As used in this chapter the following words and phrases shall mean:
"City Manager"
means the duly appointed City Manager of the City of The Dalles or authorized designee.
"City standard"
means the quality of materials and standards for sizing and design adopted formally or informally for the construction of improvements to be added to, or served from, the City water system.
"Customer"
means the person, persons, firm, association, partnership, corporation or entity whose application for service has been approved by the City of The Dalles, who uses the water service provided by the City of The Dalles and agrees to comply with the City's rules and regulations for providing water service.
"Department"
means the Public Works Department of the City of The Dalles.
"Director"
means the Director of the Public Works Department of the City of The Dalles or authorized designee.
"Finance Director"
means the Director of the Finance Department of the City of The Dalles or authorized designee.
(Ord. 17-1358)
All rates, fees and charges shall be set by the City Council by resolution, except as provided in this section. Rates and fees in effect upon the date of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall remain in effect until modified, suspended, or repealed by resolution of the City Council. Fees may include, but are not limited to the following:
A. 
Water Rate Charges. All customers shall be charged monthly for water service provided by the City of The Dalles in accordance with rates established by the City Council by resolution. The rate structure shall be designed to ensure charges are only imposed upon customers who request water service from the City of The Dalles.
B. 
System Development Charge. Pursuant to Chapter 3.08, a system development charge shall be levied upon each new building, structure, or fixture unit attached to the water system at the time of initial attachment, or upon resizing of a connection to accommodate a new service pipe larger than three-quarter-inch inside diameter.
C. 
Account Set Up Fee. An account set up fee, set by City Council resolution, will be added to the customer's first billing after the account has been opened.
D. 
Bad Check Fee. A bad check fee, set by City Council resolution, may be charged for each check or draft not paid upon presentment by the customer's bank or financial institution. The fee shall be in an amount set by the Council by resolution. The Finance Department shall have the right to waive this fee upon receipt of proof that dishonor by the bank or financial institution was improper.
E. 
Special Service Fee. A special service fee in an amount set by the Council by resolution may be charged when:
1. 
The Department is requested to turn on or turn off service on a temporary basis.
2. 
The Department provides a lockout service for non-payment of fees or charges or for failure to abide by City ordinances, rules and regulations, or State or Federal laws.
3. 
Under other circumstances designated by the City Council.
4. 
A customer requests the City to check the accuracy of a meter.
F. 
Surcharge. A surcharge is a temporary increase in a service charge imposed on a uniform basis upon all classes of customers to meet emergencies or to vitiate the effects of cash flow problems. The Council shall set surcharges by resolution. The resolution setting a surcharge shall identify the emergency or problem to be corrected, state the total amount to be raised, give the rate of surcharge imposed, and give the beginning and ending dates of the surcharge.
G. 
Construction Fees. The cost of constructing stubs (from a main to the property served) or construction of any appurtenance, which construction is requested by the customer, shall be borne by the customer. If work is to be performed by the City, the City shall require advanced payment sufficient to cover all estimated fees and costs prior to performing the work. Fees and charges for work performed by City crews shall be set by the Director. The fees shall not exceed the actual cost of construction, including, but not limited to, material, labor, equipment, design, legal, and administrative expenses. Upon completion of the work, the customer shall pay any costs over the advanced payment amount, or shall be refunded any of the advanced payment over the actual costs.
H. 
Delinquent Charge. A delinquent charge, in an amount to be set by Council by resolution, shall be imposed pursuant to Section 3.04.090 of this chapter, for each month in which the customer is delinquent in making payment.
(Ord. 17-1358)
All connection and monthly utility charges become a lien against the premises served from and after the date of billing and entry in the City lien docket. The lien docket shall be made accessible for inspection by any-one interested in ascertaining the amount of the charges against the property. When a bill for water service remains unpaid 60 days after billing, the lien thereby created may be foreclosed in the manner provided for by ORS 223.610, or in any other manner provided by law, this chapter, or other City ordinance.
(Ord. 17-1358)
A. 
