Ordinance 2198WDT/trs
2/23/81
ORDINANCE NO. 2198
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASH-
INGTON, ENACTING A NEW SECTION 7.30.070 IN
THE EDMONDS CITY CODE TO PROVIDE FOR A
UTILITY RATE REDUCTION FOR CERTAIN LOW-
INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS; ESTABLISHING A NEW
SECTION 7.30.080 IN THE EDMONDS CITY CODE
TO SET FORTH THE AMOUNT OF RATE REDUCTION
FOR QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS;
AND ESTABLISHING A NEW SECTION 7.30.090
PROVIDING PENALTIES.
WHEREAS, necessarily increasing water and utility
rates work a particular hardship on low-income senior citizens,
and
WHEREAS, the state legislature in RCW 74.38.070
has authorized cities to allow low-income senior citizens a
reduction in water and utility rates, now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Section 7.30.070 is hereby added
to the Edmonds City Code to read as follows:
"7.30.070 LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN RATE REDUCTION
A. Persons qualified as low-income senior citizens shall
be allowed a reduction in their water/utility bill in
accordance with the table set forth in Section 7.30.080.
B. In order to qualify, a person must show satisfactory
proof that:
1. He or she is sixty-one (61) years of age or older;
and
2. He or she is a single occupant or head of a house-
hold or the spouse of a head of a household; and
3. The combined annual gross income of the applicant
and all persons residing with the applicant is
less than the amount(s) set forth in Section
7.30.080; and
4. The easily convertible assets of the applicant do
not exceed a value of $5,000 for the applicant or
$8,000 for a household of two or more; and
5. He or she resides in a single-family residence
(including multi -family structures where water use
is separately metered to his or her unit) in the
City of Edmonds served by water/sewer or water
utilities; provided the residence is not in feder-
ally subsidized housing; and
6. He or she is billed or is the spouse of a person
billed by the City for water charges.
7. For the purposes of this section, "easily con-
vertible assets" are such items as stocks; bonds;
certificates of deposit; negotiable instruments;
checking accounts; cash; real estate, other than
the applicant's residence; vehicles, boats, trailers,
campers, and cars, other than one automobile; and
such other similar items as determined by the Director
of Public Works or designee.
C. Applications for low-income senior citizen reductions
shall be made on forms provided by the Utility Billing
Division of the City and shall include at least the
following information and such other information as may
reasonably be required by the Director of Public Works:
1. Name, street address, telephone number, and date
of birth of applicant.
2. Social security number.
3. Names, dates of birth, and relationship to applicant
of all persons residing with the applicant.
4. A signed copy of the last federal income tax return
of the applicant and all persons residing with the
applicant, unless filing was not required by the
Internal Revenue Code.
5. A statement of all income of applicant and all persons
residing with the applicant setting forth the amount
and source of all other income not subject to income
tax.
IWM
6. A statement that easily convertible assets do not
exceed the limits set forth above.
All applications must be signed.
D. Approval of low-income senior citizen reductions shall
be made by the Director of Public Works or his designee.
Approval shall be valid for one year ending on June 30
of each year. Applications for renewals shall be made
on forms provided by the Utility Billing Division and
must be accompanied by the latest income tax returns of
the applicant and all persons residing with the appli-
cant, unless filing is not required under the Internal
Revenue Code. Said renewal applications may include
all of the information required of an initial application.
E. Only one rate reduction shall be allowed per household."
Section 2. A new Section 7.30.080 is hereby added
to the Edmonds City Code to read as follows:
"7.30.080 RATE REDUCTION
Persons qualifing for a low-income senior citizen rate
reduction shall be entitled to the reduction of the water
base rate as set forth in the following table:
Single Married
Combined Gross $7,000 $4,000 $10,000 $7,000
Income/Annum or less or less or less or less
% Reduction in
Water Base Rate 25% 50% 25% 50%
Gross income shall be the income reported for federal income
tax purposes prior to any adjustments, credits or deductions,
plus any non-taxable income and/or gross receipts."
Section 3. A new Section 7.30.090 is hereby added
to the Edmonds City Code to read as follows:
"7.30.090 PENALTIES
A. Any person knowingly making any false or misleading
statement in any application and/or renewal for rate
reduction to any city employee with intent to secure
the rate reduction authorized herein shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and punished as set forth in Section
5.45.020 of the Edmonds City Code.
- 3-
B. Further, in the event of any such misrepresentation,
the water rate may be increased retroactively and
assessed against the applicant and/or premises as may
be allowable by law including but not limited to lien
procedures."
Section 4. Severability. If any portion of this
ordinance is held invalid, the remaining portions of the
ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall
be in full force and effect five (5) days after passage and
publication by posting as provided by law. The rate reduction
authorized herein shall be applied to charges incurred on
and after June 30, 1981.
APPROVED:
MAYOR, H. H. HARRISON
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Jl,�, 6�L�� -
CITY CLERK, IRElf VARNEY MORAN
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY:
BY
FILED WI THE CITY. CLERK: February 19, 1981
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: February 24, 1981
POSTED: February 25, 1981
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 2, 1981
-4-
F
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING ORDINANCE
STATE OF WASHINGTON
ss:
COUNTY OF SNOHOMISH
IRENE VARNEY MORAN
, being first duly sworn
on oath deposes and says that s he is over the age of eighteen (18)
years and is competent to testify as to the matter stated herein.
There is no official newspaper or other newspaper printed and
published within the City. In accordance with RCW 35A.12.160, on
the 25 day of February , 1981, affiant posted true and
correct copies of the attached Ordinance No. 2198, passed by the
City Council on the 24 day of
February , 1981, at the
official posting places for City notices which are the public
bulletin boards at the following locations:
Edmonds Civic Center
250 Fifth Avenue North
Edmonds, Washington 98020
Edmonds Public Library
Civic Center, 250 Fifth Avenue North
Edmonds, Washington 98020
Edmonds Branch of United States Post Office
201 Main Street
Edmonds, Washington 98020
DATED this 25 day of February ► 19 81,
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this > day of
ot�yPulblic in and for the
State of Washington, ress.ding
at �" ,-�-c��1 '-tea= /