(A) Violations of the Storm Water Ordinance generally are placed in one of two categories:
(1) Illicit connections to the storm drainage system;
(2) Illegal dumping or discharges.
(B) If the city determines that a violation has occurred, the city will contact the responsible party about the violation. The responsible party or facility is then required to take appropriate corrective measures to eliminate any illicit connections or to cease the illegal discharge as soon as possible. If the responsible party is a resident or private home, the staff informs them about the Storm Water Ordinance, explaining why illegal discharges may be harmful to the environment. The city prefers to focus on educational efforts to correct residential pollution problems, rather than issuing written enforcement actions.
(C) There are a wide variety of enforcement actions that may be taken by the City, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Warning: A warning specifying the particular violation believed to have occurred may consist of a verbal notice or a written informational letter to the property owner.
(2) Administrative action - notification of violation and citation: A notification of violation is a written notice to the property owner or manager stating the nature of the violation of the code and a description of the corrective actions to necessary to restore compliance with this code. In general, violation letters state a date by which time the noncompliance must be corrected and may include a statement warning of additional enforcement actions, including fines, if the problem is not corrected.
(3) Administrative action - emergency termination: The city may take steps to prevent or terminate an illegal discharge if the discharge presents an imminent threat of substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons or to the environment. Any person notified of an emergency order under this action shall immediately comply and stop or eliminate its endangering discharge. In the event the discharger fails to immediately comply voluntarily with the emergency order, the city may take steps necessary to prevent or minimize harm to the MS4 or waters of the United States and/or endangerment to persons or to the environment.
(4) Summary Abatement of Certain Nuisances: A nuisance, which is a menace to public health, safety and welfare, may be summarily abated or restored at the violator's expense.
(Ord. 19-2005, passed 12-5-05)