A.
General.
1.
Service rates and fees to be charged for the stormwater service shall be as set forth in Section 3.12.100(F) and shall be adequate, except in cases of emergency, to provide for administration, engineering and legal expenses, system operations and maintenance expenses; debt service requirements; funding of replacement reserves accounts and system improvement projects.
2.
The stormwater service rate shall be assessed all property owners who contribute to or benefit from the city’s stormwater drainage and treatment system pursuant to the utility fee and rate schedule established in Section 3.12.100(F) for stormwater service; provided, however, that all parcels of property that remain undeveloped, unaltered or in their natural condition shall be exempt from stormwater assessment until such time as they are developed, altered, or improved.
B.
Residential Stormwater Rates.
C.
Multifamily/Commercial Stormwater Rate. Multifamily/commercial stormwater customers’ utility accounts shall pay monthly service fees on the basis of billable ISUs. Billable ISUs shall be determined and established for each non-single-family account on the basis of the property size and impervious area.
D.
Public Property. Except as otherwise provided in RCW 90.03.525 for state highways and as otherwise provided in this section, public entities and public property shall be subject to rates and charges for stormwater service to the same extent as private persons and property. All city-owned property shall be subject to the monthly charges based upon the categories set forth above; provided, that city streets shall not be charged a monthly stormwater fee in consideration of such streets being part of the stormwater conveyance system and thereby providing in-kind services and property to the drainage utility.
E.
Low Income Seniors and Disabled Citizens.
1.
Low income senior citizens and low income disabled citizens who live in a residence served directly by water and/or sewer facilities of the city of Poulsbo and who pay water, sewer, and storm utility bills directly to the city may qualify for a discount.
2.
For the purposes of this section, “low income senior citizen” means a person who has attained the age of sixty-two years and whose total income from all sources, including that of his or her spouse, does not exceed forty-eight thousand dollars annually. For purposes of this section, “low income disabled citizen” means a person whose total income from all sources, including that of his or her spouse, does not exceed forty-eight thousand dollars annually, and who is (a) a person qualifying for special parking privileges under RCW 46.19.010(1)(a) through (j); or (b) a blind person as defined in RCW 74.18.020; or (c) a disabled, handicapped, or incapacitated person as defined under any other state or federal program. The income threshold shall be adjusted by same percentage as the annual rate adjustments in accordance with Section 13.70.730.
3.
All persons claiming the discount provided for in this section shall first be required to file an application with the city of Poulsbo finance department to initiate the reduction. The application shall be on forms prescribed by the finance director and shall provide information by which the finance director may verify the applicant’s eligibility to participate. Applicants shall be required to submit such additional information as may be required by the finance director to verify eligibility. In order to stay eligible for the program, an applicant must recertify their eligibility every twelve months. If the city determines that the applicant is ineligible for the reduction, the applicant will be notified by the city.
4.
If an applicant moves from the residence to which the service is provided or otherwise becomes ineligible for the reduced rate, the applicant shall be required to notify the finance department immediately.
5.
If false information is submitted to the city in connection with any application for a reduced utility rate, the applicant will automatically become ineligible to receive any future discounts and any discounts or reductions already given shall be fully repaid to the city, together with a penalty in the amount of one hundred percent of the repayment amount. This remedy shall be in addition to any other remedies the city may have for the giving of false information.
(Ord. 2002-29 § 2 (part), 2002; Ord. 2003-16 § 32 (part), 2003; Ord. 2015-02 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2024-15 § 2 (Att. A), 2024)