HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated Janaury 8, 2019 ITEM # 27
DATE 01-08-19
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: INDIVIDUAL METERING OF WATER USAGE IN MULTI-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
BACKGROUND:
On November 28, 2017, Council approved on third reading a series of updates to Chapter
28 of the Municipal Code (Utilities). One of the changes was the addition of a new
paragraph that requires apartments, condominiums, and other multi-family residential
building types to provide individual water meters for each dwelling unit or tenant space.
On March 27, 2018, Council adopted an effective date of that ordinance.
On December 18, 2018, Council gave direction to staff to prepare an ordinance that
removes multi-family residential properties from the list of property types required
to have individual water meters. Council additionally directed staff to not enforce
this provision until such time as an ordinance could be brought back before
Council. The attached ordinance removes four classes of properties ("Apartment
Dwellings," "Condominiums," "Efficiency Dwelling Units," and "Family Home")
from the list of property types that require individual metering, and adds them to
the list of property types that are explicitly not required to be individually metered.
Sec. 28.214. OWNERSHIP AND REPAIR,WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS
(1) For the purpose of accountability, ,
Commercial Buildings, Dwelling House, Family WemeF Single-Family, Single Family
Attached, Two-Family Attached, ❑ffi^:on^., 1 n t Dwellings, Manufactured Homes, and
Mobile Homes (by means of individual meter pits), shall be individually metered.
Apartment Dwellings, Assisted Living Facilities, Condominiums, Congregate Housing,
Efficiency Unit Dwellings, Family Home, Hospice Facilities, Hospitals, Hotels,
Independent Senior Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, Residential Corrections Facilities,
and Sorority or Fraternity Facilities weet-fie are not required to meter individual
dwelling units. Requirements and exceptions are based on definitions stated in Section
29.201 of the Ames Municipal Code. The requirement for individual water meter
installations in Section 28.214(1) shall not apply to any project for which a site
development plan was submitted to the Planning and Housing Department for review prior
to January 1, 2019.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve on first reading an ordinance removing multi-family residential properties
from the list of property types included in Section 28.214(1) of the Ames Municipal
Code that require individual water metering.
2. Provide direction to staff to make other alterations to Section 28.214(1).
3. Take no action on the proposed ordinance. If Council chooses to take no action, it
should also clarify whether it intends to keep in place its direction from December 18,
2018 against enforcing the requirement for individual metering for multi-family
residential properties.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The attached ordinance removes four classes of multi-family residential properties from
the list of property types requiring individual metering of water usage, consistent with the
Council's direction from December 18, 2018. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the
City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1 as described above.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
CITY OF AMES,IOWA,BY REPEALING CHAPTER 28,SECTION
28.214(1) AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 28, SECTION
28.214(1) THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REQUIREMENT
FOR INDIVIDUALLY METERING WATER USAGE IN MULTI-
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES; REPEALING ANY AND
ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; AND ESTABLISHING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa,that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby
amended by repealing Chapter 28.214(1)and enacting a new Chapter 28,Section 28.214(1)
"Sec. 28.214(1) OWNERSHIP AND REPAIR,WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
(1) For the purpose of accountability, Commercial Buildings, Dwelling House, Single-
Family, Single Family Attached, Two-Family Attached, Manufactured Homes, and Mobile Homes (by
means of individual meter pits), shall be individually metered. Apartment Dwellings, Assisted Living
Facilities, Condominiums, Congregate Housing, Efficiency Unit Dwellings, Family Home, Hospice
Facilities, Hospitals,Hotels, Independent Senior Living Facilities,Nursing Homes, Residential Corrections
Facilities, and Sorority or Fraternity Facilities are not required to meter individual dwelling units.
Requirements and exceptions are based on definitions stated in Section 29.201 of the Ames Municipal
Code. The requirement for individual water meter installations in Section 28.214(1) shall not apply to any
project for which a site development plan was submitted to the Planning and Housing Department for
review prior to January 1,2019."
Section One. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to
the extent of such conflict, if any.
Section Two. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
publication as required by law.
Passed this day of
Diane R.Voss,City Clerk John A.Haila,Mayor