Title 13 Public Utilities and Services
Chapter 13.01 General Provisions
Section 13.01.0303 Implementation of Rate Changes – Temporary Administrat
iv e Authority
Section 19(b) of the City Charter provides that an ordinance becomes effectiv e thirty days after enactment unless a later date is specified, with exceptions thereto listed in section 19(a) of the City Charter . Section 16 of the City Charter provides for an enactment process. Generally, municipal utility budgets are planned over a calendar year and it is the city council’s and mayor’s intention that utility rates be effectiv e for said entire calendar year to the extent administrativ ely feasible and convenient, unless specifically provided for otherwise.
Due to a variety of factors, the city council and mayor do not always resolve the utility rates ordinance enactment process a full thirty days prior to January 1st of an intended utility budget year. Accordingly, the director of public works and utilities or administrativ e head of the three utility enterprise operations is delegated administrativ e authority to set temporary administrativ e rates in accord with a utility rates schedule prepared by said official for enactment by the city council and mayoral approval thereafter, pending completion of the enactment process.
Such administrativ e authority may be exercised not to exceed the shorter of ninety days or until any utility rates for a calendar year have been enacted and become effectiv e for a giv en calendar year.
Nothing herein affects the requirements of advance notice of solid waste rate changes as provided in RCW 35.21.157 or RCW 70.95.212, but the director may giv e notice of rates proposed for adoption in fulfillment of such statutory requirements prior to a final effectiv e date.
Date Passed: Monday, October 15, 2007
Effectiv e Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Recodification ORD C34122 Section 1