2011-07 AMENDING CITY CODE - CHAPTER 74 - SANITARY SEWER SERVICE AND CONNECTIONS

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IEPA regulations,which can expose the City to fines. Many of the areas that have high inflow and infiltration are also located on the Stormwater Master Plan's priority list. Improving storm water drainage has been shown to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration in the sanitary sewers. • System Operation and Maintenance: A proactive operation and maintenance program is one of the most cost efficient methods for reducing the risks of basement backups and sanitary sewer overflows. The program will include increased cleaning,televised inspections,root control programs, fats,oil and grease (FOG) programs,and emergency repairs. • Small Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation: Small diameter sewers are less than 3 feet in diameter and comprise 96%of the system, roughly 2,200,000 feet of pipe and 8,000 manholes. The public's opinion of the sanitary sewer system is typically determined by the reliability of the small diameter sewers because their homes are directly connected to them. Any failures in this system are directly experienced by homeowners through basement backups or sanitary sewer overflows on their property. Table 1 details the recommendation to raise the sanitary sewer user charge 12 cents per year per one hundred cubic feet of water used over the next five years until it reaches 94 cents. After the five-year period all customers will be charged at the same rate. Table 1 Monthly Sewer User Proposed Sanitary Charge for Average Year Fiscal Year Sewer User Charge Residential Household Proposed Revenue May 1, 2010 (FY 2011) $0.34 $2.47 $1,950,000 May 1, 2011 (FY 2012) $0.46 $3.34 $2,280,000 May 1, 2012 (FY 2013) $0.58 $4.21 $2,874,000 May 1, 2013 (FY 2014) $0.70 $5.08 $3,469,000 May 1, 2014 (FY 2015) $0.82 $5.95 $4,063,000 May 1, 2015 (FY 2016) $0.94 $6.82 $4,658,000 CODE AMENDMENT: City Code Chapter 72 "Sewer User Charge" is proposed to be placed into City Code Chapter 74 "Sewer Service and Connections"which is to be re-titled "Sanitary Sewer System." This action simplifies the codes by combining all sanitary sewer ordinance regulations into one chapter. This reduces overlapping information and makes it easier to find all information about the City's sanitary sewer system standards and costs.The Code amendment will also direct the City Manager to review the sewer user charge rate annually during preparation of the City budget. The rate review is intended to determine if the rates are adequate to operate, maintain and rehabilitate the sanitary sewer system. Recommended changes in the sewer user charge rates shall be made to the City Council as part of the draft budget for Council's review and approval. Page 12