CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to Seattle Public Utilities; updating water regulations to conform to current standards; making technical corrections; and amending Section 21.04.480 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, Seattle Public Utilities fosters healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy by partnering with the community to equitably manage water and wastewater resources for today and for future generations; and
WHEREAS, portions of the City’s Water Code, Subtitle I of Title 21 of the Seattle Municipal Code, are outdated and need revision to ensure Seattle Public Utilities is transparent about when its customers will be billed based on estimated water usage; and
WHEREAS, it serves the public interest for the City to update provisions of its code to be consistent with current terminology and practices; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 21.04.480 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 118396, is amended as follows:
21.04.480 Meters-Property of City-Failure to register properly
All meters, unless otherwise authorized by the Director, shall ((be and)) remain the property of the City and will not be removed unless the use of water on the premises is ((to be entirely)) stopped, or the service connection is discontinued or abandoned. In all cases where meters are lost, ((injured)) damaged, or broken by carelessness or negligence of owners or occupants of premises, they shall be replaced or repaired by or under the direction of the Director and the cost charged against the owner or occupant. ((, and in)) In case of nonpayment of service charges, the water shall be shut off in accordance with Section 21.04.250 and will not be turned on until such charges and the charge for turning on the water are paid as required by Section 21.04.470. In the event of the meter ((getting out of order or)) failing to register properly or where the City is unable to obtain a meter read for any other reason, the consumer shall be charged on an estimate made by the Director based on the average ((monthly consumption during the last three months that the same was in good order or from what he may consider to be the most reliable data at his command)) historical water consumption from the same period of time the year prior, post-repair consumption, or other reliable data available.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2021.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ________ day of _________________, 2021.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)