Chapter 7.83
POST-CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER RUNOFF

[Effective on February 16, 2011]

Sections:

7.83.010    Purpose.

7.83.020    Definitions.

7.83.030    Applicability.

7.83.040    Exemptions.

7.83.050    Authority.

7.83.060    Compatibility with other permit and ordinance requirements.

7.83.070    Severability.

7.83.080    Liability.

7.83.090    Authority designated.

7.83.100    Design manuals.

7.83.110    Amendments to design manuals.

7.83.120    Right of entry.

7.83.130    Procedures and requirements.

7.83.140    Post-construction performance criteria for stormwater management.

7.83.150    Project inspection for permanent stormwater BMPs.

7.83.160    Ongoing maintenance for stormwater BMPs.

7.83.170    Violations, enforcement and penalties.

7.83.180    Notice of violation.

7.83.190    Administrative penalties and measures.

7.83.200    Consent orders.

7.83.210    Compliance orders.

7.83.220    Cease and desist orders.

7.83.230    Recovery of costs incurred by the city.

7.83.240    Administrative hearing.

7.83.250    Judicial review.

7.83.260    Judicial remedies.

7.83.270    Injunctive relief.

7.83.280    Civil penalties.

7.83.290    Falsifying information.

7.83.300    Criminal penalties.

7.83.310    Remedies nonexclusive.

7.83.320    Compensatory action.

7.83.330    Publication of enforcement actions.

7.83.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in the city. This chapter seeks to meet that purpose through the following objectives:

(1)    To protect the safety and welfare of the environment and citizens, property owners, and businesses by minimizing the negative impacts of increased stormwater discharges from new land development and redevelopment.

(2)    To enable the city to comply with the Eastern Washington Phase II municipal stormwater permit, Washington Department of Ecology’s guidance for UIC wells that manage stormwater, and applicable federal and state regulations.

(3)    To regulate the contribution of pollutants to the MS4 or UICs by stormwater discharges from development and redevelopment.

(4)    To protect the condition of state (and U.S.) waters for all reasonable public uses and ecological functions.

(5)    To provide long-term responsibility for and maintenance of stormwater BMPs.

(6)    To facilitate the integration of stormwater management and pollution control with other ordinances, programs, policies, and the comprehensive plan of the city.

(7)    To establish legal authority to carry out all the inspection and monitoring procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter.

(8)    To facilitate compliance with state and federal standards and permits by owners of construction sites, developments, and permanent stormwater BMPs within the city. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.020 Definitions.

“Applicant” means a person, party, firm, corporation, or other legal entity that proposes a development, construction or use on a site.

“Average daily traffic” or “ADT” means the expected number of vehicles using a roadway. Projected average daily traffic volumes are considered in designing a roadway or roadway improvement. ADT volumes shall be estimated using “Trip Generation” published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers or from a traffic study prepared by a professional engineer or transportation specialist with expertise in traffic volume estimation. ADT volumes shall be estimated for the design year or expected life of the project (the intent is for treatment facilities to be added in the soonest period of disruptive construction). For project sites with seasonal or varied use, evaluate the highest period of expected traffic impacts.

“BMP” means best management practice and may include, but is not limited to, a schedule of activity, prohibition of practice, maintenance procedure, and structural and/or managerial practice that, when used singly or in combination, prevents or reduces the release of pollutants and other adverse impacts to receiving waters.

“Building” means any structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, uses or property of any kind. Where this title requires, or where special authority granted pursuant to this title requires that a use shall be entirely enclosed within a building, this definition shall be qualified by adding “and enclosed on all sides.”

“Channel” means an open conduit, either naturally or artificially created, which periodically or continuously contains moving water, or which forms a connecting link between two bodies of water.

“Construction” means the assembly, placement, or installation of structures, roadways, transmission lines, and other improvements within a project site.

“Dedication” is the deliberate appropriation of land by an owner for any general and public uses, reserving to himself no other rights than such as are compatible with the full exercise and enjoyment of the public uses to which the property has been devoted. The intention to dedicate shall be evidenced by the owner by the presentment for filing of a final plat or short plat showing the dedication thereon; and the acceptance by the public shall be evidenced by the approval of such plat for filing by the appropriate governmental unit; provided, that no affirmative duty to maintain or improve any dedicated land shall devolve upon the city except by resolution of the city council adopted for the purpose of undertaking a specified duty or duties as to specifically described land.

“Design storm” means a prescribed hyetograph or precipitation distribution, and the total precipitation amount for a specific duration recurrence frequency. The design storm is used to estimate runoff for a hypothetical rainstorm of interest or concern for the purposes of analyzing existing drainage, designing new facilities, or assessing other impacts of a proposed project on the flow of surface water.

“Detention” means the release of stormwater runoff from the site at a slower rate than it is collected by the stormwater facility system, the difference being held in temporary storage with the goals of controlling peak discharge rates and providing gravity settling of pollutants.

“Development” means new development, redevelopment, or both. See definitions for each.

“Director” means the director of community and economic development, designated city employee or authorized representative.

“Easement” is a grant by a property owner to specific persons or to the public to use land for a specific purpose or purposes.

“Flood” means an overflow or inundation that comes from a river or any other source, including (but not limited to) streams, tides, wave action, storm drains, or excess rainfall. Any relatively high stream flow overtopping the natural or artificial banks in any reach of a stream.

“Groundwater recharge volume (Rev)” means the portion of the water quality volume (WQv) used to maintain groundwater recharge rates at development sites.

“High ADT roadways and parking areas” means any road with ADT greater than thirty thousand vehicles per day; and parking areas with more than one hundred trip ends per one thousand square feet of gross building area or greater than three hundred total trip ends are considered to be high-use traffic areas. Examples include commercial buildings with a frequent turnover of customers and other visitors.

“High-use sites” generate high concentrations of oil due to high traffic turnover or the frequent transfer of oil and/or other petroleum products. High-use sites are land uses where sufficient quantities of free oil are likely to be present such that they can be effectively removed with special treatment. A high-use site is any one of the following:

•    A road intersection with expected ADT of twenty-five thousand vehicles or more on the main roadway and fifteen thousand vehicles or more on any intersecting roadway, excluding projects proposing primarily pedestrian or bicycle use improvements; or

•    A commercial or industrial site with an expected trip end count equal to or greater than one hundred vehicles per one thousand square feet of gross building area (best professional judgment should be used in comparing this criterion with the following criterion); or

•    A customer or visitor parking lot with an expected trip end count equal to or greater than three hundred vehicles (best professional judgment should be used in comparing this criterion with the preceding criterion); or

•    Commercial on-street parking areas on streets with an expected total ADT count equal to or greater than seven thousand five hundred; or

•    Fueling stations and facilities; or

•    A commercial or industrial site subject to petroleum storage and transfer in excess of one thousand five hundred gallons per year (not including locations where heating fuel is routinely delivered to end users and the annual amount of heating oil used at the site is the sole basis for the site meeting this definition; heating fuel handling and storage facilities are subject to this definition); or

•    A commercial or industrial site subject to use, storage, or maintenance of a fleet of twenty-five or more diesel vehicles that are over ten tons gross weight (trucks, buses, trains, heavy equipment, etc.); or

•    Maintenance and repair facilities for vehicles, aircraft, construction equipment, railroad equipment or industrial machinery and equipment; or

•    Outdoor areas where hydraulic equipment is stored; or

•    Log storage and sorting yards and other sites subject to frequent use of forklifts and/or other hydraulic equipment; or

•    Railroad yards.

“Impaired waters” means those streams, rivers and lakes that currently do not meet their designated use classification and associated water quality standards under the Clean Water Act and listed on the most current state of Washington 303(d) list.

“Impervious surface” means a surface that has been covered with a layer of material so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by water. It includes most conventionally surfaced streets, roofs, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, patios and other similar structures.

“Industrial stormwater permit” means a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued to a commercial industry or group of industries that regulates the pollutant levels associated with industrial stormwater discharges or specifies on-site pollution control strategies.

“Infiltration” means the downward movement of water from the land surface to the subsoil.

“Infiltration facility” means a drainage facility designed to use the hydrologic process of surface and stormwater runoff soaking into the ground, commonly referred to as percolation, to dispose of surface and stormwater runoff. These facilities may be above grade or below grade.

“Land development” or “development” means any clearing, excavation, dredging, drilling, filling, dumping, removal of earth and mineral materials, or other permanent or temporary modification of a site up to, but not including, construction as defined in this chapter. For the purpose of this chapter, “development” also means any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate located within the special flood hazard area, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling, temporary or permanent storage of equipment and works defined in this chapter.

“Land disturbing activity” means any activity that results in movement of earth, or a change in the existing soil cover (both vegetative and nonvegetative) and/or the existing soil topography. Land disturbing activities include but are not limited to clearing, grading, filling, and excavation. Compaction associated with stabilization of structures and road construction shall also be considered a land disturbing activity. Vegetation maintenance practices are not considered land disturbing activity.

“Low ADT roadways and parking areas” means urban roads with ADT fewer than seven thousand five hundred vehicles per day; rural roads and freeways with ADT less than fifteen thousand vehicles per day; and parking areas with less than forty trip ends per one thousand square feet of gross building area or fewer than one hundred total trip ends per day are considered to be low-use traffic areas. Examples include most residential parking and employee-only parking areas for small office parks or other commercial buildings. Urban roads are located within designated urban growth management areas; rural roads are located outside designated urban growth management areas. Freeways, defined as fully controlled and partially controlled limited access highways, may be located either inside or outside of urban growth management areas.

