Chapter 13.08
CONNECTION CHARGES*

Sections:

13.08.010    General requirements.

13.08.020    Determination of cost--Factors to be considered.

13.08.030    Determination of cost--Procedure.

*    For statutory provisions on sewer connection charges, see Health and Saf. Code §5474.

13.08.010 General requirements.

Before a permit or permits shall be issued by the city for sewer and/or water connections to property of the type described in this section, and/or before any work is done by the city to extend existing sewer and/or water mains to serve property of the type described in this section, the procedures and requirements of this chapter shall be followed and abided by:

A.    Property outside of the city limits, which shall hereafter be annexed to the city, which property shall use existing sewer and/or water facilities for which such property shall not have made full payment of its share of the cost thereof; and/or property outside of the city limits, which shall hereafter be annexed to the city, for which property it is necessary to extend existing sewer and/or water lines in order to give sewer and/or water service to the same;

B.    Property within the city, which property shall use existing sewer and/or water facilities for which such property shall not have made full payment of its share of the cost thereof; and/or property within the city, for which property it is necessary to extend existing sewer and/or water lines in order to give sewer and/or water service to the same.  (Ord. 96 §1, 1958).

13.08.020 Determination of cost--Factors to be considered.

A.    The owner of property of the type described in subsections A and B of Section 13.08.010 applying for sewer and/or water service from the city shall, in, the manner provided in this section, pay to the city for such privilege a sum to be computed by the city engineer which is equivalent to the fair and reasonable cost to the property owner of acquiring the use of existing facilities and/or of extending new facilities to serve the property of the applicant.  In computing the cost, the city engineer shall consider, among other things, the following factors in order to arrive at a fair and reasonable sum:

1.    The cost to similar property within the city which has paid for the facilities to be acquired;

2.    The present or past cost to the city of extending existing facilities across the front footage of the property to be served;

3.    The availability of any new facilities installed for use by adjacent property owners which will share in the cost of the same on hooking up;

4.    A credit for any excess capacity installed;

5.    In regard to annexed property, any amounts for which bonds of the city are outstanding and to which the property has or will become subject to upon annexation.

B.    The sum to be determined by the city engineer under the provisions of this section shall be computed on a front footage basis.  (Ord. 96 §2, 1958).

13.08.030 Determination of cost--Procedure.

The owner of property of the type described in subsections A and B of Section 13.08.010 applying for sewer and/or water service from the city shall fill out an application for the same at the office of the city clerk on an application form to be furnished by, the city giving his name, address, the legal description of the property for which sewer and/or water service is requested and the type of hook up required, whether water, sewer or both.  The city clerk shall transmit the application to the city engineer who shall forthwith determine the cost to the property owner in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.08.020.

B.    Upon computing the cost, the city engineer shall bring the matter before the city council, which body shall authorize or disapprove the application of minute order.  In making a determination in this regard, the city council shall consider among other relevant factors the physical location of the property to be served in relationship to existing facilities and the amount of expense, if any, to the city in giving the service requested for which there will not be an immediate return to the city.  The city council may reject any such application if the property requesting service is physically remote from existing facilities or if the expense to the city is disproportionate.  If the application is approved by the city council, the same shall then be acted on by the superintendent of public works but only after the property owner has either paid to the city the full sum required thereby or entered into a written agreement with the city to pay the same on completion of the work required thereby either in full or on a stipulated installment basis.  (Ord. 96 §3, 1958).