2023-16 Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 74 - Sanitary Sewer System

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Public Works DATE: 3/10/2023 MEMO: 2023-20 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council Members FROM: Scot Wrighton,City Manager Matthew C.Newell,P.E.,Public Works Director SUBJECT: Ordinance Amending City Code,Chapter 74,Sanitary Sewer System SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests that Council pass the proposed ordinance amendments regarding City Code Chapter 74, Sanitary Sewer System, which adds fees to property owners who refuse to participate in City required improvements aimed at reducing storm water intrusion into the sewer system and modifies the annual Sewer User Charge Rate language. BACKGROUND: Rate change commentary is covered in a separate memo. Changes to Sections 74-10(G)and 74-18(B) Appendix A includes information on the background of the Ellen and Division Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Project. Private sewer laterals make up nearly half of the sewer piping in a neighborhood sewer system. For the best chance of success in reducing storm water induced water in the sewer system,the private laterals need to be made more water proof. The Ellen and Division project proposed to repair and line all of the private sewer laterals in the project area at no cost to the property owners. The City has made numerous attempts to contact each of the 500 properties with sewer laterals in the project area. Contacts have been attempted through mail, door hangers,personal house visits,etc. To date,46 of the 454 affected properties have either not responded or refused to allow the work to occur. Most have not responded and only a handful have refused to allow the lining to occur. The contractor intends to be completed with private lateral lining around the end of May. The current Ellen and Division project, and future inflow and infiltration(I&I)projects conducted by the City or to address the Administrative Consent Order between the City and the US EPA,will require private lateral work. This work is designed to protect the health,safety and welfare of the community by reducing water intrusion into the sanitary sewer system. The changes proposed in 74-10(G)and 74-18(B)impose an additional monthly user fee of$50 for those who refuse to participate in I&I reduction projects. The fee is designed to partially recover damages caused to sewer system improvements by failure to participate and will stay in place until the property owners complete the work themselves or agree to allow the City to complete it. Changes to Section 74-10(B) Due to increases to the Consumer Price Index in recent years, language has been added to this section so that the City Council must authorize any annual Sewer User Charge Rate when the CPI is 5%or higher. POTENTIAL OBJECTIONS: No known objections INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: None STAFF REFERENCE: Matt Newell,Public Works Director,will attend the City Council meeting to answer any questions of the Council on this item. BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: Budget Impact: Each percent increase in the Sewer User Charge Rate equates to approximately$175,000 in revenue. Staff Impact: Staff time is allocated to manage this City Code change.