The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be titled “Stormwater Management Program Rate Structure.”
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016; Ord. 549 (2017) § 2, 2017)
The purpose of this chapter is to establish the regulatory fees necessary to carry out the stormwater management program contemplated within RCW 36.89.020 and Chapter 12.36 by fixing rates and charges pursuant to RCW 36.89.080. These fees support the furnishing of surface and stormwater-related services to those properties that are or may be served by a stormwater drainage system, those that receive or may receive benefits from any stormwater drainage system, and those properties contributing to stormwater runoff within Kitsap County. This authority is being invoked in order to minimize property damage; promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare; minimize water quality degradation, pollution, and damage to water resources; protect drinking water aquifers; ensure the safety of county roads and rights-of-way; increase educational and recreational opportunities; encourage the retention of open space; and foster other generally beneficial public uses.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016; Ord. 549 (2017) § 3, 2017; Ord. 599 (2021) § 52, 2021)
The requirements of this chapter shall apply to all parcels of real property in unincorporated Kitsap County, including public and private property.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016)
All property shall have a base service charge of one equivalent service unit (ESU), which is four thousand two hundred square feet of impervious surface area as defined in Chapter 12.08, except when modified by measured impervious surface area as provided herein. This base charge contemplates not only the direct impacts of parcel impervious surface on runoff to the county stormwater drainage system, but also the indirect impacts of the land use on the county roads and other public infrastructure that are impacted by stormwater and which the county manages for the protection of life and property. The adopted unit rate may vary between the following property classes:
(1) 
Class 1: Single-family residential property shall have the service charge of one ESU multiplied by the unit rate. Such service charge will not be affected by the existence of other uses of the property so long as the single-family residential use is the primary use.
(2) 
Class 2: State roads shall have a service charge of thirty percent of the base service charge in accordance with RCW 90.03.525.
(3) 
Class 3: County roads shall have a service charge of measured impervious surface area divided by the square footage of one ESU (four thousand two hundred), rounded to the nearest ESU but not less than one, multiplied by the unit rate.
(4) 
Class 4: Undeveloped land shall have no service charge.
(5) 
Class 5: All other property shall have the service charge of measured impervious surface area divided by the square footage of one ESU (four thousand two hundred), rounded to the nearest ESU but not less than one, multiplied by the unit rate. These service charges may be reduced as follows:
(A) 
Rainwater Harvesting Rate Reduction. Any developed parcel that is retrofitted for rainwater harvesting may receive a fifty percent rate reduction for those surfaces from which the rain is harvested. To be eligible for this fifty percent rate reduction, the proponent must demonstrate through an analysis prepared by a licensed professional engineer that the system will result in zero surface water discharge for all storm events using the hydrologic methods described in the current Kitsap County or Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Design Manual[1]. The proponent is responsible for requesting the credit. The rate reduction will become effective for the calendar year following the request. Annual inspections by the department of public works to ensure proper operation and maintenance will be required to retain this rate reduction.
(B) 
Full Infiltration Rate Reduction. Any developed parcel that adds approved techniques (such as dispersion, bioretention, or infiltration) to attain one hundred percent infiltration of all site rain runoff water may receive a fifty percent rate reduction. To be eligible for this fifty percent rate reduction, the proponent must demonstrate through an analysis prepared by a licensed professional engineer that the system will result in zero surface water discharge for all storm events using the hydrologic methods described in the current Kitsap County or Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Design Manual. The proponent is responsible for requesting the credit. The rate reduction will become effective for the calendar year following the request. Annual inspections by the department of public works to ensure proper operation and maintenance will be required to retain this rate reduction.
(C) 
Direct Discharge to Tidally Influenced Waters Rate Reduction. Any developed parcel that is modified to discharge directly into Puget Sound, or directly into the tidally influenced areas of rivers and streams discharging into Puget Sound, and that utilizes approved techniques to meet current water quality treatment standards, may receive a fifty percent rate reduction. In order to obtain the fifty percent rate reduction, the proponent must demonstrate through an analysis prepared by a licensed professional engineer that the system conforms to the requirements of the current Kitsap County or Washington Department of Ecology Stormwater Design Manual (SDM), using the hydrologic methods described in the SDM, and that the site does not discharge surface runoff except through the direct discharge system. The proponent is responsible for requesting the credit. The rate reduction will become effective for the calendar year following the request. Annual inspections by the department of public works to ensure proper operation and maintenance will be required to retain this rate reduction.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016. Formerly 12.40.050; Ord. 549 (2017) § 4, 2017; Ord. 599 (2021) § 53, 2021; Ord. 629 (2023) § 1, 2023)
The unit rate for each ESU shall be established through resolution by the board of county commissioners and may be adjusted from time to time as reasonably necessary.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016. Formerly 12.40.055; Ord. 549 (2017) § 5, 2017)
(1) 
All property subject to rates and service charges pursuant to this chapter shall be assessed annually. Billing statements shall be included on the annual property tax statements. Properties which do not receive a property tax statement will receive a separate rate and service charge billing statement.
