[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lancaster 2-25-2014 by Ord. No.
1-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Stormwater management — See Ch. 260.
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "City of Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, Stormwater Management Fee Ordinance."
A.
The City of Lancaster owns, operates, and maintains stormwater management
facilities;
B.
Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff throughout
a watershed increases flood flows and velocities, contributes to erosion
and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity of existing streams
and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities
to convey and manage stormwater, undermines floodplain management
and flood reduction efforts in upstream and downstream communities,
reduces groundwater recharge and threatens public health and safety;
C.
Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff throughout
a watershed can harm surface water resources by changing the natural
hydrologic patterns, accelerating stream flows (which increase scour
and erosion of streambeds and stream banks, thereby elevating sedimentation),
destroying aquatic habitat, and elevating aquatic pollutant concentrations
and loadings such as sediments, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens.
Groundwater resources are also impacted through loss of recharge;
stormwater is an important water resource which provides groundwater
recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams, which also protects
and maintains surface water quality;
D.
A comprehensive program of stormwater management is fundamental to
the public health, safety and welfare and the protection of the residents
of the City of Lancaster, their resources and the environment in order
to control items such as flooding, erosion and pollution;
E.
The collection and conveyance system for stormwater includes underground
pipes, but also includes conduits, inlets, culverts, catch basins,
gutters, ditches, channels, detention ponds, streets, curbs and drains;
F.
The nature of stormwater is that any system to control stormwater
must be designed for and funds must be expended to control peak flow,
total runoff volume and pollution in the stormwater;
G.
These three factors all relate to and are driven by impervious surface;
once property is developed, peak flow, runoff volume and pollution
all increase greatly;
H.
Peak flow occurs most often during periods of intense rainfall and/or
when the ground is saturated (can accept no more water) or is arid
(concrete-like surface resulting from overly dry conditions);
I.
Because of the effect of weather on stormwater (e.g., extended dry
or wet periods), no developed property can always accept all stormwater,
and all developed properties therefore generate stormwater runoff;
J.
In a developed, urban environment such as the City of Lancaster,
each developed property generates runoff and therefore uses or is
in some fashion connected with, serviced by or benefited by the stormwater
sewerage system, which normally functions by collecting stormwater
from a property and/or by preventing stormwater from entering another
property;
K.
Stormwater is heavily polluted when there has not been rain for a
period of time, and sediment, yard waste, animal waste, pesticides,
herbicides, oil and grease can be found in stormwater;
L.
Impervious surface is a primary indicator of the generation of stormwater
and usage of the stormwater sewerage system;
M.
The effects of stormwater runoff can be minimized by using project
designs that maintain the natural hydrologic regime and sustain high
water quality, groundwater recharge, stream base flow and aquatic
ecosystems;
N.
Federal and state regulations require the City of Lancaster to implement
a program of stormwater controls;
O.
On October 23, 2012, the Green Infrastructure Advisory Committee
presented a report to the City of Lancaster on "Impervious Area Fee
Policy Options and Recommendations," which summarized the City's
stormwater program needs and policy options for funding those program
needs.
P.
The City is facing numerous drivers requiring changes to the way
it manages urban stormwater runoff, all of which are addressed in
the City's Green Infrastructure (GI) Plan. These drivers include
increased regulatory requirements for managing the quantity and quality
of stormwater runoff, as well as maintenance requirements to ensure
facilities are kept in working order with appropriate repair and replacement;
Q.
The report concluded that the City of Lancaster formed a Green Infrastructure
Advisory Committee to advise the City on options to manage stormwater
and options to fund those stormwater management obligations;
R.
The Green Infrastructure Advisory Committee worked with City staff
to define those program needs, level of service and costs and evaluated
alternative funding options that support the need for a dedicated
funding source and recommended creation of an impervious-area-based
fee, referred to as the "stormwater management fee," that would be
paid by all City properties in direct proportion to the amount of
impervious area that is on their property using a system of tiers
as presented in this chapter. In addition, the Committee recommended
that the City establish a system of credits to incentivize property
owners to build and maintain stormwater management systems on their
property;
S.
The Committee's recommendations to charge a fee are based on
a lengthy review and analysis of the real costs associated with the
management and maintenance of the stormwater management system;
T.
