Chapter 15.05
SEWER RATES
Sections:
15.05.050 Service sewer construction charge.
15.05.010 Purpose.
This chapter provides for:
A. Charges for use of district sewerage facilities which provide for operating costs for such facilities;
B. A fee for annexing territory to the district;
C. A charge for the construction of service connections; and
D. A fee in lieu of collector sewer construction. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; SCC 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.020 Definitions.
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this chapter shall be as defined below. Terms relating to wastewater quality are further defined in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation.
“Building sewer” means that part of the sanitary sewer system which receives discharge from soil and waste pipes in a building and conveys it to the junction with the service sewer at the lot property line or sewer easement line.
“Collector sewer” means a sanitary sewer (including pumping facilities and in-line facilities appurtenant thereto) designed to carry less than 1,000,000 gallons per day (mgd) peak wet weather flow (PWWF) and receiving wastewater directly from other such collector sewers or service sewers, or any sanitary sewer which services only one user.
“Combined sewer” means a sewer which serves the purpose of both a sanitary sewer and a storm sewer.
“Commercial user” means any nonresidential user that the engineer determines does not meet the definition of an industrial user.
“Condominium” means any individually owned family dwelling unit collocated with one or more other such units in the same structure.
“Connection charge” means the total of all fees and charges due prior to the time of connection to the sewerage system.
“Connection permit” means a written authorization to make a specific connection to the maintenance district facilities.
“Connection systems” means all facilities maintained by a contributing agency for collecting, pumping, conveying, storing and controlling wastewater, excluding interceptor sewers.
“Contributing agency” means any public entity other than Rancho Cordova that is party to the master interagency agreement and contributes wastewater from its system to the regional district’s sewerage system.
“Diameter inch-miles” means the product of sewer diameter expressed in inches times its length expressed in miles. Diameter inch-miles allocable to a user is the pro rata portion of each pipeline used to convey the user’s wastewater.
District. See “maintenance district.”
“Domestic wastewater” means wastewater originating from residential sources or from sanitary devices in industrial or commercial establishments.
“Easement” means an acquired legal right to the exclusive or joint use of a defined portion of land for construction or maintenance of sewers.
“Engineer” means the director of public works of Rancho Cordova, or a designated representative, acting ex officio as engineer for the district.
“Equivalent single-family dwelling (ESD)” means a parameter used to equate expected sewage discharge from a single-family detached residential dwelling. For purposes of calculating design sewage discharges, one single-family dwelling equals 400 gallons per day (12,000 gallons per month) at average dry weather flow rates.
“Federal Act” means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, PL 92-500, and amendments thereto, as well as regulations and standards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA), or successor, pursuant to the Act.
“Fiscal year” means the year beginning July 1st and ending June 30th.
“Garbage” means solid wastes from preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food, and from handling, storage and sale of food products.
“Improvement standards” means improvement standards of the city of Rancho Cordova.
“Industrial user” means any user which meets one or more of the following criteria:
1. Discharges 25,000 gallons or more of wastewater per day (after excluding the domestic portion of the discharge).
2. Discharges wastewater to a POTW which contains hazardous materials in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to constitute a potential hazard to humans or animals, to potentially cause interference or create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in or have an adverse effect on the waters receiving any discharge from the treatment works.
3. Is subject to EPA categorical pretreatment standards, or any pretreatment standards set by the state of California.
“Industrial waste” means the waterborne waste and wastewater from any industrial user.
“Infiltration” means groundwater which enters sewers.
“Inflow” means storm and other surface waters which enter sewers.
“Interceptor sewer” means any existing sewer and in-line treatment facilities appurtenant thereto, including pumping facilities, and any future sanitary sewers which meet either of the following criteria:
1. Any sanitary sewer designed to carry a peak wet weather flow of 10 mgd or greater; or
2. Any sanitary sewer that has its upstream and downstream ends adjacent and connected to an existing interceptor sewer.
“Maintenance district” means any sewer maintenance district of the city of Rancho Cordova.