Any person, persons, firm, association, partnership, corporation or entity desiring to be served water from the City system shall submit an application in writing upon a form supplied by the City. Residential property owners shall maintain the utility accounts in their own names. Property owners who wish to rent their property and have the water service account held in the name of a renter, or a property management company, must sign a form provided by the City stating that they, as the property owner, will be responsible for the utility bills for their property in the event the renter, or property management company, does not pay those bills. Where a renter has applied for a discounted rate through the Community Action Program, the account may be in the renter's name, provided the property owner signs a form stating they will be responsible for the utility bills for their property in the event the renter does not pay those bills.
B. 
Open residential accounts that are in the name of a renter or property management company as of the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter may remain in the name of the renter or the property management company as long as the account remains in a current status or is closed. If the account in the name of a renter or property management company is closed, that account may only be reconnected in the name of the property owner, or if the property owner signs a form stating they will be responsible for the utility charges for their property as described above. If the account in the name of the renter or property management company is disconnected for nonpayment, the account must be paid in full, after which it may only be reconnected in the name of the property owner, or if the property owner signs a form stating they will be responsible for the utility charges for their property as described above.
C. 
The application shall include a service agreement whereby the customer shall agree to comply with all rules and regulations adopted by the City for the provision of water service, including notification to the City of any change in the customer's billing address. Applications shall be accompanied by proof of identity and shall be signed by the customer. Proof of identity must be established by providing documentation as required in the City's Identity Theft Program and procedures to comply with Federal regulations and laws relating to utility billing.
(Ord. 17-1358)
A. 
Applications shall be processed by the Finance Department. An application may be denied for any of the following reasons:
1. 
The application is incomplete, not signed by the customer, or is illegible.
2. 
The application requests service to a property location which would be difficult or impossible to provide without obtaining right-of-way or extending trunk or laterals.
3. 
The application requests service to a property that has a delinquent water or sewer account with the City either in the property owner's name or where there is a signed agreement by the property owner to be responsible for utility charges for that property incurred by a renter in the event the renter fails to pay the utility charges.
4. 
The application requests service to a customer who has a delinquent water or sewer account with the City.
5. 
The property where the water service will be provided is located outside the City limits, unless extension of water service is authorized by the City Council.
6. 
The City's water system will be unable to supply the demand created by the proposed use without the acquisition of new sources of water, or capital improvements to the existing system.
7. 
The customer has been convicted for a violation of water or sewer ordinances or rules, or a violation of water restrictions.
8. 
The plumbing on the premises where services will be provided does not meet the standards required by City, State, or Federal law.
B. 
Persons whose applications are denied shall be notified in writing. The notice shall state the reasons for denial, and explain the applicant's right of appeal. Persons whose application has been denied under paragraph (A)(2) of this section shall be informed of the procedure for creating a local improvement district to extend existing mains or laterals. Notice of denial shall be mailed by the Finance Department to the applicant's address as shown on the application. Notice shall be effective as of the date of mailing, and the date of mailing shall be noted on the application.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Service to any customer may be terminated upon any of the following events:
A. 
The purity of water in the system cannot be guaranteed.
B. 
In case of emergency or damage by casualty to the system.
C. 
The Finance Department does not have a current application and service agreement for the premises where water is being furnished to a customer.
D. 
Customer has requested termination of service personally, or if a new account is opened for that property for a new owner or renter.
E. 
The customer has failed or refused to allow Department personnel to inspect plumbing, water lines, sewer lines and appurtenances located upon the premises where water is being furnished.
F. 
Customer has served water to a premises or persons in a vehicle or upon premises other than their own or has connected their water to serve another parcel of property, a mobile home or camper without the written consent of the Director, or that an existing connection has not been removed.
G. 
System capacity is no longer sufficient to provide adequate service.
H. 
The City has discontinued its water utility or elected to discontinue service to a portion of its service area.
I. 
The customer's account is past due as a result of non-payment of any charge due and owing.
J. 
The customer owes a past due balance on another utility account with the City which has not been satisfied.
K. 
The customer owes a past due balance for connection charges or service development charges on any property owned by them currently or when the connection was installed.
L. 
The customer has been convicted for a violation of water or sewer ordinances or rules, or a violation of water restrictions.
M. 
The customer's service lock or meter has been tampered with.
N. 
The customer has violated the provisions of Section 3.20.220 concerning cross connection controls.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Notice of termination of service shall be provided by the Finance Department as follows:
A. 