The fee recommended by the Committee is intended to recoup such costs
and is based upon the determination that the City of Lancaster has
no other means by which those costs can be recouped;
U.
City Council accepts and concurs with the recommendations and findings
of the Committee; and
V.
City Council is aware that it has been granted by the Pennsylvania
General Assembly by and through the Third Class City Code and the
Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law, and other legislation and
through decisions of the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
the power, the duty and the obligation to regulate and manage stormwater
within the City and to recoup costs associated with such regulation
and management from the owners of properties impacting the City of
Lancaster's stormwater system.
A.
BASE RATE
BASE UNIT
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
BOARD OF APPEALS
CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY
CUSTOMER
DEPARTMENT
DESIGN MANUAL
DEVELOPED
DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR
DRAINAGE AREA
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE (GI)
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE (impervious area)
INFILTRATION
PROPERTY
PROPERTY MANAGER
PROPERTY OWNER
STORMWATER
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FEE (SWMF)
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FUND
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE
WATERSHED
UNDEVELOPED LAND
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall
have the following meaning:
The dollar rate per base unit calculated by the Director,
recommended by the Mayor and adopted by the City Council from time
to time by resolution.
One thousand square feet of impervious surface.
The City of Lancaster Stormwater Board of Appeals created
and acting in accordance with the terms hereof.
A property subject to a condominium regime established under
the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act.[2]
Any property owner or tenant of property who is listed as
a customer of the City of Lancaster on the City of Lancaster billing
records for water and/or sewer billings for the particular property
given a notice of assessment under this chapter and who is contractually
responsible for payment of the stormwater management fee.
The Department of Public Works.
The 2006 Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices
Manual, as revised from time to time, which serves as the official
guide for stormwater management principles, methods, and practices
in Pennsylvania.
Man-made changes have been made to a property, which changes
may include, but are not limited to, buildings or other structures
for which a building permit must be obtained under the requirements
of the (Pennsylvania) Building Code and this Code, mining, dredging,
filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations, or the
storage of equipment or materials.
A project that consists of subdividing land or adding buildings
and other improvements to individual parcels of land.
The Director of the Department of Public Works of the City
of Lancaster or the Director's designee.
That area that contributes runoff to a single point, measured
in a horizontal plane.
Small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural
techniques, and better site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff
characteristics and minimize the impact of development on water resources.
Methods to design GI practices are specified in the Design Manual.
Any surface that prevents or limits the infiltration of water
into the ground. Any structure, building, parking area, driveway,
road, street, sidewalk, patio, deck, and any area of concrete, asphalt,
pavement, compacted gravel, packed stone, stone, brick, tile, swimming
pool, or artificial turf, and highly compacted soil shall be considered
"impervious surface" if they prevent or limit infiltration. "Impervious
surface" also includes any area used by or for motor vehicles or heavy
commercial equipment, regardless of surface type or material, including
any road, road shoulder, driveway, or parking area.
The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
Each and every parcel of real estate located within the City
of Lancaster.
A person, company or other entity hired by a property owner
to manage a property.
The owner of record for a given property within the City,
as registered in the City's real estate database.
Water that originates from precipitation.
The collection, conveyance, storage, treatment, and control
of stormwater as needed to reduce accelerated stream channel erosion,
flood damages and water pollution.
An infiltration device, filtering device, stormwater pond,
stormwater wetland, hydrodynamic structure, or other practice designed
and constructed to control stormwater to reduce accelerated stream
channel erosion and pollution of surface waters. A stormwater management
facility does not include environmental site design practices or any
nonstructural stormwater management system.
An assessment levied by the City to cover the cost of constructing,
operating, and maintaining stormwater management facilities and fund
expenses related to the City's compliance with NPDES permit requirements
under applicable state law based on the impact of stormwater runoff
from impervious areas of developed land in the City.
The Stormwater Management Fund described in § 261-8 hereof.
Natural areas, environmental site design practices, stormwater
management measures, and any structure through which stormwater flows,
infiltrates, or discharges from a site.
The inspection, construction, reconstruction, modification,
repair, and cleaning of any part of a stormwater management facility
undertaken to assure that the facility remains in the proper working
condition to serve its intended purpose and prevent failure. Structural
maintenance does not include landscaping, grass cutting, or trash
removal.
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.
Any land that is undeveloped, or if previously developed,
land that has been allowed to return naturally to an undeveloped state.
