HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 23-025ORDINANCE NO. 23-025
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22, ARTICLE
22.02, SECTIONS 22.02.001, SECTION 22.02.002, OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS TO REMOVE PART (D)
FROM SECTION 22.02.001 AND REMOVING PART (F) FROM
SECTION 22.02.002.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT:
Section 1.
That Chapter 22, Article 22.02, Section 22.02.001 of the Code of Ordinances of
the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22.02.001 Water service rates
(a) Effective October 1, 2022, the following rates per month shall be the rate charged for
water service furnished to customers inside and outside of the corporate limits of the city
except as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
Meter Size/Inches
Inside City Rate
Outside City Rate
5/8
$15.52
$23.28
1
$17.20
$25.80
1-112
$18.87
$28.31
2
$23.55
$35.33
3
$47.84
$71.77
4
$58.01
$87.00
6
$104.57
$156.85
8
$143.80
$215.71
10
$197.89
$296.83
12
$246.70
$370.05
Usage rate first 1,000 gallons
Minimum
Minimum
Over 1,000 gallons $ per 1,000
gallons
$5.25
$7.87
(b) Senior citizens who comply with subsection (c) below will receive a discount
equivalent to one thousand (1,000) gallons of water ($5.25).
(c) Eligible senior citizens shall mean customers residing in a single-family residence
who are over the age of sixty-five (65) years. To obtain the monthly minimum charge
deduction, persons eligible must file a sworn application on a form provided therefor,
with Water Customer Services. Upon approval of the application the senior citizen's
monthly minimum charge shall be applicable for the life of the applicant.
Section 2.
That Chapter 22, Article 22.02, Section 22.02.002 of the Code of Ordinances of
the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22.02.002 Wastewater rates
(a) Effective October 1, 2022, the following rates per month shall be the rate charged for
wastewater services furnished to customers inside and outside of the corporate limits of
the city where the wastewater produced by such customer is a normal strength
wastewater (150 mg/1 lb) except as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
Meter Size/Inches
Inside City Rate
Outside City Rate
518
$9.94
$14.90
1
$10.10
$15.14
1-112
$10.26
$15.39
2
$11.15
$16.72
3
$12.61
$18.91
4
$18.47
$27.71
6
$30.29
$45.44
8
$37.00
$55.50
10
$50.48
$75.71
12
$63.90
$95.85
Usage rate first 1,000 gallons
Minimum
Minimum
Over 1,000 gallons $ per 1,000
gallons
$4.72
$7.07
(b) Senior citizens who comply with subsection (c) below will receive a discount
equivalent to one thousand (1,000) gallons of water ($4.72).
(c) Eligible senior citizens shall mean customers residing in a single-family residence
who are over the age of sixty-five (65) years. To obtain the monthly minimum charge
deduction, persons eligible must file a sworn application on a form provided therefor,
with Water Customer Services. Upon approval of the application the senior citizen's
monthly minimum charge shall be applicable for the life of the applicant.
(d) Residential sewer charges shall be based on the average water bill invoiced for the months of
November, December, January and February. The monthly individual sewer bill shall not
exceed that average. Where no preceding November through February monthly average bill is
available, water customer service will use an average bill based on six thousand (6,000) gallons
per month at the 5/8-inch meter rate as the cap.
(d) Residential sewer charges shall be based on the average water bill invoiced for the months of
November, December, January and February. The monthly individual sewer bill shall not
exceed that average. Where no preceding November through February monthly average bill is
available, water customer service will use an average bill based on six thousand (6,000) gallons
per month at the 518-inch meter rate as the cap.
(e) Commercial and industrial sewer usage charges shall be based on one hundred
(100) percent of the metered water usage. In circumstances where a commercial or
industrial customer desires a credit for metered water being consumed but not being
returned to the sanitary sewer, it shall be the responsibility of the user to furnish to the
Director of Water Utilities an engineering report, certified by a professional engineer, that
justifies and supports the discharge reduction as being a continuous normal part of the
process. Based on the date provided, the Director of Water Utilities may estimate said
return or require submetering of the process water. Meters used for submetering shall
be furnished at the customer's expense and shall be approved by the Director of Water
Utilities.
Section 3.
That Chapter 22, Article 22.02, Section 22.02.003 of the Code of Ordinances of
the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 22.02.003 Payment of charges and deposits
(a) All bills shall be computed at the herein described rates and shall be payable within
thirty (30) days from the date of such bills.
