009-21 - Ordinance - Sewer Capital Facility Charges, Amending Sections 13.04.025 and 13.04.010
ORDINANCE NO. 009-21
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON, RELATING
TO SEWER CAPITAL FACILITY CHARGES; AMENDING PORT ORCHARD
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 13.04.025 AND 13.04.040; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, at Port Orchard Municipal Code 13.04.040, the City currently provides a means
by which developers may obtain credit against the general facility charges owed to the City for new
development and connections to the City’s sewerage system; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the codified language to allow for a credit
where development has resulted in an upsizing capacity outside that needed for the development;
and
WHEREAS, at POMC 13.04.025, staff suggests an amendment to clarify the components of the
sewer capital facility charge for consistency with POMC 13.04.040; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing before the City Council on the proposed amendments was held on
February 9, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the amendments herein to POMC 13.04.025 and
13.04.040 are consistent with goals and policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and related
regulations, and serve the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Port Orchard;
now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Port Orchard Municipal Code 13.04.025 is hereby amended to read as
attached at Exhibit A hereto.
SECTION 2. Port Orchard Municipal Code 13.04.040 is hereby amended to read as
attached at Exhibit A hereto.
SECTION 3. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance should be held to be
invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause or phrase of this ordinance.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect five (5) days after posting and
publication as required by law. A summary of this Ordinance may be published in lieu of the entire
ordinance, as authorized by State Law.
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 2 of 9
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Orchard, APPROVED by the Mayor and
attested by the Clerk in authentication of such passage this 23'd day of February 2020.
Robert Pu u, Mayor
ATTEST:
ran R nearso n, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:Sponsored by
Charlotte A. Archer, City Attorney Cindy Lucarelli, Councilmember
PU BLISHED: February 26, 202I
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 3,2O2L
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 3 of 9
Exhibit A
13.04.025 Fee Schedule.
***
Sewer Capital Facility
Charge, consisting of
both:
POMC 13.04.040 (2)
Sewer Wastewater
Treatment Facility Fee
POMC 13.04.040 (2)
Per ERU $3,597.37
McCormick Land Co. Div.
1-10 Per ERU
$881.25
General Facility Fee POMC 13.04.040(2)
Per ERU $8,525
***
13.04.040 Sewer capital facility charge – Extension of sewer.
(1) The sewer capital facility charge is designed to mitigate the impact of new demands on the
existing sewer system and to require new users to pay their fair share of the value of the sanitary
sewer system. The sewer capital facility charge applies to new construction, changes in use, and
building modifications that increase the total number of equivalent residential units (ERUs). An ERU
is 180 gallons per day for nonresidential connections. An ERU for residential connections is one
single-family dwelling unit, whether detached or attached and configured as an apartment unit,
condominium unit, townhouse unit or any other configuration. The ERU consumption is based
upon metered water consumption or comparison to similar accounts when metered water
consumption data is not readily available.
(a) Sewer Capital Facility Charge – Exception. The following exception applies to the
assessment of the sewer capital facility charge. All four elements of the below-listed
requirements must be present to qualify for the exception:
(i) A nonresidential account paid the sewer capital facility charge at the time the
property connected to the city’s sewer system;
(ii) Sometime after the original connection, the property owner decides to construct
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 4 of 9
a new building, change the original use, or modify the original building;
(iii) After the building improvements are completed, the total sewer usage for the
nonresidential account will be equal to or less than the usage at the time of the
original connection; and
(iv) The new construction, change in use, or building modification has not resulted
in additional direct connection to the city’s sewer system or the establishment of an
additional sewer account.
(2) The sewer capital facility charge consists of two components: the general facility fee (GFF) and
the wastewater treatment facility fee (WTFF). The general facility fee and the wastewater
treatment facility fees are set forth in POMC 13.04.025. The properties within Divisions 1 through
10, inclusively, of the McCormick Woods Land Company shall have a wastewater treatment fee
which is set forth in POMC 13.04.025.
(3) The sewer capital facility charge shall be paid before connecting to the city sanitary sewer
system, or before changing the use, or increasing the total ERU count above the amount for which
a sewer capital facility charge has been paid, except where a sewer GFF agreement provides for a
deferral of these fees. If work is to be done that requires a sewer capital facility charge, it shall be
paid before a permit shall be issued.
(4) If, after connection of a nonresidential service, the actual sewer usage has increased or the
property use expanded so that there are a greater number of ERUs being used on the property
than for which the sewer capital facility charge was paid, the property owner shall pay to the city
an additional sewer capital facility charge based upon the new or expanded use. The additional
sewer capital facility charge shall be based upon the charge rate in effect at the time the increased
use is requested and/or detected, whichever first occurs.
