Ione Municipal Code Ch. 13.32 Permits and Fees

No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance or perform any work on any drainage system without first obtaining a written permit from the city.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

A. Any person legally entitled to apply for and receive a permit shall make such application on forms provided by the city for that purpose. He shall give a description of the character of the work proposed to be done and the location therewith. The city engineer may require plans, specifications or drawings and such other information as he may deem necessary.

B. In the event the applicant for a permit is required to provide plans, specifications or drawings and information as a condition to the issuance of the permit, the applicant shall pay all engineering, legal, administrative and other expenses and charges prior to the issuance of the permit.

C. If the city engineer determines that the plans, specifications, drawings, and other information furnished by the applicant are satisfactory and are in compliance with the ordinances, rules and regulations of the city, he shall issue the permit applied for upon payment of the charges referred to in this chapter and of the fees as fixed in this chapter.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

After approval of the application, evidenced by the issuance of a permit, no change shall be made in the location of the sewer, the grade, materials, or other details from those described in the permit or as shown on the plans and specifications for which the permit was issued except with written permission from the city engineer or other authorized city representative.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

The applicant's signature on an application for any permit as set forth in Section 13.32.050 shall constitute an agreement to comply with all of the provisions, terms and requirements of this and other ordinances, rules and regulations of the city, and with the plans and specifications he or she has filed with his or her application, if any, together with such corrections or modifications as may be made or permitted by the city, if any. Such agreement shall be binding upon the applicant and may be altered only by the city upon the written request for the alteration from the applicant.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

There shall be four classes of permits, as follows:

A. Single-family residential sewer permit;

B. Trailer court and multiple dwelling sewer permit;

C. Commercial, industrial, church, school, public and other user sewer permit;

D. Public sewer construction permit.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

A. The owner or owners of lands within areas proposed to be annexed to the city shall deposit with the clerk of the city a sum to be in the amount set in the then current fee schedule approved by the city council or an amount established by the city manager, as appropriate, prior to the commencement of proceedings by the council on the proposed annexation. The amount to be fixed by the city engineer shall be in the sum estimated to equal the engineering, legal and publication costs and all other charges which may be descriptions, and other documents in relation thereto, and other expenses regularly incurred in connection therewith. Should the amount of the deposit be insufficient to pay such costs incurred by the city, the owner or owners shall advance additional sums as shall be necessary to pay said costs prior to the final hearing on the proposed annexation.

B. In addition to the charges described in subsection A of this section, an annexation fee shall be paid prior to annexation. Said fee shall be in the amount set in the then current fee schedule approved by the council. Said charge shall be deemed to be said property's share of the cost of existing sewerage facilities of the city, to be used by said property and toward the costs of which said property has not made payment.

(Res. 1582 § 2(part), 2007; Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

A. In addition to any other fees and charges established by the ordinances, rules and regulations of the city, there shall be collected, prior to the issuance of a permit for connection to the sanitary sewerage system of the city, such special equalization charges as may be specified by the council in order to establish conditions of equality between the installers of downstream sewerage facilities and those benefiting from but not participating in the cost of these facilities.

B. When special equalization charges are deemed necessary and appropriate by the council, a special benefit zone shall be established which shall define the area of properties that may reasonably be expected to benefit from the construction of specific sewerage facilities which have been or are to be constructed. The boundaries of each special benefit zone and the amount of special equalization charges to be levied therein shall be established by regulation of the council. The amount of the special equalization charges to be levied within a given special benefit zone will generally be determined as follows:

1. Where the sewerage facilities have been financed through special assessment proceedings or a city-approved cooperative project, the amount of the special equalization charges shall be the equivalent of the assessment to similar properties within the assessment district or cooperative project area which paid for said facilities.

2. Where the sewerage facilities have been privately financed and the city has entered into a reimbursement agreement with the installer pursuant to Section 13.24.150, the amount of the special equalization charges shall be computed by the city based upon the cost of installation of the facilities, including all expenses incidental thereto, and all engineering, legal, inspection and other charges, and based upon the relative benefit derived by properties within the special benefit zone.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

A. Sewer Connection Fee. A sewer connection fee shall be paid to the city by each person desiring connection to the public sewer system. Payment of the sewer connection fee shall be made prior to the issuance of a connection permit and shall be in addition to all other fees and charges required to be paid under city rules and regulations. The sewer connection fee shall consist of separate components for providing capacity in conveyance facilities and in treatment and disposal facilities. The fee shall be in the amount set forth in the then current fee schedule approved by the city council.

B. Annual Adjustment of Sewer Connection Fee. On July 1, 1993, and each July 1st thereafter, the sewer connection fee required under subsection A of this section shall increase by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the Engineering Newsrecord Construction Cost Index, twenty cities average, has experienced to that July 1st since the last fee revision. The city council may, at its option, determine by resolution adopted before July 1st of any year, that such increases may be greater or lesser than the aforementioned cost index adjustment to compensate for changed conditions.

C. Alteration of Use. The connection fees established in this section are applicable to the use proposed to be made of the building at the time the connection permit is issued. In the event of alteration of the building or of additional use of the sewer facilities for which the connection fee was originally established, additional charges shall be paid for the added family units or other usage as herein defined at the connection fee rate in effect at the time such alterations or additions are made.

D. Credit for Advance Payments. Persons obtaining permits for new connections shall pay the amount of the connection fee in effect at the time the permit is obtained. In the event that connection fees have been approved or prepaid prior to obtaining a connection permit, then the prepayment shall be applied to the actual amount due. In no event shall the amount of credit exceed the amount of connection fees required to be paid.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

Permit and inspection fees are established as follows:

A. A plan review fee shall be paid when plans are presented to the city for review. In the event that a permit is not issued, the fee shall be retained by the city as reimbursement for its plan review expenses.

