(1)
Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate storm and surface water discharges from all new development and redevelopment to prevent and control adverse impacts of drainage and storm and surface water on the public health, safety, and general welfare, consistent with the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.) as administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology through issuance of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit (permit), in accordance with Chapter 90.48 RCW. The provisions of this subtitle shall be liberally construed to accomplish the purposes of the chapters herein and the protection and preservation of the public health, safety, and general welfare.
(2)
Objectives. The objectives of this subtitle are to:
(a)
Establish a water quality restoration and storm and surface water management program for the city of Port Orchard to be administered by the city of Port Orchard's department of public works;
(b)
Promote sound, practical, and economical development practices and construction procedures that prevent or minimize impacts to the city's waters;
(c)
Prevent or minimize degradation of water quality and to control the sedimentation of streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, marine waters, and other waters to the maximum extent practicable by all known and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment;
(d)
Control stormwater runoff originating from new development or redevelopment;
(e)
Preserve the quality of water for recreation and fish and wildlife habitat;
(f)
Maintain aquatic habitat;
(g)
Maintain the quality of the city's water resources;
(h)
Prevent or minimize adverse effects caused by degradation of surface water quality flow patterns or quantities, locations, and changes to hydrologic flow patterns;
(i)
Prevent groundwater degradation from surface water flows;
(j)
Preserve and protect the city's wetlands by maintaining hydrologic continuity with other aquatic resources;
(k)
Maintain the safety of city roads and rights-of-way;
(l)
Protect public safety by reducing soil erosion, slope instability, and landslides;
(m)
Promote nonstructural preventative and source control activities and actions; and
(n)
Require the use of low impact development (LID) best management practices (BMPs) where feasible, as defined in the city's stormwater manual.
(3)
Liability. Administration of this chapter shall not be construed to create the basis for any liability on the part of the city, its appointed and elected officials, and/or employees while working within the scope of their duties for any action or inaction thereof authorized or done in connection with the implementation of this chapter.
(Ord. 019-17 § 18 (Exh. 1))