Chapter 13.14 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONTROL

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be known as the “City of San Carlos Storm Water Management and Discharge Control Ordinance” and may be so cited. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (I1), 1994)

13.14.020 Purpose and intent.

A. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure the future health, safety, and general welfare of City citizens by:

1. Eliminating nonstormwater discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer;

2. Controlling the discharge to municipal separate storm sewers from spills, dumping or disposal of materials other than stormwater;

3. Reducing pollutants in stormwater discharges to the maximum extent practicable.

B. The intent of the ordinance codified in this chapter is to protect and enhance the water quality of our watercourse, water bodies and wetlands in a manner pursuant to and consistent with the Clean Water Act. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (I2), 1994)

13.14.030 Definitions.

A. Any terms defined in the Federal Clean Water Act and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, and/or defined in the regulations for the stormwater discharge permitting program issued by the Environmental Protection Agency on November 16, 1990, or State law (as may from time to time be amended) as used in the ordinance codified in this chapter shall have the same meaning as in that statute or regulations. Specifically, the definition of the following terms included in that statute or regulations are incorporated by reference, as now applicable or as may hereafter be amended: discharge, illicit discharge, pollutant and stormwater. These terms presently are defined as follows:

“Discharge” means (1) any addition of any pollutant to navigable waters from any point source, or (2) any addition of any pollutant to the waters of the contiguous zone or the ocean from any point source other than a vessel or other floating craft.

“Illicit discharge” means any discharge to the City storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater except discharges pursuant to a NPDES permit and discharges resulting from fire fighting and other emergency response activities.

“Pollutant” means dredged soil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, wrecked or destroyed equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharge into water.

“Stormwater” means stormwater runoff and surface runoff and drainage.

B. When used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

Authorized Enforcement Official. The City Manager or his/her designee is authorized to enforce the provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

“Best management practices (BMPs)” means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to waters of the United States. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.

“City” means the City of San Carlos.

“City storm sewer system” means and includes but is not limited to those facilities within the City by which stormwater may be conveyed to waters of the United States, including any roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels or storm drains, which is not part of the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) as defined at 40 CFR 122.2.

“Municipal regional permit” means the San Mateo County regional permit as it applies to the City of San Carlos for implementation of NPDES Permit No. CA0029921 and any amendment or reissuance thereof and the term “municipal regional permit” is used interchangeably with NPDES Permit No. CA0029921.

“Nonstormwater discharge” means any discharge that is not entirely composed of stormwater except those noted within an NPDES permit and the ordinance codified in this chapter.

“Premises” means any building, lot parcel, real estate, or land or portion of land whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.

“Watercourse” means a natural stream, creek or manmade uncovered channel through which water flows continuously or intermittently. (Ord. 1439 § 4 (Exh. D (part)), 2011; Ord. 1149 § 1 (I3), 1994)

13.14.040 Responsibility for administration.

This chapter shall be administered for the City by the City Manager and his/her designees. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (I4), 1994)

13.14.050 Construction and application.

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be construed to assure consistency with the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, applicable implementing regulations, and NPDES Permit No. CA0029921 and any amendment, revision or reissuance thereof. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (I5), 1994)

13.14.060 Waiver procedures.

A. It is the intent of the ordinance codified in this chapter to protect and enhance water quality while respecting the rights of private property owners to economically viable use of land. It is not the intent of the ordinance codified in this chapter to prohibit all economically viable use of any private lands, nor to result in a confiscatory impact. Accordingly, the purpose of this section is to provide for an administrative procedure for a waiver or modification of a particular provision of the ordinance codified in this chapter in the event the strict application of the ordinance codified in this chapter would result in the denial of all economically viable use of real property.

B. An applicant for a waiver of a provision of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall file a waiver application with the Director of the Public Works Department on a form provided by the Director identifying the provision sought to be waived or modified. The applicant shall file a complete form and shall provide all documentation and information required by the Director to determine whether application of the provision in question will prohibit any economically viable use of the land in question or otherwise have an impermissible confiscatory result.

C. The Director may approve, deny or conditionally approve a waiver application upon making all of the following written findings:

1. That the strict application of the provision for such a waiver or modification is sought would result in the denial of all economically viable uses of the real property in question;

2. To the maximum extent feasible, conditions have been placed upon such a waiver or modification in order to achieve the goals of the ordinance codified in this chapter as closely as possible while still allowing economically viable use of the real property in question;

3. Approval of such a waiver will not result in a public nuisance which would constitute a significant and direct threat to public health or safety. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (I7), 1994)

Article II. Discharge Regulations and Requirements

13.14.070 Discharge—Pollutants.

The discharge of non-stormwater discharges to the City storm sewer system is prohibited. All discharges of material other than stormwater must be in compliance with a NPDES permit issued for the discharge (other than NPDES permit No. CA0029921) and the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (II1), 1994)

13.14.080 Discharge—Exceptions to prohibition.

The following discharges are exempt from the prohibition set forth in Section 13.14.070 of this chapter.

