Chapter 29 Stormwater System

To provide environmental protection to the waters of the state consistent with the State and Federal Clean Water Acts;

To regulate discharges into the City of Kalamazoo's stormwater system;

To remove existing and prevent the introduction of pollutants into the City's stormwater system, and the degradation that said constituents may cause to the environment;

To require permits for connections to the system and to prohibit nonpermitted connections; and

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs)

To establish legal authority to inspect and monitor use of the City's stormwater system to ensure compliance with this chapter, and to establish sanctions for those who violate this chapter.

§ 29-2 Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following shall mean:

ACT

Act 230, of the Public Acts of 1972, as amended, commonly known as the "Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act," and includes all international or national codes, including such codes' rules or appendices, as more fully set forth in Section 4 of the Act.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

Devices or practices consistent with the guidelines set forth in the most current MDEQ Guidebook of BMPs for Michigan Watersheds, or equivalent practices and design criteria that accomplish the purposes of this chapter, as approved by the Department, that prevent pollutants from entering into stormwater flows, that direct the flow of stormwater, or that treat polluted water before it enters the stormwater system.

DISCHARGE PERMIT

A permit issued by the Department of Public Services ("Department"), Engineering Division or other division as designated by the Director to a user for a discharge into the City's stormwater drainage system.

FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)

An official map of a community, issued by the FEMA, where the boundaries of the flood, mudslide (i.e., mudflow) related erosion areas having special hazards have been designated as Zone A, M and/or E.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

FLOOD or FLOODING

A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

The overflow of inland or tidal waters;

The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source;

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS

Mudflows; and

The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding, as defined in Subsection A(1) of this definition.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

FLOODPLAIN

Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source (see definition of "flooding").

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT

The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, and floodplain management regulations.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

In addition to this chapter, zoning ordinances, land division regulations, building codes, health regulations, and other applications of police power that provide standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

ILLICIT CONNECTION

Any method or means for conveying an illicit discharge into the stormwater drainage system of the City.

ILLICIT DISCHARGE

Any direct or indirect non-stormwater discharge (or seepage) to the stormwater system that is not composed entirely of stormwater or uncontaminated groundwater, except as exempted in this chapter. These are considered illicit because municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) are not designed to accept, process or discharge such discharges.

MDEQ

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

MS4

Municipal separate storm sewer system, as defined by federal and state laws.

NPDES

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, as addressed in 33 U.S.C. § 1342(b) and the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended.

NPDES STORMWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT

A permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [or a state under authority delegated pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1342(b)] that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general area-wide basis. For the purposes of this chapter, the subject NPDES permit is issued to the City by the MDEQ.

PERSON

Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity recognized by law.

POLLUTANT

Any substance which, alone or in combination with other substances, if discharged to waters of the state in sufficient quantities, causes or contributes to, or has the potential to cause or contribute to, a violation of a federal, state, or local water quality standard, a nuisance, or to render such waters harmful, detrimental or injurious to public health, safety or welfare, or to domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate beneficial uses or to any organism, aquatic life, plant or animal. Pollutants may include, but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents; oil and other automotive fluids; nonhazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, ordinances, and accumulations, so that same may cause or contribute to pollution; sediment; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; residues that result from constructing a building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.

STORMWATER

Run off from natural precipitation, including snowmelt, as well as other surface runoff and drainage that flow via natural or man-made drainage ways.

STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM (STORMWATER SYSTEM)

Any mode of conveyance that allows or permits the flow of stormwater to waters of the state, excluding combined sewer systems and sanitary sewer systems (separate stormwater systems are not intended to carry sanitary wastewater). The conveyance may be opened or enclosed, public or private, and may contain nonstormwater discharges. Specifically, the stormwater system includes all of the City's storm sewer infrastructures and natural drainage designs that are intended to collect, control, and provide a method of conveyance, discharge, and perhaps treatment of stormwater. This may include roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, inlets, curbs, gutters, ditches, and man-made swales, channels, wetlands, storm drains, outfalls, and treatment structures.

STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN (SWPPP)

A document, which describes the best management practices (BMPs) and activities be implemented by a person or business to identify known or potential sources of pollution or contamination at a site and the actions to eliminate or reduce pollutant discharges to stormwater, stormwater drainage ways, and/or receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable.

STRUCTURE

Anything built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

WASTEWATER

Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater, discharged from a facility.

