01-03-1995 - Maintenance of House Sewer Connection - Ordinance Intro.0 City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO:
FROM:
City
and City Council
Patrickl J. Glover
City _Engineer/Public Works Director
AGENDA.
ITEM NO. C-8b
DATE_4anuary 3, 1995
®PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
SUBJECT: MAINTENANCE OF HOUSE SEWER CONNECTION.
ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION
• h Cit Council at its meeting on December 6 1994
SUMMARY. The � y g ,
expressed its concern regarding the issue of financial
obligation of private property owners for the repair of
house sewer connections. In particular, private property
owners should be financially assisted by the City in the
repair of a damaged or blocked house sewer connection from
the mainline sewer to the curbline when the damage or
blockage is caused by a City authorized and owned tree. To
implement this type of provision, it is necessary to amend
Municipal Code Section 23-114.
BACKGROUND
At present, City policy places the maintenance responsibility of house sewer connection
.(which include the portion within the roadway) upon the owner of the property being" served
by the sewer. At the November 1st and December 6th City Council meetings, the City staff
presented reports on the subject of "Maintenance of House sewer connections". In
particular, staff reviewed sewer lateral maintenance policies in eleven cities throughout the
San Gabriel Valley. f 'hey found that out of the eleven, eight (Baldwin Park, La Puente,
Walnut, Glendora, Industry, Pomona, Whittier and Arcadia) have policies similar to that
currently in place in West Covina. Specifically; their policies holds the private property
owner responsible for the financial obligation associated with the maintenance of the house
sewer connection between the mainline sewer and the house. However, the remaining three
cities reviewed (Azusa, Covina, and El Monte) have an "unwritten" policy" which mitigates
a portion of the property owner's financial burden. In those cities, if it is determined that
the house sewer connection damage or blockage is caused by the roots of a City tree, then
the City will assume financial responsibility associated with repairing the damaged or; clogged
portion of the sewer.
At the December 6, 1994 City Council meeting, the City Council, after reviewing the issues
presented above, unanimously arrived at the following motion:
If it is determined that zany damage or blockage to the house sewer connection
from the mainline to the curbline is caused by a City tree, the property owners
will only be responsible for the first $500 of the repair costs. The remaining "
portion of the repair costs will be assumed by the City.
ANALYSIS I -
The high repair costs: associated with sewer laterals. between the mainline sewer and the
curbline in the roadway is mainly attributable to street paving, special backfills, the removal
and replacement of the sewer pipeline, and concrete curb. The proposed code change could
reduce the property owners repair costs when it can be shown that. the damage was caused by
a City authorized and owned street tree.. The repair work will be performed by the City's
maintenance crews, or by private contractors hired by the City.
To implement this provision, it is necessary for the City to amend Section 23-114 of the
Municipal Code ("Maintenance of Sewer Laterals"). The attached ordinance is currently
being reviewed as to form by the City Attorney.
hsc.apt
City Manager and City Council
January 3, 1995
Page Two
FISCAL IMPACT
The average unit price associated with repairing damaged house sewer connection between
the mainline and the curbline is typically $4,000. The City receives a relatively small
number of claims each year (4 to 6). These claims represent an aggregate cost ranging from
$16,000 to $24,000 per year. The cost for this additional service would represent an
increase per parcel/unit of $0.40 to $0.60 in the annual sewer standby and availability
charges. However, this cost could rise in the future as the condition of the sewer lines
deteriorate with age and permit. greater intrusion by tree roots.
Presently, funds are available in the current year's reserves of the Sewer Fund for the,
remainder of the Fiscal Year. However, the City has no available track record to predict the
future costs associated with this type of sewer repair work. The cost of this additional
service will be' included in next year's rate analysis of the Standby and availability charges.
ALTERNATIVES
There are three basic alternatives:
1) The City could pay the full cost of the portion of house sewer connection between the
mainline sewer and the curbline in the roadway area where damage or blockage is
caused by a City authorized and owned tree. In this case, the property owner would
be relieved from all financial obligation within the roadway area.
2) The City can adopt a policy similar to that of Azusa, Covina, and El Monte cities to
assume total financial responsibility associated with repairing"any portion of a
damaged or clogged sewer lateral caused by a City owned tree. In this case, the
property owner would be relieved from all financial obligation.
3) The City could continue the existing policy.
RECONBIENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Appropriate $20,000. from. unappropriated. Sewer Funds to operating account
189-320-2257-6120.
2) Introduce the following Ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA AMENDING SECTION 23-114 OF
THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO
THE MAINTENANCE OF HOUSE SEWER,
CONNECTIONS..
P 'ck J. Gl er
City Engineer lic Works Director
PJG:NP:Iag
Attachment: Resolution
hmagn
A.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA AMENDING SECTION 23-114 OF
THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO
THE MAINTENANCE OF HOUSE SEWER
CONNECTIONS.
read:
The City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 23-114 of the West Covina Municipal Code is amended to
Sec. 23-114. Maintenance.
All house sewer connections, industrial connection sewers
and appurtenances thereto, now existing or hereafter
constructed, shall be maintained by the owner of the
property served in a safe . and sanitary condition, and all
devices or safeguards which are required by this article for
the operation thereof shall be maintained in good working
order.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that it is verified
by the City that damage or blockage of a house sewer
connection between the public mainline and the curbline
(within a public street) occurred due to a City authorized
and owned tree, the owner of the property served will pay
for the first $500 in repairs and the City will assume the
remaining costs.
SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and
shall cause the same to published as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this day of 1995.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Mayor
I, JANET BERRY, City Clerk of the City of west Covina, .do hereby certify that the
forgoing Ordinance No. was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the . day of 1995. That, thereafter,
said Ordinance was duly adopted and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council on the
day of 1995, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmember
NOES: Councilmember
ABSENT: Councilmember
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
hsc.agn
ORDINANCE NO.'
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WEST COVINA AMENDING SECTION 23-114 OF,
THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO
THE MAINTENANCE OF HOUSE SEWER
CONNECTIONS.
The City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 23-114 of the West Covina Municipal Code is amended to
read:
Sec. 23-114.. Maintenance.
All house sewer connections, industrial connection sewers
and appurtenances thereto, now. eidsting or hereafter
constructed, shall be maintained by the owner_ of the
property served in a safe and sanitary condition, and all
devices or safeguards which are required by this article for
the operation thereof shall be maintained in good working
order.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that. it is verified
by the City that damage or blockage of a house sewer
connection between the public mainline and the curbline
(within a public street) occurred due to a City authorized
and owned tree, the owner of the property served will pay
for the first $500 in.repairs and the City will assume the
remaining costs.
SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and
shall cause the same to published as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this
ATTEST:
City Clerk
day of .1995.
Mayor
I, JANET BERRY, City Clerk of the City of west Covina, do hereby certify that the
forgoing Ordinance No. was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the day of 1995. That, thereafter,
said Ordinance was duly adopted and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council on the
day of 1995, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmember
NOES: Councilmember
ABSENT: Councilmember
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
hsc.agn