10019-10 Amend Code - Ch 17 Sewer Rates & Charges through 2013

Home Browse Search

BILL N0.26-10 (SUBSTITUTE) ORDINANCE NO. ` ~~`~ ~~ ~ AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE 2, OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADJUST SEWER RATES AND CHARGES INCREMENTALLY THROUGH 2013 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT On November 28, 2005 South Bend enacted a sewer rate adjustment through Ordinance #9639-OS which set rates for the years 2006 through 2009. At this time the 2009 rates in Ordinance #9639-OS apply to South Bend's sewer utility customers. ,South Bend is under a mandate from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to greatly reduce combined sewage overflow (CSO) events in the St. Joseph River in compliance with the Clean Water Act. The cost of meeting this mandate and protecting the St. Joseph River is substantial, and South Bend has prudently planned for this remediation through a 20 year environmental infrastructure improvement and replacement process. The cost of river protection through improvements to the sewage utility's infrastructure is financed through sewer rates, and South Bend's current rates are inadequate to cover EPA mandated changes to the City's sewage treatment system. Additionally, South Bend's basic costs of operation and maintenance of its sewer utility have increased despite innovative cost savings programs initiated by the City's Environmental Services Department. It, therefore, becomes necessary to increase sewage utility rates across the board for all users and it is prudent to do so on an incremental basis to correspond with expected increased costs of Clean Water Act remediation, and the expected increased costs of general operation and maintenance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND as follows: Section I. Chapter 17, Article 2, Division 4, Section 17-20 of the South Bend Municipal Code be and hereby is amended to read as follows: