Chapter 7.39
PUBLIC SEWERS
Sections:
7.39.020 Ordinances adopted by reference.
7.39.030 Payment of connection fees.
7.39.010 Territory.
This chapter shall apply in all unincorporated territory within the County of Santa Cruz served by public sewer operated by the County. [Ord. 5107 § 1, 2011].
7.39.020 Ordinances adopted by reference.
(A) The following ordinances, and any appendix or portion thereof that have been adopted by the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District, are hereby adopted and made a portion of this chapter by reference. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, each and every provision, section, table, diagram, illustration, figure, phrase, and paragraph thereof are hereby adopted in the same manner as though set forth in full. Two copies of the ordinances adopted by reference shall be maintained on file in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for use and examination by the public. As to all the ordinances adopted by reference:
(1) References to the governmental entity “Santa Cruz County Sanitation District” or “District” or “district” shall be construed as referring to the County of Santa Cruz.
(2) References to the territory within the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District shall be construed as referring to that portion of the County of Santa Cruz described in SCCC 7.39.010.
(3) References to “Board” or “Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District” shall be construed as referring to the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cruz.
(4) References to “District Engineer” shall be construed as referring to the Director of the Department of Public Works of the County of Santa Cruz.
(5) References to “Secretary” or “Secretary of the Board” shall be construed as referring to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cruz.
(B) Sections 5.04.440 through 5.04.490 of the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District Code, inclusive.
(C) Title 7 of the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District Code, including those appendices or portions thereof specifically adopted by a State agency or specifically adopted by the ordinance codified in these sections, but excluding other appendices, except as set forth in this section.
(1) Section 7.04.010(A) is amended to read as follows:
Short Title. This chapter may be cited as the “Santa Cruz County Sewer Regulation Ordinance.”
(2) References in Section 7.04.520(C)(1) to “Chapter 7.08” shall be construed as referring to the authority of the County of Santa Cruz to abate nuisance under State law or County ordinance.
(3) Section 7.04.530(C) is amended to read as follows:
a. Violation — Misdemeanor. Any person who intentionally violates or who violates any provision of this chapter or any regulations of the County is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not-to-exceed $1,000, imprisonment not-to-exceed 30 days, or both. Civil penalties for violations of Article II of this chapter shall not be less than $1,000 per day for each day that an industrial user is in violation of the County’s pretreatment program. Fines assessed by any judgment made by the County as a result of noncompliance with County standards and discharge limits shall be paid to the County within 15 days of the date of the assessment.
(4) Section 7.04.670 is hereby deleted.
(5) Section 7.04.671 is hereby deleted.
(6) Section 7.08.010(A) is amended to read as follows:
Short Title. This chapter may be cited as the “Santa Cruz County Sewer Nuisance Abatement Ordinance.”
(7) Section 7.08.030 is amended to read as follows:
Applicable regulations generally. Such systems shall comply with all other provisions of Title 7 of the Santa Cruz County Code governing sewers, and such other regulations that may be adopted by the Board.
[Ord. 5304 § 9, 2019; Ord. 5107 § 1, 2011].
7.39.030 Payment of connection fees.
(A) Payment Due. Except as outlined in this section, connection charges shall be due and payable at the time necessary building permits are obtained, or where no building permit is required prior to actual connection to the County facilities. For mobile home parks, connection charges shall be paid prior to the time of the first connection of a mobile home space, for the total number of mobile home spaces permitted by the terms of the use permit for the mobile home park. The charge to be paid is the charge that is applicable at the time that the charge is paid and the permit obtained.
(B) Hardship Cases. Where failing septic tank systems are certified as a health hazard and nuisance condition by the County Health Officer, and such sewer connection charges and other related fees are required by the County in order to allow the connection, property owners may plead the payment of connection or the County fees creates a hardship. In hardship cases, staff shall evaluate the request for hardship exemption. All hardship applicants must initially apply for financial assistance for payment of the County fees to a lending institution and be rejected by that lending institution.
(C) Installment Payments. In hardship cases, sewer connection charges and other related fees required by the County in order to allow the connection may be paid in installments over a 15-year period as provided by California Health and Safety Code Section 5474. Said installment payments will be added to the County’s sewer service charges for the connection and collected therewith along with interest charges to be paid on the unpaid balance of such fees to be figured at eight percent per year. The amount of such fees or charges and interest thereon shall constitute a lien against the respective lots of parcels of land to which the facilities are connected at the time and in the manner specified in Sections 5473.5 and 5473.8 of the Health and Safety Code.
(D) Appeal to Board of Supervisors. In those cases denied hardship status by the Director of the Department of Public Works, the applicant may appeal the decision within 10 days to the Board of Supervisors, whose vote shall be final. [Ord. 5304 § 9, 2019; Ord. 5107 § 1, 2011].