HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2025-50 - Amending Code in Section 13.04.220 and 13.04.340 relating to Miscellaneous Utility FeesORDINANCE NO. 7bZ5- 5a
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, AMENDING SECTIONS
13.04.220 AND 13.04340 CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATED
TO MISCELLANEOUS UTILITY ACCOUNT FEES AND
CHARGES; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Charter grants the City Council the authority to adopt and amend
ordinances necessary for the management of City and fiscal operations; and
WHEREAS, City Staff conducted a review of miscellaneous utility account fees and
charges as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget process; and
WHEREAS, the proposed revisions reflect updated service costs and include the creation
of a standalone Same Day Connect Fee for improved transparency and cost recovery; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to amend certain
miscellaneous utility fees and adopt proposed fees, effective for all utility services provided
on and after October 1, 2025;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was conducted in
compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.
Section 2. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby
found and declared to be true and correct and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly
made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim.
Section 3. Section 13.04.220 "Other services and charges —All utility services" of the
Code of Ordinances is hereby amended and replaced as shown in Exhibit A attached hereto and
incorporated herein.
Section 4. Section 13.04.240 "Damaging, bypassing, connecting, tampering, etc., of
meters" of the Code of Ordinances is hereby amended and replaced as shown in Exhibit B
attached hereto and incorporated herein.
Section 5. All ordinances or resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
are hereby repealed, and all other ordinances or resolutions of the City not in conflict with the
provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
Ordinance Number: ?0L5 Page 1 of 5
Description: K1SG ,
Date Approved:
5t.� q 1 ZaZ5
Section 6. If any provision of this ordinance, or application thereof, to any person or
circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or
application thereof, of this ordinance, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.
Section 7. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to
attest. This Ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect on October 1, 2025
in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter of the City of Georgetown.
PASSED AND APPROVED on First Reading on the 2ptx. of , 2025.
PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the q&of 4��'
2025.
CITY OF GEORGETOWN. TEXAS
Robyn De smore, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
e �
n�
SkyeAlasson, Uty Attorney
Ordinance Number: Page 2 of 5
Description:
Date Approved:
F.X14MIT A
Sec. 13.04.220. Other services and charges —All utility services.
A. New account set-up or transfer account fee: $80.00. In order to transfer utilities from one
location to another, any outstanding bill on the current account must be paid prior to
transfer. The final bill for the original account will be transferred to and payable on the due
date of the new account.
B. Reconnection of Service fee:$100.00. This fee applies to same day service reconnection
requests if received by 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday excluding weekends and City holidays.
C. After Hours Reconnection of Service fee:$130.00. This fee applies to same day service
reconnection requests received after 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday and is applicable to utility
meter connects and reconnects taking place any time other than Monday —Friday 8:00 a.m.
- 5:00 p.m. including weekends and City holidays.
D. Customer Service Processing Fee: $75.00. This charge is for the processing and review of
required inspections needed outside the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction in connection with
water utility service.
E. Repayment Plan Administration fee: $15.00. Payment plans are approved on a case -by -case
basis for unique circumstances such as a substantial water leak or substantial electric
equipment malfunction. The City Utilities allow customers the ability to pay the balance
owed in up to six monthly installments. The monthly installments will be added to the
customer's monthly utility bill and any default by the customer will terminate the repayment
plan and service will be disconnected if payment is not made in full by the customer.
F. Same Day Service fee: $230.00. This fee applies when a customer requests new utility
service connections, move -ins, or move -outs to be completed on the same calendar day as
the request is submitted. Standard service requests require a minimum of two business days'
notice. The Same Day Service Fee covers the additional costs associated with expedited
scheduling, staffing, and equipment necessary to fulfill the request on an accelerated basis.
G. Exceptions/Fees.
1. Disconnection by Non -City Entity. Determined by entity disconnecting utility service.
Payment is to be made to the City, in addition to the Final Notice Fee and past due
balance. The City will reimburse the Non -City entity for the Disconnection Fee.
2. Late Penalty Waiver.
a. A customer who is 60 years of age or older may request, in writing, a standing
waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late
payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be
recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late
notice will result in disconnection. Age must be verifiable. Waiver applies only to
the account holder or their spouse.
b. An industrial or larger customer, with an existing contract or development
agreement with the City, may enter an additional contract with the City to waive
Ordinance Number: Page 3 of 5
Description:
Date Approved:
late penalties in return for specific payment arrangements. Late payments will still
initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-
payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result
in disconnection.
A customer who is disabled, as authorized by the Federal Social Security
Administration, may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for
utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late
notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the
utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in
disconnection. A customer's disabled status must be verified by an Award Letter
from the Social Security Administration. Waiver applies only to the account
holder or their spouse.
