WALDPORT
MUNICIPAL CODE
TITLE
13 - PUBLIC SERVICES
Chapters:
13.04
Water Service System
13.08
Sewer Service System Generally
13.12
Sewer User Charges
13.16
System Development Charges
Chapter
13.04
WATER
SERVICE SYSTEM
Sections:
Article 1.
Water Regulations
13.04.010 Definitions.
Article 2. Water Service Establishment and Discontinuance
13.04.020 Establishing service.
13.04.030 Type, location and arrangement.
13.04.040 Temporary construction service.
13.04.050 Water User Charges
13.04.060 Re-establishing service.
13.04.070 Notices.
13.04.080 Service outside City limits.
Article 3. Customer Responsibility
13.04.090 Repairs and leaks.
13.04.100 Admission of City employees.
13.04.110 Use of water.
13.04.120 Abatement of noise, pressure surges.
13.04.130 Prevention of contamination (backflow prevention).
13.04.140 Sprinkler and hose restrictions.
13.04.150 Tampering with facilities.
Article 4. Operation, Maintenance and Inspection
13.04.160 Pressure, supply and quality.
13.04.170 Facilities removal, relocation.
13.04.180 "At cost" work provisions.
13.04.190 Replacement of pipes.
13.04.200 City pipes - Ownership.
13.04.210 Private pipes - Ownership.
13.04.220 Equipment changes.
13.04.230 Service discontinued or disconnected by City.
13.04.240 Delinquent accounts.
13.04.250 Emergency.
13.04.260 Extension of water mains.
Article 5. Billing and Collection
13.04.270 Billing practices.
13.04.280 Responsibility for payment of bills.
13.04.285 Requiring deposits
13.04.290 Liens and other collection enforcement procedures
13.04.295 Payment delinquency - Refusal of service request.
13.04.300 Meter error.
13.04.310 Billing of separate meters.
13.04.320 Water use charges.
Article 1. Water Regulations
13.04.010 Definitions.
The following terms, whenever used by this chapter, shall be construed as
follows unless the context shows a different meaning:
"Applicant" means a person, firm, corporation, association or agency applying
for water service.
"City" means City of Waldport, a municipal corporation of the State of
Oregon.
"Customer" means a person, firm, corporation, association or agency receiving
water service from the City water facility.
"Date of presentation" means the date upon which a bill or notice is mailed
or delivered personally to the customer.
"Discontinued water service" means the termination of the arrangement between
the customer and the City water utility for the supply of water and to normally
shut off the City valve at the meter.
"Emergency" means any man-made or natural event or circumstance causing or
threatening loss of life, injury to person or property, human suffering or
financial loss, and includes, but is not limited to, fire, explosion, flood,
severe weather, drought, earthquake, spills of oil or other substances,
contamination, utility or transportation emergencies, disease, blight,
infestation, civil disturbance, riot, sabotage and war.
"Fire protection service" means provision of water to premises for automatic
fire protection.
"Mains" means distribution pipe lines located in streets, highways, public
ways or private rights of way which are used to serve the general public.
"Premises" means the integral property or area, including improvements
thereon, to which water service is or will be provided.
"Rate schedule" means the entire body of effective rates, rentals, charges
and regulations as adopted by resolution of the City Council.
"Service connection" means the pipe, valves and other facilities by means of
which the water utility conducts water from its distribution mains to and
through the meter, but does not include the piping from the meter to the
property served.
"Water Superintendent" means the person designated by the City Manager to
perform the functions described or his or her designee. (Ord. 641 § 1, 1997)
Article 2. Water Service Establishment and Discontinuance
13.04.020 Establishing service.
A. No person shall use water from the City water supply except from a service
connection authorized by the City or as otherwise authorized by the City
Council.
B. Applicants requesting water service or a service connection in a location
not previously served by City water or change in the size of an existing service
shall submit a written application for water service accompanied by the
prescribed fees and deposit as set forth in the rate schedule adopted by the
City Council by resolution. The application for service shall be made on a
printed form furnished by the City. The application shall request the following
information:
1. The date of application;
2. The location of premises to be served;
3. The date on which applicant will be ready for service;
4. Whether the premises have ever before been supplied by the City water
utility;
5. The purpose for which the service is to be used;
6. The size of service;
7. The address to which bills are to be mailed or delivered;
8. Whether the applicant is an owner or tenant of, or agent for, the
premises;
9. An agreement to abide by all rules, regulations and ordinances of the City
water utility, as now exist or as hereafter changed or amended, and that any
delinquent water bills shall be and become a lien against said premises;
10. Such other information as the City water utility may reasonably request.
C. Applicants requesting service at a location previously served by the City
water utility may make their request by either writing or by oral request to
City Hall. All customers, after having given such notice for the commencement of
water service, shall, within fifteen (15) days after service begins, submit a
properly filled out and signed application, as set forth above, for water
service to the City water utility office, with the prescribed fees and deposits
as set forth in the rate schedule adopted by the City Council by resolution
pursuant to subsection H of this section, or the City water utility may
discontinue water service to the customer.
D. Since a water meter has both minimum and maximum measuring capabilities,
the Water Superintendent may review the type, size, and arrangement of meters,
piping and flow detecting devices, and if the Water Superintendent considers the
sizes requested to be improper for the flows and use desired, the application
may be amended accordingly.
E. Tapping Fee. Every application requesting water service in a location not
previously served shall be accompanied with a tapping fee as set forth in the
rate schedule adopted by the City Council by resolution. The tapping fee shall
include the direct and indirect expenses to the City for labor and materials.
F. Turn-On Fee. Each time water service is to be turned on, including any
change in party billed, a turn-on fee shall be billed in addition to any other
charges and deposits.
G. The aforementioned tapping fee and turn-on fee shall be established and
may be changed by resolution of the City Council.
H. After a determination that an application for water use complies with the
City requirements, and after the applicant has paid to the City any required
fees, the City shall make a service connection to the water main and install the
service line and water meter as set forth in Section 13.04.030 of this chapter.
I. Any property with respect to which a tapping fee has been paid shall be
physically connected to the water main not later than ninety (90) days from the
date of such payment or the tapping fee shall be refunded (less fifty (50)
percent thereof to cover administrative costs incurred in processing such
application) and a new connection fee required. For good cause shown, the City
Manager may approve one ninety (90) day extension, within which period such
connection shall occur. (Ord. 641 § 21, 1997)
13.04.030 Type, location and arrangement.
A. All services installed by the City will be classified as follows:
1. Residential within City limits;
2. Commercial within City limits;
3. Contract service;
4. Residential outside City limits;
5. Commercial outside City limits;
6. Residential or commercial high level outside City limits;
7. Municipal or public use;
8. Fire protection.
B. No person other than the Water Superintendent or a person duly authorized
by the Water Superintendent shall make a connection with a City main, make an
alteration in a City water main or a main connection, connect pipes when they
have been disconnected, or turn water off or on with respect to any premises at
the meter.
C. Location of Service Pipe and Meter. Location of the service pipe and meter
shall be at the discretion of the City. If a customer requires that a service
pipe and meter be installed at location other than that proposed by the City,
and if there is an additional expense involved, the customer must pay the
regular connection fee plus the additional expense to have the service pipe and
meter installed at the customer's preferred location.
D. Number of Services to Separate Premises. Separated premises under the
single control of management will each be supplied through individual service
connections unless the City elects otherwise.
E. Service to Multiple Units. Buildings with combined living or business
quarters that are on the same premises under a single control or management may
be served, at the option of the City or owner, by either of the following
methods, after being reviewed by the water committee and City Superintendent.
1. Through separate service connections to each of any unit provided that the
pipeline system from each service is independent of the others, and is not
interconnected; or
2. Through a single connection to the entire premises on which one minimum
charge will be applied per unit.
The responsibility for payment of charges for all water furnished to combined
units supplied through a single service connection must be assumed by the
applicant.
F. Fire Protection Service. Fire protection connections will be allowed
inside of buildings under the following conditions:
1. All fire lines must be installed in compliance with the Uniform Fire Code
and this section.
2. The City water utility shall require a service meter of approved pattern
to be furnished and maintained by the owner of any service system or combination
hose and sprinkler system. The connection with the City main and setting of the
meter chamber shall be made by the City water utility upon payment of the
charges prescribed by the City Council by resolution.
3. When the owner of a building desires, or when the Building Code calls for
a certain size pipe to supply water to a wet or dry sprinkler system without
hose connections, such pipe or pipes may be covered by the approved proportional
meter or a detector check. The owner or agent of such building shall agree in
writing that water supplied through this service will not be used for any
purpose except for extinguishing a fire. If at any time it is found that hose
connections have been added to the system or that registration is recorded on
the meter or detector check, the immediate installation of an approved meter may
be required by the utility. Such water registered shall be charged for at double
the regular meter rate.
4. Standby charges for automatic fire service shall be as prescribed by the
rate schedule adopted by the Council by resolution. The charges shall be based
on wet or dry sprinkling systems without hose or other connections. Combined
systems will pay the regular meter minimums and the regular meter rates.
5. Water for Fire Storage Tanks. Water may be obtained from a fire service
for filling a tank connected with the fire service, but only if written
permission is secured from the City water utility in advance and an approved
means of measurement is available. The rates for general use will apply.
6. Ownership of service connection and all equipment appurtenant thereto,
including the meter and check-valve shall be the sole property of the City water
utility, and no part of the cost thereof will be refunded to the applicant.
7. Pressure and Supply. The City water utility assumes no responsibility for
loss or damage because of lack of water pressure and agrees only to furnish such
quantities and pressure as are available in its general distribution system. The
service is subject to shut-downs and variations required by the operation of the
system. (Ord. 641 § 2.2, 1997)
13.04.040 Temporary construction service.
A. No contractor or other person having charge of construction or repair work
within the limits of the City or outside of the City shall, without first having
obtained permission of the Council to do so, remove, tear up, disturb, change
the location of or damage any water pipe, service pipe, hydrant or other part of
the City water system. After permission has been obtained from the Council, work
affecting the City water system shall be done in the following manner:
1. It shall be done at the expense of the contractor or other person
obtaining the permission.
2. Each part of the water system which is removed, torn up, relocated or
damaged shall be replaced in as good a condition as it was prior to the work and
without damage to the system, the City or any water consumer.
3. The work shall be subject to the approval of the Water Superintendent.
B. An owner or contractor who requires temporary water service for
construction or for any other purpose shall be supplied with water by meter
measurement and pay the customary connection fee, deposits and water user rates
set forth by the rate schedule adopted by the Council by resolution.
C. The customer shall use all possible care to prevent damage to the meter or
to any other loaned facilities of the City water utility which are involved in
furnishing the temporary service from the time they are installed until they are
removed, or until forty-eight (48) hours notice in writing has been given to the
City water utility that the contractor or other person is through with the meter
or meters and the installation. If the meter or other facilities are damaged,
the cost of making repairs shall be paid by the customer.