B.
All of the terms and definitions set forth in Chapter 260 of the Code of the City of Lancaster be and hereby are incorporated herein. To the extent that there is any inconsistency between a term defined in § 261-3A above and in Chapter 260 of the Code of the City of Lancaster, the definition set forth in Chapter 260 of the Code of the City of Lancaster shall control. Further, should terms used herein be undefined, they shall have the definition given herein in Chapter 260, and in the event no such definition is provided, such terms shall be given their normal and customary meaning.
For the purposes set forth above, a stormwater management fee
("fee") as described, defined, and calculated herein is hereby imposed
upon each property within the City. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the properties described in "Exhibit A" hereto which are properties
that are owned by the City of Lancaster and which are not related
to the City's use of enterprise funds are exempt from the provisions
of this chapter.[2] Should the City ever sell any such exempt properties,
the properties would no longer be exempt, and the new property owner
would be responsible for compliance with all terms of this chapter
related to such properties.
For purposes of determining the appropriate assessment rate
for the stormwater management fee, all properties that are subject
to the stormwater management fee are assigned to one of the following
tiers ("tier" or "tiers"):
A.
Tier 0: for properties where the total impervious surface area is
less than or equal to 300 square feet.
B.
Tier 1: for properties where the total impervious surface area is
greater than 300 square feet and less than or equal to 1,000 square
feet.
C.
Tier 2: for properties where the total estimated impervious surface
area is greater than 1,000 square feet and less than or equal to 2,000
square feet.
D.
Tier 3: for properties where the total estimated impervious surface
area is greater than 2,000 square feet and less than or equal to 3,000
square feet.
E.
Tier 4: for properties where the total estimated impervious surface
area is greater than 3,000 square feet.
A.
The Director will prepare the necessary data for collecting the stormwater
management fee from property owners subject to the fee, including
the identification of every parcel of property to be charged and the
amount of the fee.
B.
In the first year of the assessment of the stormwater management
fee, all properties will be issued an assessment notice by the City
of Lancaster with the property's estimated fee and the basis
of that fee. (This initial assessment notice may be issued by the
City prior to the effective date of this chapter.) In subsequent years,
only newly developed properties or properties where the impervious
surface has been modified will be issued assessment notices.
C.
The City of Lancaster will include the fee as a separate line item
on the water and/or sewer utility bill for each property subject to
the fee. For those properties, without a water and/or sewer account
with the City of Lancaster, the fee will be charged and invoiced on
a separate stormwater management fee bill/invoice. In both cases,
the fee must be paid in the same manner and within the time frame
required for payment of water and/or sewer bills.
D.
A property owner whose property is subject to the fee may delegate
responsibility for the payment of the fee to customers and/or property
management companies in the same manner as payment responsibility
for water and/or sewer bills is so delegated and as further set forth
in the policies and procedures to be adopted from time to time by
the Director.
E.
Should the fee not be paid when due, a finance charge shall accrue
thereon monthly at the same rate as finance charges accrue on unpaid
City of Lancaster water and/or sewer bills.
F.
The City of Lancaster shall deposit all payments collected under
this section into the City Stormwater Management Fund.
A.
The stormwater management fee shall be based on a percentage of the
base rate, as follows:
(1)
Tier 0: The fee for each Tier 0 property is zero.
(2)
Tier 1: The fee for each Tier 1 property is 50% of the applicable
base rate.
(3)
Tier 2: The fee for each Tier 2 property is 150% of the applicable
base rate.
(4)
Tier 3: The fee for each Tier 3 property is 250% of the applicable
base rate.
(5)
Tier 4: The fee for each Tier 4 property is calculated as the number
of base units assigned to the property in accordance with the following
procedure: The Director determines the number of base units for a
Tier 4 property by dividing the property's actual impervious
surface area by the base unit.
B.
The Director computes the stormwater management fee by multiplying
the number of base units assigned to the property by the base rate.
C.
The base rate utilized by the Director shall be the base rate as established from time to time by resolution of City Council in accordance with the provisions of § 261-3A, definition of "base rate," of this chapter.
D.
If the property is a condominium property, the Director may calculate
the stormwater management fee to be billed in equal shares to the
condominium unit owners by dividing the total number of base units
by the number of individual condominium units and then multiplying
that by the base rate to determine the amount billable to each condominium
unit owner or in such other manners as may be promulgated by the Director
in policies and procedures based on square footage, types of condominium
units or other similar classification and calculations.