Ordinance Number: Page 4 of 5
Description:
Date Approved:
EXHIBIT B
Sec. 13.04.240. Damaging, bypassing, connecting, tampering, etc., of meters.
A. It is unlawful for any person to damage, destroy, connect, tamper or otherwise, in any way,
interfere with the operation of utility meters or meter reading equipment within the City,
including but not limited to the tampering, adjustment, connection, breakage, or removal of
any seals, and including any hookup or connections that have the effect of bypassing a
meter or meters, so that a customer is receiving utility service of any character by virtue of
such hookup or connection.
B. There shall be a presumption that the utility customer, as shown by City records, was the
party who has damaged, destroyed, connected or otherwise tampered with such meter or
appurtenances, as prohibited in this Section, but such presumption shall be rebuttable.
C. Meter Tampering Fine:$880.00. This fee shall be assessed for any violation of the
provisions of this Section, with each violation constituting a separate offense. This fee shall
be in addition to any costs accrued for the replacement or repair of damaged meters or meter
reading equipment, or unbilled consumption.
Ordinance Number: Page 5 of 5
Description:
Date Approved:
Sec. 13.04.220. Other services and charges —All utility services.
A. New account set-up or transfer account fee: 80.0 in order to transfer utilities from one location to Deleted: $75.00
another, any outstanding bill on the current account must be paid prior to transfer. The final bill for the
original account will be transferred to and payable on the due date of the new account.
B. Reconnection of Service fee', , This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests if received
by 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday excluding weekends and City holidays.
C. After Hours Reconnection of Service fee• 130.0 This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests
received after 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday and is applicable to utility meter connects and reconnects taking
place any time other than Monday —Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. including weekends and City holidays.
D. Customer Service Processing Fee: $75.00. This charge is for the processing and review of required inspections
needed outside the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction in connection with water utility service.
E. Repayment Plan Administration fee: $15.00. Payment plans are approved on a case -by -case basis for unique
circumstances such as a substantial water leak or substantial electric equipment malfunction. The City
Utilities allow customers the ability to pay the balance owed in up to six monthly installments. The monthly
installments will be added to the customer's monthly utility bill and any default by the customer will
terminate the repayment plan and service will be disconnected if payment is not made in full by the
customer.
�. ?pme_Uoy Service fed V30.00. this lee applies when a customer requests new utility service connections.
move -ins, or move -outs to be completed on the same calendar day as the request i$ submitted. Standard
service requests require a minimum of two bjoiness days' notice. The Same Day Service Fee covers the
additmnal costs associate5l yv_ph expedited scheduhn2, ut (f -- and equipment necessary to fulfill the
re -quest on an accelerated basis.
Exceptions/Fees.
1. Disconnection by Non -City Entity. Determined by entity disconnecting utility service. Payment is to be
made to the City, in addition to the Final Notice Fee and past due balance. The City will reimburse the
Non -City entity for the Disconnection Fee.
2. Late Penalty Waiver.
A customer who is 60 years of age or older may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late
penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late
notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by
the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. Age must be verifiable. Waiver
applies only to the account holder or their spouse.
b. An industrial or larger customer, with an existing contract or development agreement with the
City, may enter an additional contract with the City to waive late penalties in return for specific
payment arrangements. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment
history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late
notice will result in disconnection.
C. A customer who is disabled, as authorized by the Federal Social Security Administration, may
request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their
due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be
recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result
in disconnection. A customer's disabled status must be verified by an Award Letter from the
Social Security Administration. Waiver applies only to the account holder or their spouse.
Page 1 of 2
Deleted:
Deleted: $95.00
Deleted:
Deleted: $125.00
Formatted: Font:
Not Bold
Formatted: Font:
Not Bold
Formatted: Font:
Not Bold
Formatted: Font:
Not Bold, Not Italic
Deleted: F.
Sec. 13.04.240. Damaging, bypassing, connecting, tampering, etc., of meters.
A. It is unlawful for any person to damage, destroy, connect, tamper or otherwise, in any way, interfere with
the operation of utility meters or meter reading equipment within the City, including but not limited to the
tampering, adjustment, connection, breakage, or removal of any seals, and including any hookup or
connections that have the effect of bypassing a meter or meters, so that a customer is receiving utility
service of any character by virtue of such hookup or connection.
B. There shall be a presumption that the utility customer, as shown by City records, was the party who has
damaged, destroyed, connected or otherwise tampered with such meter or appurtenances, as prohibited in
this Section, but such presumption shall be rebuttable.
C. Meter Tampering Fine. This fee shall be assessed for any violation of the provisions of this Section,
with each violation constituting a separate offense. This fee shall be in addition to any costs accrued for the
replacement or repair of damaged meters or meter reading equipment, or unbilled consumption.
Page 2 of 2
Deleted:
Deleted: $585.00