Ord 34-2014 8/5/2014ORDINANCE NO. 34-2014
Ordinance amending Section 106-126 of The Code of Ordinances of
the City of Wichita Falls, to increase Retail Water Rates; providing for
codification; and providing an emergency and immediate effective
date
WHEREAS, City Staff has studied the cost of providing the services described
herein administering and enforcing the regulatory schemes described herein, and
determined that costs are currently not being covered by the existing fees;
WHEREAS, after receiving and reviewing the aforementioned costs, the City
Council finds that the fees established herein do not exceed the amount reasonably
necessary to provide the services and administer and enforce the regulatory programs
to which they are related; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that increases in the fines, fees, and rates
described herein are necessary to provide for the services and regulatory programs
described herein and further finds that any discrimination established against non-
residents in fee amounts does not provide funds that exceed the taxpayer-funded
amount of the described programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
1. Retail Water Rates
Subsections (c) through (g) of Section 106-126 of the Wichita Falls Code of
Ordinances are amended to read as follows, with the new rates to be effective
immediately:
c) The minimum monthly bill for all metered treated water service shall
be as shown below, exclusive of any water volume charge.
Meter Size Minimum Bill
5/8 inch $17.91
1 inch 36.28
1½ inch 66.89
2 inch 103.62
2½ inch 133.16
3 inch 189.37
4 inch 311.84
6 inch 618.00
8 inch 1,095.64
10 inch 1,708.10
d) For consumption, the rates per 100 cubic feet for residential
customers are as follows:
1) First 200 cubic feet of water at $3.64 per hundred
2) Next 800 cubic feet of water at $3.81 per hundred
3) Next 1,000 cubic feet of water at $3.99 per hundred
4) Next 2,000 cubic feet of water at $4.36 per hundred
5) Next 2,000 cubic feet of water at $4.61 per hundred
6) Next 6,000 cubic feet and above of water at $4.89 per hundred
Specific use meters installed for lawn sprinklers, swimming pools,
and other non-domestic uses will be considered as residential for
the purpose of billing. Residential rates will apply to all water
measured through these special use meters even though they may
be located at a commercial or industrial site.
e) For other than residential customers, including fire hydrant meters,
the rate shall be $3.90 per hundred cubic feet.
f) During the first and last billing cycle in which an account is active,
the minimum monthly bill shown in this section shall be prorated for
the number of days the account is active; the prorated daily charge
shall be based on a 30-day month. The amount charged in the first
and last billing cycle for water consumed and the prorated minimum
bill shall not exceed the charges for the same amount of water in a
full billing cycle.
g) The current rate structure for raw water retail customers inside the
corporate city limits is as follows:
1) Minimum bill, per month…$17.91
2) Volume charge per 100 cubic feet for consumption….$0.52
Retail treated and raw water customers outside the corporate city
limits will pay two times the above rates.
2. Codification
The sections of this ordinance that specify they amend or add to the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Wichita Falls are intended to be parts of said Code, and said
sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to accomplish such
intention.
3. Emergency Declaration and Effective Date
Lower than anticipated water sales have depleted funds in the water revenue
account to unexpectedly low levels that will violate City bond covenants unless
immediately corrected. Accordingly, the City Council finds that the need for providing
funds for the operation of the City and administering the rates established herein
constitutes an urgent public need for the preservation of the peace, health and safety of
property of the City, and declares that this is an emergency measure. As an emergency
measure, it shall become effective immediately.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 5th day of August, 2014.
M A Y O R
ATTEST:
City Clerk