A.
All sums collected from the payment of stormwater management fees
shall be deposited into the City of Lancaster's Stormwater Management
Fund.
B.
The Stormwater Management Fund shall be used by the City solely for
i) the implementation and management of stormwater program; ii) constructing,
operating, and maintenance of stormwater facilities; and iii) payment
for other project costs and performance of other functions or duties
authorized by law in conjunction with the maintenance, operation,
repair, construction, design, planning and management of stormwater
facilities, programs and operations. All stormwater facilities shall
be operated in accordance with all applicable laws. The Director shall
have all reasonable and lawful authority to construct, operate, repair,
relocate and maintain the stormwater facilities and shall have the
authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
A.
The City may provide a system of credits against stormwater management
fees for properties on which stormwater facility construction or maintenance
substantially mitigates the peak discharge or runoff pollution flowing
from such properties or substantially decreases the City's cost
of maintaining the public stormwater system. The Director will develop
written policies to implement the credit system. The amount of credit
for maintenance may be limited to properties that have a specified
minimum impervious surface area. Such system of credits may be set
forth from time to time by the Director in the policies and procedures
promulgated hereunder.
B.
The above credits are provided in recognition of the use and utility
of the above properties as corridors with independently, regularly
improved and maintained stormwater management systems that pass through
numerous private and public properties and that collect and control
the drainage through those properties.
C.
The Director may issue a maximum credit to a property owner as specified
in the application provided by the Department if the property contains
a City stormwater management system and the system is maintained in
accordance with the maintenance requirements of the Department.
D.
Credit application schedule.
(1)
To receive a credit, the property owner must apply to the Director
in a form prescribed by the Director not later than October 31 of
the year before payment of the fee is due.
(2)
Once approved, the credit is valid for two years. To renew the credit,
the property owner must reapply to the Director in a form prescribed
by the Director not later than October 31 of the year before payment
of the fee is due.
(3)
The credit shall become effective on the first day of the property's
monthly or quarterly billing cycle following the approval of the credit.
A.
Within 30 days of the date of any assessment, a property owner may
file a petition for review and/or adjustment to the Director in writing
if the property owner believes that the property which is the subject
of the assessment has been improperly tiered or that the fee has been
calculated incorrectly.
B.
When submitting a petition for review and/or adjustment of the fee
as set forth above, the property owner must include a detailed statement
of the basis for the appeal and documents supporting the owner's
assertion that the property should be assigned to a different tier
or that the impervious area measurements used to calculate the number
of base units for the property are incorrect.
C.
When submitting a petition for appeal of a denial of calculation
of a credit, the property owner must include a detailed statement
of the basis for appeal along with any documents necessary to support
the appeal and pay any fees established by resolution of City Council
for the handling of such appeals.
D.
If the Director concludes that the petition for review and/or adjustment
should be granted, the City of Lancaster must submit an adjustment
to the property owner's bill and refund any overpayment for the
current levy year to the property owner or apply a credit on the subsequent
bill equal to the adjustment amount.
E.
No appeals may be taken to the Appeals Board unless and until a petition
for reconsideration/adjustment has been filed with and ruled upon
by the Director.
A.
A property owner may appeal any decision of the Director in writing,
not later than 30 days after receipt of the Director's denial
of the property owner's petition for adjustments/reconsideration.
B.
When submitting a petition for appeal of the assessment of the fee
as set forth above, the property owner must include a detailed statement
of the basis for the appeal and documents supporting the owner's
assertion that the property should be assigned to a different Tier,
or that the impervious area measurements used to calculate the number
of base units for the property are incorrect, and pay any fee established
by resolution of City Council for the handling of appeals.
C.
If the Appeals Board concludes that the appeal should be granted,
the City of Lancaster must submit an adjustment to the property owner's
bill and refund any overpayment for the current levy year to the property
owner or apply a credit on the subsequent bill equal to the adjustment
amount.
D.
Any appeals from a decision of the Appeals Board shall be made to
the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in accordance
with the Local Agency Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
E.
The City Board of Appeals is charged with hearing and deciding all
appeals taken from the actions of the City or Director or their employees
under this chapter.
A.
