Note: Prior history: Code 1964 §§ 5-4.01, 5-4.03, 5-4.04, 5-4.05; Ord. Nos. 382, 483, 538, 673, 834, 958, 968, 1528, 1600, 1640, 1704, 1743, 1794, 1840, 1857, 2334, 2337, 2349, 2361, 2362, 2376, 2395.
It is unlawful for the owner or lessee of any lot or parcel of land situated within this city, which lot or parcel has thereon a building equipped with any plumbing fixture, to neglect or refuse to have any such buildings connected with the city sewer system so that the drainage from each and every such plumbing fixture shall flow into the sewer; provided, that there is such a sewer in the street, alley or right-of-way near such lot or parcel of land and not more than one hundred fifty feet distant from such building. Domestic plumbing systems that incorporate nonpotable water reuse systems, such as gray water reuse systems, shall be exempt from this section provided that they are installed and constructed in accordance with the then current provisions of California Plumbing Code, Chapter 16 – Alternate Water Sources For Nonpotable Applications and Chapter 16A Nonpotable Water Reuse Systems, governing the construction, alteration, discharge, use, and repair of gray water systems.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2435 § 2, 2014)
It is unlawful for any person to connect his or her premises to any public sewer in the city without first securing a permit from the public works department of the city, paying to such department a fee as established, from time to time, by resolution of the city council for each such permit, it being understood that every individual service connection to a sewer main shall require an individual permit and that if the premises of more than one party shall be connected to the same service connection to a sewer main, then a separate permit shall be issued to each of such party. Such permit shall indicate the location at which the connection is to be made and the property to be connected. It is unlawful to make any connection to any public sewer at any location other than that designated in a permit.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
In addition to any other fees or charges required by this chapter, the following sewer connection charges shall be determined and become due and payable by any person connecting his or her premises to any public sewer in the city:
(a) 
Sewer fees are determined by land uses consistent with the principal permitted uses within zoning districts as outlined in Chapter 40 (Zoning). Zoning districts have been adopted by the city council and are identified on the city's zoning map.
(b) 
Sewer connection charges per land use categories shall be as follows:
Connection Charge
Residential (per dwelling unit)
Single-family
$6,150
Single-family condo
4,780
Duplex
4,640
Triplex
4,810
Quadplex
4,860
Multiple-family (five or more units)
3,320
MH mobile homes
3,400
Commercial/industrial (based on flow and quality of discharge to the sewer)
 
Flow (hcf/day)
$14,346/hcf/day
BOD (lbs/day)
1,556/lbs/day
TSS (lbs/day)
853/lbs/day
Flow = Winter water use from November through February
hcf = Hundred cubic feet
BOD = Biological oxygen demand impact to wastewater facility
TSS = Total suspended solids impact to wastewater facility
Each commercial and industrial account will be charged a connection fee based on the type of business and expected impact on flow, BOD and TSS. If no previous experience is available, the rate shall be established based on a similar business or other guidelines established by the general manager.
(c) 
Adjustments or changes to commercial and industrial connection fees shall be allowed by the general manager as follows:
(1) 
Upon the written request of a property owner, adjustment(s) to the connection fee shall be considered following analysis of one complete cycle of winter water use or as determined by the general manager. Winter water use is the average daily volume of water use from November through February assumed to be discharged to the sanitary sewer. The adjustment to the connection fee is the difference between the fee corresponding to the first year of sewer use data and the original connection fee. If the recalculated fee is greater than the original fee paid, the difference shall be paid by the premises owner directly to the city within ninety days of notice from the general manager. If the first-year fee is less than the original fee, a refund will be paid to the premises within ninety days of the notice by the general manager.
(2) 
Changes in sewer use after the first fiscal year of establishment as a result of business expansion or change of use or operations as determined by the general manager shall warrant investigation of additional connection fees or adjustments to fees. Changes to connection fees shall be calculated based on the estimated average daily volume of water use from November through February that may be discharged to the sanitary sewer. Based on the historic records of similar premises or other guidelines, the general manager will estimate the average daily volume of water use from the November through February period. If the original fee is less than the recalculated fee for a proposed change in use or operations, the difference shall be paid by the premises owner directly to the city within ninety days of notice from the general manager. If the original fee is greater than the recalculated fee for a proposed change in use or operations, no refund shall be paid to the premises owner because the value of the original capacity in the sanitary sewer system is a component of the premises' property value.
