HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 23-068ORDINANCE NO. 23-068
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22, WATER
SERVICE RATES AND SECTION 22.02.002, WASTEWATER
SERVICE RATES OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO INCREASE
WATER RATES.
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, 2023, 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
Meter Size/Inches
Proposed
Proposed
518
$16.14
$24.21
1
$17.89
$26.83
1-1/2
$%62
$29.44
2
$24.49
$36.74
3
$4U5
$74.64
4
$60.33
$90.48
6
$108.75
$163.12
8
$149.55
$224.34
10
$205.81
$308.70
12
$256.57
$384.85
Usage rate first 1,000 gallons
Minimum
Minimum
Over 1,000 gallons $ per 1,000 gallons
$5.46
$8.18
City except as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
(b) Senior citizens who comply with the subsection (c) of this section, will receive a
discount equivalent to one thousand (1,000) gallons of water ($6.46).
(c) Eligible senior citizens shall mean customers residing in a single-family residence
who are over the age of sixty- five (lay) 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, 2023, 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 mg11 lb) except as provided in subsection (b) of this section:
Meter Size/Inches
Proposed
Proposed
5/8
$10.93
$16.39
1
$11.11
$16.65
1-1/2
$11.29
$16.93
2
$12.27
$18.39
3
$13.87
$20.80
4
$20.32
$30.48
6
$33.32
$49.98
8
$40.70
$61.05
10
$5553
$83.28
12
$70.29
$105.44
Usage rate first 1,000 gallons
Minimum
Minimum
Over 1,000 gallons $ per 1,000 gallons
$5.19
$7.78
(b) Senior citizens who comply with subsection (c) of this section will receive a discount
equivalent to one thousand (1,000) gallons of water ($5.19).
(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 metier 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 data 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 their 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
services 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 and sanitation charges, or any other charges that may
accrue. Residential customers will be required to pay a $100.00 deposit in order to
commence service. Commercial and industrial businesses will require a minimum
deposit of $250,00; depending 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.
'Qanflnn d
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 their water be tested for accuracy, and when the customer wishes such
test made, their 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 Director, or their 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 their 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 customer and the City as to the amount of any bill
and as to the number of gallons of water used by such customer, the customer,
complying with subsection (a), may have their meter tested. If, however, the customer
fails or refuses to have their 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
customer 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 their 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 the 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 mare
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 that person
shall 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 6.
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 12th day of
September, 2023.
'40�1nc
- Mayor Roy West -