Note: Prior ordinance history: Ords. 873 and 904.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
"Best management practices"
mean schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures and other management practice to prevent or reduce the introduction of FOG to the sewer facilities.
"Director"
means the director of the department of public works.
"Fats, oils, and grease ("FOG")"
means any substance, such as a vegetable or animal product that is used in, or is a by-product of, the cooking or food preparation process, and that turns or may turn viscous or solidifies with a change in temperature or other conditions.
"FOG control program"
means the FOG control program required by and developed pursuant to RWQCB Order No. R8-2002-0014, Section (c)(12)(viii).
"FOG control program manual"
means the "fats, oil and grease control program manual," setting forth best management practices for FSEs, as approved by the director.
"Food grinder"
means any device installed for the purpose of disposing food waste in the public sewer system.
"Food service establishment (FSE)"
means any food preparation establishment, restaurant, cafeteria, or any other establishment preparing food for consumption. Domestic homes are not considered food service establishments under this definition.
"Grease interceptor"
means an underground multi-compartment device installed outside a food service establishment of a size and design in compliance with the Uniform Plumbing Code and approved by the city. A minimum capacity of seven hundred fifty gallons shall be required unless a variance therefrom is approved by the administrative authority.
"Grease trap"
means a grease control device that is used to serve individual fixtures and have limited effect and should only be used in those cases where the use of a grease interceptor or other grease control device is determined to be impossible.
"Local sewering agency"
means any public agency or private entity responsible for the collection and disposal of wastewater to the city's sewer facilities duly authorized under the laws of the state of California to construct and/or maintain public sewers.
"Major operational change"
means a physical change or operational change causing generation of an amount of FOG that exceeds the current amount of FOG discharge to the sewer system by the food service establishment in an amount that alone or collectively causes or creates a potential for sewer system overflows to occur.
"Permittee"
means a person who has received a permit to discharge wastewater into the city's sewer facilities subject to the requirements and conditions established by the city.
"Public agency"
means the state of California and/or any city, county, special district, other local governmental authority or public body of or within this state.
"Public sewer"
means a sewer owned and operated by the city, or other local public agency, which is tributary to the city's sewer facilities.
"Sewage"
means wastewater.
"User"
means any person who discharges or causes a discharge of wastewater directly or indirectly to a public sewer system.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
No FSE shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the sewer system FOG that exceeds a concentration level adopted by a regulatory agency or that may accumulate and/or cause or contribute to blockages in the sewer system or at the sewer system lateral which connects the FSE to the sewer system.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
The following prohibitions shall apply to all FSEs:
A. 
No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged any wastewater from FSEs directly or indirectly into the sewer system without first obtaining a FOG wastewater discharge permit pursuant to this chapter.
B. 
Discharge of any waste, including FOG and solid material removed from the grease control device to the sewer system, is prohibited.
C. 
The discharge of any waste or FOG to the sewer system which fails to comply with the FOG control program manual is prohibited.
D. 
The discharge of any waste or FOG to the sewer system in a manner which either violates the sewer WDRs or causes or contributes to condition which fails to comply with any of the provisions of the sewer WDRs is prohibited.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
No food grinder shall be installed in a plumbing system of new construction of an FSE.
B. 
All food grinders shall be removed from an existing FSE upon: (1) major operational change to the FSE; or (2) any construction requiring the issuance of a building permit for either remodeling or construction of the FSE valued at five hundred dollars or more.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
All FSEs shall implement best management practices in its operation to minimize the discharge of FOG to the sewer system.
B. 
All FSEs must implement and demonstrate compliance with best management practices (BMP) requirements as specified in the city's FOG control program manual. Detailed requirements for best management practices are specified in the FOG control program manual and may include kitchen practices and employee training that is essential in minimizing FOG discharges.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
FSEs are required to install, operate and maintain an approved type and adequately sized grease control devices necessary to maintain compliance with the objectives of this chapter in accordance with the FOG control program manual and the requirements of 40 CFR Section 403.5.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
For properties at which multiple FSEs are operated on a single parcel, each FSE operator shall be individually and separately responsible for installation and maintenance of the grease control devices serving its FSEs and for compliance with this chapter. Furthermore, owners of commercial properties at which multiple FSEs that are operated on a single parcel shall be responsible for ensuring compliance by each FSE on the parcel. Such operators and/or property owner can comply with this chapter by installing and maintaining a grease control devices serving multiple FSEs upon approval by the director on such terms and conditions that the director may establish in his or her sole discretion.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
FSEs that operate without a grease control device may be required to pay an annual grease disposal mitigation fee to equitably cover the costs of increased maintenance and administration of the sewer system as a result of the FSEs' inability to adequately remove FOG from its wastewater discharge. This section shall not be interpreted to allow a new FSE, or existing FSEs undergoing remodeling or change in operations, to operate without an approved grease control device unless the director has determined that it is impossible to install or operate a grease control device for the FSE under the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The grease disposal mitigation fee shall be established by resolution of the city council, and shall be based on the estimated annual increased cost of maintaining the sewer system for inspection and removal of FOG and other viscous or solidifying agents attributable to the FSE resulting from the lack of a grease control device and such other costs that the city council considers appropriate.
