Establishing Water Rates under City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances for Fiscal Year 2024Copyrighted
March 23, 2023
City of Dubuque
Special Meeting Action Items # 02.
IT E M T I T L E:Establishing Water Rates under City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances
for F iscal Year 2024
S UM M ARY:OR D I N A N C E Establishing City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Title 13
Public Utilities, Chapter 1 Water Use and Service, Article C Rates, Section
13-1C-1(A) Fixing Water Rates for Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and
all other uses
O RD I NANC E E stablishing the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances
Title 13 Public Utilities Chapter 1 Water Use and S ervice, A rticle C
Rates Section 13-1C-2 F ixing Water Rates for F ire S prinkler S ervice
S UG G E S T E D
D I S P O S I T I O N:
Suggested Disposition: Receive and F ile; Motion B; Motion A
AT TAC H ME N TS:
Description Type
W ater Rates Comparison MV M Memo Staff Memo
W ater Utility Rate Comparison F Y23 to F Y24 Supporting Documentation
F Y24 Ordinance W ater Use and Service Rates Ordinance
Updated W ater Fire Sprinkler Rate Comparison FY23
to F Y24_Uploaded 3.23.23 Supporting Documentation
W ater Fire Sprinkler Rate Comparison FY23 to FY24 Supporting Documentation
F Y24 Sprinkler Service Ordinance Ordinance
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Lester, Water Department Manager
SUBJECT: Establishing Water Rates under City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Section
Title 13 Public Utilities Chapter 1 Article C – Rates, Section 13-1C-1(a)
Residential, Commercial, Industrial and other uses; and Section 13-1C-2 Fire
Sprinkler Service
DATE: February 28, 2023
INRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide two ordinances for review and approval. These
ordinances establish the FY24 City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Title 13 Public Utilities
Chapter 1 Article C, Section 13-1C-1(a) Fixing Water Rates for Residential and Industrial Use
and all other uses; and Section 13-1C Fixing Water Rates for Fire Sprinkler Service.
DISCUSSION
It is recommended in the Water Department’s budget request for FY24, that an 8% rate
increase be implemented. It is also recommended that the Minimum Monthly Water Charge be
increased to $8.93, which also reflects an 8% rate increase.
Proposed and approved rate structures of comparable Iowa communities with lime softening
treatment similar to Dubuque, are compared in the following table. The calculation is based on
the average residential usage of 6,000 gallons per month.
Rank,
Highest to
Lowest
City
Proposed FY24
Water Cost for
6,000 Gallons
1 West Des
Moines $ 42.94
2 Des Moines $ 40.94
3 Cedar Rapids $ 39.54
4 Ames $ 37.52
5 Iowa City $ 36.41
6 Dubuque $ 35.82
7 Council Bluffs $ 30.88
The proposed rate increase of 8% would place Dubuque as having the second lowest water
rate. The highest rate (West Des Moines) is 19.88% higher than Dubuque’s rate. The
average without Dubuque is 5.31% higher than Dubuque’s proposed rate.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the attached proposed ordinances be submitted to the City Council for
adoption during the FY24 Budget Hearings with an effective date of July 1, 2023.
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
Adrienne Breitfelder, City Clerk
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
File
2
City of Dubuque
Water Utility Rate Comparison
FY2023 to FY2024
Rates based on units of one-hundred cubic feet (748 gallons)
Monthly FY 23 FY 24
Consumption 5.00% 8.00%
First 30 $ 4.17 $ 4.50
Next 120 $ 3.39 $ 3.66
Next 350 $ 3.15 $ 3.40
Next 500 $ 2.78 $ 3.00
Over 1,000 $ 2.47 $ 2.67
ACTUAL PROPOSED
Monthly FY 23 FY 24
Consumption 5.00% 8.00%
First 22,440 $ 0.00553 $ 0.00597
Next 89,760 $ 0.00454 $ 0.00490
Next 261,800 $ 0.00423 $ 0.00457
Next 374,000 $ 0.00373 $ 0.00403
Over 748,000 $ 0.00327 $ 0.00353
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charges according to the size of the meter:
ACTUAL PROPOSED
Meter Cubic FY 23 FY 24
Size Feet Gallons 5.00% 8.00%
5/8 2 1,496 $ 8.27 $ 8.93
3/4 5 3,740 $ 20.68 $ 22.33
1 8 5,984 $ 33.09 $ 35.72
1 1/2 26 19,448 $ 107.55 $ 116.10
2 46 34,408 $ 178.43 $ 192.61
3 106 79,288 $ 382.18 $ 412.52
4 168 125,664 $ 588.56 $ 635.32
6 368 275,264 $ 1,221.36 $ 1,318.99
8 625 467,500 $ 1,987.77 $ 2,147.02
For users outside of city limits, an additional charge equal to 50% of the above rates will be made.
