HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13 - Water and Wastewater RatesMEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
SUBJECT: WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES
RECOMMENDATION: City Council to consider adoption of an ordinance amending amending the
Grapevine City Code Chapter 25 — Utilities and Service, Section 25-27
Wastewater Rate regarding the residential and commercial water and
wastewater service rates.
FUNDING SOURCE: N/A
BACKGROUND: As presented to City Council at the Budget Workshop on August 14, the
current water and wastewater rates are no longer sufficient to cover
existing operating costs and the costs of system improvements over the
next year. The proposed rate structure will also support the issuance of
$30 million in bonds for needed system improvements. The proposed
water rate will be revised from $5.02 to $6.68, and the sewer rate will
move from $4.76 to $6.27 per 1,000 gallons. A comparison of the
proposed rates - with comparable North Texas cities - is attached which
demonstrates the new rate is still among the lowest in the region. As you
recall, Grapevine's portion of the utility rate have not been adjusted in 10
years.
Staff recommends approval.
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-058
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, AMENDING THE GRAPEVINE CODE
OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 25 UTILITIES
AND SERVICES RELATIVE TO WASTEWATER RATES AND
WATER RATES, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for the approval of this
ordinance have been met, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act and Chapter
211 of the Local Government Code; and
WHEREAS, the current water and wastewater rates are no longer sufficient to
cover existing operating costs and the costs of system improvements over the next year;
and
WHEREAS, this rate change is also to increase to the utility fund balance and debt
service from future bond sales; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance shall become effective on October 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, all statutory and constitutional requirements for the passage of this
ordinance have been adhered to, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act; and.
WHEREAS, the City Council deems the adoption of this ordinance is in the best
interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That all matters stated herein above are true and correct and are
incorporated herein by reference, as if copied in their entirety.
Section 2. That Chapter 25 Utilities and Services of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Section 25-27 Wastewater rates subsection (1) General water consumption
(city water system), is hereby amended by replacing existing text with the following:
11(1) General water consumption (city water system):
Multi -Family Coppell-per
Residential Commercial Multi -Family Evaporation ILA
Minimum Charge (includes 2,000 gallons)
M1
$ 14.99 1 $ 22.14
The Multi -Family minimum is billed per unit.
I
Volumetric Rate (per 1,000 gallons)
Next 13,000 gals
Over 2,000 gals
$ 6.27
$ 6.27
$ 11.99
$ 6.27
$15.82
$ 6.27
$ 18.74
$ 7.84
The monthly volume charge for residential customers will be based on the
lower of the individual customer's average monthly water use during the
previous winter quarter months of December, January and February, or
actual consumption, but in no event shall the volume used to compute this
monthly charge exceed 15,000 gallons. The volumes used to compute these
charges are based on the amount of water used by the residential customer
as measured by a meter. The winter average will be calculated annually in
March and will be in effect for March through February billing periods. Where
no previous winter quarter average is available from the records, the volume
to be used for this monthly volume charge shall be actual consumption, such
estimated volume not to exceed 10,000 gallons per customer. If a resident is
tied into the city sewer system only and has metered consumption, the
resident can use their winter quarter average for the previous winter quarter
months of December, January and February, if the resident records of
consumption have been verified by the director of finance or his designee.
The rates adopted herein shall automatically be updated to reflect the rates
approved with the annual adoption of the Annual Operating Budget."
Section 3. That Chapter 25 Utilities and Services of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Section 25-27 Wastewater rates subsection (3) Commercial accounts utilizing
cooling towers, is hereby removed in its entirety.
Section 4. That Chapter 25 Utilities and Services of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Section 25-28 Water rates subsection (1) General water consumption, is
hereby amended by replacing existing text with the following:
"(1) General water consumption. -
Ordinance No. 2025-058 2
Residential,
Residential,
Commercial,
Commercial,
Sprinkler
Sprinkler
Inside City
Outside City
Limits
Limits
Minimum Charge
Meter Gallons in
Size Minimum
3/4" 2,000 $ 17.88 $ 35.76
1"
9,000
60.12
105.88
1 1 /2"
21,000
140.28
226.20
2"
34,000
227.12
356.52
3"
78,000
521.04
797.72
4"
100,000
668.00
1,018.30
6"
134,000
895.12
1,359.22
8"
239,000
1,596.52
2,411.90
All Units
2,000
All Units
22,000
Meters larger than 8" will be agreed upon by contract
I
Volumetric Rate (per 1,000 gallons)
Gallons Over $ 6.68 $ 10.04
Minimum
Coppell - per Temporary/
ILA Multi -Family Construction
$ 22.35
75.15
175.35
283.90
651.30
835.00
1,118.90
1,995.65
$ 14.30
$ 146.96
$ 8.35 1 $ 6.68 1 $ 6.68
The Sprinkler class is for customers that have a separate irrigation meter.
The rates adopted herein shall automatically be updated to reflect the rates
approved with the annual adoption of the Annual Operating Budget."
Section 5. That Chapter 25 Utilities and Services of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Section 25-28 Waste rates subsections (2) Temporary and (3) Minimum
charges, are removed in their entirety.
Section 6. That Chapter 25 Utilities and Services of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Section 25-42 Same — Minimum rates, is hereby amended by replacing
existing text with the following:
"The rates charged by the city for water and/or wastewater service outside the
corporate limits of the city shall not exceed more than double the rates charged to
customers within the corporate limits unless specifically published."
Ordinance No. 2025-058 3
Section 7. That Chapter 25 Utilities and Services of the Grapevine Code of
Ordinances, Section25-42.1 Minimum rate for wastewater customers not connected to the
water system, is hereby amended by replacing existing text with the following:
"Wastewater charges for a customer or consumer not connected to the water
system of the city shall be at a monthly rate of $34.14 per connection."
Section 8. That the terms and provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed to be
severable, and that if the validity of any section, subsection, word, sentence or phrase shall
be held to be invalid, it shall not affect the remaining part of this ordinance.
Section 9. That the fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of
Grapevine, Texas, are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety, morals, peace
and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Grapevine, Texas, creates an
emergency for the immediate preservation of the public business, property, health, safety
and general welfare of the public which requires that this ordinance shall become effective
from and after the date of its final passage, and it is accordingly so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 16th day of September 2025.
APPROVED:
William D. Tate
Mayor
ATTEST:
Tara Brooks
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Matthew C.G. Boyle
City Attorney
Ordinance No. 2025-058 4