Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 13.44 Sewer Extensions and Connections

One or more property owners desiring connection to the City sewer system, and where no sewer main exists adjacent to the property, and where the owner or owners do not wish to have said sewer main extension constructed under an assessment district or bond issue, shall petition the City Engineer and deposit with him a fee to cover the cost of preparation of plans and specifications for said sewer extension. The fee shall be at six percent (6%) of the City Engineer's estimate of the cost of construction, but in no case shall be less than twenty five dollars ($25.00). Such fee shall be refunded when the construction is completed. Should construction not begin within one year of such petition or not be completed, such fee shall be forfeited. If in the opinion of the City Engineer, such sewer extension is necessary and the construction thereof feasible, he shall prepare plans and specifications for the construction thereof. (Prior Code § 83100)

Two (2) or more property owners representing at least eighty percent (80%) of the total property frontage adjacent to the proposed main installation which can be connected to the City sewer system, and where no sewer main exists adjacent to the property, and where the owners do not wish to have such sewer main extension constructed under an assessment district shall petition the City Engineer and obtain from him a cost estimate of the total of such main construction, inspection, and engineering. All sewer extensions to be constructed by this method shall be subject to review by and recommendations of the City Engineer. If in the opinion of the City Engineer, such sewer is necessary, in conformity with the extension of the existing sewer system and the construction thereof feasible, he shall prepare plans and specifications for the construction thereof. (Prior Code § 83101)

After plans and specifications are prepared by the City Engineer, the property owner, or owners, shall contract with a private contractor for the construction of such sewer extension. (Prior Code § 83102)

The property owner, or owners, may request the City Engineer to use force account labor or call for bids with the approval of the City Council after said property owner, or owners, have met the requirements as provided in section 13.44.050 of this chapter. (Prior Code § 83103)

Payment for sewer construction shall be made as follows:

A. The property owner, or owners, shall deposit with the City Engineer an amount which, in the estimation of the City Engineer, will be sufficient to cover the entire cost of construction of the sewer extension.

B. The property owners representing at least eighty percent (80%) of the property frontage adjacent to the proposed sewer main shall deposit with the City Engineer an amount which, in the estimation of the City Engineer, will be sufficient to cover eighty percent (80%) or more of the entire cost of engineering, construction, inspection and supervision of the sewer main extension.

C. If the amount estimated by the city engineer as set forth in subsection A of this section, is not sufficient to cover the entire cost of such completed sewer construction either at a bid price or by force account, the city engineer shall notify the property owner, or owners, involved of the additional amount necessary to complete payment on the work, and within ten (10) days thereafter such property owner, or owners, shall pay such additional amount with the city engineer. Should the property owner, or owners, fail to pay such additional amount, the city engineer shall present a statement to the property owner, or owners, for their share of the increased cost, and showing all expenditures on behalf of the proposed sewer construction. Or, if a surplus remains, the city engineer shall thereafter order the refund to the property owner, or owners, of all the money deposited by them except that amount shown to have been expended on behalf of the proposed construction.

D. If the total project cost estimated by the city engineer as set forth in subsection B of this section, is not sufficient to cover the entire completed cost of engineering, construction, inspection and supervision either at a bid price or by force account, the city engineer shall notify the property owners affected of the additional amount necessary to complete payment on such work, and within ten (10) days thereafter, such property owners shall pay such additional amount with the city engineer. Should the property owner, or owners, fail to pay such additional amount, the city engineer shall present a statement to the property owner, or owners, for their share of the increased cost, and showing all expenditures on behalf of the proposed sewer construction. Or, if a surplus remains, the city engineer shall thereafter order the refund to the property owner, or owners, of all the money deposited by them except that amount shown to have been expended on behalf of the proposed construction. (Prior code § 83200)

Where a surety bond or other security has been posted with the city guaranteeing the construction of a sewerage system in connection with a subdivision or other development as required, the city engineer shall determine whether immediate construction of said sewerage system or any other portion thereof is necessary to promote the public interest. The person posting such bond shall be referred to herein as "developer". Upon the recommendation from the city engineer, the city council may require such sewerage system or any portion thereof to be constructed by contract with the city. The procedure for making such construction contracts shall be as follows:

A. The city shall call for bids based on the developer's construction plans and award a contract in form satisfactory to the city to the lowest qualified bidder.

