Note: Prior ordinance history: Ord. Nos. 663; 710; 834; 958; 968; 1054; 1132; 1225; 1320; 1520; 1641; 1645; 1647; 1702; 1799; 1857; 1901; 1987; 2027; 2055; 2082; 2123; 2161; 2162; 2202; 2250; 2287; 2314; 2325; 2338; 2363; 2380)
Revenues derived under the provisions of this article shall be used only for the replacement, reconstruction, maintenance and operation of sanitation or sewerage facilities. A specific fund shall be established for the deposit and disbursement of the funds collected under this article.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
It is the intention of the city council that the same person who is charged and billed for water shall be charged and billed for sewer service, and whenever not prohibited by the express words of this article, the water charge provisions and the sewer service provisions shall be so construed as to be consistent with each other.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
The charges provided by this article may be collected with the rates, tolls and charges for any other utility provided by or billed by the city, including charges for water, garbage and refuse collection. All such charges may be billed upon the same bill. Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 5473, the city council may by separate ordinance, provide that such charges be collected on the tax roll, together with, and not separately from, its general taxes.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
The owner of any building, structure, premises or real property which has available for use with respect to a connection into the sewer system of the city, shall be responsible for the sewer charges pertaining to such property. Where more than one person owns the property, or any interest therein, each such owner shall be responsible jointly and severally for all of such charges irrespective of the relative rights as between themselves.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
Charges and related regulations for wastewater utility services shall be established and may be amended from time to time, by resolution of the city council.
The base rate is the fixed component of the sewer rate, which includes a monthly base service charge (per account), and a monthly fixed service charge (per residential unit). Commercial customers do not pay the fixed service charge, but instead pay a higher volumetric charge, to better account for varying uses and demands on the sewer system. The variable charge is based on the average of the previous year's water use for the months of November through February (winter water usage) measured in hundreds of cubic feet (ccf) and multiplied by the established variable rate
For commercial customers, if no previous use is available, the variable rate established for a similar commercial customer may be used. If more than one user class is supplied by one meter, the highest user class factor will be used to compute the total rate. For industrial uses, the rate will be calculated via the rates established by city council and/or on an individual basis.
(a)(1) 
Residential sanitary sewer monthly cap (ccf) if winter water use exceeds this maximum. The cap shall be effective 10-1-2017 and shall remain in force until amended.
Customer Category
Monthly Cap (ccf)
Single-Family
24
Condo
19
Duplex
36
Triplex
56
Quadplex
76
5+ units
19 ccf/unit
Mobile Home Park
19 ccf/unit
(a)(2) 
Rates for premises outside the city.
(1) 
The rates to be charged for city sanitary sewer furnished to individual premises outside the city shall be the same as those established for premises within the city.
(2) 
In those cases where, by special agreement with the county, service is provided to areas outside the city through systems within a county service area, the rates to be charged shall be the same as city customers or as per agreements.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2508 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2654 § 3, 2024)
(a) 
A property owner may request a review of charges for his or her property only if the charges do not reflect the appropriate charge for the use classification consistent with Section 33.04.050. The general manager shall conduct the review and then make a recommendation to the city manager, who shall determine the correct use classification following a review of the recommendation.
(b) 
The request shall be submitted to the general manager. The general manager shall make a recommendation to the city manager not less than thirty days following the date of submission of the request.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
(a) 
Single-family residence. Liability for charges under this article shall commence with respect to new single-family residences upon occupancy or issuance of a temporary occupancy permit by the city building official, whichever first occurs, and prior to actual occupancy. Billing shall be bimonthly in advance.
(b) 
Multiple buildings including duplexes. Liabilities for new charges under this article shall commence with respect to new multiple buildings upon occupancy of any unit or the issuance of a permit for temporary occupancy of any unit by the city building official, whichever first occurs, and prior to actual occupancy. Billing shall be bimonthly in advance.
(c) 
Commercial and industrial buildings. Liabilities for charges under this article shall commence with respect to new commercial and industrial buildings upon occupancy or upon the issuance of a permit for temporary occupancy of any unit by the city building official, whichever first occurs, and prior to actual occupancy. Billing shall be bimonthly in advance.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
Without altering the liability of the owner as elsewhere provided in this article, the billing procedure shall be as follows:
(a) 
For all single-family dwellings, duplexes, multiple-family units, mobile homes and other residential units, the billing shall be to the owner of the parcel as on the recorded deed.
(b) 
For commercial or industrial properties, the billing may be mailed to the person specified by the owner of the parcel, and if not specified, then to the owner of the parcel.
(c) 
The provisions of this article notwithstanding, the preexisting rates specified in advanced billings of the city finance department, mailed to customers prior to the adoption of new billing rates, shall be the effective rates for any accounts for which such advanced billings have been made.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
(a) 
City personnel authorized by the city manager are hereby given the power and authority to enter upon and within any premises for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of such premises, the type of activities carried on therein, the number of plumbing fixtures situated therein, and any other facts or information reasonably necessary to ascertain the applicability of any sewer service and use charges to such premises, or the amount of such charges. In particular, such personnel may take readings of water meters where such charges are based upon the amount of water consumed or used in such premises.
(b) 
Personnel authorized by the city manager may require any sewer user to give, under oath, such information as is necessary to determine the proper sewer rates to be made to such sewer user. Should such sewer user refuse to give such information then in addition to any other authority that the general manager has under this Code, the general manager shall determine the rates to be charged to the sewer user consistent with the provisions of Section 33.04.050, subject to modification by the city manager on application of such sewer user pursuant to Section 33.04.060.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
(a) 
The remedies provided herein shall be in addition to all other remedies authorized by law, and the enumeration of certain remedies shall not preclude the application of any other remedies not herein enumerated.
(b) 
The charge imposed by this article shall be a civil debt owing to the city from the person responsible for its payment, and the city may institute action in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect such debt, together with applicable penalties, interest, costs and other expenses.
(c) 
The basic penalty for nonpayment of the charges within the time and in the manner prescribed herein shall be ten percent of the total charges accrued.
(d) 
The city shall include a statement on its bill to each property owner in substantially the following form:
"Charges for sewer service and facilities shall constitute a lien against the lot or parcel of land against which the charge is imposed if said charges remain delinquent for sixty days."
Pursuant to such notice, such charges shall become a lien against the lot or parcel of land against which the charges were imposed if such charges remain delinquent for a period of sixty days. The city shall cause to be recorded with the county recorder all such delinquent charges, and when so recorded, such charges shall have the force, effect and priority of a judgment lien and continue for three years from the time of recording unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
When any refund becomes due and owing by virtue of action of the city council or by virtue of any error made in ascertaining the charge applicable to any customer, the city's finance director is authorized to make such refund and to expend such public money from the specific fund established for the deposit of sewer service and use charges.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)
All persons who open, grade, regrade, fill, excavate or work a street shall give ten days' written notice to the general manager for the removal or displacement of any sewer mains, pipes, fittings, meters or other sewer works materials which may interfere with such street work; and on failure to furnish such notice, any damage resulting from such failure shall be charged against the person responsible.
(Ord. 2403 § 1, 2013)