No. 13-98

ORDINANCE NO. 563-13

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING Cathlamet MUNICIPAL CODE (CMC) TITLE 13 – UTILITIES: CHAPTER 13.80 – PROVIDING FOR A REDUCTION IN CERTAIN SEWER USER CHARGES FOR COMMERCIAL USERS

WHEREAS, the Town of Cathlamet owns and operates wastewater systems to serve its customers pursuant to applicable federal and state statutes; and

WHEREAS, the Council has determined that reducing certain commercial sewer fees is justifiable in order to protect the public health and safety by reducing barriers to property owners paying appropriate user charges necessary to maintain the sanitary sewer system;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CATHLAMET:

Cathlamet Municipal Code Section 13.80.120 is repealed in its entirety, and the following "equivalent customer units" are hereby established for the following user classes: (1) Single-family residence 1.0; (2) Multiple-family residence, duplex, apartment, trailer court 1.0 + 0.7 per each additional dwelling unit; (3) Hotel, motel 1.0 + 0.4 per rental unit, up to a maximum of 5.0; (4) Recreational vehicle parks 1.0 + 0.4 per rental unit (pad); (5) Schools: (a) Elementary (including old gymnasium) 1.0 per 25 students; (b) High school 1.0 per 15 students; (6) Other public facilities: (a) Town park 1.0; (b) Marina 2.0; (c) Swimming pool 3.0; (d) Courthouse 6.0; (e) P.U.D. 2.0; (f) Town Hall 2.0; (7) Commercial: (a) Small shop, store, or business establishment 1.0; (b) Supermarkets, grocery stores 2.0; (c) Restaurant (with inside seating) 2.0; (d) Drive-in (no inside seating) 2.0; (e) Tavern 2.0; (f) Coin laundry 0.7 per washing machine, up to a maximum of 5.0; (g) Professional office 1.0; (h) Nursing home 2.0 + 0.4 per bed, up to a maximum of 5.0; (h) Nursing home 2.0 + 0.4 per bed, up to a maximum of 5.0.

Cathlamet Municipal Code Section 13.80.160 is repealed in its entirety, and replaced with a new provision which provides that sewer user charges for all occupied property begin 90 days after the sewer service becomes available or the day that connection is made to the public sewer, whichever occurs first; that sewer user charges for all unoccupied property begin within 30 days after the property is ready for occupancy or on the first day of occupancy, whichever occurs first; and that all unoccupied property which is ready for occupancy at the time the sewer service becomes available shall be treated as occupied property. Once sewer user charges have commenced, no credit shall be given for vacancy but the sewer user charge may be reduced to 1.0 equivalent customer unit if (1) the customer requests in writing that the charge be reduced to the minimum after certifying that the property is unoccupied and that the customer will notify the Town when the property again becomes occupied; (2) the account is paid current to the first of the month following the Town’s receipt of such written request before the charge will be reduced; and (3) that the sewer user charge will be increased to the appropriate number of equivalent customer units on the first day of the month during which the property again becomes occupied.

Cathlamet Municipal Code Section 13.80.170 is hereby amended by adding the following new provision, designated subsection 13.80.170(3): No single user having more than one classification of use shall be charged more than 5.0 equivalent customer units.

This ordinance shall be implemented be effective as of the September 2013 sewer usage period, to be reflected on billing statements issued on or about October 1, 2013.

The full text of this ordinance is available for reading at the Town Hall and will be mailed upon request. Requests should be directed to the Town of Cathlamet, P.O. Box 68, Cathlamet, WA 98612.

Passed first reading: 7/15/2013.

Passed second and third (final) reading: 8/19/2013.

ATTEST: Tina Schubert, Clerk-Treasurer

Approved as to form: Heidi L. Heywood, Town Attorney

Publish August 29, 2013