An $8.93 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service, this
reflects the 8% rate increase.
Prepared by: Christopher Lester Water Department Manager, 901 Hawthorn St Dubuque IA 52001 (563) 589 4290
Return to Adrienne N. Breiffelder, City Clerk, 50 W. 131h St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4100
ORDINANCE NO. 11-23
ESTABLISHING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 13 PUBLIC
UTILITIES, CHAPTER 1 WATER USE AND SERVICE, ARTICLE C RATES, SECTION
13-1C-1(A) FIXING WATER RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL,
INDUSTRIAL, AND ALL OTHER USES
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 13-1C-1(A) of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances, is
hereby unchanged, and shall read as follows:
Section 13-1C-1A: Residential, Commercial, Industrial and All Other Uses,
A. Rates Established: The rates to be charged for water for residential,
commercial, industrial and all other uses and purposes by any person, firm or
corporation within the city shall be based on units of one hundred cubic feet (748
gallons) or per gallon as follows:
Monthly Consumption
(in Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
First 30
Next 120
Next 350
Next 500
Over 1,000
Monthly Consumption
(in Gallons)
First 22,440
Next 89,760
Next 261,800
Next 374,000
Over 748,000
Rates shall be subject to the following
the meter:
Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet
$4.50
$3.66
$3.40
$3.00
$2.67
Charge per
Gallon
$0.00597
$0.00490
$0.00457
$0.00403
$0.00353
minimum monthly charge according to the size of
Meter Size Monthly Consumption
Inches (In Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
5/8 2
3/4 5
1 1 /2 26
2 46
3 106
4 168
Monthly Consumption
(In Gallons)
1,496
3,740
5,984
19,448
34,408
79,288
125,664
Minimum Charae
$8.93
$22.33
$35.72
$116.10
$192.61
$412.52
$635.32
6 368 275,264 $1,318.99
8 625 467,500 $2,147.02
A property owner shall pay a $50.00 disconnect fee for water service that is
disconnected by the city for a meter not in service. When a tenant account is
subject to disconnection due to delinquency, the tenant shall pay the $50.00
disconnect fee.
A $50.00 service call fee shall be changed to property owners or tenant account
for those service calls that are determined to be related to customer negligence.
A $8.93 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2023.
Passed, approved and adopted this 23'd day of March, 2023.
