Chapter 14.16
PUBLIC STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Sections:
14.16.020 Ownership and maintenance of public facilities.
14.16.030 Construction standards and specifications.
14.16.040 Limitations on stormwater quality.
14.16.050 Unlawful contamination of stormwater—Penalty.
14.16.060 Damage to storm drainage lines or facilities—Penalties.
14.16.010 Purposes.
A public storm drainage system is a necessary utility in the city for the purpose of preserving the city’s watercourses, minimizing water quality degradation, controlling sedimentation ponds, protecting properties located adjacent to developing land from increased runoff rates and erosion, protecting downstream properties, preserving and enhancing the suitability of waters for recreation and fishing, preserving and enhancing the aesthetic quality of waterways, minimizing adverse effects of alterations in groundwater qualities, locations and flow patterns, insuring the safety of city roads and rights-of-way, and decreasing drainage-related damage to public and private property. (Ord. 399 § 1 (part), 1991)
14.16.020 Ownership and maintenance of public facilities.
All storm drainage lines, facilities and appurtenances located on public right-of-way or other property owned by the city shall belong to the city and shall be maintained, repaired and replaced to the extent the city determines to be in the public interest, and at the city’s cost. All privately constructed extensions of the public storm drainage lines and facilities shall be conveyed to the city by bill of sale and shall be accompanied by a warranty of the grantor that said lines and facilities are free of debt and were constructed in accordance with city standards and specifications. The grantor shall further warrant the labor and materials used in the construction of said lines and facilities for a period of one year from the date of conveyance to the city, and shall indemnify and hold the city harmless from any damages arising from defective materials or workmanship. If a public storm drainage line or facility is located on private property, the grantor shall convey to the city a ten-foot wide easement for reconstructing, repairing, maintaining, altering, changing, controlling and operating said line or facility. (Ord. 399 § 1 (part), 1991)
14.16.030 Construction standards and specifications.*
The city engineer shall prepare, administer and enforce detailed construction standards and specifications for all storm drainage lines and facilities which are to be connected to the public storm drainage system and which are to be publicly owned and maintained. The city shall not accept ownership or maintenance responsibility for any lines or facilities which are constructed in violation of said standards and specifications. (Ord. 399 § 1 (part), 1991)
* Code reviser’s note: Ord. 652 adopts construction standards for the city’s storm drainage, water, sanitary sewer, and streets.
14.16.040 Limitations on stormwater quality.
No substance other than natural stormwater drainage shall be discharged into the public storm drainage system. All water so discharged shall meet the water quality criteria and waste discharge limitations imposed by the city engineer and/or the Washington State Department of Ecology. The city engineer shall have authority to require a property owner to construct oil separation devices, catch basins, erosion and siltation control systems, and retention/detention facilities to avoid violations. Any such facilities of systems shall be constructed and continuously maintained in conformity with the standards specified by the city engineer, and shall be subject to his approval. (Ord. 399 § 1 (part), 1991)
14.16.050 Unlawful contamination of stormwater—Penalty.
No person or business entity shall wilfully or negligently discharge, or cause or allow to be discharged, any substance or pollutant into the public storm drainage system in violation of the water quality criteria and waste discharge limitations specified by the city engineer and/or the Washington State Department of Ecology. Any such discharge shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed six months, or by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 399 § 1 (part), 1991)
14.16.060 Damage to storm drainage lines or facilities—Penalties.
No person or business entity shall wilfully or by abuse or neglect cause any damage to lines or facilities of the public storm drainage system. Such acts or omissions shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed six months, or by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Further, if the city repairs or replaces the damaged property, the actual cost to the city for such repair or replacement, plus ten percent, shall be assessed against the responsible party and shall be due and payable within ten days of the date of written notice of the same. Delinquent bills may be collected by a civil action in the Douglas County district court. If the city obtains judgement, it shall also be entitled to reimbursement for court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees expended in the litigation. (Ord. 399 § 1 (part), 1991)