(2) 
The total amount of the service charge shall be due and payable on or before the thirtieth day of April, and shall be delinquent after that date; however, if one-half of such service charge is paid on or before the thirtieth day of April, the remainder shall be due and payable on or before the thirty-first day of October and shall be delinquent after that date.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016)
(1) 
Any person billed for service charges may file a request for service charge adjustment with the director within thirty days of the date of the bill. However, filing of such a request does not extend the period for payment of the charge.
(2) 
A request for service charge adjustment may be granted or approved by the director, subject to the county assessor’s review if modification of the assessor’s database is recommended, only when one of the following conditions exists:
(A) 
The parcel is owned and is the personal residence of a person or persons determined by the county assessor as qualified for a low income senior citizen exemption authorized under RCW 84.36.381; parcels qualifying hereunder shall be given the same percentage reduction in the service charge as in RCW 84.36.381;
(B) 
The acreage of the parcel charged is in error;
(C) 
The parcel is nonresidential and the actual impervious surface area of the parcel, as established by a licensed surveyor or engineer, is more than fifty percent of an equivalent service unit greater than or less than the estimated or measured impervious surface area used in determining the charge;
(D) 
Parcels owned or leased by a public school district which provides activities which directly benefit the stormwater management program. The activities may include: curriculum specific to the issues and problems of stormwater management, and student activities in the community to expose students to the efforts required to restore, monitor or enhance the stormwater management system. Pursuant to RCW 36.89.085, the amount of the service charge adjustment shall be determined by the director based upon the cost of the activities to the school district, but not to exceed the value of the activity to the stormwater management program. Determination of which activities qualify for the stormwater management service charge reduction will be made by the director. Reductions in stormwater management service charges will only be granted to school districts which provide programs that have been evaluated by the director. The service charge adjustment for the school district activity may be applied to any parcel in the service area which is owned or operated by the school district;
(E) 
The service charge bill was otherwise not calculated in accordance with the terms of this chapter; or
(F) 
The parcel exists in its natural unimproved condition and will remain in its natural unimproved condition with no allowable human activities or manmade improvements which adversely affect water quantity or quality.
(3) 
Service charge adjustments will only apply to the bill then due and payable, and bills subsequently issued. In the event that the county replaces estimated impervious surface area with measured impervious surface area, in the absence of an appeal, such actual impervious surface area will be used for future bills.
(4) 
The property owner shall have the burden of proving that the service charge adjustment should be granted.
(5) 
Decisions on requests for service charge adjustment shall be made by the director based on information submitted by the applicant and by the public works department within thirty days of the adjustment request, except when additional information is needed. The applicant shall be notified in writing of the director’s decision. If an adjustment is granted which reduces the service charge for the current year, the applicant shall be refunded the amount overpaid in the current year.
(6) 
If the director finds that a service charge bill has been undercharged, then either an amended bill shall be issued which reflects the increase and service charge or the undercharged amount will be added to the next year’s bill. This amended bill shall be due and payable under the provisions set forth in Section 12.40.060.
(7) 
Decisions of the director on requests for service charge adjustments shall be final unless within thirty days of the date the decision was mailed, the applicant submits in writing to the director a notice of appeal setting forth a brief statement of the grounds for appeal and requesting a hearing before the Kitsap County board of county commissioners.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016; Ord. 549 (2017) § 6, 2017)
Service charges collected under this chapter shall be deposited into a special fund or funds to be used only for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost and expense of maintaining and operating stormwater control facilities, all or any part of the cost and expense of planning, designing, establishing, acquiring, developing, constructing, maintaining and improving the stormwater management program and drainage facilities.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016; Ord. 549 (2017) § 7, 2017)
(1) 
Delinquent service charges shall bear interest as provided in RCW 36.89.090 and 36.89.092 at the rate of twelve percent per annum, or such rate as may hereafter be authorized by law, computed on a monthly basis from the date of delinquency until paid. Interest shall be calculated at the rate in effect at the time of payment of the charges regardless of when the charges were first delinquent.
(2) 
The county shall have a lien for delinquent service charges, including interest thereon, against any property subject to service charges; the lien shall be superior to all other liens and encumbrances except general taxes and local and special assessments. Such liens shall be effective and shall be enforced and foreclosed in the manner provided by RCW 36.94.150; except that the service charge lien shall be effective for a total not to exceed one year’s delinquent service charges without the necessity of any writing or recording of the lien with the county records and elections division, as provided for in RCW 36.89.093. In accordance with RCW 36.89.094, the county may commence to foreclose a stormwater management service charge lien after three years from the date stormwater management charges become delinquent, in lieu of the provisions provided for in RCW 36.94.150.
(Ord. 540 (2016) § 4 (Att. 1) (part), 2016; Ord. 549 (2017) § 8, 2017)