HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/20/2019 Item 13, FloydCouncil Agenda Correspondence
Date:
TO:
FROM:
VIA:
SUBJECT:
August 20, 2019
Mayor and Council
Aaron Floyd, Director of Utilities
Derek Johnson, City Manager :j
August 20, 2019 Council Meeting Agenda Item 13 — Introduction of Private Sewer
Lateral Ordinance and Consideration of Private Sewer Lateral Rebate Program
Staff received the following questions, regarding Item 13, Introduction of Private Sewer Lateral
Ordinance and Consideration of Private Sewer Lateral Rebate Program, on the Council's August
20, 2019 agenda. The questions are below with staff s response shown in italics:
1) Question: Please clarify the point of sale requirements for property within common interest
subdivisions. As I read it any "common interest development" is basically excluded until 2030.
Common interest includes but is not limited, to a condominium, mobile/modular home,
commercial condo, planned development, etc. so these are really not a part of the required
inspection, correct?
Answer: The Ordinance was crafted to respond to multiple scenarios of how a private sewer
lateral or private lateral system connects to the City's wastewater collection system. Most
commonly, a separately owned property or unit connects directly to a City sewer main in the
street. In some cases, two properties share a private sewer lateral that connects to a City sewer
main in the street. For those properties, the events described in section 13.08.395 C would
require an inspection upon change of ownership.
However, there are other scenarios where a property has a private sewer system in private
street or parking area that serves multiple units within a common interest development and
connects to the City's sewer main. This may be a multi -unit commercial property, apartment
complex, a mobile home park, a condominium complex, a planned development, etc. Because
of the common ownership of those, sometimes lengthy, private sewer systems, instead of the
inspection requirement at time of sale, the Ordinance requires those systems be inspected by
January 1, 2030 as described in section 13.08.395 D.
2) Question: Will the City be monitoring private sales? Who is telling anon -represented
seller/buyer this needs to be done?
Answer: As proposed in section 13.08.395. C.1.g. ii, the seller shall disclose the results of the
inspection before the close of escrow. Staff met with title company representatives to
understand the disclosure process and inform them of the proposed ordinance as past of its
Introduction of Private Sewer Lateral Ordinance and
Consideration of Private Sewer Lateral Rebate Program
Page 2
public outreach. If adopted, staff will provide the final ordinance language to title companies
doing business in the City.
The City will be monitoring property sales through the SLO County Assessor's office similar
to the verification it performs for toilet retrofit requirements. The City will make information
on the Private Sewer Lateral Inspection Requirements available on the Utilities Department
website.
3) Modification of Proposed Ordinance
Staff proposes to modify Section 13.08.395 C.2.c Exceptions, found on Packet Page 172, to
read as follows:
c. The private sewn lateral is located within a common interest development which is
regulated under Section 12.08.395D and serves more than two separate units or properties
within the common interest development.
If you have any questions, please contact Aaron Floyd at 781-7205.