(5) A credit against the sewer capital facility charge may be applied for those property owners that
paid their assessments in full through a local improvement district formed by the city, where such
local improvement district is formed to finance the construction of any of the improvements that
are a basis for calculating the value of the sewer capital facility charge. The credit shall be equal to
the amount of the property owner’s principal assessment, not including interest and penalties. The
credit shall be applied at the time of payment of the sewer capital facility charge and shall not be
used to reduce any assessments in the local improvement district.
(6) Upon petition to the city engineer by the property owner or developer, a credit against the
sewer general facility fee (GFF) may be applied for those developers that construct at their own
expense and with the City’s advance agreement any of the improvements that are a basis for
calculating the value of the sewer general facility fee and result in upsized capacity over that
required to serve their development, or for those property owners that pay a latecomer’s fee
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 5 of 9
toward those same improvements. The credit shall be memorialized in a GFF credit agreement
approved by the City Council.
The value of the credit shall be determined by the city engineer and shall be based on (1)
conformance of the work with the General Sewer Plan of the city, and (2) shall be proportional to
the additional capacity provided by the planned capital improvement. The credit shall be limited to
the development identified in the initial credit request that installed the upsized or additional
infrastructure. The agreement may allow for phased projects.
Alternatively, the value of the credit shall be the amount paid as a latecomer fee towards the
improvement(s).
The total credit, if any, as provided in this subsection shall not exceed the amount of the total
general facility fee due and payable to the sewer utility.
The full actual costs of drafting and processing the GFF agreement shall be reimbursed by the
owner or applicant prior to final City Council action on the agreement, to such extent that the
actual costs exceed the initial application fee.
Nothing in a GFF credit agreement shall limit the City’s ability to adjust the GFF due at the time of
building permit issuance.
The process for approving a GFF credit shall be as follows:
(a) The developer shall request a credit in writing in conjunction with permit submittal or a
pending permit application and include the following eligibility information in their request:
i. Identification of the project proposed for construction as listed in the City’s
sewer general facility fee calculation and the cost for that project as it
appears in the GFF study.
ii. Identification of the sizing requirements for the proposed facility is at the
City’s sole discretion, based on (1) the City’s adopted General Sewer Plan or
(2) a technical design analysis prepared by the City’s engineers confirming
the sizing requirements for the facility to be constructed. If the City
determines in its sole discretion that a technical design analysis is required,
then the analysis shall be prepared at the applicant’s expense.
iii. Identification of the size of the facility to be constructed in ERUs as
described in section ii. above as well as share of the facility in ERUs to be
used by the proposed development.
(b) The City may create an application form to accompany credit requests.
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 6 of 9
(c) The Director shall verify the information provided under section (a) above and may seek
peer review at the requestor’s expense of any technical reports submitted to justify
proposed credit amounts or proportionate shares.
(d) Upon verification of eligibility, the Director shall prepare a GFF credit agreement for City
Council consideration and approval.
(e) The GFF credit agreement may allow the deferral of GFF charges pending completion of the
facility to be constructed by the developer in exchange for credit in rare circumstances
(such as when building construction subject to GFF payment/credit and sewer facility
construction occur concurrently), at the sole discretion of the City. In such cases, the
agreement shall stipulate that no certificates of occupancy shall be granted prior to
substantial completion of the facility and/or payment of the GFF. This deferral is allowed
because the total amount of GFFs owed to the City may not be known prior to project
completion and verification of construction costs. Where credit amounts are anticipated to
be less that the total GFFs owed to the city, the agreement shall stipulate that a partial
payment be made towards the GFFs owed for a project. The City Council may require a
performance bond if deferral is allowed.
(f) Credit shall not be granted until the Director has deemed the capital project as completed.
(g) Project completion shall not occur until:
i. The City deems it substantially complete; and
ii. All punch list items are finished; and
iii. The facility passes final inspection; and
iv. The Developer has put a 2-year warranty and maintenance bond in place; and
v. The City releases the performance bond (if applicable); and
vi. The Developer has completed all property dedications; and
vii. The Developer has provided the City with a Bill of Sale for the improvements
containing the certified construction costs (stamped by licensed engineer) to the
City for determination of the maximum credits available under this Agreement. The
Director shall have the authority to approve or reject project cost estimates and
may request additional information in support of certified construction cost
estimates.
viii. The City Council accepts the project as public.