“mg” means 1,000,000 gallons.
“mgd” means 1,000,000 gallons per day.
“mgd-miles” means peak flow expressed in 1,000,000 gallons per day multiplied by the distance that flow travels in the collection system.
“mmf” means wastewater flow occurring during the maximum month of the preceding 12-month period.
“Multiple-family dwelling” means duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, apartments, mobile homes and condominiums, townhouses and individual dwelling units within a planned unit development.
“Nuisance” means that which is injurious to health, or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.
“Person” means any individual, firm, company, association, society, partnership, corporation, organization, group or public agency.
“Premises” means a parcel of real property, or portion thereof including any improvement thereon, which is determined by the engineer to be a single unit for purposes of receiving, using, and paying for sewage disposal service. In making this determination, the engineer shall take into consideration such factors as whether the unit could reasonably be subdivided, number and location of service sewers, and whether the unit is being used for a single activity and, if not, what the principal activity is for sewage disposal services, but in any case, the engineer’s determination shall be final.
“Public agency” means the United States Government or any department or agency thereof; the state of California or any department or agency thereof; any city, county, town or any of their departments or agencies; or any other legal district, entity or entities; or any combination of the foregoing.
“Public sewer” means any sanitary sewer located within an easement or public right-of-way which is maintained by a public agency.
“Residential user” means a user whose premises are used solely for nontransient human habitation.
“Sanitary sewer” means a sewer which carries sewage or industrial wastes and to which inflow and infiltration are not permitted.
“Service sewer” means the extension of the building sewer from the lot property line or sewer easement line to the public sewer.
“Sewage” means the wastewater derived from human habitation and use of buildings for residential, institutional, or commercial purposes, excluding storm waters and industrial waste.
“Sewer” means a pipe or conduit (and including pumping facilities and in-line treatment and control facilities appurtenant thereto) which receives and carries wastewater.
“Sewerage system” means all facilities for collecting, pumping, conveying, controlling, treating, storing, and disposing of wastewater.
“Single-family dwelling” means any detached residential premises designed to house one family.
“SS,” denoting “suspended solids,” means solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in, wastewater and which are largely removable by standard laboratory filtration procedures.
“Storm sewer” means a sewer that carries storm water and surface water, street wash and other wash waters, or drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes.
“Street” means any public highway, road, street, avenue, way, alley, or right-of-way.
Suspended Solids. See “SS.”
“Trunk sewer” means a sanitary sewer other than an interceptor sewer (including pumping facilities and in-line facilities appurtenant thereto), designed to carry between one mgd and 10 mgd peak wet weather flow (PWWF) and receiving wastewater from two or more different users.
“User” means any person discharging sewage or industrial waste to the district sewerage system. Includes commercial, industrial, and residential users, as defined herein.
“Waste” includes sewage and any and all other waste substances, liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, associated with human habitation, or of human or animal origin, or from any commercial, producing, manufacturing, or processing operation of whatever nature.
“Wastewater” means all wastes and waters which enter and are conveyed in the sewerage system. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; SCC 627 § 1, 1985; SCC 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.030 Sewer use charge.
A. Sewer Use Charge. All users of district sewerage facilities shall pay to the district, as fees for use of such facilities, sewer use charges in accordance with the schedule included in this section.
B. Billing Period. Except as provided herein, the sewer use charge will be billed bimonthly, one month in advance and one month in arrears. It shall become due and payable on the first day of the second month of the billing period and shall become delinquent 45 days thereafter.