The Mayor, with Council approval, shall appoint a City of Lancaster
Stormwater Appeal Board consisting of five members. The five members
need not be residents of the City of Lancaster and shall hold no other
office in the City of Lancaster.
B.
The Appeals Board shall elect from its own membership its officers,
who shall serve annual terms as such and may succeed themselves. For
the conduct of any hearing and the taking of any action, a quorum
shall be not less than a majority of all members of the Appeals Board,
but the Appeals Board may appoint the hearing officer from its own
membership to conduct any hearing on its behalf, and the parties may
waive further action by the Appeals Board as provided hereinafter.
C.
The Appeals Board may make, alter and rescind rules in forms for
its procedure, consistent with the ordinances of the City of Lancaster
and the laws of the commonwealth. The Appeals Board shall keep full
public records of its business, which record shall be property of
the City of Lancaster, and shall submit a report of its activities
to the City Council and Mayor as requested by the same.
D.
Any Appeals Board member may be removed for malfeasance, misfeasance
or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by a majority vote
of the City Council, taken after the member has received 15 days'
advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. Hearing shall be
held by City Council in connection with the vote that the member shall
request the same in writing.
E.
The Appeals Board shall conduct all of its hearings and make decisions
in accordance with the following requirements:
(1)
Written notice shall be given to the applicant or appellant requesting
the appeals hearing.
(2)
The hearing shall be held within 90 days from the date of the applicant's
request, unless the applicant has agreed in writing to an extension
of time.
(3)
The hearing shall be conducted by the Appeals Board, or the Board
may appoint any member as a hearing officer. The decision or, where
no decision is called for, the finding shall be made by the Board;
however, the appellant or the applicant, as the case may be, in addition
to the City of Lancaster, may, prior to the decision of the hearing,
waive decision or findings by the Board and accept the decision or
findings of the hearing officer as final.
(4)
The parties to the hearing shall be the City of Lancaster, any person
affected by the application who has made timely appearance of record
before the Board and any other person, including civic or community
organizations, permitted to appear by the Board. The Board shall have
power to require that all persons who wish to be considered parties
enter appearances in writing on forms provided by the Board for that
purpose.
(5)
The Chairman or Acting Chairman of the Board or the hearing officer
presiding shall have power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas
to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant
documents and papers, including witnesses and documents requested
by the parties.
(6)
The parties shall have the right to be represented by counsel and
shall be afforded the opportunity to respond and present evidence
and argument and cross-examine all witnesses on all relevant issues.
(7)
Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, but irrelevant, immaterial
or unduly repetitious evidence may be excluded.
(8)
The Board or the hearing officer, as the case may be, shall keep
a stenographic record of the proceedings. The appearance fee for a
stenographer shall be shared equally by the applicant and the Board.
The cost of the original transcript shall be paid by the Board if
the transcript is ordered by the Board or hearing officer or shall
be paid by the person appealing from the decision of the Board if
such appeal is made, and in either event the cost of additional copies
shall be paid by the person requesting such copy or copies. In other
cases the party requesting the original transcript shall bear the
cost thereof.
(9)
The Board or the hearing officer shall not communicate, directly
or indirectly, with any party or his representatives in connection
with any issue involved except upon notice and opportunity for all
parties to participate; shall not take notice of any communication,
reports, staff memoranda or other materials, except advice from their
solicitor, unless the parties are afforded an opportunity to contest
the material so noticed; and shall not inspect the site or its surroundings
after the commencement of hearings with any party or his representative
unless all parties are given an opportunity to be present.
(10)
The Board or the hearing officer, as the case may be, shall
render a written decision or, when no decision is called for, make
written findings on the application within 45 days after the last
hearing before the Board or hearing officer. Where the application
is contested or denied, each decision shall be accompanied by findings
of fact and conclusions based thereon, together with the reason therefor.
Conclusions based on any provisions of this chapter or of any ordinance
rule or regulation shall contain a reference to the provision relied
on and the reasons why the conclusion is deemed appropriate in the
light of the facts found. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing
officer and there has been no stipulation that his decision or findings
are final, the Board shall make his report and recommendations available
to the parties within 45 days, and the parties shall be entitled to
make written representation thereon to the Board prior to final decision
or entry of findings, and the Board's decision shall be entered
no later than 30 days after the report of the hearing officer. Where
the Board fails to render the decision within the period required
by this subsection or fails to hold the required hearing within 90
days from the date of the applicant's request for a hearing,
the decision shall be deemed to have been rendered in favor of the
applicant unless the applicant has agreed in writing or on the record
to an extension of time. When a decision has been rendered in favor
of the applicant because of the failure of the Board to meet or render
a decision as hereinabove provided, the Board shall give public notice
of said decision within 10 days from the last day it could have met
to render a decision in the same manner as provided above. If the
Board shall fail to provide such notice, the applicant may do so.