WATERS OF THE STATE

Great Lakes and their connecting waters, all inland lakes, rivers, streams, impoundments, open drains, and other surface bodies of water within the confines of the state. It does not include drainage ways and ponds used solely for wastewater conveyance, treatment, or control.

§ 29-3 Responsibility for administration.

[Amended 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846]

The City's Department of Public Services ("Department") shall administer, implement and enforce the provisions of this chapter. For purposes of floodplain management regulations, the Department will work in conjunction with the City's building officials in performing such responsibilities. In addition, any other powers granted or duties imposed upon the Department may be delegated in writing by the Department Director to third parties as the Director deems appropriate.

§ 29-4 Discharge prohibitions.

Prohibition of illicit discharges.

A person shall not discharge, directly or indirectly, any pollutant into the City's stormwater system, except in quantities expressly authorized by an approved NPDES permit or by a plan for compliance, or that are consistent with the utilization of best management practices.

A person shall not improperly store, handle, or apply any pollutant in a manner that will cause its exposure to rainfall or runoff or otherwise cause it to discharge into the stormwater system, except in quantities explicitly authorized by an approved NPDES permit or by a plan for compliance, or that are consistent with the utilization of best management practices.

The following shall not be deemed to be an illegal discharge (unless identified by the Department as a source of pollutants or deemed to be an interference to the proper operation and maintenance of the stormwater drainage system):

(a)

Water supply line flushing, landscape irrigation runoff, diverted stream flows, rising groundwaters, uncontaminated groundwater infiltration [as defined by 40 CFR 35.2005 (20)], pumped groundwater (except for groundwater cleanups not specifically authorized by NPDES permits), discharges from potable water sources, foundation drains, air conditioning condensate, irrigation water, springs, water from crawl space pumps, footing drains and basement sump pumps, lawn watering runoff, waters from noncommercial car washing, flows from riparian habitats and wetlands, and residual street wash waters, discharges or flows from emergency fire fighting activities;

(b)

Residential swimming pool discharges so long as the pool waters have been effectively de-chlorinated (less than 0.5 parts per million chlorine) and so long as the discharge does not occur during times of heavy rains (nonresidential/commercial swimming pools are regulated under Chapter 34, Swimming Pools, of the Kalamazoo Code and Chapter 28, Wastewater Discharge Regulations and Enforcement Procedures);

(c)

Discharges specified by the Department as being necessary to protect public health and safety;

(d)

Dye testing using MDEQ or Department approved dyes, so long as preceded by a written notification to and approval from the Department; and

(e)

Any nonstormwater discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency or MDEQ, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit or order, and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the stormwater system.

No person shall place any material in or around any stormwater system component, including catch basins, inlets, manholes, culverts, pipes, or natural watercourse, if such material acts to significantly obstruct or clog the stormwater system or stormwater flow. This prohibition shall not apply to the temporary placement of material as acceptable and consistent with official City material collection programs and policies (such as leaf or brush pickups).

A person may not discharge fluids into or towards the stormwater system if such discharge accumulates and freezes on a street or sidewalk, or is reasonably likely to do so.

Prohibition of illicit connections.

No person shall construct, use, maintain, or allow to continue to exist a connection to the stormwater system unless first permitted to do so by the City's Department of Public Services, Engineering Division or other department designated division.

This requirement includes, without limitation, connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.

A person is considered to be in violation of this chapter if the person connects a conduit conveying wastewater to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue.

§ 29-5 Floodplain management.

[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 1846;[1] amended 2-1-2010 by Ord. No. 1866; 7-15-2024 by Ord. No. 2084]

Pursuant to the provisions of the state construction code, in accordance with Section 8b(6) of Act 230, of the Public Acts of 1972,[2] as amended, the City is hereby designated as the enforcing agency to discharge its responsibility under the Act and assumes responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the Act, including Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code, as amended, throughout its corporate limits.

[2]

Editor's Note: See MCLA § 125.1508b.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Study(-ies) entitled "Kalamazoo County, Michigan, All Jurisdictions," effective July 31, 2024, and the Flood Insurance Rate Map(s) (FIRMs) panel number(s) included on index panel number 26077CIND0B dated July 31, 2024, are adopted by reference for the purposes of administration of the Michigan Construction Code, and declared to be a part of Section 1612.3 of the Michigan Building Code, and to provide the content of the "Flood Hazards" section of Table R301.2(1) of the Michigan Residential Code.