“Maintenance agreement” means a legally recorded document that acts as a property deed restriction, and that provides for long-term maintenance of stormwater BMPs.

“Moderate ADT roadways and parking areas” means urban roads with ADT between seven thousand five hundred and thirty thousand vehicles per day; rural roads and freeways with ADT between fifteen thousand and thirty thousand vehicles per day; and parking areas with between forty and one hundred trip ends per one thousand square feet of gross building area or between one hundred and three hundred total trip ends per day are considered to be moderate-use traffic areas. Examples include visitor parking for small to medium commercial buildings with a limited number of daily customers. Urban roads are located within designated urban growth management areas; rural roads are located outside designated urban growth management areas. Freeways, defined as fully controlled and partially controlled limited access highways, may be located either inside or outside of urban growth management areas.

“Moderate-use sites” means moderate ADT roadways and parking areas (see definition above); primary access points for high-density residential apartments; most intersections controlled by traffic signals; and transit center bus stops. These sites are expected to generate sufficient concentrations of metals that additional runoff treatment is needed to protect water quality in nonexempt surface waters.

“Municipal separate storm sewer system” or “MS4” means a conveyance, or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains): (i) owned or operated by a state, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to state law) having jurisdiction over disposal of wastes, storm water, or other wastes, including special districts under state law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under Section 208 of the CWA that discharges to waters of the United States; (ii) designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater; (iii) which is not a combined sewer; and (iv) which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) as defined at 40 CFR 122.2.

“National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” or “NPDES” means the national program for issuing, modifying, revoking, and reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and enforcing pretreatment requirements, under Sections 307, 402, 318, and 405 of the Federal Clean Water Act, for the discharge of pollutants to surface waters of the state from point sources. These permits are referred to as NPDES permits and, in Washington State, are administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

“New development” means land disturbing activities, including Class IV general forest practices development, including construction or installation of a building or other structure; creation of impervious surfaces; and subdivision, short subdivision and binding site plans, as defined and applied in Chapter 58.17 RCW. Projects meeting the definition of redevelopment shall not be considered new development.

“Nonpoint source pollution” means pollution from any source other than from any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyances, and shall include, but not be limited to, pollutants from agricultural, silvicultural, mining, construction, subsurface disposal and urban runoff sources.

“Nonstormwater discharge” means any discharge to the MS4 or public UIC that is not composed entirely of stormwater.

“Nonstructural measure” means a stormwater control and treatment technique that uses natural processes, restoration or enhancement of natural systems, or design approaches to control runoff and/or reduce pollutant levels. Such measures are used in lieu of or to supplement structural practices on a land development site. Nonstructural measures include, but are not limited to: minimization and/or disconnection of impervious surfaces; development design that reduces the rate and volume of runoff; restoration or enhancement of natural areas such as riparian areas, wetlands, and forests; and on-lot practices such as rain barrels, cisterns, and vegetated areas that intercept roof and driveway runoff.

“Owner(s)” or “property owner(s)” means the legal owner or owners of the property. As used herein, owner also refers to, in the appropriate context: (i) any other person authorized to act as the agent for the owner; (ii) any person who submits a stormwater management concept or design plan for approval or requests issuance of a permit, when required, authorizing land development to commence; and (iii) any person responsible for complying with an approved stormwater management design plan.

“Permanent stormwater BMP” means a stormwater best management practice (BMP) that will be operational after the construction phase of a project and that is designed to become a permanent part of the site for the purposes of managing stormwater runoff.

“Pollutant-generating impervious surfaces” or “PGIS” are surfaces that are considered to be significant sources of pollutants in stormwater runoff. Such surfaces include those that are subject to vehicular use, industrial activities, or storage of erodible or leachable materials that receive direct rainfall or run-on or blow-in of rainfall. Metal roofs are considered to be PGIS unless coated with an inert, nonleachable material. Roofs that are subject to venting of manufacturing, commercial or other indoor pollutants are also considered PGIS. A surface, whether paved or not, shall be considered PGIS if it is regularly used by motor vehicles. The following are considered regularly used surfaces: roads, unvegetated road shoulders, bike lanes within the traveled lane of a roadway, driveways, parking lots, unfenced fire lanes, vehicular equipment storage yards, and airport runways.

“Private development” or “private” as used in this chapter shall mean any land development or redevelopment upon property other than property owned in fee or leased by the city, or a trust or authority of which the city is a beneficiary. It is understood that certain portions of private property upon which the city or a trust or authority of which the city is a beneficiary has an easement, right-of-way or street is also within the definition of public property.

“Private inspector” means an independent agency or private entity that is retained by the applicant to conduct inspections and submit documentation to the director in accordance with this chapter, and that is certified by the director to conduct such inspections.

“Public development” or “public” as used in this chapter shall mean any land development or redevelopment upon any real property, or interest therein, belonging to the city or a trust or authority of which the city is a beneficiary. Public development shall also include private development whenever all or a portion thereof will eventually be dedicated or provided for ownership, operation and/or maintenance to the city or a public trust or authority of which the city is a beneficiary.

“Receiving stream or channel” means the body of water or conveyance into which stormwater runoff is discharged.

“Recharge” means the replenishment of underground water reserves.

“Redevelopment” means, on a site that is already substantially developed, the replacement or improvement of impervious surfaces, including buildings and other structures, and replacement or improvement of impervious parking and road surfaces, that is not part of a routine maintenance activity. (Any new impervious surfaces created by a redevelopment project are subject to the requirements for new development.)

“Responsible party” means any individual, partnership, co-partnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity, or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents, or assigns, that is named on a stormwater maintenance agreement as responsible for long-term operation and maintenance of one or more stormwater BMPs.

“Retention” means the process of collecting and holding surface and stormwater runoff with no surface outflow.

“Rural roads” means roads located outside designated urban growth management areas.

“Special flood hazard area (SFHA)” means a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified high-risk flood area where flood insurance is mandatory for properties. An area having special flood, mudflow, or flood-related erosion hazards, and shown on a flood hazard boundary map or a flood insurance rate map as Zone A, AO, A1-A30, AE, A99, AH, AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/AH, AR/AO, AR/A1-A30, V1-V30, VE, or V.

“Stop work order” means an order issued that requires that all construction activity on a site be stopped.

“Stormwater authority” means the department or agency, and its authorized agents, which is responsible for coordinating the review, approval, and permit process as defined by this chapter.

“Stormwater best management practice (BMP)” means the schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and structural and/or managerial practices approved by Ecology that, when used singly or in combination, prevent or reduce the release of pollutants and other adverse impacts to receiving waters.

“Stormwater management” means the use of structural or nonstructural practices that are designed to reduce stormwater runoff pollutant loads, discharge volumes, peak flow discharge rates and detrimental changes in stream temperature that affect water quality and habitat.

“Stormwater runoff” or “stormwater” means runoff during and following precipitation and snowmelt events, including surface runoff, drainage and interflow.

“Stream” means an area where surface waters flow sufficiently to produce a defined channel or bed. A defined channel or bed is an area that demonstrates clear evidence of the passage of water including, but not limited to, hydraulically sorted sediments, or the removal of vegetative litter or loosely rooted vegetation by the action of moving water. The channel or bed need not contain water year-round. This definition is not meant to include irrigation ditches, canals, stormwater runoff devices or other entirely artificial watercourses, unless they are used to convey streams naturally occurring prior to construction. Those topographic features that resemble streams but have no defined channels (i.e., swales) shall be considered streams when hydrologic and hydraulic analyses done pursuant to a development proposal predict formation of a defined channel after development.

“Structure” means anything constructed or erected, even partially, including buildings, which requires location on the ground or attached to something having a location on the ground.

“Underground injection control” or “UIC” or “UIC well” means a manmade subsurface fluid distribution system designed to discharge fluids into the ground and consists of an assemblage of perforated pipes, drain tiles, or other similar mechanisms, or a dug hole that is deeper than the largest surface dimension. UICs can be publicly or privately owned.

“Upland flow” means stormwater runoff from lands upslope of a project site.

“Urban roads” means roads located within designated urban growth management areas. Partially controlled limited access highways located inside of urban growth management areas are considered urban roads.

“Water quality volume (WQv)” means the storage needed to capture and treat ninety percent of the average annual stormwater runoff volume. Numerically, WQv will vary as a function of long-term rainfall statistical data.

“Waters of the state” includes those waters as defined as “waters of the United States” in 40 CFR 122.2 within the geographic boundaries of Washington State and “waters of the state” as defined in RCW Chapter 90.48 which includes: lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, inland waters, underground waters, salt waters and all other surface waters and water courses within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington.

“Wetland” or “wetlands” means that area inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland sites, including, but not limited to, irrigation and drainage ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, farm ponds, and landscape amenities. However, wetlands may include those artificial wetlands specifically intentionally created from nonwetland areas to mitigate conversion of wetlands, if permitted by the city. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.030 Applicability.

This chapter shall be applicable to all land development or redevelopment, including, but not limited to, subdivision applications and grading applications, unless exempt pursuant to YMC 7.83.040. These provisions apply to any new development or redevelopment site within the city that meets one or more of the following criteria:

(1)    New development that disturbs one acre or more.

(2)    Redevelopment that disturbs one acre or more.

(3)    Development activities that are smaller than the minimum applicable criteria set forth above if such activities are part of a larger common plan of development, even though multiple, separate and distinct land development activities may take place at different times on different schedules. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.040 Exemptions.