D. A connection to a fire hydrant for other than fire emergency is allowed
only if written permission is secured from the City water utility in advance and
an approved means of measurement is available. (Ord. 641 § 2.3, 1997)
13.04.050 Water User Charges.
A. User charges shall be levied on all users of the public treatment works.
Such charges shall cover the costs of operation and maintenance, replacement,
provision, capital expenditures, billing and other administrative costs of such
treatment works.
B. Imposition of Charges – Purpose. Charges for connections to the public
water system and subsequent water services shall be levied and imposed by the
City for the purpose of funding operations, maintenance and improvements
thereto.
C. Changes to Fees, Rates and Charges. All fees, rates and charges stated
within this chapter may be changed at any time in the future by resolution of
the City Council.
D. Rates – Annual User Notification. Each user must be notified at least
annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate and that portion of
the user service charges which are attributable to water treatment services.
E. Charges – Review by City. The user service charges shall be reviewed and
revised at least annually to reflect actual costs of operation and maintenance,
replacement and financing of the treatment works, and to maintain the equability
of user service charges with respect to proportional distribution of the cost of
operation and maintenance.
F. Charges – Determination Generally. A user service charge shall be levied
on all users served by public water. A minimum base charge shall be charged
monthly for each residential dwelling meter and each commercial business meter.
This charge shall be imposed to maintain the systems readiness to serve the
user, regardless of actual use. The user shall be charged the minimum base
charge and the actual use charge. (Ord. 684 § 1, 2002)
G. Reserve Charge. The Council shall adopt and collect a reserve charge from
all users of the system. The monies collected shall be segregated from other
water user charges and placed in a separate account within the water fund. The
account shall be used to accumulate monies to pay for unexpected and
unanticipated expenses or to pay off debt associated with the fund. Any
expenditures shall be consistent with the Financial Management Policies of the
City. When the account balance reaches three hundred fifty thousand dollars
($350,000.00) the Council shall re-evaluate the charge and determine the
appropriate level of future charges. (Ord. 730 § 2, 2009)
13.04.060 Re-establishing service.
Application in the form prescribed in Section 13.04.020 of this chapter shall
be made to the City water utility to re-establish discontinued water service to
a property. The fee for restoration of water service shall be set by resolution
adopted by the City Council. Said fees shall be in addition to any other fees
and/or deposits required under these regulations. (Ord. 641 § 2.5, 1997)
13.04.070 Notices.
A. Notice to Customer. Notices required to be given by the City water utility
to a customer or property owner will be given in writing and may be either
delivered to the customer or property owner personally or delivered at or mailed
to the address to which service is provided.
B. Notice From Customers. Notice from the customer or property owner to the
City water utility shall be given in writing and delivered or mailed to the City
water utility office in the City Hall. (Ord. 641 § 2.6, 1997)
13.04.080 Service outside City limits.
A. The City shall provide water service to individuals or entities who own
property located outside City limits only under the following circumstances:
1. An applicant for water service whose property lies outside City limits
must agree in writing to annexation of that property to the City when all or any
portion of the property becomes contiguous to the City limits of the City as
they now exist or are hereafter altered.
2. The application for service to property outside the City limits may be
obtained at City Hall. Said application may be revised at any time by the City.
3. An applicant for extension of water service must agree to pay for all
costs associated with extension of water lines to the subject property; the
hookup charges charged by the City for connection to City water services; and
payment of rates for water service charged by the City. The applicant must
acknowledge and agree that charges associated with the foregoing are not the
same for inhabitants of the City and those owners of property lying outside the
corporate limits of the City.
B. Service will not be provided unless an applicant for extension of water
service executes the documents described above except where the City Council by
resolution determines that extraordinary circumstances warrant extension of
service in the absence of the aforementioned documents.
C. Whether or not service shall be provided to individuals located outside
the corporate limits of the City is entirely discretionary with the City. An
application for extension of service may be denied for any reason permitted by
law. The willingness of an applicant to sign the documents described above does
not required the City to extend water service to property owned by the
applicant.
D. The decision to extend water services to any application from an owner of
property located outside the City limits of the City shall be made by the Water
Superintendent, or his or her designee.
E. If an application for service described in this section is denied, the
applicant may appeal the decision to the City Council. (Ord. 641 § 2.7, 1997)
Article 3. Customer Responsibility
13.04.090 Repairs and leaks.
A. Every customer shall maintain their pipes, fittings and fixtures in proper
order free from leakage or wastage. Where water is wastefully or negligently
used on a customer's premises, including but not limited to, situations where
there are defective or leaking faucets, or other water connections, or where
there are water closets or urinals without self-closing valves, the utility may
discontinue service if such conditions are not corrected within forty-eight (48)
hours after giving the customer written notice.
B. Where there is a leak between the main and the meter or in the street
opposite their premises, customers shall give immediate notice at the office of
the City Recorder of said leakage. The City water utility shall make all such
repairs free of charge; provided, however that when a service pipe at the proper
grade is damaged or destroyed by contractors or others, the person, contractor
or company responsible for such damage shall pay the City for the cost of
repairing or replacing such pipes on the basis of the cost to the City in labor
and materials plus fifteen (15) percent for overhead expenses.
C. The City water utility shall shut-off water mains free of charge when
plumbing problems occur on private property if said mains are turned off during
normal business hours. A fee shall be charged to shut-off water mains during nonbusiness hours. Said fee shall be established and may be changed by
resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 641 § 3.1, 1997)
13.04.100 Admission of City employees.
For the purpose of inspecting the condition of any water pipes and fixtures
and the manner in which the water is being used, an agent of the City Council
shall, upon notice to the owner or occupant, have free access to parts of a
building or premises in which water is delivered from the City mains. (Ord. 641
§ 3.2, 1997)
13.04.110 Use of water.
A. No person supplied with water from the City mains will be entitled to use
it for the purpose other than those stated in the application for service.
Should the owner or occupant of a premises being served with water desire to use
water for a purpose not stated in the original application, a new application
must be made and approval obtained therefor at the office of the City Recorder.
B. Except where it forms part of a manufactured product, no water shall be
sold or conveyed beyond the property served without permission of the City water
utility.
C. The customer shall install a suitable valve at the time of installation or
replacement of the meter, as close to the meter location as practicable, the
operation of which will control the entire water supply from the service.
D. The operation by the customer of the City water utility's valve in the
meter box is not permitted.
E. Water users must provide a stop and waste cock conveniently located inside
the premises and have their pipes so arranged that the water can be drawn from
them in case of danger from frost. Water shall not be left running to prevent
the pipes from freezing nor allowed to run to waste in summer to keep cool. The
owner of the premises shall keep all pipes and fixtures in proper repair to the
meter placed at or near the property line.
F. Water turned on by any water customer, or other person without authority
from the City, may be shut off at the main or the meter may be removed by the
City. The charge for shutting water off at the main shall be the actual cost,
plus fifteen (15) percent for overhead. The charge for removing and replacing
the meter shall be set by resolution adopted by the City Council. Charges shall
be chargeable to the offending customer when the water is supplied, and water
shall not again be furnished to such premises until such charges are paid. (Ord.
641 § 3.3, 1997)
13.04.120 Abatement of noise, pressure surges.
No apparatus, fitting or fixture shall be connected, allowed to remain
connected or operated in a manner which will cause noise, pressure surges or
other disturbances which, in the opinion of the Water Superintendent, result in
annoyance or damage to other customers' property or to the water system.
If any such condition exists, the Water Superintendent may give notice to the
customer to correct the fault within forty-eight (48) hours notice or such
lesser period as may be specified in the notice and the customer shall correct
the fault within the period designated. (Ord. 641 § 3.4, 1997)
13.04.130 Prevention of contamination (backflow prevention).
A. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used in this section shall have
the meaning indicated unless the context shows a different meaning:
"Approved backflow prevention device" means a device to counteract back
pressure or prevent back siphonage. This device must appear on the list of
approved devices issued by the Oregon State Health Division.
"Auxiliary supply" means any water source or system other than the public
water system, that may be available in the building or on the premises.
"Backflow" means the flow in the direction opposite to the normal flow or the
introduction of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the water system
of Waldport.
"Cross-connection" means any physical arrangement where a public water system
is connected directly or indirectly, with any other non-drinkable water system
or auxiliary supply, sewer, drain conduit, swimming pool, storage reservoir,
plumbing fixture, swamp coolers, or any other device which contains, or may
contain contaminated water, sewage or other liquid of unknown or unsafe quality
which maybe capable of imparting contamination to the public water system as a
result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections,
swivel or change over devices, or the temporary or permanent devices through
which, or because of which, backflow may occur are considered to be
cross-connections.
"Double-check valve backflow prevention assembly or DCVA" means an assembly
composed of two independently acting approved check valves, including tightly
closing resilient seated shut off valves attached at each end of the assembly
and fitted with properly located resilient seated test cocks.
"Reduced pressure principle device or RPBA" means an assembly containing two
independently acting approved check valves together with a
hydraulically-operated, mechanically independent pressure differential relief
valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first
check valve. The device shall include properly located test cocks and tightly
closing resilient seated shut off valves at the end of the assembly. A check
valve is approved if it appears on the list of approved devices issued by the
Oregon State Health Division.
B. Purpose. The purpose of this subsection is to protect the water supply and
system of the City from contamination or pollution due to any existing or
potential cross-connections.
C. Cross-Connections Regulated. No cross- connections shall be created,
installed, used or maintained within the territory served by the City water
system, except in accordance with this section.
D. Backflow Prevention Device Requirement. Approved backflow prevention
devices shall be installed at the expense of the applicant or customer, either
at the service connection or within the premises, as determined by the Water
Superintendent in each of the following circumstances:
1. If the nature and extent of any activity at the premises, or the materials
used in connection with any activity at the premises, or materials stored on the
premises, could contaminate or pollute the City water supply and system;
2. On premises having any one or more cross-connections;
3. If internal cross-connections are not correctable, or intricate plumbing
arrangements make it impractical to ascertain whether or not cross-connections
exist;
4. A repeated history of cross-connections being established or
reestablished;
5. When unduly restricted entry exists such that an inspection for a
cross-connection cannot be made with sufficient frequency or with sufficient
notice to assure that a cross- connection does not exist;
6. Material of a toxic or hazardous nature is being used such that, if back
siphonage should occur, a health hazard could result;
7. When any mobile apparatus connects to the City water system;
8. On any premises where installation of an approved backflow prevention
device is deemed to be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section;
9. On any premises where an appropriate cross-connection report form has not
been filed with the Water Superintendent;
10. When an atmospheric vacuum breaker (A.V.B.) fails repeated inspections.
E. Installation Requirements. To ensure proper operation and accessibility of
all backflow prevention devices, the following requirements shall apply to the
installation of such devices.
