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To amend City Code § 23-42, concerning charges for transferring solid waste and recycling by the City and exemptions, to establish revised charges for such services.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That section 23-42 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020) be and hereby is amended as follows:
Sec. 23-42. Charges for transfer of solid waste and recycling by City; exemptions.
(a) A fee for the transfer of solid waste to the landfill in the amount of [$21.45] $22.45 per month shall be charged against all water customers of the City, with the exception of City, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, State, and Federal customers, but including the Federal Reserve Bank, and with the further exception of any Chesterfield County and Henrico County customers and any other water customers outside the territorial City limits. With the exception of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, any water customer of the City with a building containing up to four dwelling units or multiple commercial establishments shall be charged a solid waste transfer fee of [$21.45] $22.45 per month for each such dwelling unit or commercial establishment if the customer receives City refuse collection services. For buildings containing more than four dwelling units, the solid waste fee shall be [$21.45] $22.45 per supercan per month if the customer receives City refuse collection services. It shall be included as a part of the monthly water bill. Water service may be disconnected for nonpayment of landfill refuse fees, in accordance with the procedures governing disconnection for nonpayment of water service charges. The landfill refuse fee shall be billed each month. However, if the billing period for water service is less than 15 days, such charge shall be prorated by dividing the landfill refuse fee by 30 days, times the number of days of water service for that month. For months of service of less than five days, the landfill refuse fee shall not be billed.
(b) A fee for recycling activities in the amount of $2.99 per month shall be charged against all residential water customers of the City, with the exception of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, who are located within the municipal City limits. Any residential water customer of the City with a building eligible for curbside recycle service containing multiple dwelling units shall be charged a recycle fee of $2.99 for each such dwelling unit. Such recycle fee shall be included as a part of the monthly water bill.
(c) The landfill and recycling fees imposed under this section shall not apply to any elderly or disabled person who has qualified for tax relief under Section 26-364 or 26-365.
(d) Exemption from the landfill and recycling fees shall also be granted, upon proper application to the Director of Finance, to any elderly or disabled person who otherwise meets the eligibility standards for tax relief under Section 26-363 or 26-364, in cases in which:
(1) The individual became an eligible property owner after the deadlines set for qualification for tax relief; or
(2) The individual, though eligible, failed to apply for tax relief within the time limit set under such sections.
An application for exemption from the landfill and recycling fees shall be received by the Director of Finance at any time during the year in which the exemption is first claimed. Qualification for tax relief in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 26-364 or 26-365 shall confer continuing exemption from the landfill and recycling fees in succeeding years.
(e) Exemption from the landfill and recycling fees shall also be granted, upon proper application to the Director of Finance, to any elderly or disabled renter who satisfies the adjusted gross income and adjusted net worth criteria established for purposes of granting tax relief to elderly or disabled property owners under Section 26-363 or 26-364, provided that:
(1) The individual must have entered into a bona fide lease of at least 12 months' duration;
(2) The leased unit must be the individual's sole residence;
(3) The leased unit must have a current certificate of occupancy issued by the City; and
(4) The water services account for the leased unit must be listed in the individual's name for utility billing purposes, and the water meter must serve only the individual's residence.
An application for exemption from the landfill and recycling fees shall be received by the Director of Finance at any time during the year in which the exemption is first claimed. Individuals granted exemptions must recertify their eligibility by March 15 of each succeeding year. Any exemption granted shall not be transferable to subsequent tenants of the leased unit or other subsequent water service users at the particular address. The exemption shall immediately become void if the individual to whom the exemption was granted no longer resides at the leased unit listed on the application for exemption or if the individual, in any other respect, no longer satisfies the conditions upon which the exemption was granted.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect for all bills rendered for Cycle I in July, 2022, and any and all bills rendered subsequent thereto.