Monrovia Municipal Code Ch. 13.08 Sanitation Charges

It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to lay the foundation for treating the sewer system of the city as a separate and largely self-sustaining municipal utility similar in fiscal and administrative functions to the City Water Department.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.010)

For the purposes of this chapter, the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings:

PREMISES. A lot, parcel of land, building or establishment.

SEWAGE. Either or both of the following:

(1) Domestic sewage, defined as a combination of liquid or water-carried human waste conducted away from the residences, business buildings, institutions; and/or

(2) Industrial waste, defined as liquid or water-carried waste resulting from a manufacturing process employed in industrial establishments including the washing, cleaning, or drain water from such process.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.020)

There is hereby levied and assessed upon each premises having any sewer connection with the sewerage system of the city or otherwise discharging sewage which ultimately passes through the city sewerage system, a service charge for rental, payable as shall be determined and set forth in a resolution of the City Council.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.030) (Ord. 85-17 § 2, 1985; Ord. 88-25 § 1, 1988; Ord. 89-21 § 1, 1989; Ord. 92-15 § 1, 1992; Ord. 93-17 § 6, 1993)

It shall be the duty of the Director of Finance of the city to collect all charges or rentals levied and assessed in this chapter. Such charges and rentals shall be collected with the charges and rates for water furnished by the city to said premises. The charges or rentals fixed in this chapter shall be billed upon the same bill as is prepared for charges for water, and shall be due and payable monthly at the same time that such charges for water are due and payable. The total amount due for the charges or rentals fixed in this chapter and for charges for water shall be paid as a unit and all of the provisions of this code or any amendment, revision or reenactment thereof or any superseding ordinance pertaining to the collection of the same bill as is prepared for charges for water, and shall be due and payable monthly at the same time that such charges for water are due and payable. The total amount due for the charges or rentals fixed in this chapter and for charges for water shall be paid as unit and all of the provisions of this code or any amendment, revision or reenactment thereof or any superseding ordinance pertaining to the collection of the charges for water shall apply to the collection of any such total amounts.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.040)

(A) In the event that the owner or occupant of premises connected to the city sewerage system shall fail to pay any charge or rental provided in this chapter when the same may become due, the city may, in addition to any other remedies it may have, discontinue furnishing water and shall not resume the same until all delinquent charges and rental under this chapter together with any service charge necessitated by the resumption of water service, have been fully paid.

(B) In addition or in the alternative, and at the option of the city, the city may file a civil action for the collection of any amounts due and unpaid. This remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to the remedy or means of enforcing payment of the sums required to be paid by this chapter stated in division (A) of this section.

(C) In the alternative, the City Council may, pursuant to Cal. Health and Safety Code §§ 5473 and 5473a and by an ordinance approved by a two-thirds vote of the Council, elect to have such delinquent charges collected on the tax roll in the same manner, by the same persons, and at the same time as together with and not separately from, its general taxes, and shall give the notice, hold the hearing, prepare and file the report as to such delinquencies as required by the Cal. Health and Safety Code. The said delinquent charges shall thereafter, pursuant to and in the manner provided in said code, constitute a lien against the lot or parcel of land against which the charge has been imposed.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.050)

The funds received from the collection of the charges or rentals authorized by this chapter shall be deposited by the Director of Finance with the City Treasurer and shall be accounted for and be known as the “Sewer and Sanitation Fund,” and when appropriated by the City Council shall be available for the acquisition, extension, maintenance, improvement or operation of sanitary or sewerage facilities, or to repay principal and interest on bonds, if any, issued for the acquisition, extension, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, improvement or operation of such sanitary or sewerage facilities, or to pay any overhead, administrative or billing costs necessary for the collection of such charges.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.060)

(A) Charges for connection to the city's sewerage system shall be as established by this section.

(B) Prior to the issuance of any building permit, the permit applicant shall pay to the city a connection charge of $100 for each equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) which will establish a connection to the city's sewerage system or which will increase the EDU for any existing connection. In the case of multiple units and commercial buildings, the EDU shall be determined by the Sewer EDU Schedule, dated May 21, 1985, incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference as though set forth in full, on file in the office of the City Engineer. Funds collected pursuant to this division shall be deposited in the sewer and sanitation fund established by § 13.08.060.

(C) (1) In addition to the connection fee established by division (B) of this section, a connection fee in the amounts specified in this division shall be paid prior to the issuance of a building permit for construction of new or additional EDU which will establish a connection to the city's sewerage system on premises lying within the sewer deficiency zones identified on that certain map on file in the Department of Public Works entitled “Trunk Sewer Capacity Analysis, Drainage Subarea and Facility Map,” dated February, 1985. For any such premises, the applicable connection fee shall be determined by the zone in which it is located, as follows:

(2) In the case of multiple dwelling units or commercial buildings, the connection fee imposed by this division shall be paid for each EDU. The EDU for each use shall be determined by said Sewer EDU Schedule on file in the office of the City Engineer. The funds received from the collection of connection fees authorized by this division shall be deposited by the Director of Finance with the City Treasurer and shall be accounted for and be known as the “Sewer Deficiency Fund,” and when appropriated by the City Council shall be used solely for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, maintenance and operation of the sewerage facilities located within the deficiency zones identified in the aforesaid map.

(`83 Code, § 13.08.070) (Ord. 85-17 § 3, 1985)