B. The city shall administer the contract, inspect construction in accordance with all rules, regulations, and laws of the city, and pay construction costs.

C. The city shall be reimbursed by developer for all such construction and inspection costs.

D. Reimbursement shall be made to the city prior to issuance of any building permit to developer for construction of any subdivision or other development which the sewerage system extension referred to in the bond or other security, is designed to serve. In no event may reimbursement be made in accordance herewith more than one year after the effective date of the bond or other security.

E. The principal named in the bond or other security shall be held liable for any payment due to the city. (Prior code § 83201)

If a city sewer is available in a street or right of way adjoining property to be subdivided, or upon which a new residential building is to be erected, the owner of the property shall construct a sewer collection system to serve such residential building or each lot in the subdivision or lot split, in accordance with the standard specifications approved by the city engineer. (Prior code § 83300)

A. If a city sewer is not available near a development project, the applicant for the development project shall construct, at his own expense, a sewer line to the nearest usable city sewer, except as hereinafter provided, in accordance with standard specifications, and the provisions of this chapter.

B. Where a city sewer is not available, the applicant for the development project shall construct, or cause to be constructed, at his expense, a sewer line for a distance of one hundred feet (100') per lot or seventy five feet (75') per dwelling unit, whichever is greater, from the nearest point of the property, to the existing sewer line, in accordance with standard specifications approved by the city engineer. An owner of industrial or commercial property shall construct, at his expense, a sewer line for a distance of one hundred feet (100') per four hundred (400) gallons per day of sewage produced, as estimated by the city engineer, or one hundred feet (100') per lot, whichever is greater, from the nearest point of the property to the existing sewer line, in accordance with standard specifications.

C. When an applicant for a development project is not required to extend the sewer in accordance with subsection B of this section, he shall provide plans for connecting the tract to the nearest public sewer and construct dry sewers in the subdivision to provide for future service to every parcel, including the construction of sewer laterals from the sewer main to the property line. The developer's engineer shall provide the city with an as built plan showing the location and depth of each lateral. The septic tank and cesspool shall be constructed in a location and manner as specified by the chief building official to minimize the expense of a future connection to the public sewer.

D. The city council may waive the requirements of subsection C of this section upon written request by an applicant for a development project. The factors which the city council may consider are the following:

1. There are no sewer trunk main extensions identified in the city's capital improvement program for the sewerage tributary area, up gradient of an available sewer which may reasonably serve the development project;

2. If residential in character, the development project is proposed as very low density as defined in the Redlands general plan and will not adversely impact local ground water quality;

3. The properties between the proposed project and an available sewer have been developed without sewage facilities and it is unlikely that such facilities will be constructed for such properties within a reasonably foreseeable time after construction of the proposed project. (Ord. 2394 § 1, 1999: Ord. 1941 § 1, 1986: prior code § 83400)

The subdivider or lot owner shall pay the full cost of the mains installed not to exceed eight inches (8") nominal diameter, unless the size of the subdivision or other requirements of the development requires a larger main. In such case, the owner or subdivider will pay the total cost, regardless of size. Except as provided above, if the city requires a line larger than eight inches (8") to be used as a trunk line, such trunk line shall be paid for by the owner or subdivider with an allowance made by the city to cover the difference in cost of the materials used between eight inches (8") and the size additional cost due to labor and other reasons as a result of installing lines greater than eight inches (8") in size; the allowance for the difference in material cost will be increased by thirty percent (30%). The owner or subdivider shall have a properly qualified licensed contractor make the installation. The city shall determine the amount of allowance for lines over eight inches (8") in size according to the material costs available to the city. (Ord. 1941 § 2, 1986: prior code § 83401)

Immediately after the completion of sewer construction, in accordance with this chapter the city engineer shall prorate the entire cost thereof against all lots or property that may ultimately be benefited by direct connection to the sewer in proportion to the frontage thereof, or if the lots be irregular in shape, then in such manner as may in the opinion of the city engineer provide an equitable distribution of costs. (Prior code § 83402)

In no event shall any owner of property benefited by such sewer be permitted to connect thereto without first paying the frontage charge or other prorated charge placed against said property by the city engineer. No person, firm or corporation shall connect any property with the city sewer without first obtaining a permit and paying the frontage charge or other prorated charge. (Ord. 1941 § 3, 1986: prior code § 83403)

A. The sewer main frontage charge is established to implement the Redlands general plan and finance the construction of local sewer collection mains and main extensions, by providing for more equitable sharing of costs of those mains. Included are eight inch (8") minimum size sewer mains required within the development, and sewer main extensions from the development to a point where the new main can tie into an existing main or if an existing sewer is not available at that point, then to a point a distance from the development as defined in section 13.44.080 of this chapter.