(d) 
The owner may appeal or dispute the amount of any charge, bill or invoice within sixty days from the date of such charge, bill or invoice by filing an appeal to the general manager accompanied by detailed factual data in support thereof to indicate the correct amount. After reviewing the owner's appeal, the general manager may require the owner to install a wastewater meter or sampling device(s) at the owner's expense in accordance with procedures approved by the general manager. If the general manager determines that the charge, bill or invoice was in error, the general manager shall correct said charge, bill or invoice. Failure to file a timely appeal of any charge, bill or invoice in accordance with this section shall be deemed acceptance of the correctness of the charge. Any owner aggrieved by the general manager's decision may appeal that decision pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 33.03.520 of this chapter.
(e) 
The fees provided for in subsection (b) of this section shall be paid at the time of the following actions unless a later time for payment is established by state law:
(1) 
Single-Family. Upon recording of approved final subdivision map.
(2) 
Multifamily and Commercial. Prior to issuance of a building permit.
(3) 
Temporary Deferral. The city manager is hereby authorized to approve deferral payment of the sewer connection charge to the time of issuance of a certificate of occupancy, provided that the applicant and the property owner execute a contract, approved as to form by the city attorney, providing for the payment of the sewer connection charge at or before the issuance of a certificate of occupancy; and that this obligation is recorded as a lien against the property. This provision will expire July 1, 2011, unless extended by ordinance by the city council.
(a) 
Beginning on March 3, 2009, the schedule of charges for reuse of existing space subject to a nonresidential sewer connection fee set forth in Section 33.02.040 shall be reduced to fifty percent of the standard fee for a limited time extending from March 3, 2009, until December 31, 2012, unless extended further by ordinance of the city council. Except as provided herein, on and after December 31, 2012, the nonresidential sewer connection fee shall be the full amount established in Section 33.02.040. A project shall be eligible for the reduced sewer connection fee if it meets the following requirements: (1) the project is the reuse of existing space by a nonresidential use; (2) the sewer connection fees for the project have not been paid prior to March 3, 2009; (3) a building permit for the project has been issued by the city prior to December 31, 2012; (4) the project obtains a certificate of occupancy within twelve months of the date of the issuance of the building permit; and (5) the reduced sewer connection fees are paid on or before the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
(b) 
Temporary deferral of payment of sewer connection fees. Beginning on March 3, 2009, payment of sewer connection fees required for reuse of existing space for nonresidential purposes may be deferred from payment prior to issuance of a building permit to payment on or before the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the project if the project qualifies for reduced fees as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) 
If a project does not obtain its certificate of occupancy within the time set forth in subsection (a) or fails to pay its sewer connection fee at or before the issuance of a certificate of occupancy as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, then the project shall pay the then current sewer connection fee set forth in Section 33.02.040, and such fee shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy for the project. If a building permit is not issued prior to December 31, 2012, then the project shall pay its sewer connection fee prior to issuance of a building permit for the project.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
It is unlawful for any person to connect his or her premises with any public sewer unless such connection conforms to the following requirements:
(a) 
No person, other than the city, its agents and employees, shall connect any pipe, drain or sewer with, or open, or penetrate any public sewer in this city, or injure, break, remove or open any portion of any manhole, flush tank, inspection pipe or any other part of or appurtenant to any such sewer.
(b) 
In all cases where the lateral sewer lines are not now installed, all laterals from all sewer mains in the public street to an established curb line, and to the property line where there is no curb line, shall be laid by the public works department. At the time of a permit application, the public works department shall establish the charge for such work. Such amount shall be payable to the department before the work is performed. Such charge shall be in addition to the permit charge provided for in this article.
(c) 
In case a connection is made to a sewer where it crosses private property, the plumber shall install the pipe to the main sewer, and shall uncover the main sewer so that a connection can be properly made, and the public works department shall make such connection. At the time of a permit application, the public works department shall establish the charge for such work. Such amount, will be payable to the department before such work is performed. Such charge shall be in addition to the permit charge provided for in this article.
(d) 
In all cases the property owner or tenant, at his or her own expense, shall cause the sewer line to be laid from the source of drainage to the curb line where there is one established and to the property line where there is not. Such line shall conform to the specifications for sewer pipe and sewer pipe installation as established by the city, and shall pass the inspection of the public works department as to workmanship. A pipe shall not be covered until it is inspected by the public works department and authorization given therefor.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)