C. Billing Basis. Billing shall be based on the wastewater characteristics of the user as determined by the engineer.
D. Opening Bills. Opening bills shall be based on estimated flow and characteristics based on past experience with the type of waste involved, information supplied on the sewer use permit, and such additional information as may be available to the engineer. Billing shall commence on the date the premises are suitable for occupancy. This shall normally be considered to be 90 days after the premises are connected to the public sewer system; however, the engineer is empowered to vary the date that the premises are considered suitable for occupancy based on a reasonable interpretation of information obtained from public records or field inspection. The engineer may also initiate billing based upon a request for other utility services to the premises, or notification from owners or occupants that the structure is completed. In all cases, opening bills shall be to the owner of record of the property as of the date the property is considered suitable for occupancy.
E. Adjustments. Adjustment of charges will be made at each billing, when appropriate. Any amount paid in excess of the actual computed charge shall be credited against the charge for the succeeding billing period. Any deficiency in the amount paid and the actual computed charge shall be added to the charge for the succeeding billing period. No deficiencies or credits will be made for a period more than three years prior to the date the engineer determines that a billing discrepancy exists, except as authorized in subsection (G) of this section.
F. Reasons for Adjustments. The engineer may adjust billing or grant rebates for the following reasons:
1. Upon change of use or user.
2. Dispute as to a charge.
3. When a structure is no longer suitable for occupancy. Application requesting an adjustment of billing and stating grounds for an adjustment or rebate shall be made in writing to the engineer.
G. Vacancy Credits. Vacancy credits will not be allowed after billing has been initiated except as follows:
1. Apartments.
a. First year of occupancy: 50 percent vacancy credit;
b. Second year of occupancy: 25 percent vacancy credit.
If vacancy varies extensively from that indicated above, an adjustment reflecting a billing credit or deficiency may be made by the engineer in accordance with subsection (E) of this section.
2. Mobile Homes. Mobile home premises will be billed according to the following schedule:
|
Park Occupancy at Beginning of Fiscal Year (Percent) |
Credit (Percent) |
|
0 – 9 |
90 |
|
10 – 24 |
75 |
|
25 – 39 |
60 |
|
40 – 54 |
45 |
|
55 – 69 |
30 |
|
70 – 84 |
15 |
|
85 – 100 |
0 |
In no billing period shall the vacancy credit be greater than that in the preceding period.
3. Structure Unsuitable for Occupancy. The engineer shall utilize the authority granted him in subsection (F)(3) of this section to grant vacancy credit for periods in which a building previously determined suitable for occupancy loses that status because of fire, damage or other causes if the structure is actually unoccupied.
4. Unit of Billing. For each parcel of real property there shall be only one unit for purposes of billing for the receipt and use of sewage disposal services. In no case shall a parcel of real property be divided into smaller units for purposes of such billing.
H. Billing to Owner. All sewer use charges will be billed to the owner of record of the property as of the date the premises are deemed suitable for occupancy, as determined from subsection (D) of this section, to the successor in interest to such person, or to such person’s single designee. All requests to bill a party other than the owner of record must be made in writing to the engineer by the party to be billed. The engineer will notify the owner of record when the billing is changed to comply with such a request.
I. Delinquency Penalty. Any sewer use charge unpaid at the end of 45 days, when it becomes delinquent as designated in subsection (B) of this section, shall incur an added penalty charge of 10 percent of the amount that has become delinquent. The delinquent amount, including the 10 percent penalty charge, shall thereafter incur an added penalty charge of one and one-half percent per month until paid or placed on the annual tax bill. If collected with taxes, the total of delinquent amount plus penalties will incur an additional 10 percent lien penalty.
J. Disconnection for Failure to Pay. Failure to pay the sewer use charge within 30 days after it becomes delinquent shall make the premises subject to disconnection from the public sewer. However, such disconnection shall not be made in less than 10 days after mailing of a written notice by registered mail to the property owner. The owner shall pay the actual cost for reconnection, but not less than $25.00.
K. Lien. Each sewer use charge and penalties levied pursuant to this chapter are hereby made a lien upon the property served, and any proceeding authorized by law to enforce payment of such lien may be taken by the district to enforce the payment of such charge.