For termination listed in Sections 3.04.060(A)—(D), no advance notice of termination is required.
B. 
For termination listed in Sections 3.04.060(E)—(H) and (J)—(N), a written notice of termination shall be placed on the property receiving the services at least seven days prior to the date of termination of water service. Notices shall state the reason for termination, the earliest date upon which termination may occur, and the appeal rights of the customer.
C. 
For termination listed in Section 3.04.060(I), a written delinquency notice and a notice of termination shall be provided as set forth in Section 3.04.090(B). Notices shall state the reason for termination. These notices are for non-payment only.
D. 
For termination listed in Sections 3.04.060(A) and (B) the Department shall notify customers, by the most practical means possible under the circumstances, of the area of the system affected, the anticipated duration of service interruption, and any recommended precautions for in-home treatment of drinking water. A written notice to each individual customer is not required.
E. 
Notices of termination which are required to be placed upon the premises served shall be deemed effective when placed on the property receiving the services. Notices of termination sent by U.S. Mail shall be effective as of the date of mailing. The effective date of the termination in the second notice of delinquency referenced in Section 3.04.090(B) shall be the date stated in the telephone message or the written notice of termination. Failure of a customer to receive notice of termination shall in no way invalidate a termination action nor extend any period for appeal. This provision does not prevent the City Manager from entertaining a delayed appeal, provided the City Manager in his/her sole discretion finds "good cause" for the delay.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Any person who is aggrieved, by denial of an application for service, by termination of water service, or who disputes the amount of a billing may appeal as follows:
A. 
Informal Appeal (Step 1).
1. 
Within five days of notice of an adverse action on an application, or of a notice of termination described in Section 3.04.090(B), or the mailing of a notice of delinquency described in Section 3.04.090(B), a person aggrieved thereby may appeal informally by presenting himself/herself at the service desk of the Finance Department at City Hall and presenting to the Clerk or person in charge at the desk such matters as the customer or applicant believes entitle him or her to relief, and the relief requested. If the Clerk is satisfied on the basis of the discussion, that the action of the City was in error, the Clerk shall adjust the account accordingly and place a memorandum in the account file explaining the adjustment. If the Clerk does not concur that the department was in error, the Clerk shall inform the aggrieved person of the process to initiate a formal appeal as shown in subsection B of this section.
2. 
If the complaint requires more investigation, the following steps will be taken:
a. 
A review of the consumption history and/or payment history of the customer will be performed.
b. 
As much detail as possible will be provided, along with any historical information, to the Public Works Department, with an accompanying service order.
c. 
The customer will receive information that the Public Works Department will be investigating and, while it may take a few days, the City will follow up with the customer to provide information about the results of the investigation.
d. 
Upon completion of the investigation, if the customer does not concur with the City's findings, the customer shall be informed of the process to initiate a formal appeal per subsection B of this section.
B. 
Formal Appeal (Step 2). Within five calendar days of completion of Step 1, an aggrieved person not satisfied with the decision of the Finance Department may appeal to the City Manager in writing. The appellant may add to their written appeal as many sheets as may be necessary to fully explain the reasons for the appeal. Appellant shall indicate in their appeal whether a hearing is desired.
C. 
Conduct of Formal Appeal Hearings. Within 10 days of the filing of the appeal, the City Manager shall set a time and place for the hearing. Appeal hearings conducted pursuant to this subsection C shall be informal by nature. The appellant shall have the right to appear in person or through an advocate, and to present such testimony, evidence or witnesses as they desire. A representative of the Department and/or Finance Department may also be present and present evidence. No particular rules of evidence shall be followed in the hearing. The City Manager may give evidence presented such weight the City Manager feels it deserves. Cross examination of any party or witness by a person other than the City Manager shall not be allowed, unless the City Manager deems it appropriate and helpful to him or her in reaching his or her decision. Any ground or issue not raised with the City in Step 1 shall be considered to have been waived. In addition to considering matters raised by the appellant at the hearing, the City Manager may examine the records of the Department and/or Finance Department, question department personnel, and seek the advice of legal counsel before rendering a decision. Such actions need not be taken in the presence of the appellant.
D. 
