Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout7C, Motion to Approve Ordinance 2009-005 ~ ~LLS Request for Council Action ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Prepared By: Ron Moorse, City Administrator Council Meeting Date: Motion to approve Ordinance 2009-005 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, Section 1010.10 of the Arden Hills City Code to Provide for the Inspection of Illegal Connections to the Sanitary Sewer System and related requirements and provisions. Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A Recommendation: 1. Motion to approve Ordinance 2009-005 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, Section 1010.10 of the Arden Hills City Code to Provide for the Inspection of Illegal Connections to the Sanitary Sewer System and related requirements and provisions. SUDDortin!! Documents: 1. See the attached memo from Ron Moorse dated February 9,2009 2. Ordinance 2009-005 full version ~ MEMORANDUM DATE: February 9, 2009 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Ron Moorse, City Administrator SUBJECT: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, Section 1010.10 of the Arden Hills City Code to Provide for the Inspection of Illegal Connections to the Sanitary Sewer System Background The discharge of water from any surface, groundwater sump pump, roof, yard, lawn, street, alley, footing tile, or other natural precipitation into the City sanitary sewer system [infiltration and inflow (1&1)] contributes to the flooding and overloading of the sanitary sewer system. Such overloading of the sanitary sewer system may result in sewage flowing into lower levels of City residences and businesses, creating hazardous public health conditions and significant damage to properties. These discharges also result in substantially increased treatment costs charged by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), and additional surcharges by the MCES for excessive discharges, which are passed on to all users of the system. The City is currently subject to a $101,100.00 per year surcharge from the MCES, which the City has taken the option of spending to reduce the amount of 1&1 into the sanitary sewer system. The City has used the MCES surcharge funds to identify and reduce sources of 1&1, particularly through the rehabilitation of leaking manholes in the City's sanitary sewer system. Another source of 1&1 is discharges from sump pumps that are illegally connected to the City's sanitary sewer system. The attached ordinance provides for the inspection of properties to determine illegal connections to the sanitary sewer system, to provide for certain reimbursements to property owners of expenses related to compliance with connection requirements, and to provide for a surcharge for non-compliance with inspection and connection requirements. Discussion The Council reviewed this ordinance at its December 15 work session, and provided direction regarding a number of revisions to the ordinance. The revisions have been made, and are reflected in the attached ordinance. 2/6/2009 Page 2 Revisions to Reimbursements to Property Owners The initially proposed ordinance provided for the reimbursement of a property owner for $25.00 of the cost of hiring a licensed plumber to perform an inspection, if the property owner chose not to have the inspection performed by a representative of the City. It was the consensus of the Council, at the December 15 work session, that if a property owner chose to hire a licensed plumber, the property owner should pay the full cost of the plumber. The initial ordinance also provided for the reimbursement of a property owner for 75% of the cost of removing or correcting an illegal connection, to a maximum of $400.00. The revised ordinance provides for the reimbursement of 50% of the cost to a maximum of$300.00. Sump Pits At the work session, the Council also questioned whether the New Brighton sump pump ordinance includes a prohibition on sump pits without sump pumps and legal discharge piping. The New Brighton ordinance does not prohibit sump pits, and their inspection program does not appear to flag sump pits without sump pumps. The ordinance proposed for Council adoption includes the prohibition on sump pits, because a sump pump and illegal connection could easily be added to a sump pit at any time. Recommendation It is recommended that the attached sump pump ordinance be adopted to enable the City to begin a sump pump inspection program. Council Action Requested A Motion to adopt the attached ordinance amending Chapter 10, Section 1010.10 of the Arden Hills City Code to provide for the inspection of illegal connections to the sanitary sewer system. CITY OF ARDEN HILLS COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA ORDINANCE No. 2009-005 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10, SECTION 1010.10 ARDEN HILLS CITY CODE TO PROVIDE FOR THE INSPECTION OF PROPERTY TO DETERMINE ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS TO THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS TO PROPERTY OWNERS OF EXPENSES RELATED TO COMPLIANCE WITH CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE A SURCHARGE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH INSPECTION AND CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS HEREBY ORDAINS THAT CHAPTER 10, SECTION 1010.10 OF THE ARDEN HILLS CITY CODE ARE HEREBY AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: Findings and Purpose. The Council finds that the discharge of water from any surface, groundwater sump pump, roofs, yards, lawns, streets, alleys, footing tile, or other natural precipitation into the City sanitary sewer system contributes to the flooding and overloading of the sanitary sewer system. Such overloading of the sanitary sewer system may result in sewage flowing into lower levels of City residences and businesses, creating hazardous public health conditions and significant damage to properties." These discharges also result in substantially increased treatment costs charged by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), which are passed on to all users of the system. The Council, therefore, determines that this ordinance is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens through the regulation of connections to the City's sanitary sewer system. Section 1010.10 Construction Requirements Subdivision 8. Prohibited Connections of Surface Water and Ground Water Discharge Facilities to the City's Sanitary Sewer System. A. No person, owner, lessee or occupant of any parcel of land, building, or premises shall discharge, or permit to be discharged, directly or indirectly, into the sanitary sewer system any surface water or groundwater including water from roofs, yards, lawns, streets, alleys, groundwater sump pumps, footing tile, or other natural precipitation. B. A sump pump discharge system shall not be connected directly or indirectly to the City's sanitary sewer system. A sump pump shall have a permanently installed discharge line, which provides for year-round discharge to either the outside of a building or structure, or is connected to the City storm sewer. The system shall consist of a discharge line without valves or quick connections or flexible sections, which allows the redirection of the sump pump discharge into the sanitary sewer system. If connected to a City storm sewer, the system shall include a check valve and an air gap. Subdivision 9. Inspection Every person, owner, lessee or occupant of any parcel of land, building or premises that discharges into the City's sanitary sewer system shall allow an employee of the city or a designated representative of the City to inspect the building or premises to confirm that the building or premises conforms to the requirements of Subdivision 8 of this section. In lieu of the City inspection, the owner, lessee or occupant may furnish a certificate from a City registered State licensed plumber certifying that the building or premises are in compliance with the requirements of Subdivision 8. The City may periodically re-inspect any building or premises to determine continued compliance with the requirements of Subdivision 8. Subdivision 10. Removal of Prohibited Connections; Surcharge; City Reimbursement Any person, owner, lessee or occupant, and any plumber or building contractor who has presently made or permitted to be made, or shall make or permit to be made, any connection or installation in violation of subdivision 8, shall immediately remove such connection or correct such an installation. The City will reimburse 50% of the cost of removing or correcting an illegal connection to bring the property into compliance, to a maximum of $300.00. If not removed or corrected within sixty calendar days after notice of the violation has been delivered personally or by certified mail to such person, owner, lessee or occupant, the City shall impose a surcharge in the amount directed by the City Council. Such a surcharge shall also be imposed upon any property owner, lessee, or occupant who, within sixty days of receiving notice of the need for an inspection, fails to make or keep a scheduled appointment for the inspection of their property, has not allowed their property to be inspected, or fails to provide the certificate from a City registered State licensed plumber as required by Subdivision 9. The owner, lessee, occupant of a building or premises found to be not in conformance as required in Subdivision 8 during periodic re-inspections shall be subjected to a surcharge as provided in Subdivision 10, for all months between the two most recent inspections or a maximum charge not to exceed twelve (12) monthly surcharges. Subdivision 11. Surcharge Fee. Surcharges for buildings or premises that are not in conformance with Subdivision 8 will be determined by the City Council Subdivision 12. Clear Water Sump Pits. The construction or installation of any clear water sump pit shall include the installation of a sump pump and sump pump discharge lines which meet the requirements of subdivision 8 of this section and all applicable codes. Effective Date. Ordinance No. 2009-005 shall become effective the day following its publication, or the publication of the Ordinance Summary in the City's official newspaper. Adoption Date. Passed by the City Council of the City of Arden Hills the 9th day of February, 2009 STANLEY D. HARPSTEAD, MAYOR ATTEST: RONALD J. MOORSE, CITY ADMINISTRATOR Publication Date. Published on the day of February, 2009.