(1)    Activities Exempt. The following activities are exempt from this chapter:

a)    Private development that can provide for the on-site retention of the total water (up to and including the one-hundred-year twenty-four-hour storm) intercepted and collected by the development and the areas (improved or unimproved) lying and draining presently to and through the proposed development. Submittal to the city of a drainage plan, stamped by a professional engineer in Washington State, is required to demonstrate this exemption.

b)    Forest practices regulated under Title 222 WAC. Conversions of forest lands to other uses are not exempt. Silvicultural roads that are used to access other land uses subject to this chapter are not exempt.

c)    Commercial agriculture practices involving working the land for production. Construction of impervious surfaces are not exempt.

d)    Construction of oil and gas field drilling sites, oil and gas field waste management pits, and access roads, as well as construction of oil and gas transportation and treatment support structure such as pipelines, natural gas treatment plants, natural gas pipeline compressor stations, and crude oil pumping stations.

(2)    Road Maintenance. The following road and parking area maintenance practices are exempt:

a)    Pothole and square cut patching;

b)    Crack sealing;

c)    Resurfacing with in-kind material without expanding the road prism;

d)    Overlaying existing asphalt or concrete pavement with bituminous surface treatment (BST or “chip seal”), asphalt or concrete without expanding the area of coverage;

e)    Shoulder grading;

f)    Reshaping/regrading drainage systems; and

g)    Vegetation maintenance.

(3)    Road Repair and Safety Improvement. The following road, parking area maintenance, and road safety improvement practices are exempt:

a)    Removing and replacing a concrete or asphalt roadway to base course or subgrade or lower without expanding or improving the impervious surfaces.

b)    Repairing the roadway base or subgrade.

c)    Projects to improve motorized and/or nonmotorized user safety that do not enhance the traffic capacity of a roadway. Safety improvement projects such as sidewalks, bike lanes, bus pullouts and other transit improvements that replace soft shoulder with curb-and-gutter on roadways with an average daily traffic volume of seven thousand five hundred vehicles or more are not exempt.

d)    Overlaying existing gravel, asphalt or concrete with bituminous surface treatment (BST or “chip seal”) without expanding the area of coverage, or overlaying BST with asphalt, without expanding the area of coverage. For roads, these practices are exempt only if the traffic surface will be subject to an average daily traffic volume of less than seven thousand five hundred on an urban road or an average daily traffic volume of less than fifteen thousand vehicles on a rural road, freeway, or limited access control highway. For parking areas, these practices are exempt only if the traffic surface will be subject to less than forty trip ends per one thousand square feet of building area or one hundred total trip ends.

(4)    Linear Construction Projects. Linear construction projects, such as pipeline or underground utility line installation, that do not result in the installation of any impervious surface and that replace the ground surface with in-kind material or materials with similar runoff characteristics are exempt.

(5)    Prior Approval. Any part of a land development that was approved by city planning prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

(6)    Exempt projects may be subject to YMC Chapter 7.82, Construction Stormwater Runoff, and/or YMC Chapter 7.85, Stormwater Illicit Discharge. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.050 Authority.

This chapter is adopted pursuant to authority conferred by and in accordance with the provisions of the State of Washington Water Pollution Control Law, Chapter 90.48, Revised Code of Washington, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Clean Water Act), Title 33 United States Code, Section 1251 et seq. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.060 Compatibility with other permit and ordinance requirements.

This chapter is not intended to interfere with, abrogate, or annul any other ordinance, rule or regulation, statute, or other provision of law. The requirements of this chapter should be considered minimum requirements, and where any provision of this chapter imposes restrictions different from those imposed by any other ordinance, rule or regulation, or other provision of law, whichever provisions are more restrictive or impose higher protective standards for human health or the environment shall be considered to take precedence. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.070 Severability.

If the provisions of any article, section, subsection, paragraph, subdivision or clause of this chapter shall be judged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such order of judgment shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of any article, section, subsection, paragraph, subdivision or clause of this chapter. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.080 Liability.

(1)    Any person who undertakes or causes to be undertaken any land development shall ensure that soil erosion, sedimentation, increased pollutant loads and changed water flow characteristics resulting from the activity are controlled so as to minimize pollution of receiving waters. The requirements of this chapter are minimum standards and a person’s compliance with the same shall not relieve such person from the duty of enacting all measures necessary to minimize pollution of receiving waters.

(2)    By approving a plan under this regulation, the city does not accept responsibility for the design, installation, and operation and maintenance of stormwater BMPs. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.090 Authority designated.

The director of community and economic development (director) of the city is hereby authorized and designated as the official responsible for the enforcement and administration of this title. The director may designate employees within his division to act on his behalf. The use of the terms “stormwater authority,” “administrative authority,” “code official,” “authority having jurisdiction” and similar such terms as contained in this chapter and in the codes and standards adopted by reference under this chapter shall be construed as referring to the director of community and economic development and their designees. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.100 Design manuals.

(1)    The director will utilize information, including the minimum technical requirements of Appendix 1 in the Eastern Washington Phase II municipal stormwater permit, the technical specifications of the latest edition of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington approved local equivalent, or another technical stormwater manual approved by Ecology, as the basis for decisions about design, implementation, maintenance, and performance of structural and nonstructural post-construction stormwater BMPs. The Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent, includes a list of acceptable stormwater treatment practices, including specific design criteria for each stormwater practice. Use of BMPs from other technical stormwater manuals approved by Ecology shall be consistent with city climate, soils, and specific site conditions appropriate for said BMP use. Stormwater practices that are designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with these design and sizing criteria will be presumed to meet the minimum water quality performance standards of the Eastern Washington NPDES Phase II municipal stormwater permit requirements.

(2)    Use of BMPs not designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with manuals identified in YMC 7.83.090 shall be subject to city approval and must be monitored for performance to demonstrate that they meet the minimum water quality performance standards of the Eastern Washington NPDES Phase II municipal stormwater permit requirements. (Ord. 2023-020 § 1, 2023; Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.110 Amendments to design manuals.

(1)    The Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent, may be updated and expanded from time to time, based on advancements in technology and engineering, improved knowledge of local conditions, or local monitoring or maintenance experience. The most current version of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent is to be used where referenced by this chapter.

(2)    Prior to amending or updating the approved local equivalent manual, proposed changes shall be publicized and made available for review, and an opportunity for comment by interested persons shall be provided.

(3)    If the specifications, guidelines, or other information in the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent, are amended subsequent to the submittal of an application for approval pursuant to this chapter but prior to approval, the new information shall control and shall be utilized in reviewing the application and in implementing this chapter with regard to the application. If the application has been approved and all fees paid prior to amendment of the manual(s), the application will not require further reviews using the amended information. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.120 Right of entry.

(1)    General. The director is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this title. The director may employ, appoint and designate such city employees, representatives or officers to act on his behalf in the enforcement of this title under such control and supervision as he may specify. Any reference herein to the director shall also refer to designated city employees and the manager’s duly authorized representatives. The director shall, either upon complaint or upon his own initiative, investigate potential violations of this title. It shall be the duty of all the city officers to assist the director in the performance of this duty. It shall be the duty of all officers charged with the enforcement of the law to assist in the implementation of this title and its provisions.

(2)    Entrance onto Private Property. When necessary to perform any duties under this title or to investigate upon reasonable cause or complaint the existence or occurrence of a violation of this title, the director may enter onto property to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed or authorized by this title; provided, that if such property is occupied and not a public place, the director shall first present proper credentials and request permission to enter; and if such property is not occupied, the director shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owners or other persons having charge or control and request entry. If such entry is refused, the director shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry. The right of entry authorized under this title extends to any employee, officer or person who accompanies the director.

(3)    Judicial Warrant. If the director is refused access to the property or any part thereof, and if the director has demonstrated a reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this title exists, or that there is a need to inspect as part of a routine inspection program of the city designed to verify compliance with this title or any order issued hereunder, then upon application by the city attorney, a judge of a competent jurisdiction will issue a search warrant describing the specific location subject to the warrant. The warrant will specify what may be searched and/or seized on the property described. The warrant will be served at reasonable hours by the director in the company of a uniformed police officer of the city. In the event of an emergency that presents an imminent threat to public health, safety or welfare as determined by the director, inspections may take place without the issuance of a warrant.

(4)    Scope of Entry. The right of entry extends to the following matters:

a)    Entry upon the premises where a facility or activity is located or conducted, or where relevant records are kept;

b)    Access to and copying, at reasonable times, relevant records;

c)    Inspection at reasonable times of any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and control equipment), practices or operations regulated;

d)    Sampling or monitoring for the purposes of assuring compliance; and

e)    Inspection of any production, manufacturing, fabricating or storage area where pollutants or nonstormwater discharges may originate, are stored or disposed of in the sewer system, the MS4 or public UIC. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.130 Procedures and requirements.

(1)    Stormwater Site Plan Required. A stormwater site plan containing all appropriate information as specified in this chapter shall be submitted to the director in conjunction with the final subdivision plat, final site plan, construction plan, or any other land development plan subject to this chapter, as described in YMC 7.83.020.