1. No part of the backflow prevention device shall be submerged in water or
installed in a location subject to flooding. If installed in a vault or
basement, adequate drainage shall be provided. Plugs must be installed in all
test cocks.
2. Devices must be installed at the service connection of the water supply,
before any branch in the line, on private property located just inside of the
property line. Alternate locations must be approved in writing by the Water
Superintendent prior to installations.
3. The device must be protected from freezing and other severe weather
conditions.
4. All backflow device prevention assemblies shall be of a type and model
approved by the State of Oregon, Health Division and Water Superintendent.
5. Only devices specifically approved by the Oregon Health Division for
vertical installation may be installed vertically.
6. The device shall be readily accessible with adequate room for maintenance
and testing. Devices two inches and smaller shall have at least six inches
clearance on all sides of the device. All devices larger than two inches shall
have a minimum clearance of twelve (12) inches below the device and thirty-six
(36) inches above the device.
7. The property owner is responsible for all maintenance and annual testing
of the device.
8. If permission is granted to install the backflow device inside of any
building, the device shall be readily accessible during regular working hours of
eight am. to five p.m., Monday through Friday.
9. If a device is installed inside of the premises and is four inches or
larger and is installed four inches above the floor, it must be equipped with a
rigid and permanently installed scaffolding acceptable to the City. This
installation must also meet the requirements set forth by the U.S. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration and the State of Oregon Occupational Safety and
Health Codes.
10. RPBA devices may be installed in a vault only if relief valve discharge
can be drained to daylight through a "boresight" type drain. The drain shall be
of adequate capacity to carry the full rated flow of the device and shall be
screened on both ends.
11. An approved air gap shall be located at the relief valve orifice. This
air gap shall be at least twice the inside diameter of the incoming supply line
as measured vertically above the top rim of the drain and in no case less than
one inch.
12. Upon completion of installation, the Water Superintendent shall be
notified and all devices must be inspected and tested. All backflow devices must
be registered with the Water Superintendent. Registration shall consist of date
of installation, make, model, serial number of the backflow device, and initial
test report.
13. An air gap is not an approved means of cross-connection protection in the
water system, unless approved by the Water Superintendent.
F. Prevention of Contamination. When a condition exists whereby a backflow
device already installed no longer meets the proper standards for the hazard set
forth in this section, the device shall be replaced by the correct device for
that hazard. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. Any device that fails repeatedly when tests are performed; device
assemblies may be required to be tested more frequently;
2. Any device that has to be removed to be repaired;
3. Any device which has to be moved for any reason;
4. Hazard levels have increased since the device was installed.
G. Installation Requirements, Irrigation. To ensure proper operation and
accessibility of all backflow prevention devices, the flowing additional
requirements shall apply to the installation of these devices for irrigation
systems.
1. Prior to the installation of any type of irrigation system on property
served by the City water system, a set of plans, prints, drawings, or diagram of
the proposed irrigation system must be submitted to the Water Superintendent.
a. The plans shall include location of system (street and lot number),
owner's name and address, layout of system and size and description of backflow
device. This irrigation plan will be reviewed and kept on file at the City.
b. Within ten (10) working days the Water Superintendent will return to the
submitter initial plan approval or required changes, and a copy of the City's
backflow device installation requirements.
c. The minimum backflow prevention on an irrigation system shall be the
installation of an approved double check valve assembly.
2. Backflow prevention devices shall be tested and approved by the Foundation
for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research at the University of
California, to be considered for use in the City.
a. All devices installed after July 1, 1997, must be State of Oregon approved
and have resilient seated gate valves or fully ported ball valves. These valves
are to be an integral part of the device of assembly as sold by local
distributors. Lists of approved devices are available at the Water
Superintendent's office.
b. Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA) Installation.
i. The DCVA shall be installed with adequate space to facilitate maintenance
and testing. It shall be inspected and tested after installation to insure its
satisfactory operation and proper installation. The DCVA must be tested by a
certified State tester at time of installation.
ii. Care must be used to insure that the DCVA is not installed where the
pressure will be maintained above the device's rated and labeled capacity.
iii. Pit or below grade installations of a DCVA must have a pit for drainage
and pipe plugs must be installed in test cock tappings to lessen the danger of
cross-connections if the device becomes submerged.
iv. The DCVA must be protected from freezing but must facilitate testing and
maintenance. There shall be no connections installed between DCVA and source of
supply for the purpose of draining.
v. Thoroughly flush the lines prior to installation of the DCVA.
vi. Owner or representative must call for an inspection by the Water
Superintendent. Backflow device installation service line and all premises
plumbing to the DCVA must be exposed at the time of visual inspection.
vii. Water service will not be turned on until final approval is granted,
following the acceptance of the DCVA installation and receipt of certified test
results.
c. Prior to backfill, an installation must be inspected between the DCVA and
the source of supply by the Water Superintendent. Inspection will be made by the
Water Superintendent within two working days of notice to inspect.
Important: Failure to notify the Water Superintendent prior to backfill will
result in re-excavation of the device and point of connection to facilitate
inspection.
d. Final approval shall be granted following the acceptance of the
installation and receipt of certified tester results.
e. All devices must be tested annually at the beginning of the irrigation
season as established by the Water Superintendent.
Note: The installation of a backflow prevention device on the water service
line will eliminate the thermal expansion of hot water into the distribution
system. It is the water customer's responsibility to maintain temperature
pressure relief valves within the premises plumbing.
H. Access to Premises. The Water Superintendent shall have access during
reasonable hours to all parts of a premises and within the building to which
water is supplied. However, if any water customer or other person in control of
the premises, refuses access to premises or to the interior of a structure at
reasonable times and on reasonable notice for inspection:
1. A reduced pressure principle device shall be installed by the customer at
the service connection to that premises; and
2. The Water Superintendent may shut off water service to the premises to
assure protection of the water supply and system until an adequate device is
installed and can be inspected by the Water Superintendent.
I. Annual Testing and Repairs. All backflow devices installed within the
territory served by the City's water system shall be tested immediately upon
installation and annually thereafter by a State certified tester. All such
devices found not functioning properly shall be promptly repaired or replaced by
the water customer. If any such device is not promptly repaired or replaced, the
City may deny or discontinue water to the premises. All testing and repairs are
the financial responsibility of the water customer. A forty-eight (48) hour
notice shall be given to the City prior to testing.
J. Variances. Any variance from the requirements of this section shall be
requested in writing by the owner of the premises affected and approved by the
Water Superintendent upon finding that the requested variance is consistent with
the purpose of this section and that the variance will provide at least the same
protection to the water supply and system as the regulation for which the
variance is sought. The decision of the Water Superintendent may be appealed in
writing to the City Manager, whose decision shall be final.
K. Costs of Compliance. All costs associated with purchase, installation,
inspections, testing, replacement, maintenance, parts, and repairs of the
backflow device are the financial responsibility of the water customer.
L. Termination of Service. Failure on the part of any customer to discontinue
the use of all cross-connections and to physically separate cross-connections is
cause for the immediate discontinuance of public water service to the premises.
A re-connect fee set by Council resolution shall be required upon reinstatement
of service. (Ord. 641 § 3.5, 1997)
13.04.140 Sprinkler and hose restrictions.
A. For the purpose of this section and of regulations made hereunder,
sprinkling shall include distribution of water by sprinkling or any other means
on lawns, gardens or other outdoor areas.
B. The use of a hose for any purpose is prohibited except between the hours
of nine a.m. and nine p.m., except for building purposes or whether water meters
are used; provided that when in the opinion of the City Council the quantity of
water is insufficient for sprinkling or other uses of a hose, the City may
prohibit the use of a hose for any purpose during a water shortage.
C. The use of water by hose in the night time or during alarm of fire is
prohibited unless for protection of property.
D. The Council may from time to time, impose additional restrictions on
sprinkling or hose use, or change or revoke such restrictions, and in so doing
may make the restrictions applicable at specified times or on specified days and
may differentiate between classes of customers or areas of the City or
otherwise. Notice of such restrictions shall be deemed to have been given by
publication in a local newspaper or announcement of the local radio stations, or
an announcement by Council at meetings. It is unlawful for any person to
sprinkle in contravention of such restrictions. (Ord. 641 § 3.6, 1997)
13.04.150 Tampering with facilities.
A. No person shall tamper with, injure or destroy any water main, service
pipe or connection, hydrant, reservoir, headwork, or other part of the City
water system, either inside or outside the City.
B. No person shall throw or place or cause to be thrown or placed in any
water reservoir, supply pipe, water main, headworks or other part of the City
water works or supply system any dirt, rubbish, filth, wood, stone or other
substance or in any other way pollute the water in any part of the system.
C. No person except an agent of the City or a fireman in the discharge of
duty shall open or tamper with a fire hydrant.
D. No person shall place building material or any other substance within ten
(10) feet of a fire hydrant or water gate connected with the water mains of the
City water works so that the material or other substance will prevent free
access at any time to the hydrant or water gate.
E. A customer shall be liable for any damage to a meter or other equipment or
property owned by the utility which is caused by an act of the customer, his
tenants or agents. The City water utility shall be reimbursed by the customer
for any such damage promptly on presentation of a bill. (Ord. 641 § 3.7, 1997)
Article 4. Operation, Maintenance and Inspection
13.04.160 Pressure, supply and quality.
A. The City water utility does not guarantee pressure nor continuous supply
of water, nor does it accept responsibility at any time for the pressure on its
lines or for increase or decrease in pressure. The City water utility reserves
the right at any and all times, without notice, to change operating water
pressures, to shut off water, or otherwise to interrupt water service for the
purposes of making repairs, extensions, alterations, or improvements or for any
other reason, and to increase or reduce pressure at any time. Neither the City
water utility, its officers, employees or agents shall incur any liability of
any kind whatever by reason of the cessation in whole or in part of water
pressure or water supply, or change in operation pressures, or by reason of the
water containing sediments, deposits or other foreign matter.
B. Customers depending on a continuous and uninterrupted supply of water or
having processes or equipment that require particularly clear or pure water
shall provide such emergency storage, oversize piping, pumps, tanks, filters,
pressure and adequate supply of water suitable to their requirements. (Ord. 641
§ 4.1, 1997)
13.04.170 Facilities removal, relocation.
Property owners or others desiring the removal or relocation of the City
water utility owned facilities, including service pipes, meters, valves,
chambers, hydrants or other fittings and appurtenances shall bear all costs of
removal or relocation. The City Council may refuse to permit the removal or
relocation of facilities, if, in their opinion, fire protection or the operation
or control of any portion of the City water system or other public or private
facilities would be endangered. (Ord. 641 § 4.2, 1997)
13.04.180 "At cost" work provisions.
A. Any person having work done at cost may select one of the following
alternatives:
1. Cost. Cost will include the amount expended by the City water utility for
gross wages and salaries, employees' fringe benefits, materials, equipment
rentals at rates paid by the City or set by the City water utility for its own
equipment, or any other expenditures incurred in doing the work, plus fifteen
(15) percent of the total of the said items expended to cover administration
expenses.
