HomeMy WebLinkAboutVI (A) Ordinance No. 97-33, relating to the schedule of monthly charges for water services, amending Section 173-4.A of Chapter 173 of the Code Oicoee AGENDA I 2-02-97
Ttem VI A C a
e.� Goo
�Sk JAMES W. SHIRA, RE.
CITY ENGINEER/UTILITIES DIRECTOR
150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVE.OCOEE.FLORIDA 34761
PHONE(407)656-2322 EXT. 142•FAX(407)656 77 S35
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 14, 1997
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners
FROM: James W. Shira. P.E.J
City Engineer/Utiliti Director
SUBJECT: Proposed Water Rate Change
Attached for your review is a proposed ordinance establishing a revised rate schedule for water
and wastewater service in the City of Ocoee. As mandated by the St. John's River Water
Management District. we prepared this proposed rate schedule to encourage conservation of
potable water resources. The narrative in the attached study report prepared by Professional
Engineering Consultants. Inc. explains the method used to arrive at the various rate components.
This is presented at the November 18, 1997 City Commission meeting for first reading with an
anticipated second reading and adoption at the December 2. 1997 meeting.
Mr. Ken Hooper and I will both be present at the December 2° meeting to answer any questions
you may have regarding this proposed rate restructuring.
JWS/jbw
Attachment
THE PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE
ORDINANCE NO. 97- 33
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
RELATING TO THE SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY CHARGES
FOR WATER SERVICES; AMENDING SECTION 173-4 .A
OF CHAPTER 173 CF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF OCOEE WITH RESPECT TO THE MONTHLY
CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICE; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
OCOEE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Commission of the City of Ocoee has
the authority to adopt this Ordinance pursuant t_ o Article v___ cL
the Constitution of the State of Florida and Chapter 155, Florida
Statutes .
SECTION 2 . Section 173 -4 .A of Article I of Chapter 173
of the Code of Ordinances of :he City of Ocoee, Florida, is hereby
amended to read as follows :
3 173-1. Charges and Billing
A. The following shall be the schedule of monthly rates and charges for water and sewer service
provided by the city. Meters containing two (2) register units shall be billed based upon the
base facility charge for the larger of the nvo (2) nominal diameter flow paths, plus the sum
of the volumetric charges as determined by the current readings of both registers.
(1) Water.
(a) Base facility charge (zero consumption), effective (October} [January] 1, f'0Oi}
0l 9981
Meter Type Charges
s/a-inch 5 a4' 7.00
1-inch -14
r- li .oi
I 3/22-inch 5.001
2-inch 3-inch r 1}a1 .1 "1� 12
1-inch } t
MOW
6-inch } 350.00
8-inch i6", .90
•
10-inch !3 9C3. 805.00
12-inch f',B-12.601 1505.00j
(b) Plus: volumetric (gallons); charge of [fifty one tents :50.51; per one thousand
',1,C00) gallons.; )sixty cents ($0.60) oer one thousand gallons uo to 12,000
gallons, olus ninety-two cents ($092) oer one thousand gallon tor use over 12.001
galons uo to 25.000 gallons. Dios One Dollar and Twenty-Five Cents (51 .251 oer
one thousand gallons for use over 25.001 gallons.)
(2) Sewer.
(a) Base facility charge (zero consumption), effective October 1, 1991.
Size of Meter Charge
(inches)
5/a $ 13.81
34.53
1 1/2 69.05
2 110.48
3 22096
4 345.25
6 590.50
8 1,104.80
10 1,588.15
12 2,969.15
b) Plus: charge per one thousand (1,0001 gallons of one dollar and forty-seven cents
$1.a7), provided that, for those residential consumers with a five-eighths-inch
meter, the maximum sewer service charge shall be calculated as the base facility
charge plus the current charge per one thousand (1,000) gallons up to a maximum
of twelve thousand (12,000) gallons.
(3) The schedule of monthly rates and charges for water and sewer service provided by the
city as set forth in this Subsection A shall be applicable only to consumers located
within the corporate limits of the city. The schedule of monthly rates and charges for
water and sewer service provided by the city to consumers outside the corporate limits
of the city shall be as provided in g 173-5.1 of this chapter.
