Chapter 16.12
SEWER RATES AND CHARGES*
* For statutory provisions authorizing cities to prescribe, revise and collect charges, see Gov. Code §§ 54344 – 54348 and 54354 – 54356.
Sections:
16.12.040 Measurement of sewage.
16.12.050 Payment of bills – Penalties for delinquency and nonpayment.
16.12.070 Repealed by Ord. 89-18.
16.12.080 Service to premises outside city.
16.12.090 Special users’ rates.
16.12.100 Disposition of moneys.
16.12.110 Director of public works in charge.
16.12.120 Sewage system extension and connection charges and fees.
16.12.130 Sewer main extensions constructed and paid for by property owners.
16.12.010 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases shall be construed as set forth in this section, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.
(1) “Family” is any number of individuals living together as a single household unit.
(2) “Family residence” means a building or section thereof used as living quarters for a family in which no business is conducted that requires plumbing fixtures other than water closets, bathtubs, showers, kitchen sinks or laundry sinks, and other plumbing fixtures designated for residence use.
(Prior code § 7500).
16.12.020 RATES AND CHARGES.
Rates to be charged all persons using or required by law to use the sewage system of the city, or any part thereof, shall be those established by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 86-36 § 1, 1986: Ord. 79-22 § 1, 1979: Ord. 76-42 § 2, 1976; Ord. 76-37 § 1, 1976: Ord. 76-22 § 1, 1976: prior code § 7501).
16.12.030 BILLINGS.
All charges shall be billed monthly in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.13 of this code; provided, however, that the city manager may, in his or her discretion, direct that sewer charges be billed on a bimonthly basis. Charges shall be calculated in the same manner as provided in this chapter for monthly charges, except that where bimonthly charges are made, the charges shall be increased by two times the amount of the monthly charge. Where sewage rates are calculated on the amount of water used, and water meters are read on a bimonthly basis, the amount of water used per month in the months covered by the reading shall be deemed to be one-half of the amount shown to have been used during the bimonthly period.
(Ord. 89-18 § 5, 1989: prior code § 7502).
16.12.040 MEASUREMENT OF SEWAGE.
Where a person receives metered water service, the sewage discharged into the sewers is determined to be eighty percent of the water delivered to any persons or establishments in other than a family residence as such water deliveries are shown upon meters of the water department.
Where any person or establishment other than a family residence receives water which is not metered or receives all or part of the water used from sources other than the water system of the city, the director of public works shall investigate and cause an estimate to be made of the cubic feet of sewage discharged into the sewers by such person or establishment and shall fix a flat monthly rate for such person or establishment, which rate shall be based on the schedule of charges set forth in the preceding sections pertaining to other than family residences and shall become the rate for such person or establishment. The director of public works, on his own initiative or on order of the city council, shall investigate from time to time the amount of sewage discharged by any such person or establishment and shall raise or lower the rate according to the amount of sewage discharged. No such rate shall be less than $2.40 per month.
Should any person be dissatisfied with the method of determining the amount of sewage discharged as set forth in this section, he may at his own cost and expense, install and maintain a sewer meter in good working order, and in such event shall pay upon the actual amount shown on said meter to be discharged into the sewers at the rate fixed for other than family residences. Such meter shall be subject to inspection and approval by the city as to accuracy. Such person shall pay the rates set forth in this chapter until such meter is installed and approved.
(Prior code § 7503).
16.12.050 PAYMENT OF BILLS – PENALTIES FOR DELINQUENCY AND NONPAYMENT.
The fees and charges provided for by this chapter shall be rendered at the end of each billing period in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.13 of this code. In the event that any account becomes delinquent, or any billing is not paid, penalties may be assessed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.13 of this code.
(Ord. 89-18 § 6, 1989: Ord. NS 623, 1965: prior code § 7504).
16.12.060 PERSON ASSESSED.
The charges assessed under this chapter for sewer service shall be assessed against the person in whose name the water meter is assessed. In the event any person using the sewage system is not using the water system, the charges herein provided shall be assessed in the name of the person using the municipal sewage system.
(Prior code § 7505).
16.12.070 Repealed by Ord. 89-18.*
* Editor’s Note: Section 16.12.070, “Rebate Notice,” previously contained herein, has been repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 89-18.
16.12.080 SERVICE TO PREMISES OUTSIDE CITY.
No premises situated outside of the corporate limits of the city of Santa Cruz shall be connected to, or serviced by, the sewer system of the city of Santa Cruz, except such governmental agencies or political subdivisions as the city council shall, within its discretion, authorize by resolution. Such authorized outside connection or service shall only be on such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an agreement between such governmental agency or political subdivision and the city and approved by the city council.