Attest:
0� A °Miv'7
Adrienne Breiffelder, City Clerk
City of Dubuque
Fire Sprinkler Rate Comparison
FY2023 to FY2024
Actual Proposed
FY23 FY24
5.00% 8.00%
Up to 200 (minimum) $ 25.38 $ 27.41
200-299 $ 30.47 $ 32.91
300-399 $ 35.48 $ 38.32
400-599 $ 40.61 $ 43.86
600-799 $ 45.64 $ 49.29
800-999 $ 50.75 $ 54.81
1,000 - 1,199 $ 55.84 $ 60.31
1,200 - 1,399 $ 60.86 $ 65.73
1,400 - 1,599 $ 65.94 $ 71.22
1,600 - 1,799 $ 71.03 $ 76.71
1,800 - 1,999 $ 76.06 $ 82.14
2,000 - 2,199 $ 81.15 $ 87.64
2,200 - 2,399 $ 86.23 $ 93.13
2,400 - 2,599 $ 91.31 $ 98.61
2,600 - 2,799 $ 96.38 $ 104.09
2,800 - 2,900 $ 101.58 $ 109.71
3,000 - 3,499 $ 106.51 $ 115.03
Over 3,500* $ 5.06 $ 5.46
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
City of Dubuque
Water Utility Rate Comparison
FY2023 to FY2024
Rates based on units of one-hundred cubic feet (748 gallons)
Monthly FY 23 FY 24
Consumption 5.00% 8.00%
First 30 $ 4.17 $ 4.50
Next 120 $ 3.39 $ 3.66
Next 350 $ 3.15 $ 3.40
Next 500 $ 2.78 $ 3.00
Over 1,000 $ 2.47 $ 2.67
ACTUAL PROPOSED
Monthly FY 23 FY 24
Consumption 5.00% 8.00%
First 22,440 $ 0.00553 $ 0.00597
Next 89,760 $ 0.00454 $ 0.00490
Next 261,800 $ 0.00423 $ 0.00457
Next 374,000 $ 0.00373 $ 0.00403
Over 748,000 $ 0.00327 $ 0.00353
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charges according to the size of the meter:
ACTUAL PROPOSED
Meter Cubic FY 23 FY 24
Size Feet Gallons 5.00% 8.00%
5/8 2 1,496 $ 8.27 $ 8.93
3/4 5 3,740 $ 20.68 $ 22.33
1 8 5,984 $ 33.09 $ 35.72
1 1/2 26 19,448 $ 107.55 $ 116.10
2 46 34,408 $ 178.43 $ 192.61
3 106 79,288 $ 382.18 $ 412.52
4 168 125,664 $ 588.56 $ 635.32
6 368 275,264 $ 1,221.36 $ 1,318.99
8 625 467,500 $ 1,987.77 $ 2,147.02
For users outside of city limits, an additional charge equal to 50% of the above rates will be made.
An $8.93 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service, this
reflects the 8% rate increase.
Prepared bV: Christopher Lester Water Department Manager, 901 Hawthorn St Dubuque IA 52001 (563) 589 4290
Return to Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk, 50 W. 1311 St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4100
ORDINANCE NO. 12-23
ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 13
PUBLIC UTILITIES CHAPTER 1 WATER USE AND SERVICE, ARTICLE C RATES
SECTION 13-1C-2 FIXING WATER RATES FOR FIRE SPRINKLER SERVICE
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 13-1 C-2 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
unchanged, and shall read as follows:
Section 13-1 C-2: Fire Sprinkler Service.
Customers who have fire sprinkler service shall be billed for this service on a monthly
basis. The monthly charge shall be as follows:
CURRENT
MONTHLY
NUMBER OF HEADS
CHARGES
Up to 200 (minimum) .....................
$27.41
200-299....................................
$32.91
300-399....................................
$38.32
400-599....................................
$43.86
600-799....................................
$49.29
800 -999....................................
$54.81
1,000 - 1,199..................................
$60.31
1,200-1,399..................................
$65.73
1,400 - 1,599..................................
$71.22
1,600 - 1,799..................................
$76.71
1,800-1,999..................................
$82.14
2,000 - 2,199..................................
$87.64
2,200 - 2,399..................................
$93.13
2,400 - 2,599..................................
$98.61
2,600 - 2,799..................................
$104.09
2,800 - 2,900..................................
$109.71
3,000 - 3,499..................................
$115.03
Over 3,500'....................................
$5.46
'(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2023.
Passed, approved and adopted this 231d day of March, 2023.
rad Cavanigh, Mayor
Attest:
Adrienne Breitfelity Clerk
STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
I, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
04/11/2023
and for which the charge is 38.32
adA
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public jin and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 1 lth day of April, 2023
' Notary P ..ic in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
puL JANET K. PAPE
Commission,Number 199659
My Commission Expires
,ow . 12/1112025
Ad text :
CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 11-23
ESTABLISHING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 13
PUBLIC UTILITIES, CHAPTER 1 WATER USE AND SERVICE, ARTICLE C
RATES, SECTION 13-1C-1(A) FIXING WATER RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL,
COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND ALL OTHER USES
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 13-1C-1(A) of the City of Dubuque Code
of Ordinances, is hereby unchanged, and shall read as follows:
Section 13-1C-1A: Residential, Commercial, Industrial and
All Other Uses.