SEC:ON 3 . Severability. If any section, subsection,
sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent
y1_isd_ct_on, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and
2
independent provision and such holding shall net affect the
validity of the remaining portion hereto.
SECTION 4 . Codification- it is the intention of the City
Commission of the City that the provisions of this Ordinance shall
become and be made a part of the Code of Ordinances of the City;
and that sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered or relettered
and the word "ordinance" may be chanced to "chapter" , "section" ,
"article" , or such other appropriate word cr phrase in order to
accomplish such intentions; and regardless of whether such
inclusion in the code is accomplished, sections of this Ordinance
may be renumbered or relettered and the correction of typographical
errors which do not affect the intent may be authorized by the City
Manager, without need of public hearing, by
filing a porgy=.--_H o-
recodifled copy of same with :he City Clerk.
SECTION 5 . Effective Date. This Ordinance shall_ become
effective on Janua:, 1 , 1998
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day Cf
, 1997 .
.A??PROS_D:
ATTEST) CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
Jean Grafton, City Clerk S . Scott '-Vander-: --
Mayor
(SEAL)
3
FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY 2Y ADVERTISED Nnvember 79 , 1997
THE CITY OF OCCEE, FLORIDA READ FIRST TIME 9ovnmbte :As 1997
APPROVED AS TC FORM AND LEGALITY READ SECOND TIME AND ADOPTED
this _ day of , 1997 1997
UNDER AGENDA ITEM NC.
FOLEY & LARDNER
Ey:
City Attorney
C:W%I,pYSDCCEORDINANC I9l!1111 91!NVKENNA!PER::v
1
ORotN gNCE N3 . 47 - 3'3
ORLGLNN . Isk➢
Co0.RGc.tG* kA
olnsa The Orland°Sentinel.Illur3daY.NovwlltBr 20, I007 I.15; Friday, November 21, 1997.
•
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ORDINANCE HO.9).V On Dacam a 2.1997.. n 715:AN ORDINANCE OF THE cm -
OF OCOEE FLORIDA REUTIq n.a a dal soon eta mo cOns a I
TO THE SCHEDULE off MONTH- To*boom ale. ,n we.m camnor-
LV OYIIOES FOR WATER WA. d vw mbwq
TER SERVICES; AMENDING ORDNANCE NM pa
SECTION 173-4.A OF CHAPTER AN ORDINANCE OF THE
IT] OF THE CODE OF ORDI- CITY OF OCOEE FUR,.RANGES OF THE CITY OF DA RELATING TO THE THE
OCOEE WITH RESPECT TO THE CHARGES OF WATER
MONTHLY CHARGES FOR WA-
SERVICES;FOR AMENDING
TER SERVICE:PROVIDING FOR 9EPVICEE; AMENDING
SEVERABIUTI ' PROVIDING SECTION 173-4A OF
FOp COOIFlcJTON:PROVIDING CHAPTERT.i NOFA TIE
AAfmw DATE.
l CODE OF ORDINANCES
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CITY OF OCOEE
WATER RATE STUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION
2
A. PURPOSE
2
B. STUDY
3
11 KEY ISSUES
4
III. REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
7
IV RATES ANALYSIS
3
V. RATE COMPARISON
12
I OE-65\watersmdy
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Purpose
The purpose of this potable water rate evaluation is to recommend a modification to the
methodology used by the City for determining monthly water user fees. The City presently
uses a base rate fee plus a flat rate volumetric fee to charge for the monthly volume of
water consumption. This type rate structure is generally described as a "flat rate" system
and does not encourage the conservation of water. This method of calculating water user
fees has been historically used by many local governments but is currently not promoted
due to the need to conserve the potable water resources. The City currently charges a base
rate of S7.64 per month plus 5.51 per 1,000 gallons of consumed water.
The City renewed its Consumptive Use Permit with the St. Johns River Water Management
District as of November 27, 1996. The purpose of the Consumptive Use Permit is to
provide the District with a means to regulate and measure total water withdrawal from the
Floridan Aquifer. Over the last few years, the District has mandated all public utilities to
encourage water conservation through an "inclined rate" structure. An inclined rate
structure results in water users with higher monthly consumption paying a higher water rate
thus providing a financial incentive for the conservation of potable water. A condition of
the City's new Consumptive Use Permit mandates a change to an inclined rate structure by
November 1997.