(Prior code § 7507).
16.12.090 SPECIAL USERS’ RATES.
Public sanitary districts or other public facilities or agencies, users discharging in excess of ten thousand cubic feet per month of sewage or using an excess of ten thousand cubic feet per month of water, or users who discharge liquid waste of a quality exceeding those limitations provided in Section 16.08-.100, being of a special nature, shall pay either flat or special sliding scale monthly rates, rather than the charges set forth in preceding sections. The director of public works shall investigate each such user, and shall cause an estimate to be made of the cubic feet of sewage discharged into the sewers by such person or establishment, and shall determine the quality of sewage so discharged, and shall fix monthly rates for such person or establishment, using as a guide the charges set forth in Section 16.12.020. In fixing such rates the director of public works shall also consider the use of metered water for irrigation and other uses by reason of which such waters are not disposed of into the public sewer. The rates so established shall be calculated so as to reimburse the city for the costs of collection and treatment of sewage discharged by such special users. The director of public works may require the installation of metering, measuring or monitoring devices which he deems reasonably necessary for adequate determination of flow and quality of sewage discharged by such special user. The director of public works on his own initiative, or on order of the council, shall investigate from time to time the amount and quality of sewage discharged by any such person or establishment and shall raise or lower the rates according to the quantity and quality of sewage discharged. No such rate shall be less than $2.40 per month.
Any person dissatisfied with the rates and conditions established by the director of public works may appeal such decision to the city council in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1.16 of this code.
(Prior code § 7508).
16.12.100 DISPOSITION OF MONEYS.
All moneys received under this chapter shall be accounted for and deposited in the funds and used for the purposes and in the manner provided in that certain resolution adopted by the city council of Santa Cruz on December 11, 1956, entitled Resolution No. NS-2453.
(Prior code § 7509).
16.12.110 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IN CHARGE.
The director of public works shall be charged with the administration of the sewerage system and the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
(Prior code § 7510).
16.12.120 SEWAGE SYSTEM EXTENSION AND CONNECTION CHARGES AND FEES.
Sewer service connections may be made only by or under the authority of the city, and under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the director of public works. Such connections shall be made only upon the filing of an application or a request therefor with the department of public works, the payment of the prescribed charges, and subject to the following conditions:
(a) The engineering, design and construction shall be in accord with the standard specifications of the city of Santa Cruz department of public works.
(b) The construction work shall be performed by a licensed and bonded contractor selected by the property owner or by the authorized agent of the property owner, and approved by the department of public works.
(c) The construction work shall be subject to inspection and supervision of the department of public works.
(d) The cost of design, engineering, surveys, construction, inspection, installation, maintenance and repair shall be borne by the property owner. Charges and fees for the extension of sewer lines, and for connections to the city sewerage system, shall be established by the city council by resolution.
(Ord. 81-17 § 2, 1981: Ord. NS 614, 1965; prior code § 7511).
16.12.130 SEWER MAIN EXTENSIONS CONSTRUCTED AND PAID FOR BY PROPERTY OWNERS.
When for any reason the city does not extend sewer mains to serve property located within the city, the owner of such property, or an agent authorized by the owner, may apply to the director of public works for permission to construct such sewer main extensions as may be necessary to serve the property. Permission may be granted by the director if he finds that the public convenience and necessity will be served by the proposed sewer main extension, but such permission shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The engineering, design and construction work shall be in accord with the standard specifications of the city of Santa Cruz department of public works.
(b) The construction work shall be performed by a licensed contractor selected by the property owner or by the authorized agent of the property owner, and approved by the department of public works.
(c) The construction work shall be performed pursuant to a sewer main extension agreement between the city, the property owner and the licensed contractor. The form of the agreement must be approved by resolution of the city council; and an agreement between specific parties shall not become effective until approved and signed by the city manager.
(d) The construction work shall be subject to inspection and supervision by the city engineer.
(e) The cost of design, engineering, surveys, construction, inspection, and necessary environmental documents shall be borne by the property owner. The sewer main extension agreement may provide for reimbursement of actual approved costs to the property owner from sewer connection charges paid to the city by those who subsequently connect with the sewer main extension paid for by the property owner.
(f) The sewer main extension, when completed, and approved by the department of public works, shall become the property of the city of Santa Cruz.
(Ord. 75-17 § 1, 1975).