[1]
Editor's note—Ord. No. 1487, § 1, adopted Dec. 15, 2009, amended the former Art. IV, §§ 102-400—102-405, and enacted a new Art. IV as set out herein. The former Art. IV pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 828, §§ 1(A)—(D), 2, 3, adopted Apr. 25, 1989; Ord. No. 1084, §§ 1—3, adopted June 9, 1998; Ord. No. 1088, adopted July 28, 1998; Ord. No. 1119, § 1, adopted Aug. 24, 1999.
A special account titled municipal utility bill surcharge revenue account shall be established and maintained by the city for the purpose of collecting a voluntary monthly surcharge on municipal utility bills. Each utility customer may opt out of the said voluntary monthly surcharge.
(Ordinance 1486, § 2, 12-1-09; Ordinance 1487, § 1, 12-15-09; Ordinance 1951 adopted 9/10/2024)
(a) 
Single unit customer.
The voluntary surcharge in the amount of $3.00 per municipal utility bill per month is hereby established for each non-wholesale/non-multi unit, single unit customer.
(b) 
Multi-unit customer.
The voluntary surcharge in the amount of $23.00 for each meter connection, plus $0.27 for each space, room, apartment, condominium or like multiple units, per municipal utility bill per month, is hereby established for each non-single unit/non-wholesale multi-unit customer. Multi-unit customers shall include but are not limited to RV parks, apartments, condominiums, hotels/motels, and shopping centers.
(c) 
Wholesale customer.
The voluntary surcharge per municipal utility bill per month is hereby established for each wholesale customer in an amount equal to the sum of $3.00 per each single unit served, plus $0.27 for each space, room, apartment, condominium or like multiple units served by the wholesale customer. Wholesale customers shall include all contracted resale customers being charged the wholesale water rate.
(Ordinance 1486, § 2, 12-1-09; Ordinance 1487, § 1, 12-15-09; Ordinance 1509, § 1, 8-24-10; Ordinance 1919 adopted 12/13/2023; Ordinance 1951 adopted 9/10/2024)
Use of the revenues resulting from the municipal utility bill surcharge may be spent in any manner deemed fit by the Rockport, Fulton and Lamar Volunteer Fire Departments.
(Ordinance 1486, § 2, 12-1-09; Ordinance 1487, § 1, 12-15-09; Ordinance 1977 adopted 6/10/2025)
(a) 
Allocation of revenues.
The city shall retain 2% of all surcharge revenues collected for the purpose of administration of the surcharge. On or before October 15, of each year the city shall disburse the fund balance to the Rockport, Fulton and Lamar Volunteer Fire Departments as follows:
(1) 
Fulton Volunteer Fire Department, 23%;
(2) 
Rockport Volunteer Fire Department, 77%; and
(3) 
Lamar Volunteer Fire Department will receive funds generated from the municipal utility service accounts (natural gas) on the Lamar Peninsula.
(b) 
Required reporting.
The Rockport, Fulton and Lamar Volunteer Fire Departments must present an annual report to the Rockport City Council outlining the use of the funds from the prior disbursement on or before the second regularly scheduled city council meeting of the month of October. Funds held by each volunteer fire department must be maintained in a fully insured account. No fire department is obligated to spend the funds allocated to them every year. Funds may carry over from year to year.
(Ordinance 1486, § 2, 12-1-09; Ordinance 1487, § 1, 12-15-09; Ordinance 1919 adopted 12/13/2023)
(a) 
Should any fire department misuse the funds allocated to them under this article the council shall have the option of:
(1) 
Requiring a repayment of a like amount to the municipal utility bill surcharge revenue account;
(2) 
Deducting a like amount from the next annual disbursement, with the funds remaining in the municipal utility bill surcharge revenue account; or
(3) 
Deducting a like amount from the next annual disbursement and adding that amount to the disbursement to the other volunteer fire department.
(Ordinance 1486, § 2, 12-1-09; Ordinance 1487, § 1, 12-15-09; Ordinance 1918 adopted 12/13/2023; Ordinance 1951 adopted 9/10/2024)
The allocation of municipal utility surcharge revenues outlined above shall be reviewed by the Rockport and Fulton Fire Chiefs during the budget process on even numbered years. The allocation of revenues may be reviewed and amended sooner upon a receipt of a written request from both the Rockport Fire Chief and the Fulton Fire Chief. To the extent possible, the allocation of municipal utility surcharge revenue shall be based upon the percentage of actual municipal utility accounts for Rockport and for Fulton, excluding all accounts within dual response areas of Rockport and Fulton.
(Ordinance 1486, § 2, 12-1-09; Ordinance 1487, § 1, 12-15-09)