Code of Ordinances Amendment - Title 13 Public Utilities - Fixing Water Rates; Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Other Uses; Fire Sprinkler ServiceCopyrighted
A pril 23, 2020
City of Dubuque Action Items # 1.
IT E M T I T L E:Code of Ordinance A mendment - Title 13 P ublic Utilities -
F ixing Water Rates; Residential, Commercial, I ndustrial
and Other Uses; F ire S prinkler S ervice
S UM M ARY:
O RD I NANC E E stablishing City of Dubuque Code of
Ordinances Title 13 P ublic Utilities, Chapter 1, Water Use
and Service, Article C Rates, Section 13-1C-1(A ) F ixing
Water Rates for Residential, Commercial, I ndustrial, and
All Other Uses
O RD I NANC E E stablishing the City of Dubuque Code of
Ordinances Title 13 P ublic Utilities Chapter 1 Water Use
and Service, Article C Rates S ection 13-1C-2 Fixing 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
Staff Memo Staff Memo
F Y21 Ordinance W ater Use and Service Rates Ordinance
F Y21 Sprinkler Service Ordinance Ordinance
F Y20 to F Y21 W ater Rate Comparison Supporting Documentation
Suggested Motion Wording Supporting Documentation
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Denise Blakeley Ihrig, 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: April 21, 2020
INRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide two ordinances for review and approval. These
ordinances establish the FY21 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, the Water Department’s budget request for FY21, include a 0% (zero
percent) rate increase, due to the potential economic hardship placed on the community, and
our customers resulting from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. At such time, as appropriate,
the Water Department will revisit the rate structure, along with the City Manager and the
Finance Department.
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.
$29.67 $30.72 $31.87 $32.59 $33.59 $35.01 $35.44 $36.98
$-
$5.00
$10.00
$15.00
$20.00
$25.00
$30.00
$35.00
$40.00
Council
Bluffs
Dubuque Ames Cedar
Rapids
Average
w/o
Dubuque
Iowa City Des
Moines
West Des
Moines
Proposed FY21 Water Rates Comparison
(6,000 Gallons)
2
Ranked
Highest to
Lowest
City Water Cost for
6,000 Gallons Notes
7 West Des Moines $36.98 Per website, Effective 1/1/2020
6 Des Moines $35.44 5% increase, Effective 4/1/2020
5 Iowa City $35.01 Proposed 5% increase, Effective
7/1/2020
4 Cedar Rapids $32.59 Proposed 6.5% service fee & 6%
Step 1 Increase, Eff. 7/1/2020
3 Ames $31.87 Proposed 2% increase, Effective
7/1/2020
2 Dubuque $30.72 Proposed 0% increase,
Effective 7/1/2020
1 Council Bluffs $29.67 No Proposed Rate Increase
Average $33.18 8.02% Higher than
Dubuque
Average w/o
Dubuque $33.59 9.35% Higher than
Dubuque
Among comparable cities, Dubuque is proposed to have the second lowest water rates. The
highest rate (West Des Moines) is 20.38% higher than Dubuque’s rate, and the average is
8.02% higher than Dubuque
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the attached proposed ordinances be submitted to the City Council for
adoption during the FY21 Budget Hearings with an effective date of July 1, 2020.
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
Kevin Firnstahl, City Clerk
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
Rachel Kilburg, Budget Analyst
File
ORDINANCE NO. 14-20
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 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
Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet
$3.85
$3.14
$2.91
$2.57
$2.28
Charge per
Gallon
$0.00512
$0.00419
$0.00391
$0.00345
$0.00302
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charge according to the size of
the meter:
Meter Size
Inches
5/8
3/4
1
1 1/2
2
3
4
6
8
Monthly Consumption
(In Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
2
5
8
26
46
106
168
368
625
Monthly Consumption
(In Gallons)
1,496
3,740
5,984
19,448
34,408
79,288
125,664
275,264
467,500
Minimum Charge
$7.66
$19.15
$30.64
$99.57
$165.04
$353.09
$543.63
$1,128.57
$1,837.20
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 $7.00 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2020.
Passed, approved and adopted this 23rd day of April, 2020.
