A. Any party desiring to connect to the sanitary sewer system shall be subject to the sewer system development fee listed in the rate schedule. Any future increases to the development fees will be adopted by City Council resolution after conducting a public hearing.
B. Exemptions. All properties currently being assessed the sewer use charge shall be exempt from paying the sewer system development fee except as provided in section 7-3-10C. below.
C. Increased Sewer Use: Whenever a property owner requests a permit to connect an additional sewer service on their property said owner shall pay to the City a sewer system development fee. No refund shall be made to any sewer users who decrease their total services to their property.
D. Credit for Excess Capacity: When an applicant for a sewer connection permit is required to pay for sewer improvements that are extra capacity, general benefit facilities, the applicant may request that the cost for the extra capacity paid by the applicant become a credit against the sewer system development fee for properties of the applicant served by installed sewer improvements. The Public Works Director will determine the amount of the credit based upon the cost of the approved extra capacity, general benefit facilities.
E. Payment: The sewer system development fee is to be paid in full by the party seeking connection before a sewer connection permit for connection of the sewer to a building is issued.
F. Payment Alternatives: Arrangements for alternative means of payment may be made as described in the following:
1. The sewer system development fee may be paid through a special improvement district at the discretion of the City.
2. A property owner whose sewer system development fee will exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) may execute a written agreement with the City to pay any required sewer development fee in equal, semi-annual payments for a number of years not exceeding a total of five years with no interest charge on the outstanding balance owed for the sewer system development fee. These equal, semi-annual installments shall be due and payable on November 30 and May 31 of each year. In addition to the required sewer system development fee, property owner shall pay an administrative fee, as specified in the utility rate schedule, per sewer connection to the City to initiate and administer this agreement. The administrative fee is to be paid to the City prior to initiating the agreement and deposited in the City General Fund.
3. Sewer system development fee semi-annual payments not paid on the due date shall be a lien upon the real property subject to the fee until paid and may be assessed a penalty pursuant to the rate schedule.
G. Use of Fee: All funds received in payment of the sewer system development fee shall be deposited in a segregated account. Funds shall be expended for expansion inclusive of payment of debt service for general benefit sewer facilities. General benefit sewer facilities are defined as public sewer treatment facilities, public sewer lift stations, and public sewer collection system except sewer mains less than ten (10") inches in diameter. Expenditures of these funds shall be set forth by the City Council in its capital improvements program and/or annual budget.
H. Appeals: A decision made by the Public Works Director under this ordinance may be appealed to the City Council. (Ord. 283, 11-15-2022)