(h) The City will confirm completeness of the Project by issuing a Final Notice of Completeness
to the Developer.
(i) Upon certification of completeness, the developer shall pay any balance owed for GFFs
within 90 days or prior to the city’s issuance of a certificate of occupancy, whichever occurs
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 7 of 9
first.
For illustrative purpose only, a GFF credit is calculated as depicted below:
Data needed to establish the credit value:
1) Verify the proposed project was included in the Sewer General Facility Fee Amount
2) Identify the project cost established for this project in the Sewer General Facility Fee
3) Identify the ERU’s for the Facility
a. Number of ERU’s for Developer needs of the total facility
b. Percentage ERU’s for Developer needs of the total facility
c. Number of ERU’s for Excess Capacity of the total facility
d. Percentage ERU’s for Excess Capacity of the total facility
4) Identify the Certified Construction Cost
5) Identify current Sewer General Facility Fee at time of agreement
Calculation needed to establish the credit value:
a) Sewer General Facility Fee Method available for credit (#2 multiplied by 3d)
b) Certified Project Cost Method available for credit: (#4 multiplied by 3d)
c) Total Sewer General Facility Fee owed by Developer: (#5 multiplied by 3a)
The credit is the lowest value of a, b, or c.
For illustrative purposes only, a GFF credit is depicted in the following example:
EXAMPLE
Data needed to establish the credit value:
1) Verified
2) $1,000,000
3) 1000 ERU’s
a. 250 ERU’s
b. 25%
c. 750 ERU’s
d. 75%
4) $900,000
5) $8,525
Calculated Credit Value:
a) Sewer General Facility Fee Method available for credit: $750,000
$1,000,000 x 75% = $750,000
b) Certified Project Cost Method available for credit: $675,000
$900,000 x 75% = $675,000
c) Total Sewer General Facility Fee owed by Developer: $2,131,250
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 8 of 9
$8,525 x 250 = $2,131,250
The credit is the lowest value of a, b, or c.
The maximum Credit is $675,000
(7) The City Council may require the GFF credit agreement to prorate GFF credits across all lots or
units in a development when the amount of GFFs owed by the developer exceeds the amount of
credit requested.
(8) The above provisions notwithstanding, the amount of credit shall not exceed the amount of the
sewer general facility fee for the property to which the credit is being applied.
(9) At the time the sewer general facility charge is paid, a sewer inspection fee shall be paid per
lateral connection to the main. The sewer inspection fee is set forth in POMC 13.04.025.
(10) All materials shall comply with the requirements of the city. If the city supplies any materials,
the cost of these plus overhead and sales tax will be paid by the customer.
(11) Extension of Sewer to Property Contiguous to the City Shall Annex – Exception. Property lying
within the urban growth boundary and contiguous to the Port Orchard city limits shall annex to the
city as a condition of sewer connection. In the alternative, the city may elect to defer annexation
and require the owner to execute a utility extension agreement as described in subsection (11) of
this section.
(12) Requirement for Utility Extension Agreement.
(a) Property lying within the urban growth area which is not contiguous to the Port Orchard city
limits shall be permitted water and/or sewer connection only upon entering into an appropriate
agreement with the city containing a waiver of protest to annexation/limited power of attorney
authorizing annexation at such time as the city determines the property should be annexed to the
city. Application for extension of utilities is subject to the following provisions:
(i) Application fees as established by the city council shall be paid upon the submittal of a
signed utility extension agreement (UEA) requesting water and/or sewer for property
outside the city, but located within the urban growth area;
(ii) The applicant will bear the entire cost of water and/or sewer connection pursuant to
this chapter, as written or hereafter amended, subject to any provision in effect at the time
of connection for latecomer reimbursement;
(iii) The applicant will be subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter, as written or
Ordinance No. 009-21
Page 9 of 9
hereafter amended, for extension of city utilities, the payment therefor, and all
enforcement provisions therein; and
(iv) The UEA shall not be executed prior to the time formal application is made for approval
of the project for which utilities are requested. The term of said agreement shall terminate
at the time any project application or approval expires or is revoked for any reason. A new
agreement shall also be required for any extension of project application or approvals or
when the director of planning determines that a substantial change or addition has been
made to the project.
(b) The city may disconnect the utilities for failure of the applicant or his/her successors or assigns,
for violation of this chapter, or for violation of the terms and conditions of the UEA.
(c) Following execution, such agreement shall be recorded by the city clerk in the chain of title for
such property in the records of the Kitsap County auditor.