Nothing in this subsection shall prejudice the right of any party
opposing the application to appeal the decision to Lancaster County
Court of Common Pleas in accordance with the Local Agency Law of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(11)
A copy of the final decision or, where no decision is called
for, of the findings shall be delivered to the applicant personally
or mailed to him not later than the day following the date of the
decision or findings. To all other persons who have filed their name
and address with the Board not later than the last day of the hearing,
the Board shall provide, by mail or otherwise, brief notice of the
decision or findings and a statement of the place at which the full
decision or findings may be examined.
(12)
The City of Lancaster Stormwater Appeals Board shall have exclusive
jurisdiction to hear and render final adjudications to:
(a)
Appeals of the Director's denial of a credit; and
(b)
A property owner's appeal/request for a review and an adjustment
of the assessment and matters related thereto, including designation
of the property owner's property to a particular tier, and the
impervious area measurements used to calculate the number of base
units for the property.
City Council of the City of Lancaster may, from time to time,
by resolution, establish fees for the processing and handling of petitions
for reconsideration or adjustment and any other matters related to
the enforcement of this chapter and including filing fees, court reporter
and transcription fees.
A.
The City of Lancaster, through the Director or any other official
authorized by the Director or the Mayor, may utilize any and/or all
of the following remedies to pursue collection of any unpaid stormwater
management fees:
(1)
In accordance with the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. § 7101
et seq. (as amended from time to time), all unpaid stormwater management
fees, penalties, interest, collection fees, lien filing and satisfaction
fees, and other charges imposed for failure to pay promptly shall
constitute a lien upon and against the subject property and its owner
from the date of their imposition and assessment, and the City may
take any and all action to file and/or collect the same in accordance
therewith.
(2)
Terminate water service to the property in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the ordinances of the City of Lancaster regarding termination
of water service to properties for unpaid water bills.
(3)
File any appropriate action, whether in law or in equity, in any
court of competent jurisdiction to collect all unpaid stormwater management
fees, finance charges, attorney's fees and other costs of collection.
(4)
Refer the collection of all such unpaid stormwater management fees
and other charges to a collection agency.
B.
All costs of collection of all unpaid stormwater management fees
and other charges thereon, including, but are not limited to, fees
for filing, perpetuation and satisfaction of liens, collection fees,
attorney's fees, court costs, litigation expenses, charges for
service of document, shall, upon being incurred by the City of Lancaster,
be imposed as a charge for nonpayment and added to the balance due
on said property owner's account.
The Director may promulgate policies and procedures, appeal
applications and other forms relating to the interpretation, enforcement
and application of the provisions of this chapter.
A.
Floods from runoff may occur that exceed the capacity of stormwater
facilities constructed and maintained by funds made available pursuant
to this chapter. This chapter does not imply that property subject
to the fees and charges established herein will be free from stormwater
flooding or flood damage. The City shall not be liable to any person
for any flood damage. Further, payment of a stormwater fee to the
City does not relieve a property owner or customer from any local,
state or federal requirements to obtain flood insurance or other laws
applicable to the property.
B.
The City, by taking any action pursuant to this chapter, does not
waive, reduce, lessen or impair the lawful police powers vested in
the City of Lancaster under applicable federal, state and local laws
and regulations.
C.
The failure of the City of Lancaster to insist on timely performance
or compliance shall not constitute a waiver of the City of Lancaster's
right to later insist on the same. Further, the failure of the City
of Lancaster to enforce any provision of this chapter on any occasion
shall not operate as a waiver or estoppel of its right to enforce
any provision of this chapter on any other occasion, nor shall the
failure to enforce any prior ordinance or rule or regulation relating
to sewer services, water services, stormwater services, sewer charges,
water charges or the stormwater management fee act as a waiver or
estoppel against enforcement of this chapter or any other provision
of applicable law.
