[Added by Ord. 75-13]
This Chapter shall be known as the "Sewer Reconstruction Fund," may be cited as such, and may hereinafter be referred to as "this ordinance" or "this Chapter."
Most of the existing sewers in the City of Lakewood were constructed many years ago and were designed to serve primarily single family residential and other properties at a time when the City of Lakewood was of low population and density. Because of the erection of many new housing units include multiple family units and the growth of commercial and industrial establishments, the population density of the City of Lakewood is greatly increased with the result that the city sewerage system is no longer adequate in all parts of the City to accomplish the increased volume of sewage generated by such development. Detailed studies and findings of this fact are contained in a Sanitary Sewer System Study prepared by the City Engineer on file in the Office of the Director of Public Works. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a charge to be collected from the owners of such property proposing to discharge, to the public sewer quantities of sewage in excess of the quantity for which the existing sewerage system was designed; and to establish a Fund into which these charges may be deposited and from which money will be available for the city's sewer reconstruction program.
The sewer reconstruction program shall be carried out basically in accordance with the City of Lakewood's Sewer Reconstruction Plan contained in the report of the City Engineer entitled "Sanitary Sewer System Study," as updated May 10, 1973, and on file in the office of the Director of Public Works. If compliance with the reconstruction plan is impossible or impractical because of peculiar or unforeseen conditions, and the purposes of this Chapter may be accomplished and the public health and safety assured by alternate construction, the City Council may from time to time grant exceptions to the Reconstruction Plan by motion permitting such alternate construction. In addition, the City Engineer shall periodically review the Sewer Reconstruction Plan and report to the City Council any proposed changes in said Plan which may hereafter be adopted and approved by the City Council by motion.
"Public sewer" or "City sewerage system" or "City sewers," as used in this Chapter, shall mean a mainline sanitary sewer, dedicated to public use, but excepting therefrom sewers under the jurisdiction of a public entity other than the City of Lakewood.
"Tributary Area" shall mean all that area outside the boundaries of the City of Lakewood that would, as determined by an area study approved by the City Engineer, normally drain or can economically be made to drain sewage into a public sewer within the boundaries of the City of Lakewood.