Item Coversheet

City of Topeka
Council Action Form
 Council Chambers
214 SE 8th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66603
www.topeka.org
September 5, 2017
DATE:September 5, 2017
CONTACT PERSON:Braxton CopleyDOCUMENT #:
SECOND PARTY/SUBJECT:TMC Title 13-UtilitiesPROJECT #:
CATEGORY/SUBCATEGORY 013 Ordinances - Codified / 146 Utilities
CIP PROJECT:No
ACTION OF COUNCIL:Referred to the Policy and Finance Committee 071817JOURNAL #:
PAGE #:
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:

 

AN ORDINANCE introduced by Interim City Manager Doug Gerber concerning the organization of the utilities department, adding new sections and amending and repealing several original sections of Title 13, Utilities, of the Topeka Municipal Code. (Referred from the Policy and Finance Committee by a vote of 2-0-0 on August 25, 2017.)

 

Voting Requirement: Majority vote of the Governing Body (6 votes).

 

(Approval would create the Utilities Department and makes changes to the industrial pretreatment requirements to comply with revisions requested by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Additionally staff have made revisions to prevent obstructions to fire hydrants that prevent proper preventative maintenance.  Further, some obsolete provisions in utility billing have been deleted.)

VOTING REQUIREMENTS:
Majority vote of the Governing Body (6).
POLICY ISSUE:

Approval would establish that the Utilities Director is responsible for all operations related to the water, wastewater and storm water divisions.  Further, other items in Title 13 have been cleaned up to provide greater consistency and clarity.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Governing Body move to refer the ordinance to the Policy and Finance Committee for review and recommendation.
BACKGROUND:

In recent years the water, wastewater and storm water divisions have been operating under the umbrella of a utilities department model.  Satisfied with the efficiencies of that model the ordinance would place the overall direction and control under the utilities director.  Additionally, the EPA has requested several changes to the industrial pretreatment code sections to strengthen enforcement abilities.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:
There is no budgetary impact to the City.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Committee Report - Oct 12, 2017
Summary of Amendments
Ordinance - Amended 08-25-17