HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2018-003 Amending Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 13.12 Pertaining to Utility Rates ORDINANCE NO. 2018-003
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON
AMENDING ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 13.12
PERTAINING TO UTILITY RATES
WHEREAS, the City of Arlington has the authority to set rates and charges for its utility
system; and
WHEREAS, the City's current billing structure allows for a low income senior citizen
discounted rate; and the current billing system applies a late penalty on the day after a
payment is due; and
WHEREAS, on the City has received additional requests from citizens to add rate
assistance for disabled customers and to consider allowing a grace period between the due
date of bills and penalties being assessed on utility bills; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered this amendment at their workshop on March 12,
2018 and at their regular meeting held on March 19, 2018, and determined approving the
amendment was in the best interest of the City and its citizens;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Arlington do hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Arlington Municipal Code Section 13.12.160 shall be and hereby is amended
to read as follows:
13.12.160- Low income senior citizens' and low income disabled rates.
(a) For qualifying senior citizens and qualifying disabled persons as defined in this
section, the base residential rates and consumption and volume charges set out in
Sections 13.12.040 and 13.12.120 shall be reduced by forty percent; provided,
however, that the CPI increases referred to in Sections 13.12.040 and 13.12.120
shall not be so reduced.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term "qualifying senior citizens" shall mean
those ratepayers who are sixty-two years of age or older, and whose annual
household income is below 50% of the median as determined by the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development for Snohomish County. . For
purposes of verifying income, ratepayers seeking to qualify under this section shall
Ordinance No. 2018-003 1
provide annual proof of age, income, and household size as may be required by the
city upon forms retained by the finance director for that purpose.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term "qualifying disabled person" shall mean a
ratepayer whose annual household income is below 50%of the median as
determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
for Snohomish County, and who (1) qualifies for special parking as defined by RCW
46.16.381, (2) is blind as defined by RCW 74.19.020, or (3) is disabled, handicapped
or incapacitated as defined by any state or federal program. Rate payers seeking to
qualify under this section shall provide annual proof of disability and income as may
be required by the city upon forms retained by the finance director for that
purpose.
Section 2. Arlington Municipal Code Section 13.12.210 shall be and hereby is
amended to read as follows:
13.12.210 - Due date for charges.
The monthly utility bill for water, sewer, and stormwater service shall be paid
immediately upon billing and will be considered delinquent if not paid in full
twenty calendar days from the billing date in which the service was originally
charged. A grace period of five calendar days from the due date will be allowed
before penalties are assessed. A penalty of five percent for each thirty days or
fraction thereof shall be assessed against all delinquencies after said grace
period.
Section 3. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase
of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional
or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this Ordinance be preempted by
state or federal law or regulation, such decision or preemption shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published
in the official newspaper of the City. The Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force five (5)
days after the date of publication.
PASSED BY the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this 19th day of March, 2018.
Ordinance No. 2018-003 2
CITY OF ARLINGTON
Barbara Tolbert, Mayor
Attest:
Kristi Banfield, City dierk \
Approved as to form:
Steve . eiff e
City Attorney
Ordinance No. 2018-003 3
CERTIFICATION OF ORDINANCE
I, Kristin Banfield, being the duly appointed and acting Clerk of the City of Arlington,
Washington, a municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance
No. 2018-003 was approved at the March 19, 2018 City Council meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-003
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON
AMENDING ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 13.12
PERTAINING TO UTILITY RATES"
A true and correct copy of the original ordinance is attached.
Dated this 20th day of March, 2018.
Kristin anfield
City Clerk for the City of Arlington