For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply: Words in the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular; words used in the present tense shall include the future tense. The word “shall” is mandatory and not discretionary. The word “may” is permissive. Words not defined in this section shall be construed to have the meaning given by common and ordinary use as defined in the latest edition of Webster’s Dictionary.
(a) “Base rate” shall mean the storm water user’s fee for residential property within the City.
(b) “Construction” means the erection, building, acquisition, alteration, reconstruction, improvement, or extension of storm water facilities; preliminary planning to determine the economic and engineering feasibility of storm water facilities; the engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal, and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, and other action necessary in the construction of storm water facilities; and the inspection and supervision of the construction of storm water facilities.
(c) “Developed property,” means real property which has been altered from its natural state by the creation or addition of impervious areas, by the addition of any buildings, structures, pavement, or other improvements.
(d) “Equivalent residential unit” or “ERU” means the average square footage of a residentially zoned property determined pursuant to this chapter.
(Ord. 05-48. Passed 11-21-05.)
(e) “Exempt Property” means all public rights of way, public streets, public alleys, public sidewalks and all unimproved land owned by federal, state, and local governments. (Ord. 12-18. Passed 4-2-12.)
(f) “Fee” or “Storm water user fees” means the charge established under this chapter and levied on owners or users of parcels to fund the costs of storm water management and of operating, maintaining, and improving the storm water system in the City. The storm water user fees are in addition to any other fee that the City has the right to charge under any other rule or regulation of the City.
(g) “Impervious surface” means a surface which is compacted or covered with material that is resistant to infiltration by water, including, but not limited to, most conventionally surfaced streets, roofs, sidewalks, patios, driveways, parking lots, athletic courts, or any other surface which impedes the natural infiltration of surface water.
(h) “Impervious surface area” means the number of square feet of horizontal surface covered by buildings and other impervious surface.
(i) “Other developed property” means property other than residential property. Such property shall include, but not be limited to, commercial properties, industrial properties, parking lots, hospitals, schools, recreational and cultural facilities, hotels, offices, and churches.
(j) “Person” means any and all persons, natural or artificial, including any individual, firm, or association, and any municipal or private corporation organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state.
(k) “Residential property” means a developed property which serves the primary purpose of providing a permanent dwelling unit to a single family. A separate unit within a multi-family building is included in this definition.
(l) “Storm water” means storm water runoff, snow melt runoff, surface runoff, street wash waters related to street cleaning or maintenance, infiltration, and drainage.
(m) “Storm water fund” or “fund” means the fund created to operate, maintain, and improve the City’s storm water system.
(n) “Storm water management” means the planning, design, construction, regulation, improvement, repair, maintenance, and operation of facilities and programs relating to water, flood plains, flood control, grading, erosion, tree conservation, and sediment control.
(o) “Surface water” includes waters upon the surface of the earth in bounds created naturally or artificially including, but not limited to, streams, other watercourses, lakes, and reservoirs.
(p) “User” shall mean the account holder of record with the City Water Billing Department subject to the storm water user fees imposed by this chapter.
(Ord. 05-48. Passed 11-21-05.)