§ 13.16.030. Pass-through charges.

A.

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings and definitions as follows:

"Consumer" means either a residential or commercial person, firm, corporation, organization and/or entity whose property is now or hereafter connected to the waterworks system and/or a water meter of the city. For purposes of this Code, adult family members such as husband and wife or son and mother, who live at the same location as a family are jointly considered to be a single consumer and are jointly and severally liable for the account. For a husband/wife consumer, any utility account is considered a community debt under community property law.

"Edwards Aquifer Authority management fee" is the amount of a fee expressed in dollars per acre foot of water that the Edwards Aquifer Authority charges the city per year for each acre foot of water that the city withdraws per year from the Edwards Aquifer for management purposes.

"Habitat conservation plan fee" is the amount of a fee expressed in dollars per acre foot of water that the Edwards Aquifer Authority charges the city per year for each acre foot of water that the city withdraws per year from the Edwards Aquifer for the purpose of funding the habitat conservation plan.

"Pass-through charge and/or fee" is the charge and/or fee that the city will charge each consumer in addition to the water bill that the city charges each consumer. The fee will be applied to multi-unit residential and commercial consumers by multiplying the charge and/or fee by the number of dwelling or business units to determine the total amount due.

B.

Calculation of the Pass-Through Charge and/or Fee. Each time the Edwards Aquifer Authority charges a management fee to the city, the city manager will divide the total amount of the management fee by the average number of gallons used by the city in the previous three years. The answer of such division is then divided by the number of months remaining in the calendar year and the result will be the pass-through charge and/or fee that will be charged each month to each consumer per gallon of water consumed in addition to the water bill of the consumer. The city manager may make adjustments to this calculation to take into account any Edwards Aquifer water that has been contracted down, leased, contributed to conservation, or otherwise will not be subject to management fees. In addition, any rebates received from prior year management fees may be used to offset current year fees, subject to the approval of the city council.

C.

Each time the Edwards Aquifer Authority charges a habitat conservation plan fee to the city, the city manager will divide the total amount of the habitat conservation plan fee by the number of consumers in the city. The answer of such division is then divided by the number of months remaining in the calendar year and the result will be the pass-through charge and/or fee that will be charged each month to each consumer in addition to the water bill of the consumer.

D.

Collection. The pass-through charge and/or fee will be charged and collected from each consumer with and in addition to the water bill of each consumer no less frequently than monthly.

(Ord. No. 2014-08 , § 2, 3-25-2014; Ord. No. 2012-23, 10-9-2012; Ord. No. 2012-06, § 1, 3-6-2012; Ord. 2000-09 §§ 1—3)