HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 8570~ ~-.
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ORDINANCE NO ~~Q
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PLUMBING CODE OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH (ORDINANCE NO 8140 AS AMENDED) B Y PROVID-
ING FOR THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF GAS METERS
AND SERVICE LINES PROVIDING FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO BE
CUMULATIVE PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE PROVIDING
FOR A PENALT Y CLAUSE PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
BE IT ORDAINED B Y THE CIT Y COUNCIL OF THE CIT Y OF FORT
WORTH TEXAS
SECTION I
That Ordinance No 8140 as amended is hereby amended by
adding subsection (h) to Section 1211 Gas Meter Locations
said subsection to read as follows
(h) Th e initial installation of all g as lines within
the customer s property line shall be the responsibili-
ty of the customer Thereafter the serving gas suppli-
er shall be responsible for maintenance of the service
line A service line is defined as a gas pipe extending
from the serving gas supplier s main to the gas meter
measuring point on the customer s property When exist-
ing service lines need repair or replacement the ser w-
ing gas supplier shall do so without charge to the
customer except as approved by the City Council through
the gas rate structure
SECTION II
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of all ordinances
except where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct con-
flict with the provisions of such ordinances in which event
conflicting provisions of such ordinances are hereby repealed
SECTION III
That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the City
Council that the sections paragraphs sentences clauses and
phrases of this ordinance are severable and if any phrase
clause sentence paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be
declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any
court of competent jurisdiction such unconstitutionality shall
not affect any of the remaining phrases clauses sentences
paragraphs and sections of this ordinance since the same would
have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation
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in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional phrase clause
sentence paragraph or section
SECTION IV
That all rights or remedies of the City of Fort Worth
Texas are expressly saved as to any and all violations of Ordi-
nance No 8140 of the City of Fort Worth Texas and as to any
other ordinance affecting plumbing which have occurred at the
time of the effective date of this ordinance and as to such
accrued violations and all pending litigation both civil and
criminal whether pending in court or not under such ordinances
same shall not be affected by this ordinance but may be prosecut-
ed until final disposition by the courts
SECTION V
That any person violating any of the provisions of this
ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and each such
person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each day or
portion thereof during which any violation of any provision of
this ordinance is committed continued or permitted and each
violation shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding Two Hundred
Dollars ($200 00)
SECTION VI
That the City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth is hereby
authorized to publish the text of the Code as hereby amended
setting forth the Fort Worth Plumbing Code in pamphlet form for
general distribution among the interested public and such provi-
sions of this ordinance as so published shall be admissible in
evidence in all courts without further proof than the production
of said pamphlet as provided in Section 3 Chapter XXV of the
Charter of the City of Fort Worth Texas
SECTION VII
That the City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth Texas is
hereby directed to publish the caption penalty clause and ef-
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fective date of this ordinance for five (5) days in the official
newspaper of the City of Fort Worth as authorized by TEX REV
CIV STATS art 1176b-1
SECTION VIII
That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from
and after the date of passage and publication as above specified
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
City Attorney
Date ~~ ~" -g2
ADOPTED ~ ! ~~ ®~
EFFECTIVE ~ ~~~ `d~
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City of Fort worth, ~"exas
Mayor and Coun~al Comrnuaa~.~cation
DATE ---- R
EF~RCE suo~ECT PROPOSED AMENDMEiJT TO rACE
i w
~ PLUMBING CODE-GAS SERVICE LINES 1
5/18/82 **G-5310 1Of
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~RkQ6t~ WQRKS~~i
When a public utility distributes natural gas to a customer, the gas is suppli-
ed via underground pipelines This is accomplished through the installation of
a supp Ly line, one portion extending from the gas company's main to the
customer's meter where the gas is measured by the company ( service line ), and
anot-hisr~'portion extending from this customer meter to the point of connection
with~~tfie customer's house piping ( yard line ) At the present time the
---ins_tal].?tion and maintenance of any gas pipeline which is located on the
~-~---~e~ist~mex's property (both service line and yard line) is the responsibility of
-~tl~e-~~customer Federal Regulations place the responsibility for the safe
o_perati'on of gas service lines on the local gas supplier (National
s-potation Safety Board - 'Minimum Federal Safety Standards for Gas Lines
-4~~----6k1t 192]) Additionally recent state legislation has recognized the
n-sibility of the gas company for the maintenance and operation of gas
sere ci a lines (Article 6243-101 Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, effective
._.Se~S~ nLbe r 1, 1981)
--'~~o~re---S~ar Gas Company has requested that the City of Fort Worth amend its
~_~-u- m~bi~'ng Code so as to transfer to the gas company ttie responsibility for
_._.-r~~aY~r or replacement of the gas service line whether on or off the customer's
--•Pr--0~~ty No service charges will be made to the customer and the costs will
be--capitalized and become a part of the company's rate base
This measure will be in the public interest and will enhance public safety and
spare many low-income property owners considerable expenditures for yard line
replacements
In March 1982 the Board of Plumbers approved the request of Lone Star Gas to
transfer the responsibility for repair or replacement of gas service lines
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council
(1) Amend the Plumbing Code as per the attached Ordinance, and
(2) Authorize Lone Star Gas Company to include in its rate base the rea -
sonable costs of complying with the Code
APPROVED BY
GG lm ~i~r cauNCiL
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ROCESSED BY
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CONTACT Le ter DATE