The City water utility will supply an estimate of cost and will require an
advance payment prior to commencement of the work. Any additional cost shall be
paid to the City water utility and any surplus shall be refunded.
2. Fixed Price. When the owner or agent requests a fixed price for such
installation, the City water utility shall determine such a price based on the
estimated cost as provided in this section. Where a price has been fixed, no
refund will be made by the City water utility and no additional cost will be
charged to the customer. (Ord. 641 § 4.3, 1997)
13.04.190 Replacement of pipes.
The City water utility will replace, at no cost to the customer, the City's
service pipe when it has deteriorated to the point of leaking or significantly
losing capacity, with a new service pipe equal in size and capacity of the
original installation. (Ord. 641 § 4.4, 1997)
13.04.200 City pipes - Ownership
The service connection and meter, whether located on public or private
property, is the property of the City water utility and City water utility
reserves the right to repair, replace and maintain it, as well as to remove it
after discontinuance of service for a period of one year or longer. A new
service shall be placed only upon the owner making an application and paying for
a new connection in the regular manner. (Ord. 641 § 4.5, 1997)
13.04.210 Private pipes - Ownership
Every private service pipe, whether on private property or in the street,
shall remain the property of the customer and the customer shall be responsible
for its maintenance. If, in the installation, maintenance or removal of any
private service pipe, it is necessary for any person to occupy or excavate in
the street, or to remove or re-lay any sidewalk or other street improvement, he
or she shall do so in a manner satisfactory to the Water Superintendent, and
shall obtain any permits required and pay the appropriate fees or charges. (Ord.
641 § 4.6, 1997)
13.04.220 Equipment changes.
A. When excessive flow or consumption overloads the capacity of a meter used
to supply service to any premises, the Water Superintendent or designee may
notify the customer. The customer shall thereupon supply an estimate of flow
requirement and other pertinent data required to the Water Superintendent or
designee to allow an estimate of the size of an adequate meter and service pipe
and to estimate the cost of its installation. The installation of adequate meter
and service pipes shall be at the cost of the customer.
B. The Water Superintendent or designee shall notify the owner to apply for a
larger meter and service pipe and the customer shall apply and pay the required
fees and deposit within thirty (30) days thereafter. If the application and
applicable fees and deposit are not made within thirty (30) days, the City may
proceed with the work and charge full costs to the owner, or the City water
utility may discontinue service pursuant to Section 13.04.250 of this chapter.
(Ord. 641 § 4.7, 1997)
13.04.230 Service discontinued or disconnected by City.
A. The City water utility may refuse to provide water or may discontinue
service to any premises:
1. Where an apparatus, fitting, fixture, container, appliance or equipment
using water is dangerous, unsafe or being used in violation of any ordinances or
legal regulation of the City;
2. Where excessive demands by one customer will result in inadequate service
to others; or
3. If payment of any bill for water service to the premises has not been made
after notice and within the time set in Section 13.04.240 of this chapter.
B. The City water utility may disconnect or discontinue water service to any
premises:
1. Which violates Section 13.04.130 of this chapter. If such noncompliance
affects matters of health or safety of other conditions that warrant such
action, the City may discontinue water service immediately.
2. Where water service has been turned on without authority from the City
water utility.
3. If the building official of the City determines that new development,
construction and/or remodeling is not in compliance with any portion of the
building, zoning, mechanical, fire or plumbing codes, the City may discontinue
water service to that customer within five days after providing written notice
of the City's intention to discontinue service.
C. The City's cost of discontinuing or disconnecting water service including
shutting off at the water main, removal of the water meter and all related work
and administrative costs, shall be a lien against the premises which may be
satisfied as provided in Section 13.04.290 of this chapter. (Ord. 684 § 2, 2002:
Ord. 641 § 4.8, 1997)
13.04.240 Delinquent accounts.
A. A water account is delinquent if it is not paid on or before the fifteenth
day following the date of the billing of said account and a late payment penalty
shall be imposed.
B. A delinquent notice will be mailed to each delinquent account between
fifteen (15) and forty-five (45) days after the original billing date. The
notice will contain the following information:
1. That water service will be discontinued after the fifth day following the
date of the delinquent notice;
2. The service charges imposed if the service is disconnected for nonpayment;
3. That a hearing, on the computation of the amount owed, may be requested by
filing a written request with the City within four days after receipt of the
delinquent notice;
4. That the hearing request may state the reasons why the person filing the
request believes that the charges for service are in error;
5. That the hearing will be held within two working days following receipt by
the City of the request for hearing;
6. That a failure to file a request for hearing within the time period
allowed shall constitute a waiver of any defects in the bill and a right to a
hearing.
C. Upon request, the hearing shall be held by the Water Superintendent. The
hearing shall be set and conducted within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of
the request (holidays, Saturdays and Sundays are not to be included in this
forty-eight (48) hour computation). At the hearing, the computation of the
service charges may be contested. If the Water Superintendent finds that the
computation was in error, the Water Superintendent shall adjust the amount of
the service charge. If the Water Superintendent finds that the computation was
correct, the service charge shall be due within five days of such determination,
unless appealed to the City Manager. If the person requesting the hearing does
not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Water Superintendent shall enter an
order declaring the service charge to be correct.
D. In all instances where water has been turned off because of delinquent
account, a service charge will be collected before service is restored.
E. The Water Superintendent or designee, in cases of extreme hardship, shall
have the discretion of renewing service to a delinquent account upon acceptance
of a valid plan for payment of past-due amounts in installments. (Ord. 641 §
4.9, 1997)
13.04.250 Emergency.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.04.230 and
13.04.240 of this
chapter, when an emergency exists, the Water Superintendent or designee may
discontinue or disconnect water service without notice to the customer;
provided, however, that if service is discontinued or disconnected without
notice, the customer may within ten (10) days of the notice of discontinuing or
disconnecting water service file a notice of appeal of the decision to
discontinue or disconnect service. If a notice of appeal is filed, the hearing
provisions of Section 13.04.240 of this chapter shall apply. (Ord. 641 § 4.10,
1997)
13.04.260 Extension of water mains.
A. The City shall not shut off the water from the mains without notice to
affected consumers, except in cases of emergency for repairs and other purposes;
and the City will not be responsible for any consequential damage.
B. Extensions of Mains. The extension of a main to serve premises not
heretofore served by the City water system shall be made at the discretion of
the City Council. When extensions are made, the City shall furnish the water
pipe in place to a point in the right-of-way adjacent to the property, provided
that the distance does not exceed eighty (80) feet. Should the distance between
the previously existing main and the property line exceed eighty (80) feet, the
applicant shall reimburse the City for the labor and materials required for the
distance over eighty (80) feet. All such construction shall be done by the City
or under direct supervision of the City. (Ord. 641 § 4.11, 1997)
Article 5. Billing and Collection
13.04.270 Billing practices.
A. Meters will ordinarily be read at regular intervals for the preparation of
bimonthly bills and as required for the preparation of opening, closing and
special bills. The City water utility reserves the right to estimate meter
readings in cases where actual meter readings are not available and to adjust
consumption when actual readings are obtained.
B. Bills for water service will ordinarily be rendered bi-monthly, unless
otherwise provided for in the rate schedule. The City water utility reserves the
following options and rights:
1. To read meters and render bills for a lesser or longer period than two
months;
2. To render bills on an estimated consumption basis in cases where the City
water utility is unable to obtain actual readings;
3. To include with the regular service billing the amount of any valid
obligation due the City water utility; or a deposit amount sufficient to bring
the customer's total deposit to the full deposit limit.
C. Billing for a fractional month will be as follows:
1. Opening and reconnecting accounts for water service that have been
supplied for less than seven days will not have bills rendered until the next
regular bi-monthly billing date;
2. Closing of an account for water service that has been supplied for seven
days or more will have a bill rendered on a full two week basis;
3. Closing of an account for water service that has been supplied for less
than seven days will be billed at the time of closing the account. (Ord. 641 §
5.1, 1997)
13.04.280 Responsibility for payment of bills
A. The property owner of record shall be responsible for payment of all
charges prescribed in this chapter. If the property is rented, the owner will be
billed for water/sewer usage, unless the owner executes an agreement requesting
the renter be billed directly and agrees to assume responsibility of all unpaid
billings. However, the owner shall be notified at the same time the turn-off
notice is sent. Such notice shall be sufficient if sent to the last known
address of the property owner, his/her agent or assignee as determined from the
records of the City. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to inform the
City when his/her property is occupied by a different renter.
B. The property owner of record shall be responsible for a twenty-five dollar
charge for each name change requested on the account.
C. Any necessary repair to meters damaged by the owner or tenants of serviced
premises shall be the responsibility of the owner of the premises.(Ord. 674 § 1, 2001)
13.04.285 Requiring deposits
A. If there is a history of delinquency in payment of water or sewer charges,
the City may require, at the discretion of the Chief Administrative Officer or
designee, a twenty-five dollar deposit or a deposit equal to charges for one
billing period, whichever is greater, before restoring service to a delinquent
account turned off for nonpayment. The deposit shall be held by the City to
ensure payment of the account.
B. The amount of the deposit shall always be maintained by the consumer at
the above-mentioned amount; and if reduced below that amount by application to
any arrearage, the water may be shut off by the City until the amount due on the
deposit is paid, as well as any unpaid balance. (Ord 674 § 2, 2001)
13.04.290 Liens and other collection enforcement procedures.
Water and sewer user charges shall be a lien against the premises served from and after the date of billing and entry on the ledger or other records of the City pertaining to its water/sewer system; and such ledger records or other records (lien docket) shall remain accessible for inspection by anyone interested in ascertaining the amount of such charges against the property. Whenever a bill for water or sewer service remains unpaid ninety days after it has been rendered, the lien thereby created may be foreclosed in any manner provided for by general State laws and/or City ordinances. (Ord. 674 § 3, 2001)
13.04.295 Payment delinquency - Refusal of service request
Any person requesting water or sewer services from the City, who owes the
City any moneys and is delinquent with regard to such moneys, shall not be
allowed such requested services until the person has made arrangements
satisfactory to the City to pay such moneys. (Ord. 674 § 4, 2001)
13.04.300 Meter error.
A. Meter Test. Prior to installation, each meter will be tested and no meter
found to register more than two percent fast or slow under conditions of normal
operation will be placed in service. On customer request:
1. A customer may, giving not less than one week's notice, request the City
to test the meter serving the premises.
2. City may require the customer to deposit an amount set by resolution to
cover the reasonable cost of such test.
3. The deposit will be returned if the meter is found to register more than
two percent fast. If the meter is found to register less than or equal to two
percent fast, the City shall retain the customer's deposit to cover the
reasonable cost of said test. The customer will be notified not less than five
days in advance of the time and place of the test.