C. 
The grease disposal mitigation fee may not be waived or reduced when the FSE does not comply with the minimum requirements of this chapter and/or its discharge into the sewer system in the preceding twelve months has caused or potentially caused or contributed alone or collectively, in sewer blockage or a sanitary sewer overflow ("SSO") in the sewer downstream, or surrounding the FSE prior to the waiver request.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
Notwithstanding any waiver of grease control device requirements under this chapter, FSEs determined by the director to have contributed to a sewer blockage, SSOs or any sewer system interferences resulting from the discharge of wastewater or waste containing FOG, may be ordered by the director to immediately install and maintain a grease control device, and may be subject to a plan determined by the director to abate the nuisance and prevent any future health hazards created by sewer line failures and blockages, SSOs or any other sewer system interferences. SSOs may cause threat and injury to public health, safety, and welfare of life and property and are hereby declared public nuisances. Furthermore, sewer lateral failures and SSOs caused by FSEs alone or collectively are the responsibility of the private property owner or FSE, and individual(s) as a responsible officer or owner of the FSE. If the city must act immediately to contain and clean up an SSO-caused by blockage of a private or public sewer lateral or serving a FSE, or at the request of the property owner or operator of the FSE, or because of the failure of the property owner or FSE to abate the condition causing immediate threat of injury to the health, safety, welfare, or property of the public, the city's costs for such abatement may be entirely borne by the property owner or operator of the FSE, and individual(s) as a responsible officer or owner of the FSE(s) and may constitute a debt to the city and become due and immediately payable upon the city's request for reimbursement of such costs.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
FSEs proposing to discharge or currently discharging wastewater containing FOG into the city's sewer system shall obtain a FOG wastewater discharge permit from the city within either: (1) one hundred eighty days from the effective date of this chapter; or (2) at the time any FSE applies for or renews its annual business license from the city. Compliance with this chapter must be demonstrated at the time any business license is issued, provided that the director may extend the compliance date for no more than ninety days after the date of the issuance of the license.
B. 
FOG wastewater discharge permits shall be expressly subject to all provisions of this chapter and all other regulations, charges for use, and fees established by the city. The conditions of FOG wastewater discharge permits shall be enforced by the city in accordance with this chapter and applicable state and federal regulations.
C. 
The city shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for any new construction, or occupancy unless a FSE has fully complied with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
The issuance of a FOG wastewater discharge permit may contain any of the following conditions or limits as determined by the director:
A. 
Limits on discharge of FOG and other priority pollutants;
B. 
Requirements for proper operation and maintenance of grease control devices and other grease control devices;
C. 
Grease control device maintenance frequency and schedule;
D. 
Requirements for implementation of best management practices and installation of adequate grease control device;
E. 
Requirements for maintaining and reporting status of best management practices;
F. 
Requirements for maintaining and submitting logs and records, including waste hauling records and waste manifests;
G. 
Requirements to self-monitor;
H. 
Requirements for the FSE to construct operate and maintain, at its own expense, FOG control device and sampling facilities;
I. 
Consent by the operator of the FSE for the city and other regulatory agencies to inspect the FSE to confirm compliance with this chapter, the NPDES permit and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, including any NPDES permit applicable to the city;
J. 
Additional requirements as otherwise determined to be reasonably appropriate by the director to protect the city's system or as specified by other regulatory agencies; or
K. 
