Merced Municipal Code Art. III Fees

It is the purpose of this article to provide for the recovery of costs from users of the public sewer for the implementation of the program established in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2402, § 6, 12-17-2012)

A. The city may adopt charges and fees by resolution which may include:

1. Fees for reimbursement of costs of setting up and operating the city's FOG program;

2. Fees for consistent removal by the city of pollutants otherwise subject to Federal Pretreatment Standards;

3. Other fees as the city may deem necessary to carry out the requirements contained in this chapter.

B. Costs incurred by the city as a result of required on-site sampling and analysis shall be reimbursed to the city by the owner, user or FOG WDP permittee.

(Ord. No. 2402, § 6, 12-17-2012)

Any FSE that operates without a grease interceptor or other grease control device approved by the city may be required to pay an annual grease disposal mitigation fee to equitably cover the costs of increased maintenance of the public sewer as a result of the FSE's inability to adequately remove FOG from its wastewater discharge. This section shall not be interpreted to allow new construction or an existing FSE undergoing remodeling and/or a change in operations to operate without an approved grease interceptor unless the city engineer has determined that it is impossible or impracticable for the FSE to install and/or operate a grease interceptor under Section 15.30.100 of this chapter.

A. The grease disposal mitigation fee shall be established annually by the city engineer, and shall be based on the estimated annual increased cost of maintaining the public sewer for inspection and removal of FOG and other viscous or solidifying agents attributable to the FSE resulting from the lack of a grease interceptor.

B. The grease disposal mitigation fee may be waived or reduced, not more frequently than annually, if the FSE demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the city engineer that the FSE has used BMPs and waste minimization practices on a regular basis that have significantly reduced the introduction of FOG into the public sewer.

C. The grease disposal mitigation fee may not be waived or reduced if the FSE does not comply with the minimum requirements of this chapter and/or its discharge into the public sewer has caused or potentially caused or contributed to, alone or collectively, sewer blockage or SSOs in the sewer downstream or in the area surrounding the FSE, in the twelve (12) months prior to the waiver request.

(Ord. No. 2402, § 6, 12-17-2012)