Written Decision, Date of Decision. Following the hearing and any investigation conducted under subsection C of this section, the City Manager shall issue a written decision. The written decision shall be issued within 30 days from the date the appeal is filed. The decision shall be final upon the date that the letter with the decision is deposited in the mail to the appellant at the appellant's address as shown upon the records of the Finance Department.
(Ord. 17-1358)
All monthly charges become a lien on the property when billed. Amounts owed to the City shall be invoiced and paid as follows:
A. 
Utility charges are billed at the end of each month in advance for the following month. Any additional consumption used in the month billed for will be added to the bill for the following month. Utility bills are scheduled to be mailed on the last working day of the month, and expected to be received during the first week of the following month. Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the customer from the responsibility of paying the bill on time.
B. 
Water Charges. All bills for water accounts shall be due and payable upon receipt. Accounts which have not been paid in full by the 20th day of the month for which the bill was sent to the customer for payment, shall begin to accrue interest at the rate of 10% per annum on the 21st day of the applicable month. A written delinquency notice shall be sent indicating that a one and one-half percent penalty will be applied to the account, and that if the delinquent account is not paid in full by the end of the month, the customer will receive a second notice (by telephone or in writing) notifying them of the date service will be terminated if the account is not paid in full. Accounts which have received the second delinquent notice will be assessed a delinquent fee established by a City Council resolution. The second delinquency notice previously referenced will advise the customer that water service will be terminated unless the entire balance due and owing, including interest and delinquent fees, is paid in full within the time period stated in the second delinquency notice.
C. 
System Development Charges. System development charges shall be tendered in full at the time of application for connection to the City water system, at the time a larger service is requested, or at the time units are added to an existing service, in accordance with Chapter 3.08, unless the applicant has received approval for a hardship payment plan.
D. 
Account Set Up Fee. An account set up fee, set by resolution, will be added to the first billing after the account has been opened.
E. 
Bad Check Fee. A bad check fee, set by resolution, shall be due and payable upon notice of dishonor of the check or draft to the department. The fee shall be added to any outstanding indebtedness of the customer.
F. 
Special Service Fees. Special service fees, as estimated, are due and payable in advance of the date service is performed.
G. 
Surcharge. A surcharge is due and payable in the same manner as service charges for water.
H. 
Construction Fees. Deposits for construction are due and payable upon the request for service. Final payment of construction fees is due 15 days after mailing of an invoice. All work performed shall be invoiced within 30 days of completion. Balances over 30 days shall accrue a late charge at the rate of 10% per annum until paid in full.
I. 
Errors in Billing. An error resulting in an account being underbilled or overbilled, such as application of incorrect rate schedule, meter mix-up, or other procedural problems, will be adjusted back to when the error first occurred, or for a period of 24 months, whichever is the lesser. Amounts will be calculated as accurately as possible with estimates used when accurate data is not available.
J. 
Filing a Claim. A customer having a claim against the City for an overpayment due to an error, as set forth in subsection I of this section, shall present the claim, with supporting evidence, to the City Finance Department, within two years from the date the claim accrues. The maximum period for which a refund may be made shall be the 24-month period as set forth in subsection I.
K. 
Rate Adjustment Due to Leaks. Whenever a customer has cause to believe a leak may exist between the meter and the customer's premises, it is the customer's responsibility to contact the Department to allow the Department to determine the existence of the leak. Where a leak exists on the customer's side of the meter and the same is repaired within 10 days after notification to the Department, or within a time schedule approved by the Department, an adjustment in the customer's bill may be made of up to one-half of the total estimated excess consumption over the last 30 days.
(Ord. 17-1358)
All parts of the water system and all service pipes, appurtenances, fixtures and devices attached to the system by any means shall be of a size, quality and construction acceptable to the Director. Fixtures and devices shall conform to the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted by the State of Oregon and the City of The Dalles on the date of connection and such other standards as the Director may, from time to time, impose. When imposing standards, the Director shall be guided by the operating restrictions imposed by system design, good engineering practice, consideration of standardization, and industrial practice. The following guidelines will also be applied:
A. 
Size. All mains, laterals, pipes, valves, building connections, devices and appurtenances shall be sized to provide appropriate flows and pressure throughout the system and any foreseeable extensions of the system. Mains and pipes connected to hydrants or sprinklers shall be sized to accommodate fire flows. No service pipe or stub shall be less than three-quarter-inch in size.
