Establishing Water Rates under City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Copyrighted
April 15, 2024
City of Dubuque Action Items # 02.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Establishing Water Rates under City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances
for Fiscal Year 2025
SUM MARY: City Manager recommending City Council adopt the ordinances
establishing water rates under City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances for
Fiscal Year 2025. Additional information is located in the City Manager's
memo for Public Hearing #4.
ORDINANCE Establishing City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Title
13 Public Utilities, Chapter 1 Water Use and Service,Article C Rates,
Section 13-1 C-1(A) Fixing Water Rates for Residential, Commercial,
Industrial, and all other uses
ORDINANCE Establishing the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances
Title 13 Public Utilities Chapter 1 Water Use and Service,Article C
Rates Section 13-1 C-2 Fixing Water Rates for Fire Sprinkler Service
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Motion B; MotionA
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Fiscal Year 2025 Water Rates Memo City Manager Memo
FY25 Ordinance Water Use and Service Rates Ordinance
FY25 Sprinkler Ordinance Ordinance
Water Sprinkler Rate Comparison FY2024 to FY2025 Supporting Documentation
Water Utility Fiscal Year Rate Comparison FY2024 to Supporting Documentation
FY2025
Dubuque
THE CITY OF �
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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 13-1 C-1(a)
Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and other uses; and Section 13-1 C-2
Fire Sprinkler Service
DATE: March 21, 2024
INRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide two ordinances for review and approval. These
ordinances establish the FY25 City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances Title 13 Public Utilities
Chapter 1 Article C, Section 13-1 C-1(a) Fixing Water Rates for Residential and Industrial Use
and all other uses; and Section 13-1 C Fixing Water Rates for Fire Sprinkler Service.
DISCUSSION
It is recommended in the Water DepartmenYs budget request for FY25 that a 12% rate
increase be implemented. It is also recommended that the Minimum Monthly Water Charge be
increased to $8.90, which also reflects a 12% rate increase.
Proposed and approved rate structures of comparable lowa 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.
Prapased FY25 Water Rates Camparisan
��,00❑ Gallvns}
Sso.00
$45.00
$40.00
$35.00
$30.00
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$- ,
Council Ames lowa City ❑ubuque A�erage Cedar Qes West Qes
Bluffs w�o Rapids Moines Moines
❑ubuque
Rank, Proposed FY25
Highest to City Water Cost for
Lowest 6,000 Gallons
� West Des � 44.21
Moines
2 Des Moines $ 41.92
3 Cedar Rapids $ 41.91
4 Dubuque $ 39.06
5 lowa City $ 37.48
6 Ames $ 36.49
7 Council Bluffs $ 32.40
The proposed rate increase of 12°/o would place Dubuque as having the fourth lowest water
rate. The highest rate (West Des Moines) is 13.18°/o higher than Dubuque's rate. The
average without Dubuque is 0.02% higher than Dubuque's proposed rate.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the attached proposed ordinances be submitted to the City Council for
adoption during the FY25 Budget Hearings with an effective date of July 1, 2024.
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
Adrienne Breitfelder, City Clerk
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
File
2
Prepared by: Christopher Lester, Water Department Manager, 901 Hawthorn St., Dubuque, IA 52001 (563) 589-4290
Return to Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk, 50 W. 1P St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4100
ORDINANCE NO. 10-24
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 13-1 C-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 Ali 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
Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet
$4.91
$3.99
$3.71
$3.27
$2.90
Monthly Consumption
Charge per
(in Gallons)
Gallon
First 22,440
$0.00651
Next 89,760
$0.00534
Next 261,800
$0.00497
Next 374,000
$0.00439
Over 748,000
$0.00384
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)
518
2
314
5
1
8
1 112
26
2
46
3
106
4
168
Monthly Consumption
(In Gallons)
Minimum Ch
1,496
$9.74
3,740
$24.35
5,984
$38.96
19,448
$126.61
34,408
$209.99
79,288
$449.65
125,664
$692.32
e
6 368 275,264 $1,435.83
8 625 467,500 $2,337.01
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 $8.90 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of April, 2024.
r d M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest:
6Z5� 1 �' , - sj.�
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
Prepared by: Christopher Lester, Water Department Manager, 901 Hawthorn St., Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)5589-4290
Return to Adrienne N. Breittelder, City Clerk, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque, IA 52001, (563) 589-4100
ORDINANCE NO. 11-24
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) .....................
$29.85
200-299 . .. . .. . .. . ..........................
$35.83
300-399....................................
$41.72
400-599 ...... . ..... . .......................
$47.76
600-799 ......................... ...... . ....
$53.67
800 -999....................................
$59.68
1,000 - 1,199..................................
$65.67
1,200 - 1,399..................................
$71.57
1,400 - 1,599..................................
$77.55
1,600 - 1,799 ..................................
$83.53
1,800 - 1,999..................................
$89.44
2,000 - 2,199..................................
$95.44
2,200 - 2,399..................................
$101.40
2,400 - 2,599..................................
$107.39
2,600 - 2,799..................................
$113.34
2,800 - 2,900..................................
$119.46
3,000 - 3,499..................................
$125.26
Over 3,500*....................................
