2014/06/24 City Council Resolution 2014-073RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -073
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
ADJUSTING THE 2013/2014 WINTER AVERAGE /SEWER CAP USED TO
CALCULATE RESIDENTIAL WASTEWATER FLOW CHARGES DUE TO THE
DROUGHT
WHEREAS; The City of Rohnert Park (City) provides sewer services to residents,
businesses, and other users, and charges rate payers for the service provided; and,
WHEREAS, The City adopts sewer service charges by ordinance, including amounts and
calculation methods; and
WHEREAS, the City adopted Ordinance No. 837 on May 24"', 2011 which authorizes
the establishment of sewer rate charges for residential users based upon the lower of actual
monthly water usage or the most recent average winter monthly water use from billing cycles in
December, January, and February; and
WHEREAS, the City currently charges by the most recent average winter rate; and
WHEREAS, the City Council may, under Section 13.42.035(D), make the determination
that special circumstances exist that authorize the calculation method to be modified by
resolution to fix equitable rates; and
WHEREAS, Governor Brown declared a drought state of emergency on January 17,
2014; and
WHEREAS, declared droughts typically result in higher use of domestic water for
irrigation purposes than typical winters; and
WHEREAS, in a prior drought, the Council found that Section 4 of Ordinance No. 837
could be interpreted to allow the winter average /sewer cap to be based upon the most recent
winter or the winter immediately prior thereto, whichever was lower; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered a report on the 2013 -2014 winter average
sewer cap at a duly noticed regular meeting on June 24, 2014 and considered allowing a similar
interpretation given the abnormal drought conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rohnert
Park that it does hereby authorize and approve:
The use of the lower value between the winter averages for fiscal year 2012/2013 and
winter averages for fiscal year 2013/2014 in determining the appropriate billing for
residential sewer services in fiscal year 2014/2015 under Section 4 of Ordinance No. 837;
2. Adjustments to sewer user billings according to the above, as a result of the special
circumstance of a drought having been declared.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed
to make adjustments to sewer accounts to provide billing according to the special circumstances.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 24`x' day of June, 2014.
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ATTEST:
OoAnne M. Buergler, City Clem`
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
Joseph 1 . Callinan, Mayor
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2014 -073