The purpose of this chapter is to prescribe rules and regulations governing water and sewer latecomer agreements as prescribed by Chapter 35.91 RCW.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
All definitions relevant to this chapter shall be included in Chapter 21.90 LMC. Unless specifically defined, words or phrases used shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014; Ord. 1544 § 1 (Att. A), 2017)
The city shall enter into a water and sewer latecomer reimbursement with an owner of real property, when the following conditions apply:
A. 
The owner elects to install certain water or sewer facilities solely at the owner's expense.
B. 
The owner has submitted a request for a latecomer reimbursement agreement prior to the approval of the water or sewer facility by the municipality.
C. 
An ordinance requires that one or more identified water or sewer facilities be constructed in the location of the proposed property development as a prerequisite to further property development.
D. 
The facilities are within the corporate limits or within 10 miles of the corporate limits.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
The requirement for the city to enter a water or sewer latecomer contract under the preceding section shall only be applicable if the water or sewer facilities are consistent with all applicable comprehensive plans and development regulations of the city. Unless the city gives the owner written notice of its intent to request a comprehensive plan amendment, the owner must request and secure a comprehensive plan amendment for the water or sewer facility, if required.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
Connection of the water or sewer facility to the municipal system is subject to the following conditions:
A. 
The water or sewer facility has been constructed to plans and specifications approved by the city.
B. 
The water or sewer facilities have been inspected and approved by the city.
C. 
The water or sewer facilities have been transferred to the city, without cost to the city, upon acceptance by the city.
D. 
The owner has fully complied with all of the owner's obligations under the latecomer reimbursement contract and with the city's rules and regulations.
E. 
The owner has provided sufficient security to the city to ensure completion of the water or sewer facility and other performance under the contract.
F. 
The owner has paid the city all of its costs associated with the water or sewer facility, including, but not limited to, engineering, legal and administrative costs.
G. 
The city has verified and approved all of the owner's contracts and costs related to the water or sewer facility.
H. 
The facility has been inspected and approved by the city, transferred to the city without cost and all contracts and costs related to the facility have been verified.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
A. 
The latecomer reimbursement contract shall provide for the pro rata reimbursement in the amount established in the latecomer reimbursement contract to the owner or owner's assigns for a period of 20 years by any owner of property who did not contribute to the original cost of construction, is within the identified benefited area and subsequently taps into or uses the water or sewer facilities within the period that the latecomer reimbursement is effective.
B. 
The latecomer reimbursement contract may provide for extension of the 20-year period for the duration of any moratorium, phasing ordinance, concurrency designation, or other governmental action that prevents making applications for, or the approval of, any new development within the benefit area for a period of six months or more. Any amendment extending the reimbursement period must specify the duration of the extension and must be filed and recorded with the county auditor. Property owners who are subject to the reimbursement obligations under this section shall be notified of the contract extension under this subsection.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
The latecomer reimbursement contract shall include a provision requiring that every two years from the date of execution a property owner entitled to reimbursement under a latecomer reimbursement contract must provide the city with information regarding the current contact name, address and telephone number of the person, company, or partnership that originally entered the contract. If the property owner fails to comply with this requirement within 60 days of the specified time, the city may collect any reimbursement fees owed to the property owner under the contract, and deposit such funds in the city's capital fund.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
A. 
The city engineer or authorized agent shall determine the boundaries of the reimbursement area for all applications based upon the identification of parcels located so that they may subsequently tap into or use the same, including not only those which may connect directly thereto, but also those who may connect to laterals or branches connecting thereto, based on city codes and standards.
B. 
The amount of the latecomer fee shall be established so that each property subject to the latecomer fee will pay a fair pro rata share of the costs of the improvements as determined by any appropriate method, including but not limited to determining the total capacity of the water or sewer improvements expressed in equivalent residential units (ERUs) and dividing the total cost by the number of ERUs created by construction or added by improvement of the water or sewer facility.
C. 
The amount of the latecomer reimbursement fee shall be estimated on the best information available for any public hearing. The actual latecomer reimbursement fee shall be determined after construction and verification of all costs.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
A public hearing shall be held before the city council with regard to the reimbursement area boundaries and the amount of the latecomer reimbursement fee. Notice containing the name of the applicant, a description and the location of the proposed water or sewer improvements, a map of the reimbursement area boundaries, and the preliminary estimate of the latecomer reimbursement fee shall be sent by first-class and certified mail, return receipt requested, to the property owners within the proposed reimbursement area not less than 21 days prior to the date set for the public hearing. The applicant shall provide the city with the list of the names and addresses of persons entitled to notice under this section 45 days prior to the date of the public hearing, and the applicant shall be solely responsible for the correctness of that list, and shall defend and indemnify the city against any suit or claim that a person entitled to notice did not receive notice due to an error in the list.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
A. 
Prior to the collection of any latecomer fees, the latecomer reimbursement contract agreement must be recorded with the Chelan County auditor. It shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant to record the reimbursement agreement.
B. 
Within 30 days after receipt of evidence that the latecomer reimbursement contract has been recorded, the public works director shall record a notice of additional water or sewer facility tap or connection charges with the Chelan County auditor's office as required by RCW 65.08.170.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
Within 120 days of the completion of a water or sewer facility, the owner of the real estate must submit the total cost of the water or sewer facility to the city. The city shall use the total cost as the basis for determination of the actual latecomer reimbursement fee to be paid by owners of real property who subsequently tap into or use the contracted water or sewer facilities and who did not contribute to the original cost of construction.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
Upon completion of the water and sewer facilities constructed pursuant to a water or sewer latecomer reimbursement contract in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and requirements of the contract, the city council shall approve and accept such facilities, and shall charge such water or sewer rates as established by ordinance and shall thereafter be responsible for maintenance and operation of the water or sewer facilities.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
A. 
No person, firm or corporation shall be granted a permit or otherwise authorized to tap into or use any water or sewer facilities subject to a latecomer reimbursement contract without first paying to the city, in addition to any and all other costs and charges made or assessed for such tap or use, the latecomer fee required by the provisions of the latecomer reimbursement contract under which such facilities were constructed.
B. 
All amounts so collected by the city shall be paid out under the terms of the latecomer reimbursement contract within 60 days after receipt.
C. 
Whenever any tap or connection is made into any such contracted water or sewer facility without the latecomer fee having been first paid, the city may remove, or cause to be removed, such unauthorized tap or connection and all connecting tile or pipe located in the facility right-of-way and dispose of unauthorized material so removed without any liability whatsoever.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)
The city shall have no liability to any person, corporation or partnership entitled to payment of latecomer fees collected by the city for the city's failure to collect latecomer fees unless such failure was willful or intentional.
(Ord. 1483 § 2, 2014)