Okaloosa County BOCC — August 2, 2016 — proposed Water & Sewer Ordinance (tracked changes version) — reading text

paragraphs can be considered a "life line" rate. The intent of a life line rate is to shelter the amount of water usage typically required for essential domestic requirements from high rates. This is accomplished in the Okaloosa County water rate structure as part of the total inclining block rate structure and serves not only as a life line rate, but also as a conservation incentive in that it provides an economic benefit for lower water usage, even at the low end of the usage profile of single family residential customers. Sec. 24-165. - Sewer consumption rate billing cap—Residential single-family customers only. When an inclining block water rate structure is implemented, which includes a conservation block, it is appropriate to cap sewer billings for single-family residential users at a level consistent with the usage at which the conservation rate takes effect. The theory of this sewer billing cap is that water usage above the conservation rate level is for irrigation and is not being returned to the sewer for treatment; therefore, there should not be a charge for sewage treatment for water use above that level. The Okaloosa County sewer rate structure has such a sewer billing cap for residential single family customers for all water usage above 10,000 gallons per month, which is also the usage level at which the water conservation rate takes effect. Sec. 24-166. - Potable water. (1) User charges. The charges fixed in Appendix A—User Charge Tables For Okaloosa County Water and Sewer User Charge Ordinance, are hereby designated and fixed as the basic charges for potable water sold to customers within the County service area and which shall be paid by each customer of the Board using potable water within the County service area and these charges shall be included and become part of the combined water and sewer charges as fixed hereof in Appendix A—User Charge Tables For Okaloosa County Water and Sewer User Charge Ordinance. A Customer shall be deemed to mean a connection to this system which receives one billing even though many "Users" may receive service from the system through such "Customers." "User" shall be deemed to mean one of a multiple number being provided service together with others of that number through one "Customer." For example, the apartment house is the "Customer" and each apartment is a "User", and a mobile home park is a "Customer", while each of the mobile homes parked therein is a "User." The inter-utility emergency water rate which is set by inter-local agreements shall remain unchanged at $1.00 per 1,000 gallons. (2) Capacity expansion charges. The Water and Sewer department will perform all connections and disconnections to the water and sewer system. The fees fixed in Appendix A—User Charge Tables For Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Charge Ordinance, are hereby designated and fixed as water capacity expansion charges (formerly referred to as "tapping fees") and shall be paid by each new connection to the water system. These charges are for the purpose of defraying the cost of providing water supply capacity to serve each new connection. The actual cost of construction of any line required to make the connection will be charged to the customer in addition to the charges specified herein. The cost of construction and cost of meter sets over one inch may include a fifteen percent administrative charge, added to the subtotal of material, labor, and contracted services. Page 34 of 118 (3) Maintenance responsibility. It is the responsibility of the property owner to install and maintain water service lines from the end of the County's water service line to the property owner's building or facility. The County’s maintenance responsibility for water service lines is for that portion of the service line which is within County rights-of-way or dedicated or public easements. Water service lines are defined as the following: the water service line itself plus the meter box or vault, the water meter and all associated plumbing, valves and fixtures inside the meter box or vault. If the Customer's water service line or lines are connected to a private water main on private property controlled by a private subdivision, mobile home park, condominium, townhouse, apartment or similar entity, then only the meter box or vault, the water meter and all associated plumbing, valves and fixtures inside the meter box or vault will be the responsibility of the Water and Sewer department. If the County provides water service to a customer, then the County owns and maintains the meter box or vault, the water meter and all associated plumbing, valves and fixtures inside the meter box or vault – regardless of the location of the meter box or vault. Further, the County has the right to perform any meter-related duties on meters owned by the County, including, but not limited to reading, maintenance, replacement, service initiation, and service termination. If there exists a leak on a privately owned main or service line, it is the responsibility of the owner to report and repair the leak in a timely manner. Failure to do so shall result in the service being terminated by the Water and Sewer department until the repairs are completed to the satisfaction of the Water and Sewer department. Sec. 24-167. - Sanitary sewer. (1) User charges. The charges fixed in Appendix A—User Charge Tables for Okaloosa County Water and Sewer User Charge Ordinance, are hereby designated and fixed as the basic charges for sanitary sewer services made available to Customers within the County service area and which shall be paid by each Customer for whom sewer service is available within the area served and these charges shall be included