The following definitions apply unless inconsistent with the context:
"Capital improvements",
facilities or assets used for water supply, treatment, distribution and storage; wastewater collection, transmission, treatment and disposal; drainage and flood control (surface water management); transportation; or parks and recreation.
"Development",
conducting a building or mining operation, making a physical change in the use or appearance of a building or land, dividing land into two or more lots or parcels (including partitions and subdivisions), and creating or terminating a right of access.
"Improvement fee",
a fee adopted pursuant to this subchapter for costs associated with capital improvements to be constructed.
"Qualified public improvement",
a capital improvement that is required as a condition of development approval; identified in a plan adopted pursuant to this subchapter; and not located on or contiguous to property that is the subject of the development approval, or located in whole or in part on or contiguous to property that is the subject of development approval and required to be built larger or with greater capacity than is necessary for the particular development to which an improvement fee is related.
"Reimbursement fee",
a fee adopted under this subchapter for costs associated with capital improvements constructed or under construction, where capacity exists in such improvements.
"System development charge (SDC)",
a reimbursement fee, improvement fee or combination thereof assessed or collected at the time of increased usage of a capital improvement, at the time of issuance of a development or building permit, or at the time of connection to the capital improvement. "System development charge" includes that portion of a sewer or water system connection charge that is greater than the amount necessary to reimburse the city for its average cost of inspecting and installing connections with water and sewer facilities. SDC does not include fees assessed or collected as part of an LID, a charge in lieu of an LID assessment or the costs of complying with requirements or conditions imposed by a land use decision, expedited land division or limited land use decision, or other separately adopted fee or charge not subject to this subchapter.
The purpose of SDCs is to impose a portion of the cost of capital improvements for water, sanitary sewerage, streets, traffic, surface water management, flood control and parks upon those developments that create the need for, or increase the demands on, capital improvements.
The SDCs imposed by this subchapter are separate from, and in addition to, any applicable tax, assessment, charge or fee otherwise provided by law or imposed as a condition of development approval.
A. 
SDCs are established, will be reviewed annually by the manager, and may be revised by council resolution and, where applicable, the UC.
B. 
Unless otherwise exempted by this subchapter or other law, an SDC is imposed upon all developments within the city and outside the boundary of the city that connect to, or otherwise use, the sewer facilities, storm sewers, transportation/streets, parks or water facilities of the city.
A. 
The methodology used to establish the reimbursement fee considers the cost of then-existing facilities, prior contributions by then-existing users, the value of unused capacity, rate-making principles employed to finance publicly owned capital improvements and other relevant factors identified by the manager. The methodology promotes the objective that future systems users contribute no more than an equitable share of the cost of then-existing facilities.
B. 
The methodology used to establish the improvement fee considers the cost of projected capital improvements needed to increase the capacity of the systems to which the fee relates.
C. 
Any methodology to support a new or increased SDC will be prepared, reviewed and adopted as required by state law.
A. 
Reimbursement fees are applied only to capital improvements associated with the systems for which the fees are assessed, including expenditures relating to repayment of indebtedness.
B. 
Improvement fees are spent only on capacity increasing capital improvements, including expenditures relating to repayment of future debt for the improvements. An increase in system capacity occurs if a capital improvement increases the level of performance or service provided by existing facilities or provides new facilities. The portion of the improvements funded by improvement fees must be related to the need for increased capacity to provide service for future users.
C. 
A capital improvement funded wholly or in part from revenues from the improvement fee must be included in the plan adopted by the city under this subchapter.
D. 
Notwithstanding HMC 3.28.060(A) through (C), SDC revenues may be expended on the direct costs of complying with the provisions of this subchapter, including the costs of developing SDC methodologies and providing an annual accounting of SDC expenditures.
A. 
SDCs must not be expended for costs associated with the construction of administrative office facilities that are more than an incidental part of other capital improvements.
B. 
SDCs must not be expended for costs of the operation or routine maintenance of capital improvements.
C. 
SDC expenditures are subject to any applicable limitations in state law.
The council will adopt a plan that:
A. 
Lists the capital improvements that may be funded wholly or partially with improvement fee revenues;
B. 
Lists the estimated cost and time of construction of each improvement; and
C. 
Describes the process for modifying the plan.
A. 
The manager is authorized to administer the collection of SDCs in accordance with state law and the code. This authorization specifically includes the authority to administer all aspects of installment payment of SDCs.
B. 
An SDC is payable upon issuance of:
1. 
A building or development permit;
2. 
A development permit for development not requiring the issuance of a building permit;
3. 
A permit to connect to the water system; or
4. 
A permit to connect to the sewer system.
C. 
If development is commenced or connection is made to the water or sewer systems without an appropriate permit, the SDC is immediately payable upon the earliest day that a permit was required.
D. 
The manager will collect the applicable SDC from the owner of the property when a permit that allows building or development of a property is issued or when a connection is made to the city water or sewer system.
E. 
The manager will not issue such permit or allow such connection until the charge is paid in full, until provision for installment payments have been made or unless an exemption is granted under this subchapter.
(Ord. 5993 § 1, 2011)
A. 
When an SDC or installment payment authorized in this subchapter is not paid, the manager may report to the council the amount of the uncollected charge, the description of the real property to which the charge is attributable, the date upon which the charge was due and the name of the responsible party.
