There is established a fund to be designated "sanitation fund." All revenue derived from the service charges designated in this chapter shall be deposited into the said "sanitation fund."
(Prior code § 24A-1)
In addition to other fees, assessments or charges provided by the code of the city and the laws of the state of California, all persons using the sanitary sewer system of the city shall pay for such service at the rates and times as set forth in this chapter.
(Prior code § 24A-2)
Sewer service charges are set forth in Chapter 13.20 of this code. User fees for single-family service for periods less than a full billing cycle shall be prorated unless actual usage exceeds the minimum cost, in which case the actual cost shall be charged.
(Ord. 3466 § 1, 1980; Ord. 4254 § 5, 1990; Ord. 4276 § 5, 1991; Ord. 4527, 1996)
The city manager shall have the power to grant exceptions and to establish policies for the granting of such exceptions from the established sewer service charges. Such exceptions shall only be granted when one or more of the following situations exist:
A. 
Where a substantial portion of the water is used for industrial, recreational, horticultural or agricultural purposes of such nature that less than twenty percent of the water supplied to such premises is discharged into the sewer system;
B. 
Where a fire service connection to the water system is installed;
C. 
Where the premises are not connected to the sewer system of the city and it is not physically possible or reasonably feasible to connect such premises with the city sewer system;
D. 
When water is supplied to premises through a separate water meter and such water is used entirely for irrigation purposes;
E. 
When water is supplied to premises by more than one water meter and one or more of such additional meters does not provide water which can be discharged into the sewer system;
F. 
Where the city has entered into a separate service agreement.
G. 
Evidence of abnormal winter water consumption in the prior year;
H. 
In the case of new customers with no established winter month's consumption history; or
I. 
Where there is a change and assignment of proper Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes to commercial properties based on sewer strengths of the businesses occupying the properties.
(Ord. 4989 § 2, 2013)
The owner, or owner's agent, of any premises subject to the sewer service charge may apply in writing to the city manager for an exception as provided in Section 13.44.040 of this chapter. Except as may otherwise be provided by law, no rebate of fees upon such exception shall be allowed for any period preceding the filing of such application. The applicant shall furnish necessary factual data to support such application. Upon denial or conditional approval by the city manager, any applicant dissatisfied with such decision may appeal same to the city council. Such appeal must be filed in writing with the city clerk within fifteen days after notice of such decision.
(Ord. 4276 § 6, 1991; Ord. 4364 § 1, 1992)
Where the sewage from any plant, building, or premises of an industrial or commercial character shall be substantially different in volume or type from the average sewage entering the sewer system of the city, the city council shall impose an appropriate surcharge in addition to the fees imposed in Section 13.44.020. For the purpose of this section, "average sewage" shall be: in volume, seventy gallons for each one hundred gallons of water consumed on any plant, building or premises of an industrial or commercial character; or in type, three hundred parts per million of suspended solids and three hundred parts per million of biochemical oxygen demand.
(Ord. 4276 § 6, 1991)
A. 
All sewer service charges imposed under these provisions shall be payable upon the billing of such charges to the owner or the owner's agent.
B. 
Sewer service charges may be collected either through the tax roll of the County of San Diego, or by any method authorized by state law, including by direct payment or billing by the city or combined with other utility bills and separately designated.
C. 
If the sewer service charge is not paid before the close of business of the final date for payment, a penalty of ten percent of the amount of said sewer service charge shall be added thereto; provide, however, that when the final day for payment falls on Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, payment may be made without penalty on the next regular business day.
(Ord. 4989 § 4, 2013)
When the full amount for said sewer service charge is not paid within thirty days after the final date of payment as set forth in Section 13.44.070, the city clerk shall set said delinquent account for hearing by the city council at a regular or adjourned regular meeting which will be held at least seven calendar days after such thirty-day period has expired. The owner of the property shall be mailed notice of the time and place of the hearing. The notice shall also inform the property owner that failure to pay said delinquent account will result in a lien upon the property. The city clerk shall post a copy of such delinquent account, and a notice of the time and place of hearing in a conspicuous place at or near the entrance of the council chambers in the city hall.
(Prior code §§ 24A-8, 24A-9; Ord. 4527, 1996)
The city council shall consider said delinquent accounts at the time set for hearing together with any objections or protests by interested parties. Any owner of land or person affected by the charges may present a written or oral protest or objection to said account. At the conclusion of the hearing, the city council shall either approve the account as submitted or as modified or corrected by the city council. The decision of the city council on the charges and on all protests or objections shall be final and conclusive. The amounts so approved shall reflect the entire amount due, including all penalties, interest and administrative fees that have accrued against the account as of the date of the hearing. The amount shall be charged to the property owner on the next regular tax bill and shall be a lien upon the property involved. The city council shall confirm such assessment and cause the same to be recorded on the assessment roll and, thereafter, such assessment shall constitute a special assessment and a lien upon the property. The city council shall adopt a resolution assessing such amounts as liens upon the respective parcels of land as they are shown upon the last available assessment roll.
(Prior code § 24A-10; Ord. 4527, 1996)
All delinquent sewer service charges shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month from the date upon which the account became delinquent to the date the account is assessed and placed on the property tax roll pursuant to Section 13.44.100. All interest accrued during that time shall be added to the amount assessed against the property.
(Prior code § 24A-11; Ord. 4527, 1996)
All delinquent accounts approved by the city council pursuant to Section 13.44.100 shall be charged an administrative processing fee to offset the costs incurred by the City in administering the provisions of this chapter. The current fee schedule shall be on file with the city clerk, and the administrative processing fee shall be in such amount as the city council may set from time to time by resolution. This fee shall be added to the amount assessed against the property.