ORD 25-003Ordinance 25-003
ORDINANCE NO. 25-003
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CAMAS, WASHING TON,
RELATED TO UTILITY BILLING AND AMENDING
CHAPTERS 13.40, 13.44, AND 13.64 OF THE CAMAS
MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMAS DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section I
Section 13.40.020, Subsection B -Meter -Reading is hereby amended to provide as
follows:
B. Other than regularly scheduled reading of water meters, water meters may be read by the city on
the day a notice of change of tenancy or ownership is delivered to the city or as close as possible to
such day as required in CMC 13.44.040.
Section II
Section 13.44.010, Subsections A. and D. -Charges -Metered Service -Billing intervals
is hereby amended to provide as follows:
A. All residential and most commercial water services shall be billed at regular intervals and shall be
due and payable on the twenty-first day of each month following billing. Such billings shall be
delinquent on the twenty-sixth day of the month following billing.
D. There shall be a penalty on all delinquent accounts assessed at the rate of five percent of the
outstanding balance.
Section III
Section 13.44.015, Subsection B. -Billing Liability Rental Properties is hereby amended
to provide as follows:
B. Except as hereinafter provided, all billings for utility services provided by the city shall be mailed
to the record owner of the subject property at the record owner's address. In the event that billings are
sent to a tenant or agent of the owner, the billing will become the responsibility of the tenant or agent
as well as the property owner, and each can be held jointly and severally liable for such billing.
Ordinance 25-003
Section IV
Section 13.44.020, Subsection A. -Nonpayment-Shutoff-Hearing-Disconnection
Fees is hereby amended to provide as follows:
A. Whenever any charge for furnishing water and/or sewer services to any premises is not paid in full
by the twenty-sixth day of the month following billing, the finance department shall give notice to the
person or persons billed for such services at the address shown in the city's billing records of the city's
intent to discontinue service if payment is not made. Such notice shall contain the following
information:
1. The amount of the charges owing;
2. A statement that the person billed may request a hearing to contest the amount or validity
of the charges;
3. A statement that if the charges are not paid in full or a hearing requested within ten days of
the notice, the city will disconnect the service of water to such premises.
Section V
Section 13.44.040, Subsection A. -Service Termination is hereby amended to provide as
follows:
A. Each customer about to vacate any premises supplied with water service by the city shall give
notice of their intended removal at least two days prior thereto; specifying the date change-in-
ownership or tenancy actually occurred, otherwise, they will be responsible for all water supplied to
the premises until the city water department has notice of such removal.
Section VI
Section 13.64.060 -Sewer Volume Charges is hereby amended to provide as follows:
The sewer volume charges for each residential customer from November 1 through February 28 shall
be based upon that customer's actual water consumption during that period. The four billing cycles
between November I through February 28 shall be the customer's "four billing cycle water
consumption history." The sewer volume charges for each residential unit for the remainder of the
year shall be based on the average water consumption in the previous "four billing cycle water
consumption history." Zero water consumption in any of the four water consumption history billing
periods shall not constitute a "complete four billing cycle water consumption history."
A. Residential customers that have a "complete four billing cycle water consumption history" as
specified above shall be charged the applicable inside city or outside city monthly sewer charge and
volume charge as set forth in the chart in Section 13.64.010 above.
B. Residential customers that do not have a "complete four billing cycle water consumption history"
as specified above, shall be charged the applicable inside city or outside city monthly service charge
set forth in Section 13.64.010 and a volume charge equivalent to seven hundred cubic feet of water
usage as the monthly sewer billing rate.
Ordinance 25-003
C. Residential customers may apply for a reduction in sewer rates when, due to a qualifying leak as
defined in Section 13.44.030, the sewer charge is substantially increased. The amount of the reduction
shall be calculated in the same manner as a water leak credit as set forth in Section 13.44.030.
Section VII
This ordinance shall take force and be in effect five (5) days from and after its publication
according to law.
PASSED BY the Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this th day of April 2025.
A&nl form
City Attorney
SIGNED: Cl-~---:>=
Clerk