A. The prohibition on discharges shall not apply to any discharge regulated under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to the discharger and administered by the State of California under authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit and other applicable laws or regulations.

B. Discharges from the following activities will not be considered a source of pollutants to waters of the United States when properly managed: water line flushing and other discharges from potable water sources, municipal street cleaning, municipal park maintenance, landscape irrigation and lawn watering, irrigation water, diverted stream flows, rising groundwaters, infiltration to separate storm drains, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, foundation and footing drains, water from crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, individual residential car washings, flows from riparian habitats and wetlands, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, or flows from fire fighting and other emergency response activity, and accordingly are not subject to the prohibition on discharges. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (II 1.1), 1994)

13.14.090 Discharge—Violation of permit.

Any discharge that would result in or contribute to a violation of NPDES permit No. CA0029921, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, and which is on file in the office of the City Clerk, and any amendment, revision or reissuance thereof, either separately considered or when combined with other discharges, is prohibited. Liability for any such discharge shall be the responsibility of the person(s) causing or responsible for the discharge, and such persons shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City in any administrative or judicial enforcement action relating to such discharge. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (II 2), 1994)

13.14.100 Discharge—-Illicit.

It is prohibited to commence or continue any illicit discharges to the City storm sewer system. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (II 3), 1994)

13.14.110 Reduction of pollutants in stormwater.

Any person engaged in activities which will or may result in pollutants entering the City storm sewer system shall undertake all practicable measures to reduce such pollutants. Examples of such activities include ownership and use of facilities which may be a source of pollutants such as parking lots, gasoline stations, industrial facilities, commercial facilities, stores fronting City streets, etc. The following minimal requirements shall apply:

A. Littering.

1. No person shall throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep or permit to be thrown, deposited, placed, left or maintained, any refuse, rubbish, garbage, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles and accumulations in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, storm drain inlet, catch basin, conduit or other drainage structures, business place, or upon any public or private lot of land in the City, so that the same might be or become a pollutant, except in containers or in lawfully established dumping grounds.

2. The occupant or tenant, or in the absence of occupant or tenant, the owner, lessee, or proprietor, of any real property in the City in front of which there is a paved sidewalk shall maintain said sidewalk free of litter to the maximum extent practicable.

3. No person shall throw or deposit litter in any fountain, pond, lake, stream or any other body of water in a park or elsewhere within the city.

B. Standard for Parking Lots and Similar Structures. Persons owning or operating a parking lot, gas station pavement or similar structure shall clean those structures as frequently and thoroughly as practicable in a manner that does not result in discharge of pollutants to the City storm sewer system.

C. Best Management Practices for New Developments and Redevelopments. Any construction contractor performing work in the City shall endeavor, whenever possible, to provide filter materials at the catch basin to retain any debris and dirt flowing in to the City’s storm sewer system. City may establish controls on the volume and rate of stormwater runoff from new developments and redevelopments as may be appropriate to minimize the discharge and transport of pollutants.

D. Compliance with Best Management Practices. Where best management practices guidelines or requirements have been adopted by the City for any activity, operation or facility which may cause or contribute to the stormwater pollution or contamination, illicit discharges, and/or discharge of non-stormwater to the stormwater system, every person undertaking such activity or operation, or owning or operating such facility shall comply with such guidelines or requirements (as may be identified by the Director of Public Works). (Ord. 1149 § 1 (II 4), 1994)

13.14.120 Watercourse protection.

Every person owning property through which a watercourse passes, or such person’s lessee or tenant, shall keep and maintain that part of the watercourse within the property reasonably free of trash, debris, excessive vegetation and other obstacles which would pollute, contaminate or significantly retard the flow of water through the watercourse; shall maintain existing privately owned structures within a watercourse so that such structures will not become a hazard to the use, function or physical integrity of the watercourse; and shall not remove healthy bank vegetation beyond that actually necessary for said maintenance, nor remove said vegetation in such a manner as to increase the vulnerability of the watercourse to erosion. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (II 5), 1994)

Article III. Inspection and Enforcement

13.14.130 Authority to inspect.

A. Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter, or whenever an authorized enforcement official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises any condition which constitutes a violation of the provisions of this chapter, the official may enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or perform any duty imposed upon the official by this chapter; provided, that (1) if such building or premises be occupied, he or she shall first present proper credentials and request entry; and (2) if such building premises be unoccupied, he or she shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and request entry.

