Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

A. Rates Established.

1. The rates of utility service for the city of Monroe utility systems shall be as established by the city council by periodic resolution. The rates established by periodic resolution shall not override any valid preexisting utility service contract.

2. For service outside the city limits, the charges shall be one hundred fifty percent of the standard in-city rate as established by the city council by periodic resolution. “Outside of the city limits” shall mean any property that qualifies for one or more of the following:

a. A majority of the property is situated outside of city limits;

b. A majority of fixtures on the property is outside of city limits; or

c. A majority of the value of improvements is outside city limits.

“Property” for purposes of determining outside service shall include the property served by a wholesale customer of the city’s water system; i.e., if the wholesale customer resells to residential or commercial properties, the location of those properties shall be considered in determining whether the service is “outside city limits.”

3. Rate – Class of User Not Specified. Monthly rates and charges for sanitary sewage collection and disposal system service for any class of user not otherwise provided for under this chapter, for major users of the system or for users of the system where special circumstances as determined by the city council exist shall be as arranged by special contract with the city, as approved by the city council.

B. Discounts.

1. Senior Citizen or Disabled. For senior citizens with very low income or disabled persons hereinafter defined, the single-family residential housekeeping unit charge shall be as established by the city council by periodic resolution. The rate established for seniors is restricted to single-family residences or other residences with a single water meter per unit primarily occupied by a senior citizen or senior citizens being fifty-five years of age or older having an annual household income of fifty percent or less of the area median income for Snohomish County, as published by the Washington State Office of Financial Management. In the event that such income determination is no longer published, the city may use such other reasonable methods of determining average median income as it may choose. Discount rate is restricted to minimum residential meter size. To qualify as a disabled person, the disability is defined as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. To qualify for the disabled discount, said rate is restricted to single-family residences primarily occupied by a disabled person. The discount rates provided for herein are available only upon application, which is required to be updated annually by the customer.

2. Low-Income Senior Citizen – Nonprofit Multifamily. For low-income senior citizens as hereinafter defined, the nonprofit multifamily residential utility rate shall be as established by periodic resolution of the city council. The rate established under this section is restricted to multifamily residences that are: (a) exclusively occupied by low-income senior citizens, and (b) owned or operated by entities with nonprofit public benefit status as defined by RCW 24.03.490. For purposes of this section, “low-income senior citizens” are defined as persons being fifty-five years of age or older and having an annual household income of fifty percent or less of the area median income for Snohomish County, as published by the Washington State Office of Financial Management. In the event that such income determination is no longer published, the city may use such other reasonable methods of determining average median income as it may choose.

The discount rates provided for herein are available only upon application, which is required to be updated annually by the customer. Such annual update shall provide current documentation of the customer’s nonprofit public benefit status and certify that all residents of the multifamily facility are low-income senior citizens as defined herein.

3. Irrigation Meters. Irrigation water meters turned off during the winter months for winterizing shall not be assessed charges for services while water is off. When the irrigation meter is turned on, charges will be assessed.

C. Vacation/Vacancy Credit.

1. Water and sewer utility accounts may be eligible for one of the following vacation/vacancy credits:

a. Single-family dwelling accounts shall be eligible for vacation/vacancy credits for any absence of thirty days or more with a maximum of ninety days in any concurrent twelve-month period.

b. Low-income senior citizen accounts satisfying the criteria set forth in this section shall be eligible for vacancy credits for any absence or nonuse of thirty days or more with a maximum of one hundred eighty days in any concurrent twelve-month period.

c. City of Monroe irrigation accounts shall be eligible for vacancy credits for any absence or nonuse of thirty days or more with a maximum of one hundred eighty days in any concurrent twelve-month period.

d. Single-family dwelling accounts shall be eligible for vacancy credits for any absence of thirty days or more when such absence is due to the property owner’s deployment for active military duty, military reserve duty, and/or National Guard duty. The vacancy credit shall correspond to the deployment dates. A copy of the relevant deployment order must be provided to the finance director.

2. Utility accounts must be current; no vacancy credits shall be granted for an account that is delinquent. Credits shall be computed on a percentage of days used. The city will provide a vacancy credit application in the event the city operates the utility and the contractor will provide a vacancy credit application in the event a contractor operates the utility. Vacancy credit applications must be filed forty-eight hours in advance. Persons filing vacancy credit applications found to be false shall, in addition to any other penalties, be ineligible to receive future vacancy credits. Failure to apply for continuation of services within seven days of the renewed occupancy of the premises shall result in charges being imposed for sanitary sewer services without regard for any period of vacancy. (Ord. 016/2021 § 2)