(2)    Stormwater Site Plan Content. The stormwater site plan must ensure that the requirements and criteria in this chapter are being complied with and that opportunities are being taken to minimize adverse postdevelopment stormwater runoff impacts from the project. Stormwater site plans generally contain maps, charts, graphs, tables, photographs, narrative descriptions, explanations, citations to supporting references, a record of all major permit decisions, and other information as may be necessary for a complete review of the plan as determined by the director. Minimum plan contents include:

a)    Common address, parcel number(s), and legal description of site.

b)    Existing Conditions Evaluation. The existing conditions evaluation for topography, drainage patterns and contributory areas, soils, ground cover, presence of critical areas, adjacent areas, existing development, existing stormwater facilities, and adjacent on- and off-site utilities shall include: a topographic map of existing site conditions with the drainage basin(s) boundaries indicated; acreage, soil types and land cover of areas for each subbasin affected by the project; all perennial and intermittent streams and other surface water features; all existing stormwater conveyances and structural control facilities; direction of flow and exits from the site; analysis of runoff provided by off-site areas upstream of the project site; and methodologies, assumptions, site parameters and supporting design calculations used to analyze the site hydrology of the existing conditions.

1.    Projects shall use a maximum contour interval of two feet.

2.    Contour intervals of less than two feet may be required in flat locations to demonstrate current and proposed drainage performance and siting of facilities.

3.    At the discretion of the city, larger scale projects or those located in areas of sufficient relief, such as a large lot subdivision, may use the best available topographic information; this may involve contours on a scale larger than the two-foot minimum.

4.    Site limitations shall be identified, including:

I.    Areas with high potential for erosion and sediment deposition (based on soil properties, slope, etc.);

II.    Locations of sensitive and critical areas (e.g., vegetative buffers, wetlands, steep slopes, floodplains, geologic hazard areas, streams, etc.);

III.    Observation of potential runoff contribution from off-site basins;

IV.    Adjacent properties and/or projects that have a history of stormwater problems, noting whether the cause of the problem(s) has been determined; and

V.    Adjacent properties and/or projects where geotechnical investigations have identified shallow bedrock, high groundwater, seasonally perched groundwater, or clay lenses in the substrata.

5.    Geotechnical Site Characterization Report. A geotechnical site characterization and report is required to demonstrate suitability of a site for stormwater disposal. A geotechnical site characterization is required for:

I.    Projects proposing infiltration (drywells, detention facilities receiving credit for pond bottom infiltration, etc.) or nonstandard drainage systems;

II.    Projects located within or draining to a problem drainage area, flood-prone basin, or study area as determined by the director;

III.    Projects with administrative conditions requiring a geotechnical site characterization;

IV.    In areas where there has been a long-standing record of satisfactory performance of standard subsurface disposal facilities and no drainage problems are known to exist, the geotechnical site characterization requirement may be reduced or waived after a formal written request from the project proponent’s engineer has been reviewed and accepted by the director;

V.    When subsurface disposal is proposed:

•    Test borings and/or test pits are required and shall be located within the footprint of proposed stormwater disposal facilities;

•    For each facility, a minimum of one subsurface exploration shall be performed for up to one thousand two hundred square feet of disposal area. Another subsurface exploration shall be performed for each additional fifteen thousand square feet, or fraction thereof, of disposal area. For a linear roadside swale, a minimum of one subsurface exploration shall be performed every five hundred feet, staggered on both sides of the road, unless site conditions or test results indicate that additional explorations are necessary. Subsurface explorations and sampling shall be conducted according to applicable standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM);

•    Subsurface explorations shall be to a depth as recommended by the geotechnical engineer.

c)    Permanent Stormwater Control Plan. The description, scaled drawings and design calculations for the proposed postdevelopment condition shall be identified in a permanent stormwater control plan, that shall include:

1.    Drainage Report.

I.    A map and/or drawing or sketch of the stormwater management facilities, including the location of nonstructural site design features and the placement of existing and proposed structural stormwater controls, including design water surface elevations, storage volumes available from zero to maximum head, location of inlets and outlets, location of bypass and discharge systems, and all orifice/restrictor sizes;

II.    A narrative describing how the selected structural stormwater controls will be appropriate and effective; cross-section and profile drawings and design details for each of the structural stormwater controls in the system;

III.    A hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of the stormwater management system demonstrating system performance for all hydraulic, treatment and disposal facilities for applicable design storms, including supporting calculations to show that the facility is designed according to the applicable design criteria (including stage-storage or outlet rating curves, and inflow and outflow hydrographs);

IV.    Documentation and supporting calculations to show that the permanent stormwater control plan adequately meets the performance criteria in this chapter; and, where applicable

V.    A narrative describing how the permanent stormwater control plan corresponds with any applicable watershed protection plans or total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements.

2.    Stormwater Construction Plans. Construction drawings showing elevations and hydraulic grade lines for all existing and proposed stormwater elements including, but not limited to, stormwater drains, pipes, culverts, catch basins, channels, treatment BMPs, retention BMPs, disposal and overflow facilities, and areas of overland flow.

d)    Postdevelopment Downstream Analysis. Development projects that propose to discharge stormwater or upland flow off-site are required to submit a downstream analysis report that assesses the potential off-site water quality, erosion, slope stability, and drainage impacts associated with the project and that proposes appropriate mitigation of those impacts. An initial qualitative analysis should extend downstream for the entire flow path from the project site to the receiving water, or up to one mile or to a point where the impact to receiving waters is minimal or nonexistent, as determined by the local jurisdiction. If a receiving water is within one-quarter mile, the analysis should extend within the receiving water to one-quarter mile from the project site. The analysis should extend one-quarter mile beyond any improvements proposed as mitigation. The analysis should extend upstream to a point where backwater effects created by the project cease. Upon review of the qualitative analysis, the city may require that a quantitative analysis be performed.

e)    Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. Projects meeting the regulatory threshold and not qualifying for an erosivity waiver shall prepare a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) for construction activity in accordance with the city construction stormwater runoff ordinance, YMC Chapter 7.82. The SWPPP shall be implemented beginning with initial soil disturbance and continue until final stabilization. Stormwater BMPs shall be consistent with the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington (2004), approved local equivalent, or another technical stormwater manual approved by the city. The plan shall also include information on the sequence/phasing of construction and temporary stabilization measures and temporary structures that will be converted into permanent stormwater controls.

f)    Requirement for Maintenance Agreement and Plan. If a stormwater site plan requires structural or nonstructural measures, the owner shall execute a stormwater maintenance agreement prior to the city granting final approval for the plan, or any plan of development or other development for which a permit is required under this chapter. The agreement shall be recorded in the office of the county auditor and shall run with the land.

1.    Required Elements for Maintenance Agreement and Plan. The stormwater maintenance agreement shall be in a form approved by the city, and shall, at a minimum:

I.    Designate Responsible Party. Designate for the land development the owner, governmental agency, or other legally established entity (responsible party) which shall be permanently responsible for maintenance of the structural or nonstructural measures required by the plan.

II.    Pass Responsibility to Successors. Pass the responsibility for such maintenance to successors in title.

III.    Right of Entry for Stormwater Authority. Grant the city and its representatives the right of entry for the purposes of inspecting all stormwater BMPs at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner; provided, that if such property be occupied and not a public place he shall first present proper credentials, request permission to enter, state the reason for the request, and, if such property is unoccupied, he shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owners or other persons having charge or control of the property and request permission to enter. If such entry is refused, the city shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry. The right of entry authorized for this section extends to any employee, officer, or authorized representative that accompanies the director or his designated representative.

IV.    Maintenance Plan. The project shall ensure the continued performance of the maintenance obligations required by the plan and this chapter through a maintenance plan (which may be an attachment to the actual maintenance agreement). The plan shall include a list of inspection and maintenance tasks, a schedule for routine inspection and maintenance, actions to be taken when maintenance is required, and other items listed in the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent.

2.    Maintenance Access Easements. The applicant must ensure access from public right-of-way to stormwater management facilities and practices requiring regular maintenance at the site for the purpose of inspection and repair. Such access shall be sufficient for all necessary equipment for maintenance activities. A proper surface to accommodate these vehicles shall be provided and maintained by the property owner. Access shall not be blocked by fences. The property owner should not plant landscaping or construct permanent or temporary structures within the easement. In the event that access or repairs cause the removal of any fences, structures or landscaping, the property owner shall assume the risk and costs associated with the removal and/or replacement. In addition, the owner shall assume all liability for any claims filed in association with property damage caused directly from flooding in which the city’s ability to access and maintain the facility was blocked or hampered by the property owner. Upon final inspection and approval, a plat or document indicating that such easements exist shall be recorded and shall remain in effect even with the transfer of title of the property.

g)    Application Requirements. Applications shall be submitted and considered in the manner established by the city project permit application process, YMC Chapter 16.04, and as follows:

1.    Substantive Changes to Plan. No substantive changes shall be made to an approved plan without review and written approval by the director. The director may request additional data with a plan amendment as may be necessary for a complete review of the plan and to ensure that changes to the plan will comply with the requirements of this chapter.

2.    Expiration of Plan Approval. The stormwater management design plan’s approval expires in one year from the date of approval unless a final plat is recorded or unless work has actually begun on the site. The recordation of a final plat for a section of a subdivision (or initiation of construction in a section) does not vest the approval of the stormwater site plan for the remainder of the subdivision. If the stormwater site plan expires, the applicant shall file with the director for reapproval of the stormwater management design plan.

(3)    Plan Preparation and Certification.

a)    Certification by Plan Preparer. The stormwater site plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Washington State and must be signed by the professional preparing the plan, who shall certify that the design of all stormwater BMPs meets the requirements of this chapter.

b)    Certification by Owner. The owner shall certify that all land clearing, construction, land development and drainage will be done according to the approved plan.