and become part of the combined water and sewer charges as fixed hereof in Appendix A—User Charge Tables For Okaloosa County Water and Sewer User Charge Ordinance. (2) Capacity expansion charges. The Water and Sewer department will perform all connections and disconnections to the sanitary sewer system. The fees fixed in Appendix A—User Charge Tables for Okaloosa County Water and Sewer User Charge Ordinance, are hereby designated and fixed as sewer capacity expansion charges (formerly referred to as "tapping fees") and shall be paid by each new connection to the sanitary sewer system. These charges are for the purpose of defraying the cost of providing sanitary sewer treatment and disposal capacity to serve each new connection. The actual cost of construction of any line required to make the connection will be charged to the Customer in addition to the charges specified herein. The cost of construction may include a fifteen percent administrative charge, added to the subtotal of material, labor, and contracted services. (3) Maintenance responsibility. It is the responsibility of the property owner to install and maintain sewer lateral lines from the end of the County's lateral, including the connection point, to the property owner's building or facility. Maintenance of the County's laterals which lie within County rights-of-way or dedicated or public easements, to the trunk line will be the responsibility of the Water and Sewer department up to, but not including, the connection point. If there exists a leak on a privately owned main or service line (for a private subdivision, mobile home park, condominium townhouse, apartment or similar entity) where unauthorized inflow occurs (such as sand, stormwater, or potable water), it is the responsibility of the owner to report and repair the leak in a timely manner. Failure to do so shall result in the water and/or sewer service being terminated by the Water and Sewer department until the repairs are completed to the satisfaction of the Water and Sewer department. Sec. 24-168. - Late charges. The Board shall collect a late charge of ten percent of the amount of any bill for any User of the services and/or facilities of the water or sewer system which has not been paid within 15 days after the bill date as printed on the Customer's utility bill. Page 35 of 118 Sec. 24-169. - Service availability. The Board recognizes that there will be instances where the service is not available and cannot be made available within a reasonable time, and the Board will consider each case presented to the Board in writing and will determine in its discretion whether or not the service is available or will become available within a reasonable time and the Board reserves the right to make no water or sewer charge in those cases where the service is not available or cannot be made available within a reasonable time. Sec. 24-170. - Expansions and extensions. The sewer charges include estimated sums required to continue the expansion, extension and development of the sewer system to areas not now served by such system, and the Board recognizes that it cannot complete the services to these areas except in an orderly and planned expansion program extending over a reasonable time. The Board will consider each case upon the merits and the facts peculiar to such case and will determine in its discretion whether or not the sewer service is available to the location or will become available to the location within a reasonable time. Sec. 24-171. - Customer deposits. The Board shall collect deposits from all County water and sewer system Customers to ensure payment of final bills. The schedule of deposits in Appendix A—User Charge Tables For Okaloosa County Water and Sewer User Charge Ordinance, are hereby designated and fixed as the deposits to be paid by all Customers of the County water and sewer system connecting after the effective date of this article. Any accounts which are delinquent twice in a twelve month time frame shall be required to pay an additional deposit sufficient to cover an amount equal to twice an average bill for that account. Any interest earned by the Board on the deposits while held by the board shall be deemed an additional charge for water and sewer service. The current deposit on record will be credited to the account of single family residential customers who have remained in good standing for a minimum of 10 years. Good standing shall be defined as no late payments. If a customer receives a deposit back and then is delinquent on a payment, the deposit at the current rate maywill be reinstated on the next bill. Sec. 24-172. - Site specific water and sewer capacity expansion charges. Water and sewer capacity expansion charges (formerly referred to as "tapping fees") shall be for a specific project at a specific site and shall not be transferable, except as noted in section 24-173 below. No water and/or sewer capacity expansion charge that has been physically connected to the Okaloosa County Water and/or Sewer System shall be allowed to be moved to any other site. Water and sewer capacity expansion charges are non- refundable, unless the physical connection to the Okaloosa County Water and/or Sewer System has not been made; in that case, any refunds would be for the original charges paid (not necessarily the current charges listed in Appendix A) to the current land owner. Capacity expansion charges run with the land. Any interest earned by the Board on capacity expansion charges while being held by the Board shall be deemed an additional charge for water and sewer service.. Sec. 24-173. - Non-site specific capacity expansion charges sold by Okaloosa County. Any non-site specific water and sewer capacity expansion charges (formerly referred to a "tapping fees") sold by Okaloosa County between March of 1982 and