4. A customer or his or her representative shall have the right to be present
when the test is made.
5. A written report, giving the results of the test, shall be available to
the customer after completion of the test.
B. Adjustment of Bills for Meter Errors:
1. Fast Meters. When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering more than
two percent fast, under conditions of normal operation, the City will refund to
the customer the full amount of the overcharge based on corrected meter readings
for a period not exceeding three months, that the meter was in use.
2. Slow Meters.
a. When, upon test, a meter used for domestic or residential service is found
to be registering more than twenty-five (25) percent slow, the City may bill the
customer for the amount of the undercharge based upon corrected meter readings
for a period not exceeding one month that the meter was in use.
b. When, upon test, a meter used for other than domestic or residential
service is found to be registering more than five percent slow, the City may
bill the customer for the amount of undercharge upon correct meter readings for
a period not exceeding one month that the meter was in use.
3. Nonregistering Meters. The City may bill a customer for water consumed
while the meter was not registering. The bill will be at the minimum monthly
rate or will be computed upon an estimate of consumption based either upon the
customer's prior use during the same season of the year or upon a reasonable
comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service
during the same period and under similar circumstances and conditions.
4. When there has been an overbilling due to meter reading error, the bill
shall be adjusted at the next billing date after the error is discovered. The
bill for the prior month will be at the minimum rate or will be computed upon an
estimate of consumption based either upon the customer's prior use during the
same season of the year or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other
customers receiving the same class of service during the same period. The amount
overpaid by the customer shall be returned by check.
5. Adjustment on Account of Underground Leaks. Where a leak exists
underground between the meter and the building and the same is repaired within
ten (10) days after the owner, agent or occupant of the premises has been
notified of such leakage, the City may allow an adjustment of up to fifty (50)
percent of the estimated excess consumption, as determined by the City. (Ord.
641 § 5.4, 1997)
13.04.310 Billing of separate meters.
Each meter on the customer's premises will be billed separately and the
readings of two or more meters will not be combined unless specifically provided
for in the rate schedule, or unless the City water utility's operating
convenience requires the use of more than one meter, or of a battery of meters.
(Ord. 641 § 5.5, 1997)
13.04.320 Water use charges.
Rates for water service and all fees, charges or assessments provided for in
these water regulations shall be established by resolution of the City Council,
and may be amended or altered from time to time by resolution. (Ord. 641 § 5.6,
1997)
Chapter
13.08
SEWER
SERVICE SYSTEM GENERALLY
Sections:
13.08.010 Definitions.
13.08.020 Use of public sewers required.
13.08.030 Connection charges.
13.08.040 Private sewage disposal.
13.08.050 Building sewer and connections.
13.08.060 Use of public sewers.
13.08.070 Industrial cost recovery.
13.08.080 Protection from damage.
13.08.090 Powers and authority of inspectors.
13.08.100 Penalties.
13.08.110 Recovery of damages.
13.08.120 Toilets required at construction sites.
13.08.010 Definitions.
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used
in this chapter shall be as follows:
"BOD" (denoting biochemical oxygen demand) means the quantity
of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under a
standard laboratory procedure in five days at twenty (20) degrees Celsius
expressed in parts per million by weight.
"Building drain" means that part of the lowest horizontal
piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and
other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the
building sewer, beginning five feet outside the inner face of the building wall.
"Building sewer" means the extension from the building drain
to the property line or right- of-way line and connection with the public sewer
service connection.
"City" means the City of Waldport, Oregon.
"Engineer" means the City Engineer of the City of Waldport or
his or her authorized deputy, agent or representative.
"Garbage" means solid wastes from the preparation, cooking
and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.
"Industrial wastes" means the liquid wastes from industrial
processes as distinct from sanitary sewage.
"Natural outlet" means any outlet into a watercourse, pond,
ditch, lake or other body or surface or ground water.
"Person" means any individual, firm, company, association,
society, corporation or group.
"Ph" means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of
hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
"Properly shredded garbage" means the wastes from the
preparation, cooking and dispensing of foods that have been shredded to such a
degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow and conditions
normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particles greater than one-half
inch in any dimension.
"Public sewer" means a sewer in which all owners of abutting
properties have equal rights and is controlled by public authority.
"Sanitary sewer" means a sewer which carries sewage and to
which storm, surface and ground water are not intentionally admitted.
"Service connection" means a public sewer which has been
constructed to the property line or right of way line from a public sewer
lateral or main for the sole purpose of providing a connection for the building
sewer.
"Sewage" means a combination of the water-carried wastes,
from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial
establishments, together with such ground, surface and storm waters as may be
present.
"Sewage treatment plant" means any arrangement of devices and
structures used for treating sewage.
"Sewage works" means all City-owned facilities for
collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
"Sewer" means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
"Storm sewer" or "storm drain" means a sewer which carries
storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and polluted
industrial wastes.
"Suspended solids" means solids that either float on the
surface, or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids; and which are
removable by the laboratory filtering.
"Watercourse" means a channel in which a flow of water
occurs, either continuously or intermittently. (Ord. 602 § 1, 1993)
13.08.020 Use of public sewers required.
A. It is unlawful for any person to place or permit to be
deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private property within the
City, or in any area under the jurisdiction of City any human excrement, garbage
or other objectionable waste.
B. It is unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within
the City or in any area under the jurisdiction of the City, any unsanitary
sewage, industrial wastes, or other polluted waters, except where suitable
treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this
chapter.
C. Except as hereinafter provided, it is unlawful to
construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other
facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage within the corporate limits
of the City or in any area under the jurisdiction of the City.
D. The owner of all houses, buildings, or
properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes,
situated within the City and abutting on any street, alley or right of way in
which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary
sewer of the City is required at his or her expense to connect such facilities
directly with the proper public sewer, either by gravity or with approved
pumping facilities, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, within
one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of official notice to do so,
provided that said public sewer is available to or on the property and/or at a
property line of said property and the structures or buildings are within two
hundred (200) feet of the public sewer. In the event that, during the said
period of one hundred eighty (180) days, the said owner shall file his or her
written objections with the City Recorder against so being required to install
said facilities, the City shall not enforce the provisions of this subsection
upon said owner so filing his or her objections until the Council shall have, at
a meeting thereof, heard the said objections of said owner, and rendered its
decision thereon. The said meeting of the Council shall be held not less than
ten (10) days or more than thirty (30) days from and after the date of the
filing of said objections with the City Recorder. Not less than seven days prior
to the date set by the Council for said meeting, the City shall give due notice
of the date set therefor to said owner. The decision of the Council shall be
final and no appeal shall be taken therefrom by said owner except as is provided
by law. (Ord. 602 § 2, 1993)
13.08.030 Connection charges.
A. All houses, buildings or properties used for human
occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes which are required to
connect to the public sewer under the provisions of this chapter shall pay a
connection charge for each separate service connection provided to the property.
When one service connection serves two or more buildings each building shall pay
a connection charge.
B. The connection charge for all persons required to connect
to the sewer after the effective date hereof shall be the sum of six hundred
fifty dollars ($650.00). All persons required to connect to the sewer system
shall have the obligation of paying the connection charge in cash. Beginning May
13, 1994, the connection fee and the monthly service charges will be set
annually by the City Council.
C. The City Council within its judgment may provide that
owners of property in an area or areas within the City not served by the sewage
system but desiring to be served by said sewer system may construct the sewer
facilities on said properties; provided, however, that any such sewer facilities
shall be in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the Engineer of
the City, in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the State
Department of Environmental Quality and installed in a manner satisfactory to
and approved by a person authorized to inspect said sewer installations by the
City.
It being further provided that in the event of a new service
connection to the present sewer facilities of the City, or in the event of any
extension of the sewer system to serve a user who may be a large water user,
then and in that event, the Council as provided shall fix the connection charge
to be paid by said sewer users, said Council to take into consideration the
gallonage of water to be used by said business and any and all other factors
which may affect the ultimate use of the sewage works of the City.
In all those areas where expansion is done by private persons
under supervision of the City as provided for in this section, the City and the
persons doing the work shall agree as to the time within which said sewer
extension work shall be done and upon completion of said work and acceptance
thereof by the City, said sewer mains, laterals, and connections shall be turned
over to the City free and clear of any and all expenses for the construction and
installation thereof. The person, persons, or company doing the work before
turning over the sewers, mains and laterals to the City shall prepare a map or
plat showing all of the property served by said facilities and the lots, parts
of lots, or parcels of ground actually connected to said sewers. Each of the
owners of said lots, parts of lots, or parcels of land shall, when connecting to
the sewer, pay to the City a connection charge for the type of property served
as provided for in subsection C of this section.
It is further provided that all other properties served by
said sewer installation, but which do not have a service connection running from
the sewer mains or laterals to the property lines, shall, when connected up, pay
a connection charge.
D. In the event a further expansion of the City sewer system
be made by the City itself, the connection charge shall be as in subsection B of
this section. (Ord. 602 § 3, 1993)
13.08.040 Private sewage disposal.
A. Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the
provisions of Section 13.08.020(D) of this chapter, the
building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying
with the requirements of the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality,
the Oregon State Board of Health, and the Oregon Plumbing Speciality Code.
B. At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a
property served by a private sewage disposal system, as provided in Section
13.08.020(D) of this chapter, a direct connection shall be
made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter, and any septic tanks,
cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and
filled with suitable material, except as the City Council shall otherwise
permit.
C. The provisions of this chapter shall be in addition to and
not in derogation of the requirements of general law. (Ord. 602 § 4, 1993)
13.08.050 Building sewer and connections.
A. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections
with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances
thereto and no person, firm, or corporation shall make any connection to any
part of the sewer system without first making an application and securing a
permit therefor.
B. There shall be two classes of building sewer permits: (1)
For residential and commercial service, and (2) for service to establishments
producing industrial wastes. In either case, the owner or his or her agent shall
make application on a special form furnished by the City. The permit
applications shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other
information considered pertinent to the Engineer's judgment. A permit and
inspection fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid to the City
Recorder at the time the application is filed. No permit shall be issued until
the connection charge specified in Section 13.08.030 of
this chapter has been paid.
C. All costs and expenses incidental to the installation and
connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall
indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be
occasioned by the installation.
D. Old building sewers may be used in connection with new
buildings, or new buildings sewers only when they are found upon examination and
testing by the Engineer, to meet all requirements of this chapter.
E. The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a
building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe,
jointing, testing, and back-filling the trench, shall all conform to the
requirements of the Oregon Plumbing Speciality Code or other applicable rules
and regulations of the City.
F. Building sewer connections shall be made on the house side
of the septic tank to the existing cast iron soil pipe or approved existing A.C.
or other pipe. When connecting cast iron soil pipe to asbestos-cement or other
pipe, a special approved adaptor shall be used. Connection of the building sewer
to the City sewer at the property line shall be with an approved adaptor.