Other terms and conditions, which may be reasonably applicable to ensure compliance with this chapter as determined by the director.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
The FOG wastewater discharge permit fee shall be paid by the applicant in an amount adopted by resolution of the city council. Payment of permit fees must be received by the city prior to issuance of either a new permit or a renewed permit. A permittee shall also pay any delinquent invoices in full prior to permit renewal.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
FOG wastewater discharge permits shall be issued for a period not to exceed five years. Upon expiration of the permit, the user shall apply for renewal of the permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A limited food preparation establishment is not considered a food service establishment and is exempt from obtaining a FOG wastewater discharge permit. Exempted establishments shall engage only in reheating, hot holding or assembly of ready to eat food products and as a result, there is no wastewater discharge containing significant amount of FOG. A limited food preparation establishment does not include any operation that changes the form, flavor, or consistency of food.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
FOG wastewater discharge permits issued under this chapter are for a specific FSE, for a specific operation and create no vested rights.
B. 
No permit holder shall assign, transfer or sell any FOG wastewater discharge permit issued under this chapter nor use any such permit for or on any premises or for facilities or operations or discharges not expressly encompassed within the underlying permit.
C. 
Any permit, which is transferred to a new owner or operator or to a new facility, is void.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
In addition to the discharge permit application fee, a charge to cover all costs of the city for providing the sewer service and monitoring shall be established by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
Grease control devices shall be maintained in efficient operating condition in accordance with the FOG control program manual.
B. 
Grease control devices must be cleaned, maintained, and FOG must be removed from grease control devices at regular intervals.
C. 
FOG removed from grease control devices shall be waste hauled periodically as part of the operation and maintenance requirements for grease control devices and disposed of in a proper manner and at regular intervals.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
Monitoring for compliance with FOG wastewater discharge conditions and reporting requirements are as follows:
A. 
The director may require periodic reporting of the status of implementation of best management practices, in accordance with the FOG control program and the FOG control program manual.
B. 
The director may require visual and other monitoring at the sole expense of the permittee to observe the actual conditions of the FSEs
C. 
The director may require reports for self-monitoring of wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics of the permittee needed for determining compliance with any conditions or requirements as specified in the FOG wastewater discharge permit or this chapter. Monitoring reports of the analyses of wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics shall be in a manner and form approved by the director and shall be submitted upon request of the director.
D. 
Failure by the permittee to perform any required monitoring, or to submit monitoring reports required by the director constitutes a violation of this chapter and shall be cause for the city to initiate all necessary tasks and analyses to determine the wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics for compliance with any conditions and requirements specified in the FOG wastewater discharge permit or in this chapter.
E. 
The permittee shall be responsible for any and all expenses of the city in undertaking such monitoring analyses and preparation of reports.
F. 
Other reports may be required such as compliance schedule progress reports, FOG control monitoring reports, and any other reports deemed reasonably appropriate by the director to ensure compliance with this chapter.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
The permittee shall be required to keep all documents identified by the director relating to its compliance with this chapter, including manifests, receipts and invoices of all cleaning, maintenance, grease removal of/from the grease control device, disposal carrier and disposal site location for no less than two years. The permittee shall, upon request, make the manifests, receipts and invoices available to any city representative, or inspector.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
It is unlawful to make any false statement, representation, record, report, plan or other document that is filed with the city, or to tamper with or knowingly render inoperable any grease control device, monitoring device or method or access point required under this chapter.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
The director may inspect or order the inspection and sample the wastewater discharges of any FSE to ascertain whether the intent of this chapter is being met and the permittee is complying with all requirements. The permittee shall allow the city access to the FSE premises, during normal business hours, for purposes of inspecting the FSE's grease control devices, reviewing the manifests, receipts and invoices relating to the cleaning, maintenance and inspection of the grease control devices.
B. 
The director shall have the right to place or order the placement on the FSE's property or other locations as determined by the director, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling or metering operations. Where a FSE has security measures in force, the permittee shall make necessary arrangements so that representatives of the city shall be permitted to enter without delay for the purpose of performing their specific responsibilities.
C. 
For the director to determine the wastewater characteristics of the discharger for purposes of determining the annual use charge and for compliance with permit requirements, the permittee shall make available for inspection and copying by the city all notices, monitoring reports, waste manifests, and records including, but not limited to, those related to wastewater generation, and wastewater disposal without restriction but subject to the confidentiality provision set forth in this chapter. All such records shall be kept by the permittee a minimum of two years.
