3.38.050 Method of calculating service charges

3.38.050 Method of calculating service charges.

Commencing on January 1, 2019, the annual service charge schedule for storm drainage and surface water management is hereby set and established for the areas of the City as set forth herein.

A. Annual service charges are as follows:

1. Residential: $116.10.

2. Duplex: $151.73.

3. Duplex condo: $72.50.

4. All mobile homes other than subsection (A)(1) of this section: $61.05 per vacant or occupied mobile home site (mobile home equivalent) plus $0.04653 per square foot of impervious area in addition to mobile home site.

5. All other parcels: $0.04653 per square foot of impervious area but in no case shall the minimum service charge be less than the residential equivalent rate.

Beginning in 2020 annual service charges shall increase two and one-half percent each year to account for inflation. Rates listed for each subsequent year shall be in effect on January 1st of the year listed unless and until amended by City Council action.

Storm Water Rates 2019 – 2024
Year	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Increase	50%	2.5%	2.5%	2.5%	2.5%	2.5%
Residential	$116.10	$119.00	$121.98	$125.03	$128.15	$131.36
Duplex	$151.73	$155.52	$159.41	$163.40	$167.48	$171.67
Duplex Condo	$72.50	$74.31	$76.17	$78.07	$80.03	$82.03
Mobile Homes per Unit	$61.05	$62.58	$64.14	$65.74	$67.39	$69.07
Mobile Homes per Square Foot of Impervious Area	$0.04653	$0.04769	$0.04889	$0.05011	$0.05136	$0.05264
All Other Parcels per Square Foot of Impervious Area	$0.04653	$0.04769	$0.04889	$0.05011	$0.05136	$0.05264

B. The annual service charge shall be calculated based on impervious area and parcel status as of January 1st each year. The annual service charge shall be due the City on or before April 30th of each year and shall be paid together with payment of real property tax upon the parcel, if any, and shall be delinquent thereafter; provided, that if real property tax upon the parcel payable in that year exceeds $30.00, and one-half of the tax, together with one-half of the annual service charge provided by this section, is paid on or before April 30th of such year, the remaining one-half of the annual service charge shall be due and payable on October 30th, next following, or at the time of payment of the remaining tax on the parcel, whichever is earlier, and shall be delinquent after that date. The service charge shall be incorporated on the Pierce County real property tax statement.

1. Credit will apply to all categories listed in subsection A of this section.

2. Credit Application Submittal Requirements. To qualify for a credit, the owner of record shall provide the City:

a. A “hold harmless” statement on a form provided by the City that indemnifies the City from any loss incurred arising from the construction and maintenance and operation of the owner’s drainage facilities for both water quantity and quality runoff from the owner’s property. This statement shall be signed by the owner and will be held in record along with the application, certification, and recertification submissions. The owner of record shall provide the City a notarized copy of the agreement.

b. Each owner of record must enter into an agreement with the City that allows the City to enter onto the owner’s parcel to inspect the drainage facility and verify all information submitted by the owner and his/her engineer. The agreement form will be provided by the City. This statement shall be signed by the owner and will be held in record along with the application, certification, and recertification submissions. The owner of record shall provide the City a notarized copy of the agreement.

c. “As constructed” plans stamped by the owner’s engineer should be accompanied by engineering calculations in accordance with design criteria acceptable to the City. Both quantity and quality BMPs shall be shown. Examples of acceptable quality BMPs include bioswales, constructed wetlands, and approved filter vaults.

d. An operation and maintenance manual prepared and stamped by the owner’s engineer for the owner to follow in maintaining the storm drainage system.

e. A certified statement that all maintenance as outlined in the operation and maintenance manual has been completed.

f. A copy of any maintenance contracts and contractors’ certified statement that all maintenance as outlined in the operation and maintenance manual has been completed.

3. Resubmittal Requirements. Biennially, each owner of record shall provide a certified statement by October 1st of the year preceding the year for which the owner of record is requesting credit on a form provided by the City verifying that all specified maintenance has been performed in accordance with the operation and maintenance manual prepared by the owner’s engineer on the facility for the calendar year the credit is being requested.

4. Credit percentages shall be provided in accordance with the following schedule:

a. Single-lot residential, duplex, duplex condo, and single-lot mobile homes:

Facility Type	Percent Credit
Retention
100-year storage	43%
25-year storage	18%
Detention	0%

b. Residential subdivisions, mobile home parks, multifamily, and all other parcels NOT subsections (A)(1) through (A)(4) of this section:

Facility Type	Percentage Credit
Retention
100-year storage	43%
25-year storage	18%
Detention	0%
	Percentage Credit
	Natural Drainage Course	Municipal Drainage System
100-year storage; release rate of 50% of the predevelopment discharge rate for a 2-year storm	30%	25%
25-year storage; 2-year release	15%	13%

The maximum credit amount for properties receiving an 85 percent credit prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section will be sequentially reduced to 43 percent over a five-year period beginning in 2019, thus reaching the new maximum allowable credit in 2023. The credit amount for properties currently receiving credits between 11 percent and 84 percent will be similarly reduced by 50 percent over the same time period. The credit amount for properties currently receiving a 10 percent credit will be similarly reduced to zero over the same time period.

D. No credit shall be given for a retention/detention facility with less than a 25-year storage. The annual service charge credits will be calculated using the schedule in subsection (C)(4) of this section at the time the credit application was approved. Credits will be recalculated when the certified statement defined in subsection (C)(3) of this section is due.

E. It is the intention of the City Council to provide rates that accurately reflect the needs of the surface water and storm drainage management utility, and that rates be set in responsible and appropriate amounts not more than necessary to meet the utility’s needs. Therefore, the City Council directs staff to return to the City Council proposals, reports and recommendations regarding the appropriate rate levels, including information to determine system needs, and to consider whether the rate should be continued, reduced or otherwise amended, which proposals, reports and recommendations shall be provided to the City Council not later than October 31st of each even-numbered calendar year. [Ord. 687 § 1, 2018; Ord. 393 § 1, 2005; Ord. 333 § 3 (Sunset clause to revert back to Ord. 321), 2003; Ord. 333 § 2, 2003; Ord. 321 § 2, 2003; Ord. 289 § 5, 2002; Ord. 244 § 1, 2000; Ord. 186 § 2, 1998; Ord. 47 § 5, 1996.]