0E-65\wawrstudy
The objective of this water rate evaluation is to develop a recommended inclined rate
structure that ensures a fair and equitable recovery of the cost of providing water service
to the residents of Ocoee. This water rate evaluation is not intended to provide an
increase in the overall water revenues but is recommended solely to provide the City
with an incentive plan for the conservation of the water resource. It should be noted
that any change in the calculation of monthly water user fees may create changes in the
overall consumption of potable water and the overall annual revenue collected from users
of the water system.
B. Study Procedures
The rate evaluation was conducted in two (2) phases. The first phase included a review
of the documented cost of providing water service to the City of Ocoee residents. This
review included an analysis of [he sufficiency of water revenues to fund the following:
• Operation and maintenance Expense of the Water System
• Debt Service of the Water System
• Administrative Costs
• Renewal and Replacement Costs
The second phase of the Study included a review of the current water rate structure and a
recommendation concerning the modification of the water rare structure to fairly and
equitably recover the cost of providing service and provide a financial incentive for water
conservation was developed.
3
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II. KEY ISSUES
There are several important issues that must be considered in a potable water rate study. The key
issues which were considered in this study include but were not necessarily limited to the
following:
• Revenue Sufficiency - Water rates must generate sufficient revenues to cover not
only operations, maintenance and capital cost requirements, but they must also
provide sufficient net income to meet the debt service coverage requirements of the
utility's outstanding water revenue bond issue (Series 1997 Water and Sewer
Revenue Bond Issue).
• Fair and Equitable Cost Recovery - Properly designed water rates and charges
should recover (he cost of service in a fair and equitable manner from (he users of
the water system in proportion to their usage.
• Cost of Service A detailed cost of service evaluation is necessary to identify and
estimate all costs incurred by the City in provision of water sex-vices including direct
costs, indirect and departmental costs, indirect City-wide costs and
interdepartmental or central services costs which benefit the provision of water
service. This was completed as part of the Engineer's Report for the Series 1997
Water and Sewer Revenue Bond Issue.
• Cost Allocation - In a viable cost allocation methodology, the costs of service must
be allocated to functional categories of service, and further, to cost elements or
objectives, related to the ultimate user charge rate schedule to the rate schedule in
4 0E-65\wacerswdy
such a way that they are distributed to the users in a fair and equitable manner
based upon usage.
• Conservation Incentives - The continued demand upon the water resources caused
by growth in Central Florida has caused most public utilities to closely examine rate
structure alternatives that encourage conservation. In the development of the rate
structure components which promote conservation, it is important to:
O Develop rational criteria for the level(s) of usage by customer class at which
the higher consumption rate(s) become effective,
O Develop a rational basis for the amount of increase at each consumption
"step" in the rate structure, and
O Recognize the potential revenue deductions (elasticity of demand) due to
conservation and factor those potential reductions into the revenue
requirements to be recovered at the expected level of consumption.
• Level of Services Standards - The Growth Management Act of 1985 require that
ail cities and counties in Florida establish level of service (LOS) standards in their
Comprehensive Plan for the provision of potable water service. The City has
adopted a LOS of 300 gallons per ERG. The St. Johns River Water Management
District (SIRWMD) has issued the Consumptive Use Permit based on a
consumption rate of 150 gallons per capita. It is important to establish rates and
capital cost recovery fees to provide sufficient funding for the facilities necessary
to meet the level of service standards adopted in the Ciry's Comprehensive Plan.
5 0E-65\watersudy
•
• Automation - It is important in developing a water rate system that it be automated
so that subsequent rate adjustments can be cost effectively determined and
implemented. Our recent preparation of the Engineers Report for the City's Bond
Issue and annual evaluation of the City's water budget has assisted in the
development of the revenue sufficiency analysis.
• Customer Classification - It is important to thoroughly analyze the customer
constituency in order to properly identify customer classifications, their
characteristics, and the type of system statistics and billing frequency analyses
necessary to support the recommended rate structure and cost allocation
methodology.