Roy D'. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
�:va
Kevin,S. Firnstah�f; City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO. 15-20
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
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) $23.47
200-299 $28.17
300-399 $32.81
400-599 . $37.55
600-799 $42.20
800 -999 $46.92
1,000 - 1,199 $51.63
1,200 - 1,399 $56.27
1,400 - 1,599 $60.97
1,600 - 1,799 $65.68
1,800 - 1,999 $70.33
2,000 - 2,199 $75.04
2,200 - 2,399 $79.73
2,400 - 2,599 $84.43
2,600 - 2,799 $89.12
2,800 - 2,900 $93.92
3,000 - 3,499 $98.49
Over 3,500* $4.68
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1 2020.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 23rd day of April 20
Attest:
7-
Kevir2l=irnstahl, City CI rk
Roy D. ® ol, Mayor
City of Dubuque
Water Utility Rate Comparison
FY 2020 to FY2021
Rates based on units of one-hundred cubic feet (748 gallons)
FY 20 FY 21
5.00% 0.00%
First 30 3.85$ 3.85$
Next 120 3.14$ 3.14$
Next 350 2.91$ 2.91$
Next 500 2.57$ 2.57$
Over 1,000 2.28$ 2.28$
FY 20 FY 21
5.00% 0.00%
First 22,440 0.00512$ 0.00512$
Next 89,760 0.00419$ 0.00419$
Next 261,800 0.00391$ 0.00391$
Next 374,000 0.00345$ 0.00345$
Over 748,000 0.00302$ 0.00302$
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charge according to the size of the meter:
Meter Cubic FY 20 FY 21
Size Feet Gallons 5.00% 0.00%
5/8 2 1,496 7.66$ 7.66$
3/4 5 3,740 19.15$ 19.15$
1 8 5,984 30.64$ 30.64$
1 1/2 26 19,448 99.57$ 99.57$
2 46 34,408 165.04$ 165.04$
3 106 79,288 353.09$ 353.09$
4 168 125,664 543.63$ 543.63$
6 368 275,264 1,128.57$ 1,128.57$
8 625 467,500 1,837.20$ 1,837.20$
a. For users outside the city limits, an additional charge equal to 50% of the above rates will be made
b. A $7.00 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service.
Monthly
Consumption
Monthly
Consumption
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:
04/29/2020
and for which the charge is 28.19
6 r
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Pub 'c in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 29th day of April, 2020
Nota ; ' ublic in and for Dubuque CIowa.
JANET K, PAPE
Commission Number 199969
My Comm. Exp. DEC 11, 2022
Ad text : OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 14-20
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), Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet
First 30, $3.85
Next 120, $3.14
Next 350, $2.91
Next 500, $2.57
Over 1,000, $2.28
Monthly Consumption (in Gallons), Charge per Gallon"
First 22,440, $0.00512
Next 89,760, $0.00419
Next 261,800, $0.00391
Next 374,000, $0.00345
Over 748,000, $0.00302
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, $7.66
3/4, 5, 3,740, $19.15
1, 8, 5,984, $30.64
1 1/2, 26, 19,448, $99.57
2, 46, 34,408, $165.04
3, 106, 79,288, $353.09
4, 168, 125,664, $543.63
6, 368, 275,264, $1,128.57
8, 625, 467,500, $1,837.20
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 $7.00 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters
not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2020.
Passed, approved and adopted this 23rd day of April, 2020.
/s/Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Kevin S. Firnstahl,
City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on the
29th day of April 2020.
/s/Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk
It 4/29
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:
04/29/2020
and for which the charge is 17.48
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Pul9lhc in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 29th day of April, 2020
Notary
lic in and for Dubuque Conty, Iowa.
JANET K. PAPE
Commission Number 19S$59
My Comm. Exp. DEC 11, 2022
Ad text : OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 15-20
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),$23.47
200-299, $28.17
300-399, $32.81
400-599, $37.55
600-799, $42.20
800 -999, $46.92
1,000 - 1,199, $51.63
1,200 - 1,399, $56.27
1,400 - 1,599, $60.97
1,600 - 1,799, $65.68
1,800 - 1,999, $70.33
2,000 - 2,199, $75.04
2,200 - 2,399, $79.73
2,400 - 2,599, $84.43
2,600 - 2,799, $89.12
2,800 - 2,900, $93.92
3,000 - 3,499, $98.49
Over 3,500*, $4.68
*(for each additional 500 heads or fraction thereof)
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2020.
Passed, approved and adopted this 23rd day of April 2020.
/s/Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest: /s/Kevin
Firnstahl, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on the
29th day of April 2020.
/s/Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk
It 4/29