HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-05-18 City Council (8)City
City of Palo Alto
’04- ’05
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTLITIES
ATTENTION:FINANCE COMMITTEE
DATE:MAY 18, 2004 CMR:275:04
SUBJECT:APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION REVISING RATE
SCHEDULE S-2 TO CREATE NEW OPTIONS FOR
BUSINESSES NEEDING INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER
DISCHARGEPERMITS.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution revising Rate
Schedule S-2 effective July 1, 2004 to create new payment levels for businesses requiring
Industrial Discharge Permits.
BACKGROUND
Utility Rate Schedule S-2 currently includes a single fee ($750) for businesses required to
obtain and operate under an Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit. A different, lower
amount ($250) is charged for a one-time (batch) discharge.
DISCUSSION
Palo Alto has approximately 50 permitted industries, with each permit issued for a 3-yea~gr~~
period, and between 15 and 20 issued in any one year. To more closely reflect the~true
administrative costs of processing the discharge permits and accurately categorize
businesses, staff is proposing to establish additional fee options to those businesses
discharging to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP).
The proposed fees would increase for large dischargers and decrease for small and
medium dischargers. Large dischargers would now be charged $1,250, mid-sized
dischargers (without high-strength wastewater) would be charged $750, and small
CMR:275:04 Page 1 of 2
dischargers (such as small research facilities and laboratories) would be charged $250.
One-time batch discharges would continue to be charged $250.
RESOURCE IMPACT
It is anticipated that the changes to Rate Schedule S-2 will not affect the budget of the
RWQCP (net effect will be close to zero).
POLICY IMPLICATION
This recommendation does not represent a change in current City policies.
TIMELINE
The effective date of the recommendation is July 1, 2004.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The adoption of the resolution does not constitute a project under the California
Environmental Air Quality Act; therefore, no environmental assessment is required.
ATTACHMENTS
A:Resolution
B:Utility Rate Schedule S-2
PREPARED BY:
Assistant Director, Cu~Services.
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
of Utilities
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR:275:04 Page 2 of 2
***NOT YET APPROVED***
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO AMENDING UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE S-2 OF THE
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES RATES AND CHARGES
PERTAINING TO WASTEWATER RATES
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION i. Pursuant to Section 12.20.010 of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code, Utility Rate Schedule S-2 (Commercial
Wastewater Collection and Disposal) is hereby amended to read in
accordance with sheet S-2-2, attached hereto and incorporated
herein. The foregoing Utility Rate Schedule, as amended, shall
become effective July i, 2004.
SECTION 2. The Council finds that the revenue derived
from the authorized adoption enumerated herein shall be used
only for the purposes set forth in Article VII, Section 2, of
the Charter of the City of Palo Alto.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that the adoption of this
resolution does not constitute a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act, California Public Resources Code
section 21080, subdivision (b) (8).
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
APPROVED:
Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager
Director of Utilities
040426 cl 0072393
Director of Administrative
Services
COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
o All Other Establishments
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE S-2
(Continued)
(A) Minimum Charge per connection per month .................................................$19.25
(B)Quantity Rates:
Based on metered water per 100 cubic feet ...................................................$ 4.17
SPECIAL NOTES:
Upon application from establishments maintaining extensive irrigated landscaping, the
monthly charge will be based upon the average water usage for the months of January,
February and March. If a water meter is identified as exclusively serving irrigation
landscaping, such meter will be exempted from sewer charge calculations.
Sewage metering facilities may be required, in which case sen, ice will be governed by ternas
of a special agreement.
Charges for large discharges (25,000 gallons per day or greater) will be determined on the
basis of sampling as outlined in Utilities Rule and Regulation 23C. However, for purposes
of arriving at an accurate flow estimate, discharge meters, if installed, can be utilized to
measure outflow for billing purposes. Annual charges will be determined and allocated
monthly for billing purposes.
Dischargers of Unmetered Contaminated Groundwater
Quantity rates for collection and treatment of the contaminated groundwater will be based
on the same rates applicable to metered usage for customers discharging less than 25,000
gallons of sewage per day. Discharge permits are issued by the Environmental Compliance
Manager at the Water Quality Control Plant, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto.
Industrial Waste Discharge Fee
The following fees will be required for the issuance of an Industrial Discharge Permit,
including any Exceptional Waste Permits (This fee may be reduced to $250 for a one-time
batch discharge permit).:
(A)
(B)
(C)
Small, non-categorical facilities .........................................................$250
Non-categorical / small categorical with
only minor pollutant concerns ......................................................$750
Categorical or Significant Industriats Users
with ability to impact the RWQCP ..............................................$1,250
/End}
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES
Issued by the City Council
Supersedes Sheet No.S-2-2 dated 7-1-2003 CITY OF PALO ALTO
UTILITIES
Effective 7-1-2004
Sheet No. S-2-2