Map No.		Date	Type
1	26077C0169E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
2	26077C0175E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
3	26077C0179E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
4	26077C0180E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
5	26077C0185E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
6	26077C0186E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
7	26077C0187E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
8	26077C0188E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
9	26077C0189E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
10	26077C0191E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
11	26077C0195E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
12	26077C0285E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
13	26077C0301E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
14	26077C0302E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
15	26077C0310E	July 31, 2024	FIRM
Index	26077CIND08	July 31, 2024	FIRM

In performing the responsibilities under § 29-3, the Department and building officials shall administer, apply, and enforce the floodplain management regulations as contained in the State Construction Code[3] (including Appendix G) and to be consistent with those regulations by:

Obtaining, reviewing and reasonably utilizing flood elevation data available from federal, state, or other sources pending receipt of data from FEMA to identify the flood hazard area and areas with potential flooding.

Ensuring that all permits necessary for development in floodplain areas have been issued, including a floodplain permit, approval, or letter of no authority from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality under the floodplain regulatory provisions of Part 31, Water Resources Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451,[4] as amended.

[4]

Editor's Note: See MCLA § 324.3101 et seq.

Reviewing all permit applications to determine whether the proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding. Where it is determined that a proposed building will be located in a flood hazard area or special flood hazard area, the Construction Code Act enforcing agent shall implement the following applicable codes according to their terms:

(a)

Floodplain management regulation provisions, and referenced codes and standards, of the Michigan Residential Code, as amended.

(b)

Floodplain management regulation provisions, and referenced codes and standards, of the Michigan Building Code, as amended.

(c)

Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code, as amended.

Reviewing all proposed subdivisions or land divisions to determine whether such proposals are reasonably safe from flooding and to ensure compliance with all applicable floodplain management regulations.

Assisting in the delineation of flood hazard areas; providing information concerning uses and occupancy of the floodplain or flood-related erosion areas, maintaining floodproofing and lowest floor construction records, cooperating with other officials, agencies, and persons for floodplain management.

(6)

Advising FEMA of any changes in City boundaries, including appropriate maps.

(7)

Maintaining records of new structures and substantially improved structures concerning any certificates of floodproofing, lowest floor elevation, basements, floodproofing, and elevations to which structures have been floodproofed .

[3]

Editor's Note: See MCLA § 125.1501 et seq.

In conjunction with this section, the City has adopted a "Resolution to Manage Floodplain Development for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)," and may from time to time adopt other resolutions in order for the city to continue to participate in the NFIP.

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 29-5 through 29-17 as §§ 29-6 through 29-18, respectively.

§ 29-6 Compliance with other permits.

Any person subject to a NPDES stormwater discharge permit, City of Kalamazoo soil erosion and sedimentation control permit, or City of Kalamazoo site plan review shall comply with all provisions of such permit or approvals. Proof of compliance with said permits or approvals may be required in a form acceptable to the Department prior to the allowing of discharges to the MS4.

§ 29-7 Monitoring of discharges.

Access to facilities.

As a condition to having a connection to the City's stormwater system, an industrial or commercial facility shall permit the Department to enter and inspect at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner to determine compliance with this chapter. Such entry and inspection may include but not be limited to sampling, analysis, dye testing, smoke testing, remote video inspection (Tving), and examination and/or copying of records that are required by this chapter to be maintained.

The Department may require a commercial or industrial facility that discharges into the City's stormwater system to install devices as are reasonably necessary to monitor and/or sample the facility's stormwater discharge. In the alternative, and at the City's option, the City may install such devices. All such devices shall be calibrated to ensure accuracy.

§ 29-8 Requirement to prevent, control, and reduce stormwater pollutants by the use of best management practices.

The City is hereby empowered to seek assistance from any court of competent jurisdiction in obtaining entry to a facility if the Department has been refused access to any part of the premises from which stormwater originates and/or is discharged, and if the Department is able to demonstrate probable cause to believe that there may be a violation of this chapter, or that there is a need to inspect and/or sample as part of a routine inspection and sampling program designed to verify compliance with this chapter or any order issued hereunder, or to protect the overall public health, safety, and welfare of the community. In addition, or in the alternative, the Department, if denied entry, may terminate the facility's connection to the stormwater system. Such termination must be preceded by written notice to the facility of such intent.