(4)    Coordination with Other Approvals and Permits.

a)    Approval of Other Permits. No grading or building permit shall be issued for land development subject to this chapter without approval of a stormwater management design plan.

b)    Coordination with Other Plans. Approval of the stormwater site plan shall be coordinated by the director with approval of a construction stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) with regard to the location, schedule, and/or phasing for temporary and permanent stormwater management measures. If natural drainage features or other natural areas are to be preserved, then these areas must be shown and measures provided for their protection on both the construction SWPPP and the stormwater site plan. If other elements of the stormwater site plan utilize soils, vegetation, or other natural features for infiltration or treatment, then these areas must be shown on the construction SWPPP plan and measures provided for their protection during construction.

c)    Other Permits or Approvals May Be Needed. Approvals issued in accordance with this chapter do not relieve the applicant of responsibility for obtaining all other necessary permits and/or approvals from other federal, state, and/or local agencies. If requirements vary, the most restrictive shall prevail. These permits may include, but are not limited to: construction stormwater discharge permits, applicable state and federal permits for stream and wetland impacts, and applicable dam safety permits. Applicants are required to show proof of compliance with these regulations before the city code administration will issue a grading, building, or zoning permit.

d)    Stormwater Measures within Floodplain. Construction of stormwater measures or facilities within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated floodplain shall be avoided to the extent possible. When this is unavoidable, all stormwater BMP construction shall be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the city’s critical areas, shorelines, floodway, floodplain and building codes.

(5)    Storm Drainage Easements.

a)    Easement Need. Storm drainage easements shall be required where: a development or redevelopment is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream; any stormwater detention, retention or infiltration facility or any other stormwater BMP is located on private property. The following conditions shall apply to all easements:

b)    Easement Configuration. A stormwater easement or drainage right-of-way shall conform substantially with the lines of a watercourse.

c)    Where no conveyance system exists at the adjacent down-gradient property line or watercourse, and the discharge was previously unconcentrated flow or significantly lower concentrated flow, then measures must be taken to prevent down-gradient impacts.

d)    Easement Dimensions. Easements shall be of a width for construction, or maintenance, or both, as will be adequate for the purpose. Parallel streets or parkways may be required in connection therewith.

e)    Easements Approved at the Time of Approval of Final Plat. Easements shall be approved by the director at the time of approval of a final plat and shall be recorded with the city and on all property deeds.

f)    Deeds of Easement. A deed of easement shall be recorded along with the final plat specifying the rights and responsibilities of each party to the easement.

(6)    Performance Bond or Guarantee.

a)    Performance Bond or Guarantee Required. No stormwater site plans shall be approved for public projects subject to this chapter unless the applicant furnishes a performance bond or guarantee. This is to ensure that action can be taken by the city, at the applicant’s expense, should the applicant fail to initiate or maintain those measures identified in the approved stormwater site plan (after being given proper notice and within the time specified by the director). If the city takes such action upon such failure by the applicant, the city shall collect from the applicant the difference should the amount of reasonable cost of such action exceed the amount of the security held.

b)    Term of Performance Bond or Guarantee. The performance bond or guarantee furnished pursuant to YMC 7.83.130(6)(a), or the unexpended or unobligated portion thereof, shall be returned to the applicant within sixty days of the final acceptance of the permanent stormwater BMP by the director.

c)    Term Extended for Initial Maintenance. At the discretion of the director, the performance bond or guarantee may be extended beyond the time period specified above to cover a reasonable period of time for testing the practices during storm events and for initial maintenance activities. For the purposes of this section, the time shall not exceed two years.

d)    Partial Release of Bond. The director shall have the discretion to adopt provisions for a partial pro-rata release of the performance bond or guarantee on the completion of various stages or phases of development.

(7)    As-Built Plans.

a)    As-Built Plans Required. All applicants are required to submit as-built plans for any permanent stormwater management facilities located on-site after final construction is completed. The plan must show the final design specifications for all stormwater management facilities, meet the criteria for as-built plans in the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent, and be sealed by a registered professional engineer. A final inspection by the director is required before any performance bond or guarantee will be released.

(8)    Fees.

a)    Fee Authority. The city may obtain with each submission an application fee established by the director to cover expenses connected with the review of the stormwater site plan and a technical review fee sufficient to cover professional review services for the project. The director is authorized to retain a registered professional engineer or other professional consultant to advise the director on any or all aspects of these plans.

1.    Applicants must pay review fees before the review process may begin.

2.    Application fees are payable at the time of application and are nonrefundable.

3.    Application fees shall be calculated by the director in accordance with the fee schedule below.

4.    These fees are in addition to any other local or state fees that may be charged under any other law, bylaw, or local ordinance.

b)    Application Fees.

1.

Post-Construction Stormwater: one stormwater site plan review, one review of maintenance agreement, one review of easements, one review of performance bond, coordination with other approvals and permits, and one post-construction inspection for acceptance.

None at this time

1.    A nonrefundable application fee shall be due and payable to the city at the time an application is filed. The application fee will provide up to eight hours of services for administration, review, inspection, and monitoring for each project.

2.    The director may require any applicant to pay an additional fee per hour for review, inspection and monitoring services for any project filing that requires an excess of eight hours of administration, review, inspection, and monitoring time by city staff member(s). Said fee shall be the hourly salary rate plus benefits for each city staff member doing this additional work multiplied by the number of additional hours, plus any equipment and administrative fees.

c)    Revision of Fee Schedules and Regulations Governing Fees.

1.    The director may review and propose revision to its regulations and fee schedules periodically as it sees fit.

I.    Amendments shall be preceded by a public hearing.

II.    The schedule of fees and charges proposed by the director shall be adopted by the city council and established in this chapter and may be altered or amended only by the city council.

d)    Automatic Fee Schedule Adjustment.

1.    Beginning on January 1, 2012, and each successive January 1st thereafter, the city fee schedule adopted as a part of this title shall automatically be adjusted to account for any change in the consumer price index (CPI) as established by the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Seattle Metropolitan Area. The twelve-month period utilized to establish the fee schedule adjustment will be as established by the Department of Commerce for the Seattle CPI. Fees adjusted in this manner may be rounded to the nearest five-dollar increment. This section shall not preclude the city from modifying the base fee, where the city council finds it necessary to do so. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.140 Post-construction performance criteria for stormwater management.

(1)    General Post-Construction Stormwater Management Criteria.

a)    Source Control. All projects shall apply source control BMPs selected, designed, and maintained in accordance with the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington (or approved local equivalent).

1.    Use of BMPs not selected, designed, and maintained in accordance with manuals identified in YMC 7.83.090 shall be subject to director approval and must be monitored for performance to demonstrate that they meet the minimum water quality performance standards of the Eastern Washington NPDES Phase II municipal stormwater permit requirements.

b)    Preservation of Natural Drainage. Natural drainage patterns should be maintained for flood conveyances, conveyance of upland flow, and other purposes. Discharges from the project site should occur at the natural location to the maximum extent practicable. The preferred options for discharge of excess stormwater are, in order of preference to maintain natural drainage systems:

1.    Maintain dispersed sheet flow to match natural conditions;

2.    Infiltrate on site;

3.    Infiltrate off site;

4.    Discharge to existing ditch networks or canals, if allowed, or other dispersal methods that allow for potential groundwater recharge;

5.    Discharge to wetlands, if allowed;

6.    Discharge to existing private or municipally owned stormwater systems, if allowed;

7.    Evaporate on site or off site;

8.    Create a new outfall for discharge to surface waters;

9.    Preservation of natural drainage includes stormwater infiltration if that is the natural discharge method for the site;

10.    The manner by which runoff is discharged from the project site must not cause an adverse impact to downstream receiving waters and down-gradient properties;

11.    All outfalls must address energy dissipation as necessary;

12.    The overflow of runoff in excess of the design storm quantities must be situated or directed to where it would have overflowed under the conditions existing prior to proposed development. The capacity of the drainage course downstream of the development may be required to be evaluated.

c)    Discharges to Adjacent Property. Discharges from land development subject to this chapter, including from stormwater practices and upland flow, shall not be discharged onto adjacent property without appropriate authority and adequate conveyance in a natural stream or storm sewer system. The director may require drainage easements where stormwater discharges must cross an adjacent or off-site property before reaching an adequate conveyance.

d)    Flow Control. New development projects that meet the regulatory threshold and result in ten thousand square feet or more of new impervious surfaces shall construct stormwater flow control facilities for any discharge of stormwater directly, or through a conveyance system, into surface water. Redevelopment projects are not required to construct stormwater flow control facilities unless required under a basin plan or other federal, state or local requirement. The stormwater flow control facility shall be designed to protect stream morphology and associated instream habitat from adverse impacts due to increased peak flows and flow durations following development. Flow control facilities shall be selected, designed, constructed, operated and maintained consistent with guidance found in the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington or approved local equivalent.

1.    In order to prevent localized erosion, energy dissipation at the point of discharge is required for all projects unless site-specific conditions warrant an exception.

2.    Exemptions. Direct discharges to the following surface waters are exempt from flow control requirements to protect stream morphology:

I.    Any river or stream that is:

•    Fifth order or greater as determined from a one-to-twenty-four-thousand scale map; or

•    Fourth order or greater as determined from a one-to-one-hundred-thousand or larger scale map.

The maps should be standard USGS maps or GIS data sets derived from USGS base maps.

II.    Any lake or reservoir with a contributing watershed area greater than one hundred square miles.

III.    Reservoirs with outlet controls that are operated for varying discharges to the downstream reaches as for hydropower, flood control, irrigation, or drinking water supplies. Uncontrolled flowthrough impoundments are not exempt.

IV.    Streams that flow only during runoff-producing events. The runoff carried by the stream following the two-year, Type IA rainfall event must not discharge via surface flow to a nonexempt surface water. To be exempt, the stream may carry runoff during an average annual snowmelt event but must not have a period of baseflow during a year of normal precipitation.

