Chapter 13.37
CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERS AND SEWER CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.37.010 Standards for the evaluation of applications.
13.37.015 Procedures for approval of applications of sewer services.
13.37.020 Construction of sewers and sewer connections – Permit – Compliance required.
13.37.025 Discovery and repair of illegal connections.
13.37.040 Connection fees – Major users.
13.37.050 Demand fees – Computation – Time of payment.
13.37.080 Privately constructed lines – Approval required.
13.37.100 Disconnection for noncompliance.
13.37.120 Termination upon notice.
13.37.130 Agreements to comply with city regulations.
13.37.140 Connections outside city – Compliance with city regulations.
13.37.150 Cash guarantee deposit requirement.
13.37.200 Provisions of other ordinances.
13.37.010 Standards for the evaluation of applications.
The city council shall from time to time establish, by ordinance, standards for the evaluation of applications for connection to the sewer system. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following:
A. The total amount of average daily sewer effluent flow that may be discharged by any premises;
B. The total amount of average daily sewer effluent flow of equivalent units thereof that may be discharged by projects and connected after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter in any one year or portion or multiple thereof;
C. The number and types of water-using appliances that may be connected to the sewer system by any one project or portion thereof;
D. Such satisfactory procedures as may be necessary for evaluation and approval, approval with conditions, or denial of the application. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.015 Procedures for approval of applications of sewer services.
A. Anticipated average daily sewer effluent for each premises to be connected to the city’s sewer system shall be determined based upon but not limited to the information provided by the applicant and standards contained in “Resolution No. 74-31 of the Cotati City Council Adopting Procedures for Processing of Applications, Establishing Standards for Connection to the Sewer System and Establishing Application and Connection Fees.”
B. The city shall notify all applicants of the sewer allocation limits applicable to the premises proposed for connection, and shall indicate the impact of such limitations upon projects and premises proposed for connection.
C. Based upon the information considered pursuant to subsection A of this section, approval, approval with conditions, or denial of the application shall be given in writing to the applicant and to the building official no later than either thirty days from the date of submission of the application, or the date of design review approval by the planning commission, whichever occurs later. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.020 Construction of sewers and sewer connections – Permit – Compliance required.
A. No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connection with or opening into, or use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the director of public works and any other appropriate permits required to comply with this title, and applicable laws, regulations and policies.
B. If the city has previously installed a sewer service lateral, the city may charge the applicant for the actual cost of the existing lateral in lieu of requiring the applicant to install a service lateral.
C. All construction of public sanitary sewers, or of sewers to become public sanitary sewers, or of sewer service laterals shall conform to the design criteria and the standard plans and specifications, as adopted by the city, and shall be subject to inspection and testing for sanitary sewers in accordance with current city standards.
D. No connection to a sewer interceptor or to the sewer treatment plant of the Santa Rosa subregional system shall be permitted except by the city.
E. No project shall be connected to the city’s sewer system unless and until each and every condition for issuance of a final certificate of occupancy is granted pursuant to the building permit. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.025 Discovery and repair of illegal connections.
No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, areaway drains, foundation drains, or other sources of surface water runoff or groundwater to a sewer service lateral which in turn is connected, directly or indirectly, to a public sanitary sewer.
A. As part of its periodic construction and maintenance of sewer mains or laterals, the city may discover illegal connections of roof downspouts, areaway drains, foundation drains or other sources of surface water runoff or groundwater. The city may order the property owner to remove the illegal connection and inspect, repair or replace any lateral or portion of the lateral that has been affected by the illegal connection.
B. In the absence of a specific deadline established by the director of public works, all repair or removal work to eliminate the illegal connection shall be completed within sixty days of notification by the city that an illegal connection has been discovered.
C. The city may impose civil administrative penalties or take other enforcement actions against a property owner who fails to perform any act required in this section. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.030 Annexation fees.
In addition, all property annexed to the city of Cotati shall pay an annexation fee for sewer service, based on a formula established by the city council. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.040 Connection fees – Major users.
From time to time, the city council shall adopt, by two-thirds vote, charges and fees.
Upon application for a building permit and prior to the actual construction of any sewer facilities by the applicant, a sum of money equal to the amount of the applicable connection fees shall be paid to the city. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.045 Additional fees.
Any property annexing to the city which is served by sewage facilities financed by an assessment district for which the property did not participate in the assessment shall contribute a fee in addition to that covered by Section 13.37.040. The additional fee shall be equal to the cost which the property would have been required to pay had it been included originally within the assessment district, and such fee shall be determined by the city council. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.050 Demand fees – Computation – Time of payment.
All fees set forth in Article I of Chapter 13.39 shall be computed by the director of public works and shall be paid prior to the actual issuance of the building permit for the structure, work or improvement proposed to be connected to the sewer system. For the purposes of this section, a mobile home is a structure. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.080 Privately constructed lines – Approval required.
Sanitary sewer lines proposed for construction by individuals or groups shall be the size necessary to handle sewage from the entire area tributary to the line when that area is developed to ultimate population density, as determined by the director of public works. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.100 Disconnection for noncompliance.
Any connection made to the public sewer system of the city in violation of Section 13.37.020 shall be immediately disconnected under the direction of the city council. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.120 Termination upon notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, the city reserves the right to terminate any agreement under this chapter upon six months’ written notice to the owner of the property at his last known address, or at his address stated on such agreement, or to the occupant of the premises served. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.130 Agreements to comply with city regulations.
Any agreement made under this chapter may incorporate provisions not contained in this chapter, if not in conflict therewith. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.140 Connections outside city – Compliance with city regulations.
Any person having or obtaining a sewer connection outside the city after the date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall comply with all present and future provisions of this code and other ordinances and regulations of the city relating to sewer connections and the use thereof, to the same extent and manner as if such sewer connection were located within the city. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.150 Cash guarantee deposit requirement.
Each new applicant for sewer service shall establish and maintain credit to the satisfaction of the city council by a cash guarantee deposit or otherwise before service will be rendered. The city council may adopt reasonable rules and regulations relative to the amount of a guarantee deposit required, the length of time it will be required, the terms and conditions under which it will be held by the city, the terms and conditions under which it will be returned to the depositor and the terms and conditions under which it may be applied against a delinquent account, reinstated or otherwise appropriated by the city. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).
13.37.200 Provisions of other ordinances.
The provisions of all city ordinances and other state and county regulations establishing standards for sewer construction and providing for the issuance of permits and inspection of such construction shall be applicable to all sewer connections, and shall be performed in accordance herewith. (Ord. 898 § 2(part), 2020: Ord. 867 § 2(part), 2017: Ord. 824 § 4(part), 2009).