Chapter 20.16
STORM DRAIN SERVICE CHARGE

Sections:

20.16.010    Exercise of power.

20.16.020    Definitions.

20.16.030    Bimonthly rate schedule.

20.16.040    Combined with other utility charges.

20.16.050    Part of surface water utility fund.

20.16.060    Credits for storm water control systems.

20.16.010 Exercise of power.

The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the power of the city to license for revenue. (Ord. 886 § 1, 1988).

20.16.020 Definitions.

Whenever used in this chapter:

(a) “Storm drains” means only those portions of the city storm drain system which do or are designated by the city manager, or his/her designee, to detain or retain, carry or dispose of storm water and surface water and such other waters as are not required to be disposed of through sanitary sewers. Storm drains shall, without limitation, include all properties, interests and rights of the city insofar as they relate to or concern storm water or surface water sewerage, whether natural or constructive, in and to the drainage or storage, or both, or storm water or surface water, or both, including without limitation through, under or over lands, landforms, watercourses, sloughs, streams, ponds, lakes and swamps.

(b) “Customer” means the owner of the property with responsibility for the payment of the storm drain fee as assessed under the terms of this chapter.

(c) “Impervious surface” means those portions of a property which are covered with either asphalt concrete surfacing, Portland cement concrete surfacing or building roofs. (Ord. 1218 § 1, 1999; Ord. 886 § 2, 1988).

20.16.030 Bimonthly rate schedule.

(a) The total bimonthly storm drain service fee for all single-family customers shall be in accordance with the following schedule:

Effective February 1, 2023

$35.19

(b) The total bimonthly storm drain service fee for all customers other than single-family customers shall be the sum of the following two fees but not be less than a minimum equal to that of single-family customers:

(1) Fixed Fee. There is established a fixed bimonthly fee which will be assessed upon each customer other than single-family customers in accordance with the following schedule; and

Effective February 1, 2023

$27.54

(2) Impervious Surface Fee. There is established a fee in the amount of $0.001466 per square foot of impervious surface which will be assessed upon each customer other than single-family customers.

(c) All rates and charges imposed by this section shall be collected in full for service furnished during any month or fractional month. (Ord. 1700 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1587 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1462 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1319 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1296 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1218 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1193 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1017 § 1, 1992; Ord. 886 § 3, 1988).

20.16.040 Combined with other utility charges.

The storm drain service charge shall be combined with other utility charges, if any, for each residential or business unit connected to the utility system of the city and shall be separately itemized on utility statements prepared and forwarded by the city. (Ord. 886 § 4, 1988).

20.16.050 Part of surface water utility fund.

All amounts received as storm drain service charges shall be paid into and accounted for as part of the surface water utility fund of the city. (Ord. 1280 § 17, 2001; Ord. 886 § 5, 1988).

20.16.060 Credits for storm water control systems.

(a) Customers who have installed, or who install in the future, storm water control facilities on properties against which the city assesses a storm drain fee may be granted credits for such installations. Only those installations that meet or exceed the following design criteria will be considered for credits:

(1) The installation’s release rate must not exceed the calculated runoff rate for the property in its undeveloped state in response to the two-year storm event. The installation must control the runoff from the site at the design release rate in response to, at a minimum, the 50-year storm event.

(b) The credit will consist of a reduction in the storm drainage impervious surface fee and will be as follows:

(1) Control to the 50-year event: 25 percent reduction per month.

(2) Control to the 100-year event: 50 percent reduction per month.

(c) All customers must submit, along with their application for a credit, the following:

(1) As-constructed plan of the facility.

(2) Calculations supporting the level of control for the facility.

(3) A maintenance and operation plan for the facility.

The above items must be prepared and certified by a civil engineer licensed to practice in the state of Washington.

(d) In order for a customer to retain the credit and continue to secure the monthly reduction in the fee, the customer must provide an annual certification of conformance with the conditions imposed by the approved operation and maintenance plan. This certification must be provided by a licensed civil engineer and submitted to the city not later than 30 days prior to the anniversary date of the initial granting of the credit. (Ord. 1218 § 3, 1999).