G. The first fitting at the connection with the public sewer
and the building sewer shall be an A.C. or PVC tee, furnished by the owner. The
tee branch shall extend vertically to within one foot of finished ground surface
and shall be sealed with an approved cap or plug. This riser shall be used for
inserting a test plug for water testing the building sewer and as an auxiliary
cleanout. Backfilling around the riser shall be done in such a manner so as not
to damage the pipe.
H. The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject
to the approval of the City, but in no event shall the diameter be less than
four inches. The slope of such four-inch shall not be less than one-eighth inch
per foot.
I. Building sewers serving buildings with basements shall,
whenever possible, be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement
floor.
J. The building sewer shall be laid at uniform grade and in
straight alignment insofar as is possible. Changes in direction shall be made
only with curved pipe no greater than forty-five (45) degree long radius bends.
No forty-five (45) degree or ninety (90) degree short radius elbow shall be
used. All pipe shall be laid on a four inch granular base of three-quarters
minus rock, pea gravel, sand or combination thereof and the trench backfill to
six inches over the pipe.
K. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to
permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such drain
shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building
sewer.
L. All excavations required for the installation of a
building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the
Engineer. No backfilling of the trench shall be done until receipt of written
approval from the City.
M. All joints and connections shall be made gastight and
watertight.
N. The applicant for building sewer permit shall notify the
City when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the
public sewer. After final approval and testing of the building sewer by the
City, the owner shall make the final connection to the building drain, unless
otherwise authorized by the City. A thirty (30) minute internal hydrostatic test
will be required on all building sewers before connection is made to the
building drain. All water, plugs and other facilities for making the test shall
be furnished by the applicant. Minimum head over the top of the pipe shall be
two feet and maximum allowable leakage shall be four gallons per hour per one
hundred (100) feet.
O. No plumbing contractors shall be allowed to make
connections of private sewers to the sewage works of the City on behalf of any
owners of property therein without first posting with the City a bond in the sum
of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), indemnifying the City and the inhabitants
thereof against any loss or damage which the City or the inhabitants thereof
might suffer by reason of the action of said contractors in making said
connections. (Ord. 602 § 5, 1993)
13.08.060 Use of public sewers.
A. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any
storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage,
cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process to any sanitary sewer.
B. Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be
discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers or to a
natural outlet.
C. Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall discharge
or cause to be discharged any of the following described water or wastes to any
public sewer.
1. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than one
hundred fifty (150) degrees Celsius;
2. Any gasoline, grease, oils, paint, benzine, naphtha, fuel
oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas;
3. Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal,
glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure, or any other solid or
viscous substance capable of causing obstructions to the flow in sewers or other
interference with the proper operation of the sewer works;
4. Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous
substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage
treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create any
hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant;
5. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher
than 9.0 having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard
to structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works;
6. Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such
character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle
such material at the sewage treatment plant;
7. Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of
creating a public nuisance, including the contents of septic tanks and
cesspools, without written consent of the Engineer.
D. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when
in the opinion of the Engineer they are necessary for the proper handling of
liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amount, or any flammable wastes,
sand, and other harmful ingredients, except that such interceptors shall not be
required for private living quarters. All interceptors shall be of a type and
capacity approved by the Engineer and shall be located so as to be readily and
easily accessible for cleaning and inspection, and shall be maintained by the
owner, at his or her expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times.
E. The admission into the public sewers of any waters or
wastes having (a) a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than three
hundred (300) parts per million by weight, or (b) containing any quantity of
substances having the characteristics described in Section 13.08.010 of this
chapter, or (c) containing more than three hundred fifty (350) parts per million
by weight of suspended solids, or (d) having an average daily flow greater than
two percent of the average daily sewage flow of the City shall be subject to the
review and approval of the Engineer. The owner shall provide, at his or her
expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary. Plans, specifications,
and any other pertinent information relating to the proposed preliminary
treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the Engineer and of
the Oregon State Sanitary Authority, and no construction of such facilities
shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing.
F. When required by the Engineer, the owner of any property
served by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable
control manhole in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and
measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessible at
all times.
G. When preliminary treatment facilities are provided for any
waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and
effective operation, by the owner at his or her expense.
H. All measurements, test and analyses of the characteristics
of waters and wastes to which reference is made above shall be determined in
accordance with "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage," and
shall be determined at the control manhole. In the event that no special manhole
has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest
downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer
is connected.
I. No statement contained in this article shall be construed
as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the City and any
industrial concern whereby an industrial waste or unusual strength or character
may be accepted by the City for treatment subject to payment therefor by the
industrial concern. (Ord. 602 § 6, 1993)
13.08.070 Industrial cost recovery.
A. All industrial users shall be required to pay that portion
of the Federal assistance grant under PL 92-500 allocable to the treatment of
waste from such users.
B. The system for industrial cost recovery shall be
implemented and maintained according to the following requirements:
1. Each year during the industrial cost recovery period each
industrial user of the treatment works shall pay its share of the total Federal
grant amount divided by the recovery period.
2. The industrial cost recovery period shall be equal to
forty (40) years or the useful life of the treatment works, whichever is less.
3. Payments shall be made by industrial users no less often
than annually. The first payment by an industrial user shall be made not later
than one year after such user begins use of the treatment works.
4. An industrial user's share shall be based on all factors
which significantly influence the cost of the treatment works such as strength,
volume, and flow rate characteristics. As a minimum, an industry's share shall
be based on its flow versus treatment works capacity except in unusual cases.
5. An industrial user's share shall be adjusted when there is
a substantial change in the strength, volume, or flow rate characteristics of
the user's wastes, or if there is an expansion or upgrading of the treatment
works.
6. An industrial user's share shall not include any portion
of the Federal grant amount allocable to unused or unreserved capacity.
7. An industrial user's share shall include any firm
commitment to the City of increased use by such user.
8. An industrial user's share shall not include an interest
component.
C. This requirement applies only to those features of
wastewater treatment and transportation facilities which have been constructed
with Federal assistance administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
under PL 92-500. (Ord. 602 § 7, 1993)
13.08.080 Protection from damage.
No person, or persons, shall unlawfully, maliciously, willfully, or as the
result of gross negligence on his or her or their part, break, damage, destroy,
uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, facility, appurtenance or
equipment which is a part of the sanitary sewer system of the City. This section
does not apply, however, to any employee of the City during the time he or she
is engaged in his or her official employment, nor to any person or persons
authorized to work in any manner thereon. (Ord. 602 § 8, 1993)
13.08.090 Powers and authority of inspectors.
The Engineer and other duly authorized employees of the City bearing proper
credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter upon all properties
for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling and testing,
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter at such times and during such
hours that the Council shall approve. (Ord. 602 § 9, 1993)
13.08.100 Penalties.
A. No person shall violate any of the provisions of this
chapter. Any person who violates any section of this chapter, other than Section
13.08.080, shall be fined a sum not to exceed fifty
dollars ($50.00) upon the first violation within a twenty-four (24) month
period, two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) upon the second violation, and one
thousand dollars ($1,000.00) upon the third violation and each violation
subsequent to the third. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day
upon which the violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense. In
addition to the above fine, any person violating any provisions of any section
of this chapter, other than Section 13.08.080, shall
become liable to the City for any expense, loss or damage occasioned by the City
by reason of such violation.
B. Any person who violates Section
13.08.080 of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (Ord.
602 § 10, 1993)
13.08.110 Recovery of damages.
Any person or persons who, as the result of violating any of the provisions of
this chapter, cause any expense, loss or damage to the City, shall immediately
become liable to the City for the full sum of such expense, loss or damage. The
Council may, at its discretion, instruct the City Attorney to proceed against
any such person or persons, in any court of competent jurisdiction, in a civil
action to be brought in the name of the City of Waldport, for the recovery of
the full sum of any such expense, loss, or damage sustained by the City. (Ord.
602 § 11, 1993)
13.08.120 Toilets required at construction sites.
Before the construction of any building or structure is started, a temporary
water-flushed toilet or an approved chemical toilet shall be installed, or shall
be available on the jobsite for the use of the workers. This temporary toilet
shall be maintained throughout the construction of the building or structure. If
a water-flushed toilet is used, such toilet shall be connected to the sewer with
approved joints. The person in whose name the building permit for the
construction has been issued is charged with the requirement for providing the
temporary water-flushed toilet or approved chemical toilet and is charged with
the requirement of maintenance of said facilities during the course of
construction. If other toilet facilities within two hundred fifty (250) feet of
the job site have been arranged for, that shall be satisfactory to the
requirements of this section. (Ord. 432, 1981)
Chapter
13.12
SEWER
USER CHARGES
Sections:
13.12.010 Definitions.
13.12.020 Sewer user charges.
13.12.030 Responsibility, payment, delinquencies and penalties.
13.12.040 Handling of funds.
13.12.050 Appeals.
13.12.010 Definitions.
"BOD" (biochemical oxygen demand) means the quantity of
oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard
laboratory procedure in five days at twenty (20) degrees Celsius, expressed in
milligrams per liter.
"Collection system" means the system of public sewers to be
operated by the City designed for collection of sanitary sewage.
"Commercial user" means any premises used for commercial or
business purposes which are not used by an industrial user as defined in this
chapter.
"Domestic waste" means any wastewater emanating from
dwellings.
"Equivalent residential unit (ERU)" means a volume of
wastewater which incurs the same costs for operations and maintenance as the
average volume of domestic waste discharged from an average residential dwelling
unit in the treatment works service area. For purposes of making this
determination the City shall utilize the metered water use records of the City
of Waldport. Where a user believes his or her wastewater discharge to the
treatment works is substantially different than his or her water consumption, an
appropriate adjustment shall be made by the public works Superintendent,
providing the user demonstrates to the satisfaction of the City the actual
wastewater discharge. The volume attributed to an ERU where the BOD, suspended
solids or other characteristics of the wastewater discharged by a user is
significantly greater than domestic waste shall be adjusted to account for the
difference in the costs of treatment.
"Industrial user" means a nongovernmental, nonresidential
user of the public treatment works which is identified in the Standard
Industrial Classification Manual, 1972, Office of Management and Budget, as
amended and supplemented, under the following divisions:
1. Division A - Agriculture, forestry and fishing;
2. Division B - Mining
3. Division D - Manufacturing
4. Division E - Transportation, communications, electric, gas
and sanitary services;
5. Division I - Services
A user in these divisions may be excluded from the industrial category if it is
determined that it will introduce primarily domestic waste and waste from
sanitary conveniences.
"Industrial waste" means that portion of the wastewater
emanating from an industrial user which is not domestic waste or waste from
sanitary conveniences.
"Operation and maintenance" means activities required to
ensure the dependable and economical function of collection and treatment works.
1. Maintenance. Preservation of functional integrity and
efficiency of equipment and structures. This includes preventive maintenance,
corrective maintenance and replacement of equipment.