3.    Flow Control. The stormwater site plan shall provide for the on-site detention and/or retention of the total water intercepted and collected by the development and the areas (improved or unimproved) lying and draining presently to and through the proposed development, for the design storm, unless other natural or manmade systems are available for use. Off-site stormwater (upland flow) conveyed through a land development shall be placed within an easement and conveyed in a manner that does not increase upstream or downstream flooding.

4.    Flow control design calculations for peak flow and peak volume detention requirements shall be based on full retention of the postdevelopment condition for the stated design storm, and the contributing basin size, where contributing basin size refers to the total area above the inlet or hydraulic element.

I.    For contributing basins of one-half acre or less, the larger of the twenty-five-year, three-hour storm or the twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour design storm shall be used.

II.    For contributing basins greater than one-half acre, the twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour design storm shall be used.

III.    The director may determine that the development is located in a drainage problem area, flood-prone basin, or area where the preceding requirements do not meet flood protection goals, whereby the design storm may be raised accordingly.

e)    Runoff Treatment.

Basic Treatment. Basic treatment is intended to achieve a goal of eighty percent removal of total suspended solids for an influent concentration range of one hundred mg/L to two hundred mg/L. For influent concentration less than one hundred mg/L the effluent goal is twenty mg/L total suspended solids. For influent concentrations greater than two hundred mg/L a higher treatment goal is intended.

1.    Basic runoff treatment to remove solids from stormwater runoff is required for all new development projects creating five thousand square feet or more of pollutant-generating impervious surface (PGIS) areas. Treatment is required for discharges to all surface waters of the state, including perennial and seasonal streams, lakes and wetlands where the PGIS threshold is met. Runoff treatment is also required for discharges of stormwater to ground where the vadose zone does not provide adequate treatment capacity (see Chapter 5.6 of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington (2004), or another technical stormwater manual approved by Ecology).

2.    Basic runoff treatment is required for redevelopment projects creating five thousand square feet or more of PGIS where:

I.    The project takes place at an industrial site as defined by EPA (40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)) with outdoor handling, processing, storage, or transfer of solid raw materials or finished products; or

II.    The project takes place at a commercial site with outdoor storage or transfer of solid raw materials or treated wood products; or

III.    A need for additional stormwater control measures has been identified through a TMDL or other water cleanup plan or other planning process; or

IV.    The project takes place at a high-use site; or

V.    The project takes place in an area subject to vehicular traffic under any of the following conditions:

•    The project improves a soft shoulder to a curb and gutter roadway with projected average daily traffic (ADT) of seven thousand five hundred or more vehicles.

•    The project replaces and/or improves the surface of a parking area where the projected number of trip ends exceeds forty per one thousand square feet of building area or one hundred total trip ends per day.

•    The project replaces and/or improves the surface of an urban road where the projected ADT is seven thousand five hundred or more vehicles per day.

•    The project replaces and/or improves the surface of a freeway or rural road where the projected ADT is fifteen thousand or more vehicles per day.

•    The project affects the area within five hundred feet of a controlled intersection on a limited access control highway with projected ADT of seven thousand five hundred or more vehicles per day. Only this area must be treated.

3.    Exceptions. Nonpollutant-generating impervious surface (NPGIS) areas (roofs that are subject only to atmospheric deposition or normal heating, ventilation, and air conditioning vents are considered NPGIS, unless the roofing material is uncoated metal. The following may also be considered NPGIS: paved bicycle pathways and pedestrian sidewalks that are separated from and not subject to drainage from roads for motor vehicles, fenced fire lanes, infrequently used maintenance access roads, and “in-slope” areas of roads. Sidewalks that are regularly treated with sand, salt or other de-icing/anti-icing agents are not considered NPGIS) are exempt from basic treatment requirements unless the runoff from these areas is not separated from the runoff generated from PGIS areas. All runoff treatment facilities must be sized for the entire flow that is directed to them.

I.    Projects that meet the requirements for dispersal and infiltration (see Chapter 6 of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington (2004), particularly BMP T5.30) and do not meet the thresholds for requiring oil treatment are exempt from basic treatment requirements. Discharges to surface water from projects with a total PGIS area less than five thousand square feet are exempt from basic treatment requirements unless those areas are subject to the storage or handling of hazardous substances, materials or wastes as defined in 49 CFR 171.8, RCW 70.105.010, and/or RCW 70.136.020.

4.    To protect water quality, reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable, and to satisfy state all known, available, and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment (AKART) requirements, the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington (2004) or another technical stormwater manual approved by the Washington State Department of Ecology shall be used for BMP selection, design, installation, and operation and maintenance standards.

f)    Metals Treatment. Metals treatment is required in addition to basic treatment for new development projects with moderate-use sites, high-use sites, and sites that meet any of the following definitions:

1.    Industrial sites as defined by EPA (40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)) with benchmark monitoring requirements for metals; or industrial sites subject to handling, storage, production, or disposal of metallic products or other materials, particularly those containing arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel or zinc.

2.    On-street parking areas of municipal streets in commercial and industrial areas.

3.    Highway rest areas.

4.    Runoff from metal roofs not coated with an inert, nonleachable material.

g)    Metals treatment is required in addition to basic treatment for redevelopment projects with high-use sites or high ADT roadways and parking areas and for projects where:

1.    An additional need for stormwater control measures to remove metals has been identified through a TMDL or other water cleanup plan; or

2.    The project takes place at an industrial site that is subject to benchmark monitoring for metals;

3.    Exceptions. Unless a specific water quality problem has been identified, the following discharges are exempt from metals treatment requirements:

I.    Discharges to non-fish-bearing streams.

II.    Direct discharges to the main channels of the following rivers and direct discharges to the following lakes: Naches River, and Yakima River.

III.    Subsurface discharges, unless identified as hydraulically connected to surface waters of the state.

IV.    Restricted residential and employee-only parking areas, unless subject to through traffic.

Oil Treatment. Oil treatment is intended to achieve the goals of no ongoing or recurring visible sheen and a daily average total petroleum hydrocarbon concentration no greater than ten mg/L with a maximum of fifteen mg/L for discrete (grab) samples.

h)    Oil treatment is required for all high-use sites and high ADT roadways and parking areas at new development and redevelopment projects. Some sites will require a spill control type of oil control facility for source control separately from or in addition to this treatment requirement. Oil treatment/control is required in addition to any other runoff treatment required.

1.    Separator technologies for oil treatment are required only for the following high-use sites:

I.    High-density intersections with expected ADT of twenty-five thousand or more vehicles on main roadway and fifteen thousand or more vehicles on any intersecting roadway;

II.    Nonemployee parking areas of commercial or industrial sites with trip end counts greater than one hundred vehicles per one thousand square feet gross building area;

III.    Areas of commercial and industrial sites subject to use, storage, or maintenance of a fleet of twenty-five or more vehicles that are over ten tons gross weight—Fueling stations and facilities; and

IV.    Sites subject to petroleum transfer in excess of one thousand five hundred gallons per year, not including routinely delivered heating oil.

2.    For the following sites, a catch basin preceded by passive oil control vault, such as a chamber with a turned-down elbow, may be applied in lieu of an approved separator technology as long as they are inspected/maintained/cleaned at least once per year or more frequently as needs are identified:

I.    A customer or visitor parking lot with an expected trip end count equal to or greater than three hundred vehicles (best professional judgment should be used in comparing this criterion with the preceding criterion); and

II.    Commercial on-street parking areas on streets with an expected total ADT count equal to or greater than seven thousand five hundred.

3.    At all other high-use sites and high ADT traffic areas subject to the oil treatment requirement, sorptive technologies, not separators, are required. Basic treatment methods with sorptive properties, such as swales or filters, may be selected to fulfill this requirement; or catch basin inserts may be used at these sites. A catch basin preceded by passive oil control vault, such as a chamber with a turned-down elbow, may be applied at sites with ADT greater than thirty thousand as long as they are inspected/maintained/cleaned at least once per year or more frequently as needs are identified.

4.    High-use roadway intersections shall treat lanes where vehicles accumulate during the signal cycle, including left- and right-turn lanes and through lanes, from the beginning of the left turn pocket. If no left-turn pocket exists, the treatable area shall begin at a distance equal to three car lengths from the stop line. If runoff from the intersection drains to more than two collection areas that do not combine within the intersection, treatment may be limited to any two of the collection areas where the cars stop.

5.    High-use sites and high ADT roadways and parking areas must treat runoff from the high-use portion of the site using oil control treatment options in Chapter 5 of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington prior to discharge or infiltration. For high-use sites located within a larger project area, only the impervious area associated with the high-use site is subject to oil control treatment, but the flow from that area must be separated; otherwise the treatment controls must be sized for the entire area.

i)    Treatment Facility Sizing. Each treatment BMP shall be sized based on a water quality design volume or a water quality design flow rate.

1.    Treatment Design Volume. Volume-based facilities shall be designed to capture and treat one-half inch predicted runoff produced for the proposed development condition from all impervious surface areas that contribute flow to the treatment facility.

2.    Treatment Design Flow Rate. Flow-based treatment BMPs shall be designed to treat the water quality flow, computed as follows:

I.    Flow-based treatment BMPs located upstream of detention facilities shall be designed to treat the runoff flow rate predicted for the proposed development condition from the short-duration storm with a six-month return frequency, computed in accordance with the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent.