B. 
Materials. All materials shall be of types approved by the Director. In making approvals, the Director shall consider the factors set out above, the durability of the item when in actual use under local conditions, and compatibility with system maintenance practices.
C. 
Design. All component designs shall be compatible with maintenance, durability and standardization requirements of the system. The Director may refuse any component, the design of which has not been proven through laboratory testing and field use.
D. 
Connections.
1. 
All service lines shall be at least three-quarter-inch in diameter and shall be sized to accommodate meters approved for use by the City. No electrical ground or device that may channel an electrical current to piping shall be attached to any piping or fixture directly or indirectly attached to the City system. For service connections on the public side which is from the distribution main to the meter, such connections shall be installed a minimum of 30 inches below ground level, and shall have a horizontal separation of not less than 10 feet from any sewer or waste water pipe. For service connections on the private side which is from the meter to the building, such connections shall be installed at a depth and with a horizontal separation from any other sewer or waste water pipe in accordance with applicable state building code requirements.
2. 
The owner of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, commercial, recreation, or other purposes, abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located, or may in the future be located, a public water system operated by the City is required at the owner's expense to install suitable facilities and to connect such facilities directly with the City's water system in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, within 90 days after being given notice to do so by the City, provided the City's water system is within 300 feet of the property line.
E. 
Backflow Preventers and Pressure Reduction and Enhancement Devices. Pressure reduction valves and backflow preventers shall be installed by customers in new or existing systems when required by the Director. Installation shall be at customer's expense. Standards or requirements for materials, installation, and testing of backflow prevention devices shall conform to the applicable provisions of the State Plumbing Specialty Code and Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) in effect at the time of connection of the device, and the provisions of Chapter 3.20. No booster pump or pressure enhancement device shall be attached to the system without the express written permission of the Director. Customers requesting permission to install pressure enhancement equipment shall bear the cost of the equipment, maintenance of the equipment, and the operating costs of the equipment. Requirements for materials and installation shall at a minimum conform to current State Plumbing Code and State Health Department requirements. No expense for such equipment shall be borne by the Department or non-benefitted rate payers.
(Ord. 17-1358)
A. 
All premises using City water services shall be metered. Upon the advance payment of any applicable charges, the City shall install a separate service from the water main to the property or other location designated by the City. Where water is now supplied through one service to more than one residence, business or premises, the Department may notify the owner of the necessity to provide separate installation of services from the water main to the meter or shutoff. If the customer fails to pay the applicable charges within 30 days after notice is delivered, the City shall terminate water service to the property.
B. 
For ordinary metered consumption of water, a three-quarter-inch by five-eighths-inch meter will be furnished by the Department. Where application is made for a meter larger than three-quarter-inch by five-eighths-inch, the Director shall determine whether a meter of such size can be accommodated.
C. 
The installation of all service connections from the main to the property or other action designated by the City, including the construction of a suitable chamber or box for housing a meter and/or shutoff assembly, shall be made by the Department. Meters shall be placed in an accessible location and set in a manner satisfactory to the Director. No person other than an authorized employee of the Department may change the location of, alter, or interfere in any way with the meter.
D. 
The Department will maintain all service connections, up to and including the meter, in good order, and will make all necessary repairs and replacements of the City-owned meters and other parts thereof, at the expense of the City. Each customer is required to take all due precautions to protect the connection through which the customer is served.
E. 
All water furnished by the City and used on any metered premises must pass through the meter. A bypass or connection around the meter will be permitted only with the prior written approval of the Director.
F. 
All meters of the City water system are the property of the City, regardless of location, and any regular maintenance to the meters shall be made by the City. If a meter is damaged by the carelessness or negligence of the owner or occupant of the premises, the Department will repair the meter, and the cost of such repairs shall be charged to the customer. When a meter fails to register accurately, the charge for water used shall either be based on the average quantity of water used in a comparable period as shown by the meter when in working order, or if there is no such average consumption, then the minimum rate established by the City shall apply. If conditions make reading of meters impractical, an estimated reading shall be made by the Department during the time such conditions exist. Estimated readings under other conditions affecting reading of a meter shall be made only on approval of the Director.
G. 