L. Schedule of Rates.
1. Residential Users.
a. Single-family dwelling: the monthly charge for a single-family dwelling shall be $14.50.
b. Multiple-family dwelling: the monthly charge for a multiple-family dwelling shall be $10.90.
2. Commercial Users. The monthly charge for commercial users shall be $14.50 multiplied by the factors shown below.
a. Rate Table.
|
Enterprise Category |
Factor |
|
Auto dealerships |
0.2 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Bakeries |
0.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Banks and financial institutions |
0.3 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Barber and beauty shops |
0.1 for each barber or beautician chair |
|
Bars |
0.7 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Bowling alleys (including eating facilities) |
0.4 for each bowling lane |
|
Car washes |
|
|
i. Automatic |
1.0 per 12,000 gallons water used each month |
|
ii. Self-service |
0.7 for each washing stall |
|
Dry cleaners |
1.7 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Fire stations |
1.0 per station |
|
Garages |
0.1 for each service bay |
|
Halls, lodges and auditoriums |
0.3 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Health studios and gymnasiums |
0.3 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
|
Hospitals |
1.0 per 12,000 gallons water used each month |
|
Hotels and motels |
0.3 for each sleeping room |
|
Laundries |
|
|
i. Self-service |
0.5 for each laundry machine |
|
ii. Commercial and industrial |
1.0 per 12,000 gallons water used each month |
|
Markets |
|
|
i. With garbage disposal units |
0.6 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
ii. Without garbage disposal units |
0.2 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
Medical and dental offices (including eating facilities) |
0.4 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
Mortuaries |
0.8 for each slumber room |
|
Office buildings (public and private including eating facilities) |
0.2 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
Parks |
1.0 per comfort station |
|
Places of worship including residences |
0.2 per 1,000 sq. ft. floor area |
|
Rest and convalescent homes, boarding houses, fraternities, sororities, convents, dormitories, etc. |
0.3 for each bed |
|
Restaurants |
|
|
i. Dine-in |
2.0 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
ii. Take-out |
1.7 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
iii. Dine-in and take-out |
1.9 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
Retail stores |
0.2 per 1,000 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
Schools |
|
|
i. Primary |
1.4 per 100 average daily attendance |
|
ii. Secondary |
1.8 per 100 average daily attendance |
|
iii. Colleges and universities |
1.0 per 12,000 gallons of water used each month |
|
Service stations |
0.1 for each gas pump |
|
Theaters |
0.3 per 100 seats |
|
Used car lots |
0.2 per 10 fixture units |
|
Warehouses |
0.1 per 100 sq. ft. gross floor area |
|
Nondefined commercial |
1.0 per 12,000 gallons water used each month |
b. Application of Categories. The engineer shall determine which enterprise category will be applied to a commercial user not adequately identified above.
c. Rates related to water use shall be based on metered water usage or use estimated by the engineer for the average of the preceding fiscal year. Adjustments shall be made for consumptive water use when deemed appropriate by the engineer.
d. Enterprises with multiple functions shall pay according to the factors shown for each applicable category, except that bowling alleys, medical and dental offices, office buildings, and public agencies will not be charged separately for eating establishments on the premises.
e. The minimum monthly charge for a commercial user or for a vacant commercial property shall be $14.50.
3. Industrial Users. The monthly charge for industrial users shall be computed by the engineer using the following formula: monthly charge equals $123.25 times diameter inch-miles of collection system used. The basis of the charge is flow on the average day in the maximum month of discharge. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; SCC 637 § 1, 1985; SCC 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.040 Annexation fee.
Unless specifically exempted by the district board, the owners of territory proposed to be annexed to the district shall pay an annexation fee in the amount determined by the city engineer which shall be due prior to or at the time their property is annexed. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; SCC 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.050 Service sewer construction charge.