Persons or occupants of premises where wastewater is created or discharged shall allow the director, or city representatives, reasonable access to all parts of the FSE and all wastewater generating and disposal facilities for the purposes of inspection and sampling during all times the discharger's facility is open, operating, or any other reasonable time. No person shall interfere with, delay, resist or refuse entrance to city representatives attempting to inspect any FSE or facility involved directly or indirectly with a discharge of wastewater to the city's sewer system.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
In the event a permittee is unable to comply with any permit condition due to a breakdown of equipment, accidents, or human error or the permittee has reasonable opportunity to know that his, her or its discharge will exceed the discharge provisions of the FOG wastewater discharge permit or this chapter, the discharger shall immediately notify the city by telephone at the number specified in the permit. If the material discharged to the sewer has the potential to cause or results in sewer blockages or SSOs, the discharger shall immediately notify the local health department, city or county, and the city
B. 
Confirmation of this notification shall be made in writing to the director at the address specified in the permit no later than five working days from the date of the incident. The written notification shall state the date of the incident, the reasons for the discharge or spill, what steps were taken to immediately correct the problem, and what steps are being taken to prevent the problem from recurring.
C. 
Such notification shall not relieve the permittee of any expense, loss, damage or other liability which may be incurred as a result of damage or loss to the city or any other damage or loss to person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the permittee of any fees or other liability which may be imposed by this chapter or other applicable law.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
A. 
The city council finds that, in order for the city to comply with the laws, regulations, and rules imposed upon it by regulatory agencies and to ensure that the city's sewer facilities are protected and are able to operate with the highest degree of efficiency, and to protect the public health and environment, specific enforcement provisions must be adopted to govern the discharges to the city's sewer system by FSEs.
B. 
To ensure that all interested parties are afforded due process of law and that violations are resolved as soon as possible, a permittee, or applicant for a permit may appeal any determination made by the director, including but not limited to a denial of a discharge permit, a notice of violation; permit suspension or revocation; or a compliance schedule agreement (CSA), pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapter 1.10 (General Penalty).
C. 
The city, at its discretion, may utilize any one, combination, or all enforcement remedies provided in this chapter in response to any FOG wastewater discharge permit or chapter violations.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
Violations of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations adopted by the city shall be deemed a misdemeanor and subject to the procedures, penalties and remedies set out in Chapter 1.10 of this code.
The owner and operator of a FSE or permittee shall be in violation of this chapter if such owner or operator or permittee:
A. 
Fails to install an approved grease control device as required by this chapter; or
B. 
Makes any false statements, representation, record, report, plan or other documents that is filed with the city; or
C. 
Tampers with or knowingly renders inoperable any grease control device required under this chapter; or
D. 
Fails to clean, maintain or remove grease from a grease control device within the required time for such cleaning, maintenance or grease removal; or
E. 
Fails to keep up-to-date and accurate records of all cleaning, maintenance, and grease removal and upon request to make those records available to any city code enforcement representative, or designee, any representative of a local sanitation agency that has jurisdiction over the sanitary sewer system that services the food facility, or any authorized inspector that has jurisdiction under the water quality chapter; or
F. 
Refuses a city code enforcement representative, or designee, a representative of a local sanitary sewer agency that has jurisdiction over the sanitary sewer system that services the food facility, or any authorized inspector, reasonable access to the food facility for the purposes of inspecting, monitoring, or reviewing the grease control device manifests, receipts and invoices of all cleaning, maintenance, grease removal of/from the grease control device, and/or to inspect the grease control device; or
G. 
Disposes of, or knowingly allows or directs FOG to be disposed of, in an unlawful manner; or
H. 
Fails to remove all food grinders located in the food facility by the date specified by this chapter; or
I. 
Introduces additives into a wastewater system for the purposes of emulsifying FOG without the written, specific authorization from the sanitary sewer agency that has jurisdiction of the sanitary sewer system that services the food facility; or
J. 
Fails to pay the grease disposal mitigation fee as specified in this chapter when due; or
K. 
Fails to comply with the FOG control program manual; or
L. 
Otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any permit issued by the city under this chapter.
Violations under this section shall be subject to the procedures, penalties and remedies set out in this chapter and Chapter 1.15. All costs for the investigations, enforcement actions, and ultimate corrections of violations under this section, incurred by the city shall be reimbursed by the owner/operator of the FSE.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
Discharge of wastewater in any manner in violation of this chapter or of any order issued by the director, as authorized by this chapter, is hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be corrected or abated as directed by the director. Any person creating a public nuisance is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, which upon conviction is punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Each violation and each day in which a violation occurs may constitute a new and separate violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the penalties contained herein.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)
Fees pertaining to this chapter shall be established by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 962 § 2, 2009)