• Irrigation Considerations - It is important to consider the effects of water usage
for residential lawn irrigation in developing an inclined rate structure. This
includes considerations such as a cap on total sewer charges. As the City's
reclaimed water program is expanded to residential properties, the water rate
structure will need to be reviewed.
• Fixed Base Char e - The recent emphasis of water conservation has rendered
minimum consumption allowances less and less popular because a minimum
consumption allowance does not promote water conservation. Most rate structures
being implemented today include a fixed readiness-to-serve charge (base rate) with
no minimum allowance for consumption, and the consumption charge is applied
beginning with the first unit of consumption. These issues were all considered in
the development of the rate structure recommendations presented herein.
6 GE-651 waterstudy
III. REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
This section presents an analysis of the revenue requirements that are necessary for the City to
fund the Water System Operation, Maintenance, Repair, General Fund and Administrative
Services and Dept Service Costs for FY 97/98.
O WATER SYSTEM OPERATION
$449,370
O WATER SYSTEM CAPITAL
27,950
O WATER SYSTEM DEBT SERVICE
853,645
O WATER SYSTEM ADMINISTRATIVE COST
346,680
O WATER SYSTEM GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION (12%) 236,170
O WATER SYSTEM TAXES
152 000
TOTAL $2,065,815
7
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SECTION IV RATES ANALYSIS
This section presents an analysis of the City's current water rate structure and recommended
modifications to the water rate structure.
A. CURRENT WATER RATE STRUCTURE
WATER - The City's current rate structure was adopted in 1989 based on a rate
study prepared by Rachlin and Cohen, Certified Public Accountants. The rates
were gradually increased through 1993 and have not changed since 1993. The
rate structure includes a fixed monthly charge (base rate) per equivalent
residential unit (ERU) and a water usage charge (volumetric rate) per 1,000
gallons of water consumed. Water rates are the same for residential and
commercial users.
CURRENT RATES ARE:
$7.64 (base rate) / ERU plus $.51 volumetric charge per 1,000 gallons
B. RECOMMENDED RATE STRUCTURE
WATER. - There are several components of the City's existing water rate
structure that are recommended for modifications. ft is important to understand
that whatever water rate structure is adopted, the revenue requirements of the
Water System will remain constant and the revenue must be recovered from the
8 0E-65\warersmdy
rates and charges of the water rate structure. The overall goal of these
modifications to the City's water rate structure is to promote water conservation
through financial incentives. To the extent that a change in the water rate
structure increases the relative cost burden of a specific customer classification
(higher usage), commensurate decreases will occur in the relative cost burden of
other specific customer classifications (lower users). The net result of the
modified rate structure is to ensure the total water revenue is sufficient to fund
the water system expenditures and to maintain the current total water system
revenue to the maximum extent possible. The recommended rate structure
modifications are described below:
I Monthly Base Rate
Analysis - The City's current rate structure assesses a monthly base rate
of$7.64 per ERU. The purpose of the base rate is to recover the cost of
providing water service independent of the volume of water consumption.
These costs include items such as debt service, administrative costs
(billing, collection, meter reading, management), general fund
contribution, renewal and replacement.
These costs include all fixed costs associated with providing water service
to meet potential demands of the water customers of the system and
should be allocated to all customers based on meter size or ERU allocation
as a representation of potential demand. The City bonded its water
9 0E-65\warerswdy
revenue in January of 1997 to expand the water treatment and distribution
system and provide water capacity for future growth. A review of the
City's current fixed costs, including debt service, indicates an annual cost
of approximately $850,000. The City has approximately 10,050 ERUs.
Thus a fair and equitable base rate is $7.00 per month. The decrease
from the existing base rate of $7.64 is due to the capitalization of long-
term debt based on the 1997 Series Revenue Bond.
2. Volumetric Charges
Analysis - The City's current water rate structure assesses water usage
charges uniformly for all water consumers. The cost per 1,000 gallons
of water usage is uniform at low usage volumes as it is at high usage
volumes. The City currently charges $.51 per 1,000 gallons for water
usage.