A. Rates and Adjustments. Charges for the construction by the district of service sewers, manholes, taps, and connections to existing sewers and manholes shall be as shown in Schedule I of the ordinance codified in this chapter until February 29, 1992. On March 1, 1992, and each succeeding March 1st thereafter, the engineer shall determine a new Schedule I according to the following criterion:
On January 1st of each year the district engineer shall review the Engineering News Record Construction Costs Index (ENRCCI). The January ENRCCI for 20 cities and the index for San Francisco will be averaged. When the average index thus computed differs from 5413, a factor shall be applied to Schedule I. Said factor shall be equal to the ratio of the current 20 cities/San Francisco average index divided by 5413.
The rates shown in Schedule I, as such schedule exists on March 1, 1992, shall be multiplied by said factor to determine the new rates. The rates shall be rounded off to the nearest $10.00 or nearest $1.00, if less than $30.00. Such revised Schedule I shall be published and shall become effective March 1st of each year, beginning with March 1, 1992. Copies of the revised Schedule I shall be available in the office of the engineer.
B. Difficult Construction Conditions. The engineer may adjust any of the rates in Schedule I if unusual construction conditions are encountered (e.g., depth, length, or soil conditions). [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.060 In-lieu fee.
Each property owner is responsible for the installation of a sewer across the property frontage. Where the engineer determines that a property owner has not fully participated in the cost of constructing such sewer, the district shall impose a fee in lieu of such construction as provided in this section.
A. Rate. The normal in-lieu fee shall be $12.00 per frontage foot unless otherwise established by a reimbursement agreement or unless connection is made to a district-financed sewer, as hereinafter set forth. The engineer may adjust the rate where necessary in order to achieve an equitable distribution of costs for sewer service, such as where documentation has been furnished that alternate facilities could be constructed for an amount less than the normal in-lieu fee.
B. Reimbursement Agreement. If a sewer is constructed such that it will benefit properties other than those funding the construction, the district shall enter into a reimbursement agreement with the party funding the construction to reimburse said party the pro rata cost of that portion of the construction which benefits such other nonparticipating properties. In such case, the in-lieu fee applicable to nonparticipating properties connecting to the sewer covered by said agreement shall be as therein specified. For purposes of this chapter, the cost of construction shall be the amount of the low bid plus a 10 percent allowance for engineering, administration, and inspection. The following shall be considerations in the reimbursement agreement:
1. The time limit on said agreements shall be 15 years from the date of approval by the district.
2. Should an in-lieu fee other than the normal $12.00 be agreed to by the engineer, that rate must be set forth at the time said agreement is approved.
3. The estimated cost to the district in administering the agreement shall be deducted from the amount to be reimbursed. This cost is established at $250.00 for agreements in the amount of $10,000 or less and $500.00 for agreements in excess of $10,000. This amount shall be deducted from the initial reimbursement.
4. A minimum of three bids must have been received for the construction being considered for reimbursement.
5. Reimbursement agreements will be applied to sewer construction regardless of whether it benefits nonparticipating construction. However, if the sewer is located such that properties subject to the in-lieu fee will realize excessive construction costs in connecting to the sewer, such costs shall be a consideration in determining the amount to be reimbursed and the resulting in-lieu fee.
C. Unusual Circumstances. The city engineer may adjust the rate where necessary in order to achieve an equitable distribution of costs for sewer service.
D. Frontage. On properties of normal size and shape, the frontage shall be the length of the property measured along the public right-of-way. On properties of irregular size and shape, the frontage dimension shall be adjusted to correspond to a similar property of normal size and shape. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.070 Enforcement.
The engineer is hereby charged with enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
If the engineer determines that a period of vacancy credit or a period of minimum charge has been authorized based upon a statement from the owner found subsequently to be false or misleading, or if the owner fails to notify the engineer when such conditions have terminated, the engineer may back-charge the property at its full authorized rate for the entire period during which the credit was authorized. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; 508 § 1, 1982].
15.05.080 Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
All code sections or resolutions or parts of code sections or resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. [Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 0835 § 1, 1991; SCC 0724 § 1, 1988; 508 § 1, 1982].