City Council Meeting Date: August 8, 2017
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Justin Wagner, Utilities Manager
Title
Consider Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 82 Utilities related to Wastewater
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the Second Reading of Ordinance No. 991 Amending Northfield City Code, Chapter 82 - Utilities related to wastewater.
Summary Report:
Attachment 1 is an ordinance amendment to Chapter 82 - Utilities related to wastewater. The key components of the ordinance amendment include:
• Addition and alteration of section 82-171. Definitions.
• Alteration of terms within Chapter 82 related to Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD5).
• Removal of section 82-244. - Discount available for garbage disposals.
• Addition of Sec. 82-246. - Inspection, maintenance and repair of sewer laterals.
The addition and alteration of certain definitions within Chapter 82 align with the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and Industrial User’s (IU) Permits. Changing terms from BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) to CBOD5 (Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand) will properly reflect allocations from the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant’s NPDES Permit into the IU Permits.
On May 23, 2017, staff brought section 82-244. - Discount available to the Finance Policy Subcommittee for review. This section of the code allows owners of a residential property to receive a discount against their monthly sewer service charge for not having a kitchen garbage disposal. Currently, there is not a rate established for this discount. However, in 2001 and 2002 there was a $1.00 discount available prior to the upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in 2002. Due to the WWTP upgrade, there wasn’t a need to continue this discount. The City currently does not have any residential properties receiving the discount. The building code does not restrict the installation of garbage disposals, and they are getting installed in many homes within the City. The Finance Policy Subcommittee supported the recommended changes at their meeting.
The addition of section 82-246. - Inspection, maintenance and repair of sewer service laterals is being proposed in order to define responsibility of the City and its residents in regards to sanitary sewer service laterals. Attached is a diagram that shows the terms associated with the ownership of the sewer laterals. The proposed section aligns both the sanitary sewer lateral ownership with the water service ownership. The City would be taking over the broken service pipes in the right-of-way, which there is some risk, however the City rarely has to repair a service pipe. The property owner is still responsible for cleaning, and root cutting all the way to the City sewer main. This responsibility has been the standard operating practice applied in the past, which is now being proposed to be formally codified with this ordinance.
Alternative Options:
The City Council could choose to keep the ordinance as it currently is stated. However, staff feels the major repair responsibility of a sewer service break going back to the City is beneficial for all residents in the City.
Financial Impacts:
There is the potential for costs associated with the sanitary sewer lateral ownership related to repairs of the City’s lead. However, staff does not foresee many instances that will require repairs to the City’s portion of the sewer lateral.
Additionally, if the removal of section 82-244. - Discount available is not approved, the City Council would need to establish a rate for the discount.
Tentative Timelines:
- July 18 - First Reading of Ordinance, Approved
- August 8 - Second Reading of Ordinance
- Ordinance in effect 30 days after published