$5.95
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of April, 2024.
rad M. J nagh, Mayor
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, ity Clerk
City of Dubuque
Fire Sprinkler Rate Comparison
FY2024 to FY2025
Actual Proposed
FY24 FY25
5.00% 12.00%
Up to 200 (minimum) $ 26.65 $ 29.85
200-299 $ 31.99 $ 35.83
300-399 $ 37.25 $ 41.72
400-599 $ 42.64 $ 47.76
600-799 $ 47.92 $ 53.67
800-999 $ 53.29 $ 59.68
1,000 - 1,199 $ 58.63 $ 65.67
1,200 - 1,399 $ 63.90 $ 71.57
1,400 - 1,599 $ 69.24 $ 77.55
1,600 - 1,799 $ 74.58 $ 83.53
1,800 - 1,999 $ 79.86 $ 89.44
2,000 - 2,199 $ 85.21 $ 95.44
2,200 - 2,399 $ 90.54 $ 101.40
2,400 - 2,599 $ 95.88 $ 107.39
2,600 - 2,799 $ 101.20 $ 113.34
2,800 - 2,900 $ 106.66 $ 119.46
3,000 - 3,499 $ 111.84 $ 125.26
Over 3,500* $ 5.31 $ 5.95
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
City of Dubuque
Water Utility Fiscal Year
Rate Comparison
FY2024 to FY2025
Rates based on units of one-hundred cubic feet(748 gallons)
Actual Proposed
Monthly FY24 FY25
Consumption (CCF) 5.00% 12.00%
First 30 $ 4.38 $ 4.91
Next 120 $ 3.56 $ 3.99
Next 350 $ 3.31 $ 3.71
Next 500 $ 2.92 $ 3.27
Over 1,000 $ 2.59 $ 2.90
Monthly FY24 FY25
Consumption (Gals) 5.00% 12.00°/o
First 22,440 $ 0.00581 $ 0.00651
Next 89,760 $ 0.00477 $ 0.00534
Next 261,800 $ 0.00444 $ 0.00497
Next 374,000 $ 0.00392 $ 0.00439
Over 748,000 $ 0.00343 $ 0.00384
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charge according to the size of the meter:
Actual Proposed
Meter Cubic FY24 FY25
Size Feet Gallons 5.00% 12.00%
5/8 2 1,496 $ 8.69 $ 9.74
3/4 5 3,740 $ 21.73 $ 24.35
1 8 5,984 $ 34.77 $ 38.96
11/2 26 19,448 $ 112.99 $ 126.61
2 46 34,408 $ 187.46 $ 209.99
3 106 79 28$ � 401.54 $ 449.65
4 �68 125,664 $ 618.31 $ 692.32
6 368 275,264 $ 1,282.54 $ 1,435.83
$ 625 467,500 $ 2,087.44 $ 2,337.01
a) For users outside the city limits, an additional charge equal to 50% of the above rates will be made
b)A$8.90 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service, this reflects the 12% rate increase.
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:
05/02/2024
and for which the charge is 38.09
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 2nd day of May, 2024
Notary Pun and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
0
0
2
lowh
JANET K. PAPE
. Commission Number 199659
My Commission Expires
12/11/2025
Ad text :
CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 10-24
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-IA: 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); Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet;
First 30; $4.91
Next 120; $3.99
Next 350; $3.71
Next 500; $3.27
Over 1,000; $2.90
Monthly Consumption (in Gallons); Charge per Gallon;
First 22,440; $0.00651
Next 89,760; $0.00534
Next 261,800; $0.00497
Next 374,000; $0.00439
Over 748,000; $0.00384
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; $9.74;
3/4; 5; 3,740; $24.35;
1; 8; 5,984; $38.96;
1 1/2; 26; 19,448; $126.61;
2; 46; 34,408; $209.99;
3; 106; 79,288; $449.65;
4; 168; 125,664; $692.32;
6; 368; 275,264; $1,435.83;
8; 625; 467,500; $2,337.01;
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 $8.90 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters
not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of April, 2024.
/s/Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the 2nd day of May, 2024.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder,
CMC, City Clerk
It 5/2
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:
05/02/2024
and for which the charge is 25.25
(yam c�
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 2nd day of May, 2024
Notary
c in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
hPPinc a� JANET K. PAPE
a -a Commission Number 199659
z r My Commission Expires
iov �^ 12/11/2025
�ow
Ad text :
CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 11-24
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 13-1C-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 this service on a monthly basis. The monthly charge shall
be as follows:
CURRENT NUMBER OF HEADS; MONTHLY CHARGES
Up to 200 (minimum); $29.85
200-299; $35.83
300-399; $41.72
400-599; $47.76
600-799; $53.67
800 -999; $59.68
1,000 - 1,199; $65.67
1,200 - 1,399.; $71.57
1,400 - 1,599; $77.55
1,600 - 1,799; $83.53
1,800 - 1,999; $89.44
2,000 - 2,199; $95.44
2,200 - 2,399; $101.40
2,400 - 2,599; $107.39
2,600 - 2,799; $113.34
2,800 - 2,900; $119.46
3,000 - 3,499; $125.26
Over 3,500*; $5.95
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof);;
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of April, 2024.
/sBrad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the 2nd day of May, 2024.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
1t 5/2