2. Operation. Control of the unit processes and equipment
that make up the collection and treatment works. This includes keeping financial
and personal management records, laboratory control, process control, safety and
emergency operation planning, employment of attorneys and consultants, payment
of court costs; and payment of any costs or fees reasonably associated with any
of the above.
"Person" means any individual, firm, company, association,
society, corporation or group.
"Public treatment works" means a treatment works owned and
operated by a public authority.
"Replacement" means obtaining and installing equipment
accessories or appurtenances that are necessary during the design or useful
life, whichever is longer, of the collection and treatment works to maintain the
capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
"Residential user" means user of a single-family dwelling.
"Service area" means all the area served by the treatment
works and for which there is one uniform user charge system.
"Sewage" means a combination of water-carried wastes from
residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments,
together with such ground, surface, and storm waters as may be present. The term
"sewage" means wastewater.
"Sewage treatment plant" means an arrangement of devices and
structures used for treating sewage.
"Shall" is mandatory, "may" is permissible.
"Suspended solids" means solids that either float on the
surface of, or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids and which
are removable by laboratory filtering.
"Treatment works" means all facilities for collecting,
pumping, treating, and disposal of sewage. "Treatment system" and "sewerage
system" shall be equivalent terms for "treatment works."
"User" means every person using any part of the public
treatment works of the City of Waldport.
"User charge" means the monthly charges levied on all users
of the public treatment works, and shall, at a minimum, cover each user's
proportionate share of the cost of operation and maintenance (including
replacement) of such works as provided under Section 204 (b)(1)(A) of the Clean
Water Act. (Ord. 591 § 1, 1992)
13.12.020 Sewer user charges.
A. User charges shall be levied on all users of the public
treatment works. Such charges shall cover the costs of operation and
maintenance, replacement, collection, capital expenditures, billing and other
administrative costs of such treatment works.
B. Imposition of Charges - Purpose. Charges for connections
to the public sewer system and subsequent sewer services shall be levied and
imposed by the City for the purpose of funding operations, maintenance and
improvements thereto.
C. Changes to Fees, Rates and Charges. All fees, rates and
charges stated within this chapter may be changed at any time in the future by
resolution of the City Council.
D. Rates - Annual User Notification. Each user must be
notified at least annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate and
that portion of the user service charges which are attributable to wastewater
treatment services.
E. Charges - Review by City. The user service charges shall
be reviewed and revised at least semi-annually to reflect actual costs of
operation and maintenance, replacement and financing of the treatment works, and
to maintain the equitably of user service charges with respect to proportional
distribution of the costs of operation and maintenance.
F. Charges - Determination Generally. A user service charge
shall be levied on all users served by public sewer, and the charges shall be
determined as set out in subsections H through I of this section.
G. Base Charge. A minimum base charge shall be charged
monthly for each residential dwelling meter and each commercial business meter,
as provided in this chapter. This charge shall be imposed to maintain the
systems readiness to serve the user, regardless of actual use. The user shall be
charged the minimum base charge and the actual use charge.
H. Residential Users. Residential users charges for
non-summer months shall be based on the user's metered water consumption, except
as provided in this chapter. The summer is defined to include the months of June
through September. A use charge to a residential user shall be based on said
user's average monthly water consumption for the previous months from October
through May as read from the user's water meter, except as provided in this
chapter. In the case where water service has been turned off for not more than
one month during the winter months, the remaining months of record shall be used
for calculating the average. Residential sewer users not having a previous
consumption for at least three of the months called for herein shall have their
sewer consumption determined by administrative policy.
For the months of June, July, August and September of the
year 2001 only, the summer sewer average for residential customers will be set
at 6 (six) units, which is the calculated residential average as determined by
Ray Bartlett of Economic and Financial Analysis.
I. Commercial and Industrial Users. Commercial and industrial
user charges shall be based on the user's metered water consumption, except as
provided in this chapter. Where separate nonsewer use related meters are
installed by the user, a sewer user charge will not be levied on that meter.
J. Charges When Meter Not Operating. If a user's water meter
is not operating during the billing period, the user service charge shall be
equal to such user's last monthly billing prior to the meter malfunction.
K. Reserve Charge. The Council shall adopt and collect a
reserve charge from all users of the system. The funds collected shall be
segregated from other sewer user charges and placed in a separate account within
the sewer fund. The account shall be used to accumulate monies to pay for
unexpected and unanticipated expenses or to pay off debt associated with the
fund. Any expenditures shall be consistent with the Financial Management
Policies of the City. When the account balance reaches three hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($350,000.00) the Council shall re-evaluate the charge and
determine the appropriate level of future assessment.
L. Adjustment on Account of Leaks.
1) In circumstances where there is a waterline break during
which no water enters the sanitary sewer system, an adjustment may be made to
the sewer bill upon provision of proof that a repair has been made, or following
a subsequent reading which shows the excessive consumption has abated. This
adjustment will reduce the sewer bill to an averaged amount, based on the
previous year’s consumption during the same period of time, or a calculated
average based upon customer information for a lesser period of time or other
reasonable criteria as determined by the CAO or designee.
2) In circumstances where the leak has allowed excessive
water to enter the sanitary sewer system, an adjustment may be made to the sewer
bill upon provision of proof that a repair has been made, or following a
subsequent reading which shows the excessive consumption has abated. This
adjustment will reduce the sewer bill to fifty (50) percent of the difference
between the leak billing and an averaged amount based on the previous year’s
consumption during the same period of time, or a calculated average based upon
customer information for a lesser period of time or other reasonable criteria as
determined by the CAO or designee. An example of this calculation is as follows:
Leak bill = 20 units used; Average bill = 10 units; Reduction = 5 units (20 - 10
= 10 X .50 = 5). (Ord. 657 § 1, 1999; Ord. 648 § 1, 1998; Ord. 591 § 2, 1992;
Ord 671 § 1, 2001; Ord 694 § 1, 2004; Ord 730 § 1, 2009)
13.12.030 Responsibility, payment, delinquencies and penalties.
All provisions of Waldport Municipal Code Section 13.04.240, and Sections
13.04.270-13.04.290 as amended shall apply for sewer service. (Ord 674 § 5,
2001)
13.12.040 Handling of funds
A. Bills for sewer user charges shall be mailed to the address specified in
the application for a permit to make the connection unless or until a different
owner or user of the property is reported to the department of public works.
B. All collections of sewer user charges shall be made by the City Recorder.
Sewer user charges shall be computed as provided in Section 13.12.020 of this
chapter and shall be payable as provided in Section 13.12.030 of this chapter.
C. The City Recorder is directed to deposit in the sewer fund all of the
gross revenues received from charges, rates, and penalties collected for the use
of the sewerage system as herein provided.
D. The revenues thus deposited in the sewer fund shall be used exclusively
for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the sewerage system;
administration costs, expenses of collection of charges imposed by this chapter
and payments of the principal and interest on any debts of the sewerage system
of the City. (Ord. 591 § 5, 1992)
13.12.050 Appeals.
Appeal of the rate established by the City shall be made in writing to the
City Recorder within fifteen (15) days of the billing of said use fee. The City
Recorder shall respond in writing within ten (10) days of the receipt of the
appeal. If the user wishes to appeal further, they shall request in writing that
the City Recorder place their specific appeal on the next scheduled regular City
Council session. The decision of the City Council shall be final. (Ord. 591 § 6,
1992)
Chapter
13.16
SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
Sections:
13.16.010 Purpose.
13.16.020 Scope.
13.16.030 Definitions.
13.16.040 System development charge established.
13.16.050 Methodology.
13.16.060 Authorized expenditures.
13.16.070 Expenditure restrictions.
13.16.080 Improvement plan.
13.16.090 Collection of charge.
13.16.100 Installment payment.
13.16.110 Exemptions.
13.16.120 Credits.
13.16.130 Notice.
13.16.140 Segregation and use of revenue.
13.16.150 Appeal procedure.
13.16.160 Prohibited connection.
13.16.170 Violation—Penalty.
13.16.180 Construction.
13.16.190 Classification.
13.16.010 Purpose.
The purpose of the system development charge is to impose a portion of the
cost of capital improvements for water, wastewater, streets, drainage and flood
control, and parks upon those developments that create the need for or increase
the demands on capital improvements. (Ord. 636 § 1, 1996)
13.16.020 Scope.
The system development charge imposed by this chapter is separate from and in
addition to any applicable tax, assessment, charge, or fee otherwise provided by
law or imposed as a condition of development. (Ord. 636 § 2, 1996)
13.16.030 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
"Capital improvements" means facilities or assets used for:
1. Water supply, treatment, storage, and distribution;
2. Waste water collection, transmission, treatment and disposal;
3. Drainage and flood control;
4. Transportation; or
5. Parks and recreation.
"Development" means conducting a building or mining operation, making a
physical change in the use or appearance of a structure or land, dividing land
into two or more parcels (including partitions and subdivisions), and creating
or terminating a right of access.
"Improvement fee" means a fee for costs associated with capital improvements
to be constructed after the date the fee is adopted pursuant to Section
13.16.040 of this chapter.
"Land area" means the area of a parcel of land as measured by projection of
the parcel boundaries upon a horizontal plane with the exception of any portion
of the parcel within a recorded right-of-way or easement subject to a servitude
for a public street or scenic or preservation purpose.
"Owner" means the owner or owners of record title or the purchaser or
purchasers under a recorded sales agreement, and other persons having an
interest of record in the described real property.
"Parcel of land" means a lot, parcel, block or other tract of land that is
occupied or may be occupied by a structure or structures or other use, and that
includes the yards and other open spaces required under the zoning, subdivision,
or other development ordinances.
"Permittee" means the person to whom a building permit, development permit, a
permit or plan approval to connect to the sewer or water system, or right-of-way
access permit is issued.
"Qualified public improvements" means a capital improvement that is:
1. Required as a condition of residential development approval;
2. Identified in the plan adopted pursuant to Section
13.16.080 of this
chapter; and either
3. Not located on or contiguous to a parcel of land that is the subject of
the development approval; or
4. Located in whole or in part on or contiguous to property that is the
subject of development approval and required to be built larger or with greater
capacity than is necessary for the particular development project to which the
improvement fee is related.
5. For purposes of this definition, "contiguous" means in a public way which
abuts the parcel.
"Reimbursement fee" means a fee for costs associated with capital
improvements constructed or under construction on the date the fee is adopted
pursuant to Section 13.16.040 of this chapter.