The frontage charge shall be equal to the frontage charge per foot, as specified by subsection D of this section, multiplied by the total length of all property lines contiguous to street right-of-way or easements wherein there are sewer mains accessible to the property.

B. A percentage of the frontage charge collected, set by section 13.44.130 of this chapter, shall be refunded to the owner or developer originally paying for said sewer main, to which the connection has been made. See section 13.44.130 of this chapter for rules governing application for refunds.

C. Twenty five percent (25%) of the sum collected as frontage charges shall be credited to the Sewer Service Fund balance. Seventy five percent (75%) of the sum collected in frontage charges in accordance with this section and sections 13.44.110 through 13.44.130 of this chapter shall be credited to the reserve for frontage charge reimbursement which shall be established in the Sewer Service Fund. Reimbursements shall be paid out of this reserve. Any accumulation of funds beyond the amount necessary to meet refund obligations shall be credited from time to time, to the reserve for capital in the Sewer Service Fund.

D. Sewer main frontage charge per foot shall be thirty dollars ($30.00). (Ord. 2682 § 5, 2007: Ord. 2654 § 2, 2007: Ord. 2608 § 9, 2005: Ord. 2079 §§ 11, 12, 1989: Ord. 1941 § 3, 1986: Prior Code § 83404)

A. There shall be no refunding of costs for the installation of any sewer mains within any development or for sewer connections to lots within any development or for connections to any lot contiguous to the mains that had a sewer connection prior to the installation of the new main. For all new sewer connections to lots contiguous to all such mains installed by the owner or developer and not within the development, tract, or subdivision the City shall refund to the original owner or developer that installed the sewer main seventy five percent (75%) of the sum collected as frontage charges in accordance with section 13.44.120 of this chapter, which refund shall not be transferable except to legal heirs and assigns. No refunds shall be made after ten (10) years from completion of such new sewer main.

B. Any person or persons entitled to any refund under the provisions of chapter 3.44 of this Code and this division shall make application for refund to the Public Works Director. All applications shall be in writing and shall be made annually within the calendar year for which the refund is requested. (Ord. 1941 § 3, 1986: Prior Code § 83405)

When connecting to a sewer line financed by voluntary assessment or Improvement Act of 1911 or similar acts, in which the connecting property has shared in the sewer construction costs, the connection charge shall be only the normal plumbing connection and street cutting fees. (Prior Code § 83406)

All sewers constructed under the provisions of the ordinance codified herein or any other ordinance and located in a right-of- way or easement owned by or dedicated to the City shall become the property of the City. (Ord. 1941 § 4, 1986: Prior Code § 83407)

A. Defined: A private sewer lateral (PSL) shall have the same meaning as a "private sewer" as defined in the California Plumbing Code, and shall more particularly mean a pipe or pipes and appurtenances that carry wastewater and liquid waste from the structure(s) served to the point of connection at the public sewer line located in the City right-of-way or easement, regardless of whether the structure(s) is [are] publicly or privately owned. A PSL is associated with a parcel, if it, or any portion of it, is located upon the parcel or conveys wastewater and liquid waste from any structure located on that parcel. More than one PSL may be associated with an individual parcel. A PSL may be located on abutting parcels in order to provide access to an available public sewer.

B. Maintenance: Each property owner shall, at the property owner's expense, inspect, maintain in good working order, repair and replace, as necessary, the PSL so that it does not cause or contribute to any sewage overflow from either the PSL or the public sewer. The PSL shall be free of displaced joints, open joints, root intrusion, substantial deterioration of the line, cracks, leaks, inflow, infiltration of extraneous water, fats, oils and grease, sediment deposits or any other similar conditions, defects or obstructions likely to cause or contribute to blockage of the PSL or the public sewer. The owner shall perform such duties as may be required in response to observed overflows or seepage attributable to the lateral, or as discovered by smoke testing, televising or other surveys of the lateral. Where such maintenance requires excavation or replacement of existing sewer facilities, the owner shall apply for and receive an encroachment permit from the City. (Ord. 2863, 2018)