in the Council's folder for the July 14 meeting. The subject is
"REVISION OF THE SEWER UTILITY ORDINANCE TO ELIMINATE 5,000 CUBIC FOOT PER
CALENDAR YEAR LIMIT ON SEWER RATE EXEMPTIONS."
Duane is out of the office this week, so I'm sure that he will review this next week. I will let you know if he
wants to make any changes.
Thanks,
Sharon
(Mike, I made some minor changes, so you may want to print this version for your records. Or, you could
wait until Duane, Diane and the Managers make any additional changes.)
Sharon Hjortshoj
Finance Department Secretary
City of Ames, Iowa
515-239-5113
shjortshoj@city.ames.ia.us