B. A fee shall be paid to the city for reviewing plans and specifications, issuing a permit, and inspecting the installation of said facilities.

C. Alteration or Repair of Existing Side Sewers. A fee shall be paid for issuance of a permit and inspection of any work adding to or extending an existing side sewer. A fee shall be paid for issuance of a permit and inspection of any repair work done on an existing side sewer.

D. Saddle or Manhole Connections. In addition to other permit and inspection fees required in this section, a fee shall be paid for the inspection of a saddle, wye or tee connection to an existing main sewer or the connection of a lateral sewer to an existing manhole.

E. Overtime Inspections. Persons requesting inspections of side sewers or public sewers at any time other than the regular working hours of the city shall make such request at least forty-eight hours in advance and shall pay an additional inspection fee for each hour or portion thereof that the city inspector is required to stay on the job.

F. Renewal or Extension of Permit. Whenever a permit for sewer installation expires, as provided in Section 13.32.220, an additional fee shall be paid for the issuance of a new permit for said installation. In the event that an extension of time is granted to complete work under a public sewer extension permit, an additional fee shall be paid for the renewal or extension of said public sewer permit.

G. Establishment of Fees. The fees identified in this section shall be in the amount set in the then current fee schedule approved by the city council.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

A. Collector Sewer Fee. In addition to any other fees and charges established by the ordinances, resolutions and regulations of the city, there shall be collected, prior to connection to the sanitary sewerage system of the city, a collector sewer fee to be paid by persons desiring to connect a side sewer directly to an existing main sewer of the city which was installed without direct or indirect cost to the connection property with respect to its use as a collector sewer. The fees shall be in the amount set in the then current fee schedule approved by the city council. Provided, however, that in the event the connecting property is within a special benefit zone in which a special equalization charge for collector sewers has been established by the council in accordance with Section 13.32.070, the special equalization charge for collector sewer fee so established shall be paid in lieu of the collector sewer fee herein provided.

B. Trunk Sewer Fee. A portion of the connection fee, levied pursuant to Section 13.32.080, shall be considered a trunk sewer fee. Said trunk sewer fee shall be paid by all persons connecting to the public sewer system and shall be deposited in the oversize reimbursement fund of the city to partially reimburse installers of oversize sewers in accordance with Section 13.24.140. Any amounts remaining in said oversize sewer reimbursement fund after annual reimbursement payments are made shall be transferred to the capital improvement fund of the city.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

Where the city is the lead agency or a responsible agency for any project under the state and local guidelines adopted pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act as contained in Division 13, Section 21000 et seq. of the Public Resources Code, the person or persons beneficially interested shall pay applicant fees or charges for the city processing such environmental documents as are necessary and as said fees are established by the city council in a fee schedule. As an alternative, the city may require the beneficiary or project sponsor to pay for the actual cost of an outside consultant.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

All fees collected on behalf of the city shall be deposited with the proper authority provided by the city to receive such funds.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

All sewer construction work, building sewers and drainage systems shall be inspected by an inspector acting for the city to insure compliance with all requirements of the city. No sewer shall be covered at any point until it has been inspected and passed for acceptance. No sewer shall be connected to the city's public sewer until the work covered by the permit has been completed, inspected and approved by the city inspector. All sewers shall be tested for leakage in accordance with City Improvement Standards in the presence of the city inspector and shall be cleaned of all debris accumulated from construction operations. If the test proves satisfactory, the city inspector shall issue a certificate of satisfactory completion.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by permit to notify the office of the inspector in writing that said work is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given not less than forty-eight hours before the work is to be inspected. It shall be the duty of the person doing the work to make sure that the work will stand the tests required by the city before giving the above notification.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

When any work has been inspected and the work condemned and no certificate of satisfactory completion given, a written notice to that effect shall be given instructing the owner of the premises, or the agent of such owner, to repair the sewer or other work authorized by the permit in accordance with the ordinances, rules and regulations of the city.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of any sewer or other work for which a permit has been issued shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the city from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the work.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

Permission shall not be granted to connect any lot or parcel of land outside the city to any public sewer in or under the jurisdiction of the city unless a permit therefor is obtained. The applicant shall first enter into a contract in writing whereby he shall bind himself, his heirs, successors and assigns to abide by all ordinances, rules and regulations in regard to the manner in which such sewer shall be used, the manner of connecting therewith and the plumbing and drainage in connection therewith and also shall agree to pay all fees required for securing the permit and a monthly fee in the amount set by the city for the privilege of using such sewer.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

Where special conditions exist relating to an outside sewer, they shall be the subject of a special contract between the applicant and the city.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

A separate permit must be secured from the county or any other person having jurisdiction thereover by owners or contractors intending to excavate in a public right-of-way for the purpose of installing outside sewers or making outside sewer connections.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

The city and its officers, agents and employees shall not be answerable for any liability or injury or death to any person or damage to any property arising during or growing out of the performance of any work by any such applicant. The applicant shall be answerable for, and shall save the city and its officers, agents and employees harmless from any liability imposed by law upon the city or its officers, agents or employees, including all costs, expenses, fees and interest incurred in defending same or in seeking to enforce this provision. Applicant shall be solely liable for any defects in the performance of his work or any failure which may develop therein.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).

Unless an extension of time is granted by the council, if work under a permit is not commenced and completed within the time specified in the permit, the permit shall become void and no further work shall be done until a new permit has been secured.

(Ord. 323 §2(part), 1992).