975.16 CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GUARANTEE.
   All permanent storm water, soil erosion, sediment control and water quality practices not specifically waived by the City shall be constructed prior to the granting of the Final Plat Approval. Upon the request of the owner, the City may defer the construction or installation of a permanent storm water, soil erosion, sediment control or water quality practice prior to the approval of the final plat where, in the City Engineer's judgment, such proper construction or installation is not immediately necessary for the protection of the public health and safety; and where the prior installation or construction of such improvement would constitute an undue hardship on the owner because in the case of new vegetation or weather conditions, or because in the case of concrete, building construction could cause cracking and excessive wear and tear on new structures. In such event, the Community shall require a Security Bond, Escrow Account, Certified Check or Cash to guarantee that such deferred improvements will be properly constructed or installed within an agreed specified time, but not to exceed six (6) months after the filing of such final plat.
   The owner will provide a maintenance guarantee for all permanent improvements, soil erosion, and sediment control and water quality practices.
   The City shall require a Security Bond, Escrow Account, Certified Check or Cash to guarantee that the planned temporary and permanent soil erosion, sediment control and water quality practices will be constructed and removed in a timely manner, as determined by the City Engineer.
   (a)    The Guarantee: The guarantee of both performance and maintenance will be in the form of a Security Bond, Escrow Account, Verified Check or Cash. The Security Bond, Escrow Account, Verified Check or Cash will be used by the Community to complete any guaranteed construction or removal of improvements or temporary and permanent soil erosion, sediment control and water quality practices that are not adequately completed, maintained or removed by the owner in a timely manner, as determined by the City Engineer. The Security Bond, Escrow Account, Verified Check or Cash will be in the total amount of both the performance guarantee and the maintenance guarantee. Ohio municipalities and counties may require performance bonds or other guarantees for water management improvement as stated in the Ohio R.C. 711.101.
      (1)    Security Bond, Escrow Account, Verified Check or Cash shall be deposited with the City prior to review by the City Engineer and/or its consultants to cover professional services of the City Engineer, Building Official, Zoning Inspector and/or other experts required by the City Engineer, City Council, City Manager or Review Boards.
      (2)    No soil disturbing activities shall be permitted until a Security Bond, Escrow Account, Verified Check or Cash has been posted to the satisfaction of the City Engineer sufficient for the City to perform the obligations otherwise to be performed by the owner or person responsible for the development area as stated in this regulation, and to allow all work to be performed as needed in the event that the owner or person responsible for the development area fails to comply with the provisions of this regulation. The Security Bond, Escrow Account Verified Check or Cash shall be released only after all work required by this regulation has been completed to the satisfaction of the City Engineer and all permit and inspection fees required by these regulations have been paid in full.
      (3)    No project subject to this regulation shall commence without the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, and Storm Water Management and Water Quality Plans having been approved by the City Engineer.
   (b)    Performance Guarantee: The furnishing of a performance guarantee will be maintained in an amount of not less than 120% of the estimate approved by the City Engineer, of installation of the deferred improvements.
   (c)    Maintenance Guarantee: The maintenance guarantee shall be maintained for a period of not less than (two) 2 years after final acceptance of the storm water, soil erosion, sediment control, and water quality practices in an amount equal to 20% of the estimate approved by the City Engineer, of the construction and, where necessary, removal of such practices.
   (d)    Time Extension: The City Engineer may extend the time allowed for the installation of the improvements for which the performance guarantee has been provided with the receipt of a written request from the owner.
   (e)   Completion: Upon completion of the construction of improvements or temporary and/or permanent, soil erosion, sediment control, and water quality practices and the removal of the temporary soil erosion, sediment control, and water quality practices for which the performance guarantee has been provided, the owner shall notify the City Engineer of this fact.
   (f)   Inspection: The City will not release the Security Bond, Escrow Account, Verified Check or Cash guarantee until the City Engineer has inspected the site to ensure that the guaranteed item(s) have been completed and/or removed.
   (g)    Release: The Construction Maintenance Guarantee shall not be released by the City until all temporary soil erosion and sediment control practices that are no longer needed have been removed, properly disposed of and any trapped sediment has been stabilized.
9Ord. 2016-68. Passed 5-2-16.)