Establishing new schedule of Rates and charges for services rendered by the city water works and the amending of Chapter 17, article 4, Section 17-45 and 17-46

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./ ~~ f• BILL NO. ORDINANCE NO. U U 17' l U AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND ESTABLISHING A NEW SCHEDULE OF RATES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND WATER WORKS AND THE AMENDING OF CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE 4, SECTIONS 17-45 and 17-46 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The City of South Bend, Indiana last established a schedule of rates and charges for services rendered by the Water Works by Ordinance No. 8357-93 which was passed on February 22,1993. Municipal Consultants, a financial consultant to the Board of Water Works commissioners, has carefully reviewed the Cit~s rates and charges and has determined that an increase in such rates and charges is necessary to continue to provide quality services. The Common Council has determined that in order to meet the statutory requirements as provided in Section 8-1.5-3-8, it is necessary that the rates and charges be increased for services rendered by the Water Works of the City of South Bend. On June 23,1997, the Common Council enacted Ordinance No. 8798-97 authorizing an increase in the rates and charges assessed for services provided by the South Bend Water Works. The effectuation of Ordinance No. 8798-97, however, was contingent upon those particular rate an charge adjustments being approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Commission) of the State of Indiana. On January 21,1998, the Commission issued its final Order in the South Bend Rate and Financing Proceeding; Cause No. 40885. The Commission approved an increase in the rates and charges assessed by the South Bend Water Works, but the increase in the rates and charges approved in the Commission s Order differed slightly from the increase approved by the Common Council in Ordinance No. 8798-97 and, as a result, Ordinance No. 8798-97 is ineffective as an act of the Common Council. I.C. 8-1.5- 3-8 requires that rates and charges be approved by both the Commission and the Common Council by ordinance. The purpose of this Ordinance is, therefore, to establish a schedule of rates and charges that is identical to the schedule of rates and charges approved by the Commission in its Order of January 21,1998.