When any customer makes a complaint that the bill for any particular period is excessive, the Department will, upon request, have such meter re-read and the service inspected for leaks. A customer disputing the accuracy of a meter may have the meter tested by the Department upon submission of a written request to the Director. In the event the test results establish the meter is registering on an accurate basis within guidelines established by the American Water Works Association (from 98.5% to 101.5%), the City and the customer shall equally share all costs associated with the testing of the meter. In the event the test results establish the meter is not reading on an accurate basis, the City shall pay for the costs of testing and shall install another meter at no cost to the customer. Any error in billing shall be handled in accordance with the procedures outlined in Section 3.04.090(I).
(Ord. 17-1358)
All pumps, mains, laterals, valves and other devices and appurtenances located within easements or public rights-of-way shall be deemed to belong to the City at the time of connection to the City water system, provided such items meet City standards as to size, construction and quality, and are located upstream of the meter. Service laterals downstream of the meter which are located within public easements or the public right-of-way shall be the property of the owner of the premises which is served. Meters shall be considered City property, regardless of location, and shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions in Section 3.04.110. All pipes, valves, fixtures, service stubs, and pressure enhancement equipment not located in easements or public rights-of-way shall be the property of the owner of the premises upon which the improvements are located. The Department shall be responsible for maintenance of City property. The customer shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of private property.
(Ord. 17-1358)
No person shall trespass upon, mark, destroy, or tamper with any property or equipment of the Department unless authorized by the Director. If the Department discovers that services have been restored, by means of tampering with a meter, to premises to which service has been terminated, the customer or other person(s) who commits the act of tampering shall be responsible for all costs associated with repairing any damage done to the system improvements. If the Department documents a second incident of tampering which illegally restores service to premises, the Department has the right to terminate service and excavate the service at the corporation stop. The customer or other person(s) who commits the second act of tampering shall be responsible for all fees, labor and material costs required to restore service.
(Ord. 17-1358)
No person, except an authorized employee of the Department, emergency service personnel acting in the line of duty, a contractor employed by the City to work on the system, or a licensed plumber with permission of the Director, shall open or close a service lock or operate a meter in such a manner as to commence or to terminate the flow of water to a premises. Plumbers shall obtain permits from the Director prior to initiating or interrupting service.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Department employees and persons assigned to read meters shall be authorized to enter upon customer or applicant premises without prior notice for the purposes of reading or inspecting meters, inspecting customer equipment or investigating violations of this chapter or department rules. Entry shall normally occur during daylight hours, except in the event of an emergency. Failure to grant entry shall be grounds to terminate service under Section 3.04.060(E). Presence of an unrestrained domestic animal, dog, or a vicious animal upon the part of the premises to be inspected shall be deemed refusal of entry.
(Ord. 17-1358)
The City Manager shall, upon receiving reliable information that system function or capacity is about to be impaired, or has been impaired, declare a water emergency. Upon declaration of such an emergency, the City Manager shall impose such restrictions upon the use of water as is deemed necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the affected area. The City Manager shall use reasonable means to notify the public of the restrictions imposed. At the next City Council meeting following imposition of restrictions, the City Manager shall present a report describing the nature of the emergency, the expected duration of the emergency, and the steps taken to alleviate the emergency. The City Council may, at any meeting subsequent to the emergency, confirm, alter, amend or terminate the restrictions imposed by the City Manager by resolution. No person shall violate the terms of any restriction or condition placed upon the use of water by the City Manager or the City Council pursuant to this section. It shall be no defense to a charge of violation that the person cited had no knowledge of the terms of the restriction.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Under no circumstances shall water service be extended to persons or premises located outside of the City limits of the City of The Dalles without the express permission of the City Council, which may include, but shall not be limited to, a petition for consent to annexation and installation of the necessary improvements to receive water service by the applicant requesting such service.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Violation of any provision of this chapter is punishable by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year, or a fine not exceeding the sum of $6,250.00, or a combination of the two penalties. Where applicable, the City shall be entitled to seek restitution for the costs of terminating service and repairing any damage done to the system improvements.
(Ord. 17-1358)
Each sentence, paragraph and section of this chapter shall be deemed severable. A declaration by a competent court that any provision of this chapter is invalid shall have no effect upon the portions remaining.
(Ord. 17-1358)