If the owner or operator of a facility does not provide reasonable protection from illicit discharge, the Department may require best management practices (BMPs) and/or stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) for a facility that discharges, or is reasonably suspected of discharging, pollution into the stormwater system, at the facility's expense. A BMP shall be consistent with the guidelines set forth in the most current MDEQ Guidebook of BMPs for Michigan Watersheds, or equivalent practices and design criteria that accomplish the purposes of this chapter, as approved by the Department. A BMP and/or a SWPPP, which may be imposed even if the facility is subject to a NPDES permit, shall be communicated in writing by the Department to the facility.

If the facility believes all or a portion of the BMP or SWPPP is unreasonable, it may appeal it to the Department Director. Such an appeal must be in writing and must be received by the Department Director within 14 days of when the BMP and/or SWPPP notification is received by the facility. In the absence of such an appeal, the facility shall implement the BMP and/or SWPPP before the deadline stipulated by the Department in the original written notification regarding the BMP requirement. If an appeal is denied, the facility shall implement the BMP and/or SWPPP within a deadline stipulated by the Department in the appeal denial notification letter. The required BMP implementation time period will be based on the severity of the specific situation and may range from one day to 45 days.

§ 29-9 Notification of spills.

Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person responsible for a facility, or responsible for emergency response for a facility, has information of a release, or suspected release, of pollutants into the stormwater system, said person shall take all reasonable and necessary steps to discover, contain, and clean up such release, including, if necessary, contacting emergency response agencies. Said person shall also notify the Department of the discharge either in person, by telephone, or by facsimile as soon as possible, but in no event more than six hours after learning of the release.

All spill notifications provided to the Department in person or by telephone shall be documented by said person in writing and mailed to the Department within five business days of said incident. Such written notice shall specify the following: the composition of the discharge and the cause thereof; the exact date, time, and estimated volume of the discharge; all measures taken to clean up the discharge, and all measures proposed to be taken to reduce and prevent any recurrence; the name and telephone number of the person making the report, and the name of the person who may be contacted for additional information on the matter. The person shall also provide the Department with copies of all documents the person submits to state or federal agencies relating to the same release.

§ 29-10 Records, reports, sampling and analysis.

A facility shall prepare and maintain records and/or conduct such testing and analysis as deemed necessary by the Department to insure compliance with a BMP or a SWPPP. The facility shall make such records and test results available to the Department upon request. The owner or operator shall retain a copy of the written notice, all books, drawings, plans, prints, documents, memoranda, reports, correspondence, and records, including records on magnetic or electronic media, and any and all summaries of such records relating to monitoring, sampling, and chemical analysis of any discharge or stormwater runoff from any property for at least five years.

§ 29-11 Enforcement.

Whenever the Department finds that a person has violated a provision of this chapter, the Department may order compliance by issuing a written notice of violation to the responsible person. Such notice may require one or more of the following:

The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;

The elimination of an illicit connection or discharge;

That violating discharges, practices, or operations cease and desist;

The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination hazards and the restoration of any affected property;

The abatement and correction of any degradation of riparian habitat and aquatic life caused by the failure to design, install, operate, or maintain sediment control, stormwater management, or agricultural BMPs in accordance with an approved sediment control plan, stormwater plan, sediment control permit, Soil Conservation and Quality Plan, or plan for compliance;

(6)

The reimbursement to the City in an amount sufficient to reimburse the City for all reasonable administrative and remediation costs; and

(7)

The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.

If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property is required, the notice shall set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said notice shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the established deadline, the work may be done by the Department, with the expense thereof charged to the violator.

§ 29-12 Appeal of notice of violation.

Any person receiving a notice of violation may appeal the determination to the Department Director. The notice of appeal must be received by the Director within 30 days from the date of the notice of violation and identify the matter being appealed and the basis for the appeal. The Director shall address the appeal within 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The Director will consider the appeal and make a decision whereby it affirms, rejects, or modifies the action being appealed. In considering any such appeal, the Director may consider the recommendations of its staff and the comments of other persons having knowledge of the matter.

In considering all such appeals, the Director may grant a variance from the terms of this chapter so as to provide relief, in whole or in part from the action being appealed, but only upon finding that the following requirements are satisfied:

The application of the chapter provisions being appealed will present or cause unreasonable difficulties for a facility; and