A. Trunk Connection Fees:
1. A trunk connection fee shall be imposed upon every person initiating sewer service, changing use of a property already connected to sewer, or increasing the discharge levels of flow. The fee shall be based on values typical of the discharger category, unless otherwise addressed by separate contract.
2. Fees for a change in use or an increase in discharge levels are calculated on an incremental basis as described in subsection F of this section.
B. Treatment Connection Fees: A treatment connection fee shall be imposed upon every person initiating sewer service, changing use of a property already connected to sewer, or increasing the discharge levels of flow, BOD, TSS, NH3-N, or TP. The fee shall be based upon flow, BOD, TSS, NH3-N, or TP values typical of the discharger category, unless otherwise addressed by separate contract. Fees for a change in use or an increase in discharge levels are calculated on an incremental basis as described in subsection F of this section.
C. Equivalent Assessment Fees: Any person initiating sewer service with the City sewer system who has not otherwise paid for, or contributed proportionately toward, the costs and expenses of constructing a sewer adjacent to or passing through the property, whether that be by the City, a local improvement district, or a private developer, and who subsequently desires to connect to the sewer system, shall be required to pay an additional connection (equivalent assessment) fee computed as follows, unless otherwise approved by the Public Works Commission:
1. For lots up to eighty six thousand (86,000) square feet in area, the fee shall be calculated on the basis of the area of the lot;
2. For single-family flag lots whose area within one hundred twenty five feet (125') of the assessable frontage is less than six thousand (6,000) square feet, or lots with no assessable frontage, a minimum equivalent assessment will be calculated based on a lot of less than six thousand (6,000) square feet;
3. For lots greater than eighty six thousand (86,000) square feet in area, the fee shall be calculated on the basis of the area of the lot fronting the sewer within one hundred twenty five feet (125') of the frontage. However, in no case shall the assessment be less than that for a lot of eighty six thousand (86,000) square feet in area;
4. For single-family lots in excess of eighty six thousand (86,000) square feet in area, the frontage for the property shall only be assessed on the side of the property for which the sewer service is being provided. For all other uses, the assessed frontage shall be calculated on each side of the lot in which sewer is fronting the property, unless otherwise waived by the Public Works Commission. However, in no case shall the assessment be less than that for a lot of forty three thousand five hundred sixty (43,560) square feet in area;
5. Large lots which can legally be further subdivided in the future, and which are not fully utilized by the existing development, will only be charged for the improved area and/or logical boundary of future subdivision/development, with a minimum equivalent assessment fee equal for a lot of forty three thousand five hundred sixty (43,560) square feet;
6. For large lots over two (2) acres in size, which front two (2) or more streets and can legally be subdivided in the future, the fee shall be calculated on the average street frontage basis using the area of the lot fronting the sewer within one hundred twenty five feet (125') of the frontage. For example, a lot with frontage on two (2) streets will have the entire area within one hundred twenty five feet (125') of the frontage calculated and this area divided by two (2) to determine the average street frontage in square feet. However, in no case shall the assessment be less than that for a lot of eighty six thousand (86,000) square feet in area;
7. The equivalent assessment fee may be adjusted to reflect the benefit received by large, open space lots which have a low impact on the sewer system or other criteria as determined by the Public Works Commission. When the equivalent assessment fees for these properties create undue hardship, or fees for such properties are inequitable in the consideration of the Public Works Commission, the equivalent assessment fee shall be calculated on single-family dwelling equivalents. The fee for properties complying with all the above criteria shall be calculated by multiplying the number of single-family dwelling equivalents (SFDEs), based on fixture unit count, by the equivalent assessment amount for a lot of forty three thousand five hundred sixty (43,560) square feet. The total equivalent assessment shall not be less than the assessment for a lot of eighty six thousand (86,000) square feet.
D. New Development Eight Inch Equivalency:
1. For sewers constructed outside of a public right-of-way, an eight inch (8") equivalency fee shall be charged, based upon any or all of the following:
a. Relevant actual construction, engineering and inspection costs for other sewers constructed by the developer within the development;
b. The actual construction and engineering costs of the sewer on which the assessment is due, updated by Engineering News Record construction cost index; or
c. Any other relevant factors that may affect the amount of the assessment.
2. This fee shall be in addition to any other applicable assessment fee and may be reduced by the Public Works Department to reflect additional costs incurred by the developer to upgrade the sewer to current standards.
E. Public Service Line Fee: A fee shall be charged for each public service line provided by the City, based on the size of the service line.
F. Change Of Use: Any person changing use of a property already connected to sewer, or increasing the discharge levels of flow, BOD, TSS, NH3-N, or TP shall pay trunk and treatment fees. These fees will be based on the difference in flows and waste strengths applicable to the property change in use, or increased levels of discharge, less the flows and waste strengths applicable to the most intensive original sewer use at the property within the past ten (10) years. If for example, a single-family residence served by sewer is demolished and replaced with a restaurant, the fees will be based on the difference between the typical flows and waste strengths for a restaurant and typical flows and waste strengths for a residence.
G. Prepayment Of Connection Fees: Any owner of an existing single-family residence within the City and the City area of impact, to which City sewer system service is unavailable, may prepay the connection fees required by this section at the rates in effect at the time of prepayment, subject to the following conditions:
1. The property for which connection fees are being prepaid must have an existing single-family residence constructed on it;
2. The property owner will be required to enter into an agreement with the City which shall absolve the City of any requirement to provide sewer service to the property. This agreement shall be recorded in the Office of the Ada County Recorder;
3. A reasonable administrative fee shall be paid upon execution of the prepayment agreement to cover setup, monitoring and recording fees and costs;
4. The connection fees paid to the City prior to the provision of wastewater system service shall be paid prior to the date on which sewer becomes available; and
5. Any connection fees paid to the City prior to the provision of wastewater system service shall be in cash and shall be nonrefundable. The deferral of connection fees as provided for in section 10-2-8 of this chapter shall not be available to property owners electing to prepay connection fees.
H. Sewer Deposit For Future Connection Of New Subdivision: If a wet sewer is not adjacent to a subdivision or development of land in which the Council has required, as a condition for approving the subdivision plat or development, construction and installation of a wet line sewer served by an interim treatment system in accordance with detailed plans and specifications receiving prior approval, the subdivider or developer shall pay a deposit to the City Treasurer. This deposit shall be paid prior to the certification of the plat by the City Engineer, for the future connection of the sewer or interim treatment system to the wet sewer subsequently constructed and installed adjacent and adjoining the subdivision or development of land. The money so paid shall be deposited to the Sewage Works Fund to be used for the purposes provided in section 10-2-1-8 of this chapter. (1952 Code § 8-11-06.03)
I. Temporary Lift Station Upgrade Fee: If the Public Works Department has approved the use of a temporary lift station to serve a proposed development and if the lift station is undersized to serve the geographical area which may contribute flow to the temporary lift station, the City Council may, as a condition of approving the subdivision or development plat, require the developer to pay a fee for upgrading of the lift station and/or permanently extending the sewer to serve the development if it is needed prior to the logical extension of the gravity sewer. (Ord. 19-15, 5-12-2015; amd. Ord. 27-24, 9-24-2024)