II.    Flow-based treatment BMPs located downstream of detention facilities shall be designed to treat the runoff flow rate for the proposed development condition calculated by the rational method using the two-year mean recurrence interval. This method may only be used to design facilities based on instantaneous peak flow rates.

j)    Treatment Bypass Requirements. A bypass must be provided for all treatment BMPs unless the facility is able to convey the twenty-five-year three-hour storm without damaging the BMP or dislodging pollutants from within it. Extreme runoff events may produce high flow velocities through BMPs that can damage and/or dislodge pollutants from within the facility.

k)    Use of Existing Wetlands. Stormwater treatment facilities are not allowed within a wetland or its natural vegetated buffer, or to provide treatment, except for:

1.    Necessary conveyance systems approved by the local government; or

2.    As allowed in a wetland mitigation plan;

3.    When permitted, critical areas and shorelines codes will also apply.

l)    Hydrologic Modification of a Wetland. Hydrologic modification of a wetland shall not be allowed if the wetland is classified as Category 1 or Category 2 according to the eastern Washington wetland rating system unless the applicant demonstrates that preferred methods of excess stormwater disposal (e.g., infiltration) are not possible at the site and that other options (e.g., evaporation) would result in more damage to the wetland by limiting inflow. Mitigation shall be required for the impact of hydrologic modification to a wetland. Appropriate measures include expansion, enhancement and/or preservation of a buffer around the wetland.

m)    Stormwater BMP Maintenance. All stormwater BMPs shall be maintained in accordance with the approved and deeded stormwater maintenance agreement and stormwater maintenance plan. The design of stormwater facilities shall incorporate maintenance accommodation and long-term maintenance reduction features in accordance with guidance contained in the latest version of the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington, or approved local equivalent.

n)    Individual Lots Not Separate Land Development. Residential, commercial or industrial developments shall apply these stormwater management criteria to land development as a whole. Individual residential lots in new subdivisions shall not be considered separate land development projects, but rather the entire subdivision shall be considered a single land development project.

o)    Location of Stormwater Facilities on Lots. Stormwater facilities within residential subdivisions that serve multiple lots and/or a combination of lots and roadways shall be on a lot owned and maintained by an entity of common ownership. Stormwater practices located on individual lots shall be maintained by the lot owner, or, at the discretion of the director, be placed within an easement and maintained by an entity of common ownership.

p)    Hydrologic Computation Assumptions. Hydrologic parameters shall reflect the ultimate land development and shall be used in all engineering calculations. All predevelopment calculations shall consider open space, woods and fields to be in good condition, regardless of actual conditions at the time of application.

q)    Authorization to Discharge to MS4. If runoff from a land development will flow to a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) or other publicly owned storm sewer system, then the applicant shall obtain authorization from the system’s owner to discharge into the system. The director may require the applicant to demonstrate that the system has adequate capacity for any increases in peak flow rates and volumes.

r)    Compliance with Federal and State Regulations. All stormwater facilities and conveyance systems shall be designed in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including the Federal Clean Water Act and all applicable erosion and sediment control and floodplain regulations. To the extent practical, stormwater facilities shall not be located in areas determined to be jurisdictional waters through Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act and/or applicable state regulations (RCW Chapter 79.105).

s)    Protect Public Health, Safety and General Welfare. The design of stormwater BMPs shall consider public health, safety, and general welfare. These considerations include, but are not limited to: preventing flooding of structures and travelways; preventing standing water in facilities, manholes, inlets, and other structures in a manner that promotes breeding of mosquitoes; preventing attractive nuisance conditions and dangerous conditions due to velocity or depth of water and/or access to orifices and drops; and preventing aesthetic nuisances due to excessive slopes, cuts and fills, and other conditions.

(2)    Enhanced Criteria for Impaired Waters.

a)    Land development that discharges via the city’s MS4 to impaired waters and wetlands with a stormwater waste load allocation, as designated in the most recent Eastern Washington Phase II municipal stormwater permit, or individual municipal stormwater permit issued to the city, by the Washington State Department of Ecology, shall meet enhanced criteria. These may include, but are not limited to:

1.    Nutrient-Sensitive Waters. Enhanced control of nutrients and sediment for discharges to streams, lakes, and other water bodies with excess nutrients.

2.    Cold-Water Fisheries. Control of temperature increases for discharges to designated cold-water fisheries.

3.    Groundwater. Enhanced recharge and pretreatment requirements to protect groundwater supply.

4.    Wetlands. The control of impacts to wetland hydrology, including limiting fluctuations to the natural or predevelopment wetland hydrology.

5.    Other Impairments. Enhanced bacteriological, sediment, or pollutant controls for discharges to impaired waters.

b)    In these cases, the director may require additional storage, treatment, filtering, infiltration, or other techniques. The use of nonstructural practices shall be used to the maximum extent practical to meet enhanced criteria. (Ord. 2018-033 § 1, 2018: Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.150 Project inspection for permanent stormwater BMPs.

(1)    Notice of Project Commencement.

a)    The applicant must notify the director at least twenty-four hours before the commencement of construction of stormwater elements on all projects. In addition, the applicant must notify the director in advance of construction of critical components of the stormwater practices on the approved stormwater management design plan.

(2)    Project Inspections by Code Enforcement or Its Representatives.

a)    The director shall conduct periodic inspections of the stormwater practices shown on the approved stormwater management design plan, and especially during critical installation and stabilization steps. All inspections shall be documented in writing. The inspection shall document any variations or discrepancies from the approved plan, and the resolution of such issues. A final inspection by the director is required before any performance bond or guarantee, or portion thereof, shall be released.

(3)    Inspection by Certified Inspector.

a)    At its discretion, the director may authorize the use of private inspectors to conduct and document inspections during project construction. Such private inspectors shall submit all inspection documentation in writing to the director or designated representative. All costs and fees associated with the use of private inspectors shall be the responsibility of the applicant.

b)    If the use of private inspectors is authorized, the city shall maintain a training and certification program, authorize inspectors trained by an Ecology-approved training program, or authorize another entity to maintain such a program. All private inspectors shall be certified prior to conducting any inspections or submitting any inspection documentation to the city.

c)    If private inspectors are utilized, then inspections by the director may be reduced in frequency. However, the director shall remain the responsible entity for ultimate inspection, approval, and acceptance of all stormwater BMPs, and for issuance of the certificate of completion in accordance with the following section.

(4)    Stormwater Certificate of Completion.

a)    Subsequent to final installation and stabilization of all stormwater BMPs shown on the stormwater management design plan, submission of all necessary as-built plans, and final inspection and approval by the director, the director shall issue a stormwater certificate of completion for the project. In issuing such a certificate, the director shall determine that all work has been satisfactorily completed in conformance with this chapter.

b)    Issuance of a stormwater certificate of completion shall be required for the owner to receive a certificate of occupancy. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.160 Ongoing maintenance for stormwater BMPs.

(1)    Maintenance Responsibility.

a)    The responsible party named in the recorded stormwater maintenance agreement (YMC 7.83.130 (2)(f)(1)) shall maintain in good condition and promptly repair and restore all structural and nonstructural stormwater BMPs and all necessary access routes and appurtenances (grade surfaces, walls, drains, dams and structures, vegetation, erosion and sedimentation controls, and other protective devices). Such repairs or restoration and maintenance shall be in accordance with the approved stormwater management design plan, the stormwater maintenance agreement, and the stormwater maintenance plan.

(2)    Maintenance Inspection by the Director or His Representatives.

a)    The director shall conduct periodic inspections for all stormwater practices for which a stormwater certificate of completion has been issued in accordance with YMC 7.83.150(4). All inspections shall be documented in writing. The inspection shall document any maintenance and repair needs and any discrepancies from the stormwater maintenance agreement and stormwater maintenance plans.

(3)    Maintenance Inspection by Certified Inspector.

a)    At his discretion, the director may authorize the use of private inspectors to conduct and document ongoing maintenance inspections. Such private inspectors shall submit all inspection documentation in writing to the director. All costs and fees associated with the use of private inspectors shall be the responsibility of the responsible party.

b)    If the use of private inspectors is authorized, the director shall maintain a training and certification program, authorize inspectors trained by an Ecology-approved training program, or authorize another entity to maintain such a program. All private inspectors shall be certified prior to conducting any inspections or submitting any inspection documentation to the director or designated representative.

c)    If private inspectors are utilized, then inspections by the director, as provided in YMC 7.83.160(2), may be reduced in frequency. However, the director shall remain the responsible entity for ultimate inspection of stormwater practices and any enforcement actions necessary under YMC 7.83.170.

(4)    Records of Maintenance Activities.

a)    The responsible party shall make records of the installation and of all maintenance and repairs, and shall retain the records for at least five years. These records shall be made available to the director during inspection of the practice and at other reasonable times upon request.

(5)    Failure to Provide Adequate Maintenance.

a)    In the event that the stormwater BMP has not been maintained and/or becomes a danger to public safety or public health, the director shall notify the responsible party by registered or certified mail. The notice shall specify the measures needed to comply with the maintenance agreement and the maintenance plan and shall specify that the responsible party has thirty days or, if allowed by the director in writing, other time frame mutually agreed to between the director and the responsible party, within which such measures shall be completed. If such measures are not completed, then the director shall pursue enforcement procedures pursuant to YMC 7.83.170.

b)    If a responsible person fails or refuses to meet the requirements of an inspection report, maintenance agreement, or maintenance plan, the director, after thirty days’ written notice (except, that in the event the violation constitutes an immediate danger to public health or public safety, twenty-four hours’ notice shall be sufficient), may correct a violation of the design standards or maintenance requirements by performing the necessary work to place the practice in proper working condition. The director may assess the responsible party of the practice for the cost of repair work which shall be a lien on the property, or prorated against the beneficial users of the property, and may be placed on the tax bill and collected as ordinary taxes by the city. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.170 Violations, enforcement and penalties.

Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any responsible person has information of any release of materials from a stormwater BMP to city property, the MS4, a public UIC, or any water of the state, said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery, containment and cleanup of such release. In the event of a release of these materials, said person shall immediately notify code enforcement of the occurrence. Within five days after the occurrence, the discharger shall follow up with a written notification to the code enforcement division of the city. The notification shall include the location of the discharge, date and time thereof, type of waste, and corrective actions taken or required. Any discharger who discharges prohibited materials shall be liable for any expense, loss or damage to the city’s stormwater system, in addition to any other liability established by this chapter or other city ordinance and the amount of any fines, penalties, damages or costs assessed against the city by any state or federal agency, court of law or private individual, as a result of the discharge. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.180 Notice of violation.

Whenever the director finds that a person is in violation of this chapter, or an order issued hereunder, the director may serve upon said individual or entity written notice of the violation. Within ten days of the receipt of this notice, an explanation of the violation and a plan for the satisfactory correction and prevention thereof, including specific required actions, shall be submitted to the director. Submission of this plan does not relieve the person of liability for any violations occurring before or after receipt of the notice of violation. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the city to take any action, including emergency actions or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a notice of violation. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.190 Administrative penalties and measures.

Notwithstanding any other section of this chapter, any person who is found in violation of any provision of this chapter, or orders issued hereunder, is subject to penalties in an amount up to one thousand dollars per violation. Each week on which noncompliance occurs or continues on a nonemergency basis, without an imminent threat to public health and safety, shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation. Each day on which noncompliance occurs or continues, with an imminent threat to public health and safety, shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation. Unpaid charges and penalties shall constitute a lien against the responsible person’s property. Issuance of an administrative penalty shall not be a prerequisite for taking any other action against the person. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.200 Consent orders.

(1)    The director is hereby empowered to enter into consent decrees, agreed orders, officially accepted assurances of voluntary compliance or other similar documents establishing an agreement with the person responsible for the violation of this chapter. Such orders shall include specific action required by the person to correct the noncompliance within a time period specified by the consent decree, agreed order or other document of assurance of voluntary compliance. Such schedules may not extend the compliance date beyond applicable state or federal deadlines. Consent decrees shall have the same force and effect as compliance orders issued pursuant to YMC 7.83.210 and are enforceable in court.

(2)    Failure to comply with any terms or requirements of a consent decree, agreed order or other document of assurance of voluntary compliance, by the person shall be an additional and independent basis for enforcement action authorized under this chapter as determined by the director. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.210 Compliance orders.

(1)    When the director finds that a person has violated or continues to violate this chapter or any consent decree, agreed order or document of assurance of voluntary compliance issued hereunder, the director may issue a compliance order to the person responsible for the violation directing compliance within a specified time period. Compliance orders may also contain such other requirements as necessary to address the noncompliance, including the installation and management of BMPs and other measures designed to minimize the amount of pollutants discharged to city property, the MS4, public UICs and waters of the state. A compliance order may not extend the deadline for compliance established by a state or federal requirement or standard, nor does a compliance order release the person of liability for any violation, including any continuing violation. Issuance of a compliance order shall not constitute a prerequisite for taking any other action against the person.

(2)    Failure to comply with any terms or requirements of a compliance order by the person shall be an additional and independent basis for enforcement action authorized under this chapter as determined by the director. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.220 Cease and desist orders.

When the director finds that a person has violated or continues to violate this chapter or any order issued hereunder, the director may issue an order to cease and desist all such violations and direct the responsible person to: (1) comply forthwith; and (2) take such appropriate remedial or preventive action as necessary to address a continuing or threatened violation, including halting work operations. Issuance of a cease and desist order shall not constitute a prerequisite to taking any other action against the person as determined by the director. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.230 Recovery of costs incurred by the city.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter who discharges or causes a discharge producing a deposit or obstruction or causes damage to or impairs the city’s property, MS4, UIC, or water of the state shall be liable to the city for all costs, reasonable expenses, losses, fines or damage caused by such violation or discharge. Said person is subject to the costs incurred by the city for any cleaning, repair, replacement work, monitoring and testing or other damages caused by the violation or discharge. Refusal to pay the assessed costs shall constitute a violation of this chapter enforceable under the provisions of YMC 7.83.310 to 7.83.330. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.240 Administrative hearing.

(1)    A person responsible for a violation of this chapter shall have the right to an administrative hearing to contest the city’s determination: (1) to impose administrative penalties; (2) to bill the person for costs incurred by the city as a result of the violation or discharge; or (3) that the discharger has violated a consent decree, agreed order, compliance order, cease and desist order or other agreement or order of the city imposed by this chapter.

(2)    Any hearing pursuant to this section must be requested in writing within fifteen days after the receipt of notice of the city’s determination and shall be filed with the director. Failure to submit a timely notice shall be deemed a failure to exhaust administrative remedies and shall preclude further review. However, as an exception, any person failing to request a timely hearing based on alleged extenuating circumstances has the burden of proof in establishing the circumstances justifying the late request. The city will conduct the hearing within twenty days of the receipt of the request.

(3)    The administrative hearing authorized by this section will be held before the city manager or the city manager’s designee. Formal rules of evidence will not apply but the person and the city shall have the right to present witnesses and documentary evidence. The city manager or the city manager’s designee will issue a written decision within fifteen days of the conclusion of the hearing.

(4)    Any person requesting a hearing shall have the right to make an electronic or stenographic record of the proceedings. Such record shall be made at the expense of the person requesting it.

(5)    Except as otherwise provided, all decisions by the city manager or city manager’s designee shall be final and conclusive on all parties unless appealed to the city council under YMC 7.83.250. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.250 Judicial review.

The decision of the city council on an appeal of the decision of the city manager or the city manager’s designee shall be final and conclusive unless within twenty days from the date of its decision, a petition for review is filed in Yakima County superior court in the manner prescribed by law. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.260 Judicial remedies.

The director, through the city attorney, may commence an action for appropriate legal and/or equitable relief in Yakima County superior court against any person responsible for a nonstormwater discharge, including pollutants, onto city property, into the city’s MS4 or public UIC, or into any water of the state in violation of this chapter or any order issued hereunder. Such judicial action may be in lieu of or in addition to any other administrative or legal enforcement proceedings authorized herein. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.270 Injunctive relief.

Whenever a person has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this chapter or any order issued hereunder, the director, through the city attorney, may petition the Yakima County superior court for the issuance of a temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or all of the above which restrains or compels the activities of the responsible person. The director shall have such remedies to collect fees associated with legal costs. The city may also seek such other legal and/or equitable relief as deemed appropriate. A petition for injunctive relief need not be filed as a prerequisite to taking any other action against the responsible person. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.280 Civil penalties.

(1)    Any person who has violated or continues to violate an order of the city, or who fails to comply with: (a) any provision of this chapter, or (b) any rule or order of the city, issued pursuant to this chapter, is subject to a civil penalty. The amount of such civil penalty shall be up to one thousand dollars per violation, plus actual damages, costs and expenses incurred by the city. Each week on which noncompliance occurs or continues on a nonemergency basis, without an imminent threat to public health and safety, shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation. Each day on which noncompliance occurs or continues, with an imminent threat to public health and safety, shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation. Civil penalties that are not paid shall constitute a lien against the responsible person’s property. In addition, the wastewater manager may recover reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs associated with the enforcement activities, including sampling and monitoring expenses.

(2)    The director may petition the Yakima County superior court to impose, assess and recover such civil penalties. In determining the amount of liability, the court will take into account all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the extent of harm caused by the violation, the magnitude and duration of the violation, any economic benefit gained through the violation, corrective actions, the compliance history of the person and any other relevant factors.

(3)    Filing suit for civil liability shall not be a prerequisite for taking any other action against a person. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.290 Falsifying information.

Any person who knowingly makes any false statements, representations or certifications in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter, or who falsifies, tampers with or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required under this chapter (in addition to civil and/or criminal penalties otherwise provided by law) shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars per violation per day plus costs of prosecution or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days or both. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.300 Criminal penalties.

Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any person who willfully, knowingly, recklessly or negligently violates any provision of this chapter through any act or omission shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment not to exceed one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each violation and each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.310 Remedies nonexclusive.

The provisions in YMC 7.83.170 to 7.83.300 are not exclusive remedies. The city reserves the right to take any, all, or any combination of these actions against a person in violation of this chapter. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.320 Compensatory action.

In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties and remedies authorized by YMC 7.82.200 to 7.82.230, the city may consider alternative compensatory actions, such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops, surface water cleanup and other measures. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).

7.83.330 Publication of enforcement actions.

A list of all persons or entities that experience a significant violation of this chapter during the previous twelve months may be published, at least annually, by the city in the largest local daily newspaper of general circulation. For the purposes of this provision, a violation is a significant violation if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

1.    Any release of material from a site to city property, the MS4, a public UIC, or any water of the state that has caused imminent endangerment to public health, safety or welfare or to the environment, or has resulted in the city’s exercise of its emergency authority under YMC 7.82.230 to halt or prevent such a discharge;

2.    Any other violation or group of violations that causes the city to expend additional time or expense in cleaning up a discharge on city property, in the stormwater system or public UIC. (Ord. 2010-08 § 1 (part), 2010).