A. "Rates Established: The rates to be charged for water for
residential, commercial, industrial and all other uses and
purposes by any person, firm or corporation within the city
shall be based on units of one hundred cubic feet (748
gallons) or per gallon as follows:
Monthly Consumptiontharge per
(in Hundreds of Cubic Feet)""
Hundred Cubic Feet"
First 30" $4.50
Next 120" $3.66
Next 350" $3.40
Neat- 500" $3.00
Over 1,000" $2.67
Monthly Consumption"Charge per
(in Gallons)"""Gallon"
First 22,440" $0.00597
Next 89,760" $0.00490
Next 261,800" $0.00457
Next 374,000" $0.00403
Over 748,000" $0.00353
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly
charge according to the size of the meter:
Meter Size (Inches); Monthly Consumption (In Hundreds of
Cubic Feet); Monthly Consumption (In Gallons); Minimum Charge
5/8; 2; 1,496; $8.93;
3/4; 5; 3,740; $22.33;
1; 8; 5,984; $35.72;
1 1/2; 26; 19,448; $116.10;
2; 46; 34,408; $192.61;
3,w1.06; 79,288; $412.52;
4; 168; 125,664; $635.32;
6;'368; 275,264; $1,318.99;
8; 625; 467,500; $2,147.02;
A property owner shall pay a $50.00 disconnect fee for water
service that is disconnected by the city for a meter not in
service. When a tenant account is subject to disconnection
due to delinquency, the tenant shall pay the $50.00 disconnect
fee.
A $50.00 service call fee shall be changed to property
owners or tenant account for those service calls that are
determined to be related to customer negligence.
A $8.93 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters
not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2023.
Passed, approved and adopted this 23rd day of March, 2023.
/s✓Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the llth day of April, 2023.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
It 4/11
STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
1, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
04/11/2023
and for which the charge is 25.28
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 11th day of April, 2023
Notary Ptic in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
gut JANET K. PAPE
c�h, , 1' Commission Number 199659
a r
• ' My Commission Expires
rows 12/11/2025
Ad text : CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION,
ORDINANCE NO. 12-23
ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF PUBUQUE CODE CIF ORDINANCES TITLE 13
PUBLIC UTILITIES CHAPTER 1 WATER USE AND SERVICE, ARTICLE C
RATES SECTION 13-1C-2 FIXING WATER RATES FOR FIRE SPRINKLER
SERVICE °
NOW, THEREFORE, I3E IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 13-1C-2 of the City of Dubuque Code of
Ordinances is hereby unchanged, and shall read as follows:
Section 13-1C-2: Fire Sprinkler Service.
customers who have fire sprinkler service shall be billed
for khiis service on a monthly basis, The monthly charge shall
be as follows:
CURRENT
NUMBER OF HEADS;" MONTHLY
CHARGES
Up to 200 (minimum);^ $27.41
200-299;" $32.91
300-399;" $38.32
400-599;" $43.86
600-799;" $49.29
800 -999;" $54,81
1,000 - 1,199;" $60.31
1,200 - 1,399;" $65.73
1,400 - 1,599;" $71.22
1,600 - 1,799;" $76.71
1,800 - 1,999;".$82.14
2,000 - 2,199;" $87.64
2,200 - 2,399;" $93.13
2,40 - 2,599;" $98.61
2,600 - 2,799;" $104.09
2,800 - 2,900;" $109.71
3,000 - 3,499.;" $115.03
Over 3,500*;" $5.46
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2023.
Passed, approved and adopted this 23rd day of March, 2023.
/s/Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the llth day of April, 2023.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
1t4/11