HomeMy WebLinkAbout014-25 - Ordinance - Updating Sewer Rates through 2030Docusign Envelope ID: 4BCCA029-9D2F-4450-9C5A-3CC38D32EE4E
ORDINANCE NO. 014-25
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON,
RELATING TO SEWER RATES, AMENDING PORT ORCHARD
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 13.04.020, BIMONTHLY SEWER RATES
TO UPDATE SEWER RATES THROUGH 2030; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Port Orchard routinely reviews the rates charged for its utility
services, including sewer, to ensure revenues are commensurate with operating and capital costs
to sustain the utility; and
WHEREAS, the City initiated a Sewer Utility Rate Study on July 1, 2023, utilizing the
services of professional consultant FCS, a Bowman Company, formerly known as FCS Group; and
WHEREAS, concurrently with the rate study, the City conducted an update to the General
Sewer Plan, which is the City's comprehensive plan for the extension, operation, and financing of
sewer infrastructure owned by the City; and
WHEREAS, in coordination with the 2025 General Sewer Plan update, the City reviewed
the sewer rates, structure and need increase; and
WHEREAS, the rate study results were presented to the City Council Utility Committee on
June 10, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the rate study was presented to the Port Orchard City Council at a Work Study
Session on June 10, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the rate study was discussed and presented to the City Council Finance
Committee on June 17, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the proposed update to the General Sewer Plan was discussed and presented
to the City Council Utility Committee on September 9, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the proposed update to the General Sewer Plan and rate study were discussed
and presented to the Finance Committee on September 16, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the update to the General Sewer Plan and rate study were discussed and
presented to the City Council at a Work Study Session on September 16, 2025; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the update to the General Sewer Plan and the rate study,
including a proposal to increase the sewer rates, was held at the City Council's regular meeting
on September 23, 2025; and
WHEREAS, in order to implement these rate changes, amendments to Port Orchard
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Ordinance No. 014-25
Page 2 of 3
Municipal Code Section 13.04.020 are needed; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the amendments herein are consistent with goals
and policies of the City's General Sewer Plan and related regulations and serve the public health,
safety and general welfare of the citizens of Port Orchard; now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are adopted as findings for this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. Section 13.04.020 of the Port Orchard Municipal Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:
13.04.020 Bimonthly sewer rates.
Sewer rates are based on a bimonthly schedule and are separated into two classes for billing
purposes — residential and nonresidential. Residential and Nonresidential rates are billed per
Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) per account.
Residential class includes all single-family and multi -family housing units and the Non -Residential
class includes every other customer. Each residential dwelling unit is equal to one ERU. The
bimonthly base rate is calculated based on the number of units (base rate multiplied by number
of residential units) served by the sewer system.
Each Non -Residential customer is assigned ERUs based on its winter average water
consumption. An ERU is 180 gallons per day for nonresidential connections. The ERU
consumption is based upon metered water consumption during winter months. In making the
calculation of the actual number of ERUs, fractions shall be rounded to the nearest whole
number but not less than one. The bimonthly base rate is calculated based on the number of
ERU's (base rate multiplied by number of ERU's) served by the sewer system. New connections
ERU value will be based on estimated usage until consumption data for winter months is
available.
Effective January 1, 2026, and January 1st of each subsequent year shown, the sewer rates, as
calculated bimonthly, are shown on the sewer rate table. Rates shown in the final year of the
table below will remain in effect for each subsequent year until further council action. Rates in
effect on the first day of the billing date are charged for the entire billing period.
Sewer Rate Class
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Residential Rate
Per ERU
$153.05
$159.95
$167.15
$174.65
$182.50
Non -Residential
$237.25
$247.95
$259.10
$270.75
$282.95
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Ordinance No. 014-25
Page 3 of 3
Rate Per ERU
Special Notes
a) Water accounts which serve a marina pier and do not have a
connection to the sewer shall not be charged a sewer bill. A sewer bill
will be charged and based on winter consumption if the water meter
serves both the marina pier and any facility or pump station that is
connected to the sewer system. For billing purposes, live -a boards will
not be considered as a dwelling unit.
b) Properties served which are outside the city limits shall have a 50
percent surcharge on the bimonthly rates
SECTION 3. Severability. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance should
be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause or phrase of this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Corrections. Upon approval of the city attorney, the city clerk and the codifiers
of this ordinance are authorized to make necessary technical corrections to this ordinance,
including, without limitation, the correction of clerical errors; references to other local, state, or
federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or section/subsection numbering.
SECTION 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be posted and published as required
by law and shall be effective in full force five (5) days after publication, provided, however that
the rates described in Section 2, shall be effective January 1, 2026. A summary of this ordinance
may be published in lieu of publishing the ordinance in its entirety.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Orchard, APPROVED by the Mayor and
attested by the Clerk in authentication of such passage this 14th day of October 2025.
Signed by:
Rob Putaansuu, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Brandy Wallace, MMC, City Clerk
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Charlotte A. Archer, City Attorney
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PUBLISHED: October 17, 2025
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 22, 2025