(b) Failure or refusal by any customer to pay any bill owed to the city, upon demand,
shall constitute a breach of contract. The City Manager, or his designee, may, after
proper notice, discontinue service to a customer for failure or refusal to pay any bill in full
and on time. Customers may be allowed to enter into a payment plan with the City
pursuant to policy approved by the City Manager, Services shall not be renewed until the
customer has paid all delinquent bills or met the terms of a payment plan, plus the
following applicable service charges:
(1) Field collection: $20.00
(2) Disconnection: $25.00
(3) Unauthorized use: $35.00
(4) Meter removed: $50.00
(5) Service killed at the main line: $300.00
(6) Second trip for service turn -on: $15.00
(7) Turn -on fee: $15.00
(8) Returned check: $25.00
(9) Late Fee: $5.00
(10) Tampering fee: $100.00
(11) Equipment replacement: $145.00
(c) The notice to the user of failure or refusal to pay for water, sewer and sanitation
service shall provide for a hearing if requested by the user. A user may request and
receive a hearing concerning termination of water service and termination shall not occur
until a determination of the merits of the user's appeal is made by the person conducting
the hearing.
(d) An applicant for water service will be required to pay a cash deposit to secure
payment of water, sewer, sanitation charges, or any other charges that may
accrue. Residential customers will be required to pay a $100 deposit in order to
commence service. Commercial and industrial businesses will require a minimum
deposit of $250; however, higher deposits may be required based on the meter size and
a two (2) month average consumption history for a similar type business and one of
similar size. If there is an outstanding bill due, the customer's deposit will be applied
towards the balance. If a portion or all of a deposit is used towards an outstanding bill,
the difference, if any, will be required to be paid as part of the next bill and an additional
deposit may be required. Failure to pay the additional deposit will forfeit the right to.
water, sewer and sanitation services and the same may be discontinued five (5) days
after notice to pay such additional deposit. Customers who discontinue service or have
their services turned off for nonpayment, will not have services restored at any address
or location until all outstanding balances are paid.
Section 4.
That Chapter 22, Article 22.02, Section 22.02.005 of the Code of Ordinances of
the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22.02,005 Testing water meters
(a) Any customer to whom water is furnished through a meter shall have the right to
demand that his water be tested for accuracy, and when the customer wishes such test
made, he shall deposit with the water department thirty dollars ($30.00) for each meter
he desires to be tested.
(b) If any meter through which a customer is being supplied water is found, upon test, to
be inaccurate by more than two (2) percent plus, the amount deposited for making such
test is to be returned to the customer and all charges against the customer shall be
credited for the proportionate amount the bill is increased because of over -registration of
the meter.
(c) If, upon such test, the meter is found accurate, the deposit of the customer shall be
retained as a fee for making such test. If the meter is found slow by more than two (2)
percent, then it will be the duty of the Finance Officer, or his designee, to charge the
customer for any amount that may be due the City because of under -registration of the
meter.
(d) Any customer shall have the privilege of witnessing the test of his meter, and for that
purpose shall be given notice of the time when such test is to be made.
(e) Should a dispute arise between a consumer and the City as to the amount
of any bill and as to the number of gallons of water used by such consumer, the
consumer, complying with subsection (a), may have his meter tested. If,
however, the consumer fails or refuses to have his meter tested, it shall be the
duty of the City to make such test to determine whether the customer is being
overcharged and shall advise the consumer that such test is to be made and the
time thereof, and if such test is made and it is found the meter is correctly
registering within a range of two (2) percent plus or minus, then the customer's
bill, together with the testing charge above specified, shall become due and
payable, and upon his refusal to pay same, the customer's water shall be cut off
and no further services rendered until delinquent bills are paid.
Section 5.
That Chapter 22, Article 22.02, Section 22.02.006 of the Code of Ordinances of
the City of Beaumont, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22.02.006 Water and sewer service outside city
No water or sewer service shall be furnished to any subdivision outside the City unless
and until a plan, plat or replat shall have been first approved in the manner provided by
law. If such plan, plat or replat shall have been so approved in accordance with the
state statutes, the city may, if it is deemed advisable, furnish water and/or sewer service
to premises outside the city limits, under the following rules:
1. Any person residing outside of the City desiring to use City utilities shall make
application to the Water Department requesting service, which shall state the
location of the premises to be served and the purpose for which service is to be
used. Such application shall be made upon blanks furnished by the City and shall
be signed by the agent or owner of the property to be served, and he will become
liable for charges for water furnished under such services, and subject to the
same remedial action as for service inside the City.
2. Water or sewer services to customers outside the city limits shall be rendered at a
rate that is equal to one hundred fifty (150) percent of the rate established inside
the city limits.
Section 0.
That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause of phrase of this ordinance, or
the application of same to a particular set of persons or circumstances, should for any
reason be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this
ordinance, and to such end, the various portions and provisions of this ordinance are
declared to be severable.
Section 7.
That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are repealed to the
extent of the conflict only.
Section 8.
That any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall, upon
conviction, be punished, as provided in Section 1.01.009 of the Code or Ordinance of
Beaumont, Texas.
The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in
strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter
551.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 14th day of
March, 2023. iv;
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- Mayor Robin Mouton -