Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Utility Administration
CM/ ACM: Jon Fortune
Date: April 18, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding fire sprinkler tap fees.
Body
BACKGROUND
During February 14, 2017 Council session, a request was made for staff to prepare a work session item on fire sprinkler tap fees. Fire sprinkler taps are a type of water line tap fee, and are considered as a part of the water tap and meter fees used in the Water Utilities cost of service analyses. Tap fees are based on categories that include the size of the tap and whether the tap installation involves street work. The amount of each tap fee category is based on actual costs averages for installations, and are assessed as part of the Utility Fee Schedule each fiscal year. If fees deviate substantially from these averages due to specific site circumstances, the cost of service methodology indicates that the actual cost of the installation should be charged.
Prior to 1991, the Water Department charged for the installation of fire sprinkler taps like other water tap fees. During the process of changing the Fire Department's Sprinkler System Ordinance in 1991, the City Water Utility agreed to install fire sprinkler taps at no charge to the customer requesting the tap for a brief time. The reason for subsidizing this connection fee was that the City of Denton Fire Sprinkler System Ordinance was perceived to be more stringent than other fire ordinances in the area since it exceeded the requirements of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and Uniform Fire Code (UFC) when it was introduced in 1991. In April 1991 a modification to the Tap and Loop fees section was proposed and was approved by the City Council via Ordinance 91-063. This ordinance introduced language for Fire Sprinkler Tap Fees in Section 25-8, subsection e, which states "upon written request to the Superintendent, the Utility Department shall waive install...
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