"System development charge" means a reimbursement fee, an improvement fee or
a combination thereof assessed or collected at the time of issuance of a
building permit. "System development charge" includes that portion of a sewer or
water system connection charge that is greater than the amount necessary to
reimburse the City for its average cost of inspecting and installing connections
with water and sewer facilities. "System development charge" does not include
fees assessed or collected as part of a local improvement district or a charge
in lieu of a local improvement district assessment, or the cost of complying
with requirements or conditions imposed by a land use decision. (Ord. 640 § 1,
1997: Ord. 636 § 3, 1996)
13.16.040 System development charge established.
A. System development charges shall be established and may be revised by
resolution of the Council. The resolution shall set the amount of the charge,
the type of permit to which the charge applies, and, if the charge applies to a
geographic area smaller than the entire City, the geographic area subject to the
charge.
B. Unless otherwise exempted by the provisions of this chapter or other local
or state law, a system development charge is imposed upon all development within
the City, and upon all development outside the boundary of the City that
connects to or otherwise uses the sewer facilities, storm sewers, or water
facilities of the City. (Ord. 640 § 2, 1997: Ord. 636 § 4, 1996)
13.16.050 Methodology.
A. The methodology used to establish the reimbursement fee shall consider the
cost of then-existing facilities, prior contributions by then-existing users,
the value of unused capacity, rate-making principles employed to finance
publicly owned capital improvements, and other relevant factors identified by
the Council. The methodology shall promote the objective that future systems
users shall contribute no more than an equitable share of the cost of
then-existing facilities.
B. The methodology used to establish the improvement fee shall consider the
cost of projected capital improvements needed to increase the capacity of the
systems to which the fee is related.
C. The methodology used to establish the improvement fee or the reimbursement
fee, or both, shall be contained in a resolution adopted by the Council. (Ord.
636 § 5, 1996)
13.16.060 Authorized expenditures.
A. Reimbursement fees shall be applied only to capital improvements
associated with the systems for which the fees are assessed, including
expenditures relating to repayment of indebtedness.
B. 1. Improvement fees shall be spent only on capacity increasing capital
improvements, including expenditures relating to repayment of debt for the
improvements. An increase in system capacity occurs if a capital improvement
increases the level of performance or service provided by existing facilities or
provides new facilities. The portion of the capital improvements funded by
improvement fees must be related to demands created by current or projected
development.
2. A capital improvement being funded wholly or in part from revenues derived
from the improvement fee shall be included in the plan adopted by the City
pursuant to Section 13.16.080 of this chapter.
C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, system development
charge revenues may be expended on the direct costs of complying with the
provisions of this chapter, including the costs of developing system development
charge methodologies and providing an annual accounting of system development
charge expenditures. (Ord. 636 § 6, 1996)
13.16.070 Expenditure restrictions.
A. System development charges shall not be expended for costs associated with
the construction of administrative office facilities that are more than an
incidental part of other capital improvements.
B. System development charges shall not be expended for costs of the
operation or routine maintenance of capital improvements. (Ord. 636 § 7, 1996)
13.16.080 Improvement plan.
The Council shall adopt a plan that:
A. Lists the capital improvements that may be funded with improvement fee
revenues;
B. Lists the estimated cost and time of construction of each improvement; and
C. Describes the process for modifying the plan. In adopting this plan, the
Council may incorporate by reference all or a portion of any public facilities
plan, master plan, capital improvements plan or similar plan that contains the
information required by this section. (Ord. 636 § 8, 1996)
13.16.090 Collection of charge.
A. The system development charge is payable upon issuance of a building
permit.
B. If no building permit is required, the system development charge is
payable at the time the usage of the capital improvement is increased.
C. If development is commenced or connection is made to the water or sewer
systems without an appropriate permit, the system development charge is
immediately payable upon the earliest date that a permit was required.
D. The City Planner shall collect the applicable system development charge
from the permittee when a permit that allows building upon a parcel is issued or
when the system development charge is otherwise payable.
E. The City Planner shall not issue such permit until the charge has been
paid in full, or until provision for installment payments has been made pursuant
to Section 13.16.110 of this chapter, or unless an exemption is granted pursuant
to Section 13.16.120 of this chapter. (Ord. 640 § 3, 1997: Ord. 636 § 9, 1996)
13.16.100 Installment payment.
A. When a system development charge of two thousand five hundred dollars or
more is due and collectible, the owner of the parcel of land subject to the
development charge may apply for payment in ten annual installments, to include
interest on the unpaid balance, in accordance with the City’s Financial
Management Policy. Twenty and thirty year term loans may be offered on contracts
over ten thousand dollars.
B. The City Manager shall provide application forms for installment payments,
which shall include a waiver of all rights to contest the validity of the lien,
except for the correction of computational errors.
C. An applicant for installment payments shall have the burden of
demonstrating the applicant's authority to assent to the imposition of a lien on
the parcel and that the interest of the applicant is adequate to secure payment
of the lien.
D. The City Planner shall report to the City Manager the amount of the system
development charge, the dates on which the payments are due, the name of the
owner, and the description of the parcel.
E. The City Manager shall docket the lien in the lien docket. From that time
the City shall have a lien upon the described parcel for the amount of the
system development charge, together with interest on the unpaid balance at the
rate established by the Council. The lien shall be enforceable in the manner
provided in ORS Chapter 223. (Ord. 636 § 10, 1996; Ord. 720, 2007)
13.16.110 Exemptions.
A. Structures and uses established and existing on or before the effective
date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are exempt from a system
development charge, except water and sewer charges, to the extent of the
structure or use then existing and to the extent of the parcel of land as it is
constituted on that date. Structures and uses affected by this subsection shall
pay the water or sewer charges pursuant to the terms of this chapter upon the
receipt of a permit to connect to the water or sewer system.
B. Additions to single-family dwellings that do not constitute the addition
of a dwelling unit, as defined by the State Uniform Building Code, are exempt
from all portions of the system development charge.
C. An alteration, addition, replacement or change in use that does not
increase the parcel's or structure's use of the public improvement facility are
exempt from all portions of the system development charge. (Ord. 636 § 11, 1996)
13.16.120 Credits.
A. When development occurs that is subject to a system development charge,
the system development charge for the existing use, if applicable, shall be
calculated and if it is less than the system development charge for the use that
will result from the development, the difference between the system development
charge for the existing use and the system development charge for the proposed
use shall be the system development charge. If the change in the use results in
the system development charge for the proposed use being less than the system
development charge for the existing use, no system development charge shall be
required. No refund or credit shall be given unless provided for by another
subsection of this section.
B. A credit shall be given to the permittee for the cost of a qualified
public improvement upon acceptance by the City of the public improvement. The
credit shall not exceed the improvement fee even if the cost of the capital
improvement exceeds the applicable improvement fee and shall only be for the
improvement fee charged for the type of improvement being constructed.
C. If a qualified public improvement is located in whole on in part on or
contiguous to the property that is the subject of development approval and is
required to be built larger or with greater capacity than is necessary for the
particular development project, a credit shall be given for the cost of the
portion of the improvement that exceeds the City's minimum standard facility
size or capacity needed to serve the particular development project or property.
The applicant shall have the burden of demonstrating that a particular
improvement qualifies for credit under this subsection. The request for credit
shall be filed in writing no later than sixty (60) days after acceptance of the
improvement by the City.
D. When the construction of a qualified public improvement located in whole
or in part or contiguous to the property that is the subject of development on
approval gives rise to a credit amount greater than the improvement fee that
would otherwise be levied against the project, the credit in excess of the
improvement fee for the original development project may be applied against
improvement fees that accrue in subsequent phases of the original development
project.
E. Credits shall not be transferable from one development to another.
F. Credits shall not be transferable from one type of system development
charge to another.
G. Credits shall be used within ten (10) years from the date the credit is
given. (Ord. 636 § 12, 1996)
13.16.130 Notice.
A. The City shall maintain a list of persons who have made a written request
for notification prior to adoption or amendment of a methodology for any system
development charge. Written notice shall be mailed to persons on the list at
least forty-five (45) days prior to the first hearing to adopt or amend a system
development charge. The methodology supporting the adoption or amendment shall
be available at least thirty (30) days prior to the first hearing to adopt or
amend a system development charge. The failure of a person on the list to
receive a notice that was mailed shall not invalidate the action of the City.
B. The City may periodically delete names from the list, but at least thirty
(30) days prior to removing a name from the list, the City must notify the
person whose name is to be deleted that a new written request for notification
is required if the person wishes to remain on the notification list. (Ord. 636 §
13, 1996)
13.16.140 Segregation and use of revenue.
A. All funds derived from a particular type of system development charge are
to be segregated by accounting practices from all other funds of the City. That
portion of the system development charge calculated and collected on account of
a specific facility system shall be used for no purpose other than those set
forth in Section 13.16.060 of this chapter.
B. The appropriate City official shall provide the City Council with an
annual accounting, based on the City's fiscal year, for system development
charges showing the total amount of system development charge revenues collected
for each type of facility and the projects funded from each account. (Ord. 636 §
14, 1996)
13.16.150 Appeal procedure.
A. A person challenging the propriety of an expenditure of system development
charge revenues may appeal the decision or the expenditure to the City Council
by filing a written request with the City Manager describing with particularity
the expenditure from which the person appeals. An appeal of an expenditure must
be filed within two years of the date of the alleged improper expenditure.
B. Appeals of any other decision required or permitted to be made by the City
Planner or City Manager under this chapter must be filed within ten (10) days of
the date of the decision.
C. After providing notice to the appellant, the Council shall determine
whether the City official's decision or the expenditure is in accordance with
this chapter and the provisions of ORS 223.297 to 223.314 and may affirm,
modify, or overrule the decisions. If the Council determines that there has been
an improper expenditure of system development charge revenues, the Council shall
direct that a sum equal to the misspent amount shall be deposited within one
year to the credit of the account or fund from which it was spent. The decision
of the Council shall be reviewed only as provided in ORS 34.010 to 34.100, and
not otherwise.
D. A legal action challenging the methodology adopted by the Council pursuant
to Section 13.16.050 of this chapter shall not be filed later than sixty (60)
days after the adoption. A person shall contest the methodology used for
calculating a system development charge only as provided in ORS 34.010 to ORS
34.100, and not otherwise. (Ord. 636 § 15, 1996)
13.16.160 Prohibited connection.
No person may connect to the water or sewer systems of the City unless the
appropriate system development charge has been paid or the lien or installment
payment method has been applied for and approved. (Ord. 636 § 16, 1996)
13.16.170 Violation—Penalty.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, as now
constituted or hereafter amended or revised, commits a Class A civil infraction
and shall be subject to the procedures and penalties of Chapter
1.08 of this
code, as now constituted or hereafter amended or revised. (Ord. 661 § 3, 1999:
Ord. 636 § 17, 1996)
13.16.180 Construction.
The rules of statutory construction contained in ORS Chapter 174 are adopted
and by this reference made a part of this chapter. (Ord. 636 § 18, 1996)
13.16.190 Classification.
The City Council determines that any fee, rates or charges imposed by this
chapter are not a tax subject to the property tax limitations of Article XI,
Section 11(b) of the Oregon Constitution. (Ord. 636 § 20, 1996)