B. Any such request for entry shall state that the property owner or occupant has the right to refuse entry and that in the event such entry is refused, inspection may be made only upon issuance of a search warrant by a duly authorized magistrate. In the event the owner and/or occupant refuses entry after such request has been made, the official is empowered to seek assistance from any court of competent jurisdiction in obtaining such entry.

C. Routine or area inspections shall be based upon such reasonable selection processes as may be deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of the ordinance codified in this chapter, including but not limited to random sampling and/or sampling in areas with evidence of stormwater contamination, illicit discharges, discharge of non-stormwater to the stormwater system, or similar factors. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 1), 1994)

13.14.140 Authority to sample and establish sampling devices.

The City shall have the right to establish on any property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling or metering operations. During all inspections as provided herein, the official may take any samples deemed necessary to aid in the pursuit of the inquiry or in the recordation of the activities on site. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 1.1), 1994)

13.14.150 Notification of spills.

As soon as any person in charge of a facility or responsible for emergency response for a facility has knowledge of any confirmed or unconfirmed release of materials, pollutants or waste which may result in pollutants or non-stormwater discharges entering the City storm sewer system, such person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery and containment and clean up of such release and shall notify the City of the occurrence by telephoning (415) 593-8011 and confirming the notification by correspondence to the Director of Public Works. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 1.2), 1994)

13.14.160 Requirement to test or monitor.

Any authorized enforcement official may request that any person engaged in any activity and/or owning or operating any facility which may cause or contribute to stormwater pollution or contamination, illicit discharges, and/or discharge of non-stormwater to the stormwater system, undertake such monitoring activities and/or analysis and furnish such reports as the official may specify. The burden, including costs, of these activities, analysis and reports shall bear a reasonable relationship to the need for the monitoring, analysis and reports and the benefits to be obtained. The recipient of such request shall undertake and provide the monitoring, analysis and/or reports requested. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 1.3), 1994)

13.14.170 Violation—Misdemeanor.

Unless otherwise specified by ordinance, the violation of any provision of this chapter, or failure to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor; except that notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any such violation constituting a misdemeanor under this chapter may, at the discretion of the enforcing authority, be charged and prosecuted as an infraction. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 2), 1994)

13.14.180 Violation—Continuing.

Unless otherwise provided, a person, firm, corporation or organization shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which a violation of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by the person, firm, corporation or organization and shall be punishable accordingly as herein provided. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 3), 1994)

13.14.190 Violation—Concealment.

Causing, permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing a violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a violation of such provision. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 4), 1994)

13.14.200 Violation—Civil actions.

In addition to any other remedies provided in this section, any violation of this section may be enforced by civil action brought by the City. In any such action, the City may seek, and the Court shall grant, as appropriate, any or all of the following remedies:

A. A temporary and/or permanent injunction;

B. Assessment of the violator for the costs of any investigation, inspection or monitoring survey which led to the establishment of the violation, and for the reasonable costs of preparing and bringing legal action under this subsection;

C. Costs incurred in removing, correcting or terminating the adverse affects resulting from the violation, including reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs;

D. Compensatory damages for loss or destruction to water quality, wildlife, fish and aquatic life. Assessments under this subsection shall be paid to the City to be used exclusively for costs associated with monitoring and establishing stormwater discharge pollution control systems and/or implementing or enforcing the provisions of the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 5), 1994)

13.14.210 Administrative enforcement powers.

In addition to other enforcement powers and remedies established by the ordinance codified in this chapter, any authorized Enforcement Official has the authority to utilize administrative remedies. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 6), 1994)

13.14.220 Remedies not exclusive.

Remedies under this article are in addition to and do not supersede or limit any and all other remedies, civil or criminal. The remedies provided for herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (III 7), 1994)

Article IV. Coordination with Other Programs

13.14.230 Coordination with hazardous materials inventory and response program.

The first revision of the business plan for any facility subject to the City’s hazardous materials inventory response program shall include a program for compliance with this chapter, including the prohibitions on non-stormwater discharges and illicit discharges, and the requirement to reduce stormwater pollutants to the maximum extent practicable. (Ord. 1149 § 1 (IV 1), 1994)

13.14.240 Fees.

A fee may be charged to the landowner, lease holder, or occupant of any property in the City to cover the expense(s) of mandated inspection, testing, or maintenance of required stormwater treatment measures as regulated by the municipal regional permit (MRP) as set by City Council in the uniform fee schedule. (Ord. 1439 § 4 (Exh. D (part)), 2011)