Recommendation - Due to the increasing need to conserve [he water
resources, we recommend the establishment of an inclining Block Rate
Structure for water usage. The Structure should include an Essential
Domestic Usage Rate Block for water consumption. The Rate Block's
first threshold should coincide with the City's existing Sewer Rate
Structure of 12,000 gallons for the maximum amount of Sewer charges.
The structure should include a Discretionary Usage Block (second tier)
with an increased volumetric rate for usage within the range of 13,000
gallons to 25,000 gallons. The structure should also include a
10 OE-65\waterstudy
Conservation Surcharge Rate for usage above 25,000 gallons per month.
The recommended rate structure is as follows:
Base Rate: $7.00 per ERU/month
Volumetric Rate: $.60/1000 up to 12,000 gallons (Essential Rate)
$.92/1000 up to 25,000 gallons (Discretionary Rate)
$1.25/1000 greater than 25,000 gallons
(Conservation Surcharge Rate)
The modified rate structure will directly benefit low-volume customers
using less than 8,000 gallons of water per month. This is approximately
50 percent of the City's water customers. The two (2) Discretionary and
Conservation Surcharge Blocks are essential to provide a financial
incentive to conserve water.
11 0E-65\waterswdy
SECTION V - RATE COMPARISON
TABLE 1 - CITY OF OCOEE
WATER RATES - EXISTING RATES COMPARED TO
PROPOSED INCLINED BLOCK RATES
Consumption Current Rates Residential. Commercial Proposed Rate
(per thousand) $7.64 + $.51 Customers Customers
Current\. +.92(1 -25)
" Current/ +.92(13-25)
Cumulative Cumulative +1.25(26+
0 $7.64 0/0
0/0 $7.00
1 8.15 . 3/3
15/15 7.60J
2 8.66 5/8 9/24 8._0 3
9.17 7/15 6/30
8.80
4
9.68 8/23 5/35 9.a0
5
10. 19 9/32 6/41
10.00
6 10.70 6/38
4/45 10.60
7 11.21 1 3/46 5/50 11.20
8
11.72 7/53 3/53
11.80
9 12.23 6/59 2/55
10 1_.40
12.74 4/63 2/57
13.00
11 13.25 4/67 3/60 13.60
II
12 13.76
4/71 3/63 14.20
13 14.27 3/74 2/65 I
14I5.12 J
14.78 I 2/76 2/67
1 16.04
5
15.29 I 2/78 2/67
16.96
• 16 15.80 2/80 1/70
17.88
17 16.31 2/82 2/72 18.80
18 16.82 1/83 2/72
19.72
19 17.33 1/84 1/75
20.64
20 17.34 1/85 2/77 21.56
12 OE-65\wa[erstudy
Consumption Current Rates Residential Commercial
(per thousand) $7.64 + $.51 Customers Proposed Rate
Customers $7+$.60(0-12)
Current\ Current/ +.92(13-25)
Cumulative Cumulative +1.25(26+
21 18.35
1/86 1/78 22.48
22 18.86 1/87
3/81 23.40
23 19.37
1/88 2/83
24 24.32
19.88 1/89 0/83
25.24
25 20.39 1/90 1/84
26.16
26 20.90 1/91
0/84 27.41
27 21.41 1/92 2/86
28.66
28 21.92 1/93 1/87
29.91
29 22.43 1/94 1/88
31.16
30 22.94 1/95 0/88
32.41
GT30 5/100 12/100
13
0E.651waietsmdy
TABLE 2 - COMPARATIVE WATER RATES FOR 10,000 GALLONS
ENTITY WATER CHARGE
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 32.70
DAYTONA BEACH 23.21
MELBOURNE 20.76
TITUS VILLE 20.55
LAKE MARY 19.80
BREVARD COUNTY 19.49
SANFORD 17. 14
ORANGE COUNTY 16.51
COCOA 14.72
CASSELBERRY 14.00
OVIEDO 13 75
OCOEE (PROPOSED) 13.00
WINTER SPRINGS 11.85
WINTER GARDEN 11.73
SEMINOLE COUNTY 11.70
ORLANDO 8.93
WINTER PARK 7.75
14 OE.651warersmay