B. 
The council will schedule a public hearing on the matter and direct notice of the hearing to each party of interest with a copy of the manager report about the unpaid charge. Notice of the hearing will be given either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by both personal and mailed notice, by mailing notice at least 10 days before the hearing date.
C. 
At the hearing, the council may accept, reject or modify the determination of the manager. If the council finds that an SDC is unpaid and uncollected, it may by motion direct the manager to docket the unpaid and uncollected SDC in the lien docket. Upon completion of the docketing, the city has a lien against the described land for the full amount of the unpaid charge, together with interest at the rate set by the council and the city's actual costs of collection and of scheduling and conducting the hearing.
(Ord. 5993 § 1, 2011)
A. 
When an SDC of $25 or more is due and collectable, the owner of the property subject to the development charge may apply for payment in 20 semi-annual installments, to include interest on the unpaid balance in accordance with state law.
B. 
The manager will provide application forms for installment payments that include a waiver of all rights to contest the validity of the lien, except for the correction of computational errors.
C. 
An applicant for installment payments must demonstrate the applicant's authority to assent to the imposition of a lien on the property and that the interest of the applicant is adequate to secure payment of the lien.
D. 
The manager will document the amount of the SDC, the dates on which the payments are due, the name of the owner and the description of the property.
E. 
The manager will docket the lien in the lien docket. From that time the city has a lien upon the described property for the amount of the SDC, together with interest on the unpaid balance.
A. 
Buildings and uses established and existing on or before July 27, 1991 are exempt from an SDC under this subchapter, except water and sewer charges to the extent the building or use of them existed and to the extent of the property as constituted on that date. Owners of buildings and uses affected by this subsection must pay the water or sewer charges under this subchapter upon the receipt of a permit to connect to the water or sewer system.
B. 
Additions to single-family dwellings that do not constitute the addition of a dwelling unit, as defined by the State Uniform Building Code, are exempt from the SDC.
C. 
An alteration, addition, replacement or change in use that does not increase the use by the property or building of the public improvement facility is exempt.
A. 
An SDC is imposed when a change of use of a property or building occurs, but credit is given for the computed SDC to the extent that prior buildings existed and services were established on or after July 27, 1991. The credit so computed will not exceed the calculated SDC. No refund will be made on account of such credit.
B. 
A credit may be given for the cost of a qualified public improvement associated with a development. The credit provided for by this subsection is only for the improvement fee charged for the type of improvement being constructed and will not exceed the improvement fee even if the cost of the capital improvement exceeds the applicable improvement fee. Calculation of credit will be consistent with applicable state law. For purposes of calculating the credit to be given, the value of real property dedicated or otherwise conveyed to the city and otherwise eligible for credit may constitute all or part of the credit amount for such improvement.
C. 
Credit is transferable from one development to another in compliance with any standards adopted by the council. Credit is further transferable as authorized by state law.
D. 
Credit is not transferable from one type of capital improvement to another.
E. 
Credits issued pursuant to this section are valid for a period of 10 years from the date they are issued.
F. 
Application for credit. Application for SDC credits for a qualified public improvement must be made on a form provided by the manager and must be submitted within 90 days of city acceptance of the improvement. The applicant shall have the burden of demonstrating: (1) that a particular improvement qualifies for credit pursuant to this section; and (2) that the amount of requested credit is supported by documentation acceptable to the manager.
(Ord. 6048 §§ 1, 2, 2013)
A. 
All funds derived from a particular type of SDC are segregated by accounting practices from all other funds of the city. That portion of the SDC calculated and collected on account of a specific facility system must be used for no purpose other than those set forth in HMC 3.28.060.
B. 
The manager will provide the council or UC, as appropriate, with an annual accounting, based on the fiscal year, showing the total amount of SDC revenues collected for each type of facility, the projects funded from each account and a balanced account.
A. 
A person aggrieved by a decision under this subchapter or a person challenging the propriety of an expenditure of SDC revenues may appeal to the council by filing a written request with the recorder describing with particularity the decision or expenditure.
B. 
An appeal of an expenditure must be filed within two years of the date of the alleged improper expenditure. Appeals of any other decision must be filed within 10 days of the date of the decision.
C. 
The council will determine whether the decision or expenditure is in accordance with this subchapter and state law and may affirm, modify or overrule the decision. If the council determines that there has been an improper expenditure of SDC revenues, the council will direct that an equal sum be deposited within one year to the credit of the account or fund from which it was spent.
D. 
A legal action challenging the methodology adopted by the council under HMC 3.28.050 may not be filed later than 60 days after its adoption.
A. 
The provisions of this subchapter are intended to establish the basic methods and procedures for city SDCs generally. Methods and procedures for transportation system development charges in the South Hillsboro Community Plan Area are set forth in Hillsboro Municipal Code, Chapter 3, Subchapter 3.30.
B. 
The provisions of this subchapter may be supplemented by any methodologies and procedures contained in the council and UC resolutions establishing the actual fees charged so that city SDCs comply with state law. If there are conflicts between language contained in this subchapter and ordinances or resolutions, the more specific methodologies and procedures apply unless they do not comply with state law.
(Ord. 6161 § 1, 2016)
No person may connect to the water or sewer systems of the city unless the appropriate SDC is paid or there is an agreement with the city to pay the amount due by installment payments as provided in this code.