(A) Area Capital Charge.
(1) The area capital charge is to be paid at the time at which a building permit or a sewer connection permit is issued for all new buildings 121 square feet or more in area, even if that building is not connected to the wastewater treatment system, and also for all existing buildings which become connected to the wastewater treatment system.
(2) No charge shall be due upon the issuance of a connection permit if an area capital charge was paid upon issuance of a building permit.
(3) A unit of sewage volume is 1 single-family residence with a theoretical contribution of less than 222 mg/l of BOD and 268 mg/l of Total Suspended Solids, and sewage flow of 75,000 gallons per year. The equivalent units of sewage volume shall be assigned as follows:
a
Standard Sewage Volume Units for Various Residential Dwellings | ||
Facility Description | Parameter | Units |
Single family houses, townhouses, and duplex units | 1.0 Unit | |
Condominiums and apartment units | 0.8 Unit | |
Mobile Homes | 1.0 Unit | |
Arena/Auditorium | 110 Seats | 1.0 Unit |
Automobile Service | 2 Service Bays | 1.0 Unit |
Banquet Room | 1000 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Bar/Lounge/Coffee Shop | 600 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Barber Shop/Beauty Salon | Each | 1.0 Unit |
Bowling Alley | 3 Alleys | 1.0 Unit |
Car Wash - Self Service | 1 Stall | 3.0 Unit |
Car Wash - Service Station | Each | 4.0 Unit |
Churches | 250 Seats | 1.0 Unit |
aSee Appendix A, Criteria for Commercial Uses, Metropolitan Council, 2005.
Standard Sewage Volume Units for Various Commercial, Public and Institutional Facilities | ||
Facility Description | Parameter | Units |
Daycare (Licensed) | 14 Children | 1.0 Unit |
Exercise Area/Gum | 700 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Fast Service Restaurant | 600 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Funeral Home | 770 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
General Office Building | 4000 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Golf Course | 18 Hole | 3.0 Units |
9 Hole | 2.0 Units | |
Golf Dome/Driving Range | 6 Driving Stations | 1.0 Unit |
Greenhouse | 5000 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Handball/Racquetball/Basketball | 1 Court | 2.0 Units |
Hospitals | 1 Bed | 1.0 Unit |
Laundromats | 4 Washing Machines | 1.0 Unit |
Motels and Hotels | 2 Rooms | 1.0 Unit |
Museum/Gallery | 2400 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Nursing Home/Assisted Living | 3 Beds | 1.0 Unit |
Restaurant, Drive-In | 10 Parking Spaces | 1.0 Unit |
Restaurant | 600 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Retail Store | 3,000 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
Rooming House | 7 Beds | 1.0 Unit |
Schools (Elementary) | 20 Students | 1.0 Unit |
Schools (Secondary) | 15 Students | 1.0 Unit |
Service Station (gas pumping only) | Each | 1.0 Unit |
Service Station with Service Center | Each | 2.0 Unit |
Service Station with Service Center and Car Wash | Each | 8.0 Unit |
Standard Sewage Volume Units for Various Commercial, Public and Institutional Facilities | ||
Facility Description | Parameter | Units |
Swimming Pool | Each | 1.0 Unit |
Theater | 50 Seats | 1.0 Unit |
Theater, Drive-In | 50 Parking Spaces | 1.0 Unit |
Warehouses | Up to 10,000 Square Feet | 2.0 Units |
Each additional 10,000 Square Feet or portion thereof | 1.0 Additional Unit | |
Yard Storage Buildings | 15,000 Square Feet | 1.0 Unit |
(a) The areas listed in the parameters above include all interior areas utilized by the public and the estimated number of employees for the conduct of the facility.
(b) The number of standard sewage volume units for a facility not included in the above list shall be determined by the Council. A request for determination should be made prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(c) Each new building or structure 121 square feet or more in area shall be charged a minimum 1.0 REU. Each use for a multi-use building shall be charged a minimum 1.0 REU.
(d) An alteration or addition to an existing building or structure will be charged a minimum of 1,0 REU at the time the building permit is issued in any of the following situations:
1. The structure is enlarged and made greater than 121 square feet after the alteration or addition;
2. The alteration or addition requires an increased size of utility services;
3. The alteration or addition increases the number of REUs in the building; or
4. Construction of a new building on the same parcel as existing buildings.
The number of REUs resulting from an alteration or addition will be figured using the table above.
(e) The dollar amount of the area capital charge imposed in a situation described above will be a minimum $500 per REU, regardless of the cost of the alteration or addition. The additional area capital charge plus the minimum $500 shall not exceed 25% of the estimated value of the alteration or addition as determined by the Building Official who shall apply the International Building Code. The area capital charge is in addition to the building permit cost pursuant to the International Building Code.
(f) Alterations meeting all of the following conditions shall be exempt from paying the area capital and connection charges:
1. The alteration is necessitated by destruction to the previously existing building caused by fire, a natural disaster or act of god;
2. The alteration does not increase the square footage of the previously existing structure;
3. Application for the building permit for the alteration must be made within 6 months after the fire, natural disaster or act of god; and
4. The alteration will not necessitate an increase in the service size of the utility.
(g) The area capital charge shall be set and adjusted from time to time through resolution in the city fee schedule.
(B) General User Charges.
(1) Operations/maintenance/repair and debt service charges to general users shall be composed of a minimum charge per connection, and a use charge based on water meter records per billing period.
(2) The OM&R user charge for a particular user is calculated by multiplying the charge/1000 gallons by the user’s average winter water consumption volume as determined by water meter readings for that billing period. If average winter usage is not available, then the charge is multiplied by the current water consumption. OM&R User Charge = (Charge/1000 gallons) x (Average Winter Use)
(C) No Water Meter. If a general user does not have a water meter, the user charge for operation and maintenance shall be based on the equivalent standard number of sewage volume units, where the determination of the number of units shall be the same as used for the area capital charge. Therefore, a unit sewage volume shall be 75,000 gallons per year.
(D) Unmetered Water.
(1) If a person feels that a significant amount of metered water does not reach the sanitary sewer, the person can, at his or her own expense, with approval of the city, install such additional meters or metered services as are necessary to calculate the volume of water not discharged to the sanitary sewer.
(2) Metered water not discharged to the sanitary sewers shall not be subject to sewer service charges. Requests to install additional meters must be made in writing to the city.
(E) Itemized Costs. The City Council shall itemize the various unit costs.
(F) Additional Costs. Any additional costs caused by discharges to the treatment facilities of toxics or other incompatible wastes, including the cost of restoring wastewater treatment services, clean-up and restoration of the receiving waters and environs, shall be borne by the discharger(s) of the wastes, at no expense to the city.
(Prior Code, § 3.31) (Am. Ord. 2007-007, passed 5-7-2007; Am. Ord. 13, passed 9-4-2007; Am. Ord. 2010-01, passed 3-1-2010)