Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

A. General.

1. In addition to the fees for installation of water service as provided in this chapter, the utility shall collect system development charges (SDC) from property owners that directly benefit from utility-built or privately built water service facilities, except property owners who previously paid their fair share through an LID, ULID, or late-comer charge. Facilities that may be covered in a SDC include, but are not limited to, lines built from the water main to the property line, fire hydrant assemblies, pump stations, reservoirs and distribution and transmission mains.

2. The SDC is the property owner's equitable share of the established costs of the facilities he/she benefits from. The equitable share may include interest charges applied from the date of construction acceptance of the facility until the property connects, or for a period not to exceed 10 years, whichever is less, at a rate commensurate with the rate of interest applicable at the time of construction of the facility to which the property owner is seeking to connect but not to exceed 10 percent per year; provided, that the aggregate amount of interest shall not exceed the equitable share of the cost of the facility allocated to such property owner.

B. Computation of SDC.

1. The SDC authorized by RCW 35.92.025 shall be levied in an amount determined by the director of public works and approved by the city council.

2. The costs of the facilities shall be allocated to benefiting property owners based on equivalent residential units (ERU) unless the superintendent determines that an allocation based on front footage or other reasonably based methodology better assures equitable sharing of cost by all properties benefiting from the facilities.

3. SDC that have been paid as a result of prior development activities or through participation in an LID or ULID will not be re-assessed.

C. Payment of SDC.

1. SDC shall be paid:

a. Before a property is allowed to connect to the public water system.

b. At the time of redevelopment of the property, if SDC apply that have not yet been paid such as charges for new facilities that directly benefit the property.

2. The utility may enter into contracts with the owners of existing single-family residences and with the owners of redevelopment projects that meet criteria specified by the utility for payment of SDC over time instead of as a lump sum. The utility will charge interest at a rate set by the finance director on any outstanding debt covered by a payment contract. A contract shall be payable in full at the time of closing upon sale of the property. Such installment contract shall describe the property served, shall be acknowledged by the property owner and shall be recorded by the superintendent with the Grays Harbor County auditor at the expense of the property owner. Delinquent payments under such installment contract shall be a lien upon the described property as provided in RCW 35.21.290 and the water service to such property may be cut off in accordance with RCW 35.21.300 until the delinquent installments are paid. Upon full payment of the contract, the superintendent on behalf of the city shall execute and deliver to the property owner a release of such lien.

Prior to the adoption of 6497 on 03/24/2010, Section 13.56.142 read as follows.

A. General.

1. In addition to the fees for installation of water service as provided in this chapter, the utility shall collect system development charges (SDC) from property owners that directly benefit from utility-built or privately built water service facilities, except property owners who previously paid their fair share through an LID , ULID, or late-comer charge. Facilities that may be covered in a SDC include, but are not limited to, lines built from the water main to the property line, fire hydrant assemblies, pump stations, reservoirs and distribution and transmission mains.

2. The SDC is the property owner's equitable share of the established costs of the facilities he/she benefits from. The equitable share may include interest charges applied from the date of construction acceptance of the facility until the property connects, or for a period not to exceed 10 years, whichever is less, at a rate commensurate with the rate of interest applicable at the time of construction of the facility to which the property owner is seeking to connect but not to exceed 10 percent per year; provided, that the aggregate amount of interest shall not exceed the equitable share of the cost of the facility allocated to such property owner.

B. Computation of SDC.

1. The SDC shall be levied in an amount determined by multiplying a base SDC by the total number of equivalent residential units (ERU) determined by the meter size of the connection. The amount of the base connection charge shall be computed by dividing the total established cost of the facility to be connected to, by the total number of ERU’s projected to be constructed within the 10 year period and within the area served by the facility. Such determination of facilities to be assessed a SDC, the amount of the SDC, and amendments thereto shall be established by the director of public works and approved by the city council.

2. The costs of the facilities shall be allocated to benefiting property owners based on the number of equivalent residential units (ERU) unless the superintendent determines that an allocation based on front footage or other reasonably based methodology better assures equitable sharing of cost by all properties benefiting from the facilities.

3. SDC that have been paid as a result of prior development activities or through participation in an LID or ULID will not be re-assessed.

4. Properties within the Herbig Heights pressure zone, as defined in the City of Aberdeen Water Comprehensive Plan updated in November, 1994, as approved by the state of Washington, Department of Health on August 18, 1994, ID#000509, DOH Project #049305, including those which are supplied from the Fairview reservoir pressure zone into the Herbig Heights zone, shall be assessed a SDC of one thousand four hundred seventy dollars ($1,470.00) per ERU.

C. Payment of SDC.

1. SDC shall be paid:

a. Before a property is allowed to connect to the public water system.

b. At the time of redevelopment of the property, if SDC apply that have not yet been paid such as charges for new facilities that directly benefit the property.

2. The utility may enter into contracts with the owners of existing single-family residences and with the owners of redevelopment projects that meet criteria specified by the utility for payment of SDC over time instead of as a lump sum. The utility will charge interest at a rate set by the finance director on any outstanding debt covered by a payment contract. A contract shall be payable in full at the time of closing upon sale of the property. Such installment contract shall describe the property served, shall be acknowledged by the property owner and shall be recorded by the superintendent with the Grays Harbor County auditor at the expense of the property owner. Delinquent payments under such installment contract shall be a lien upon the described property as provided in RCW 35.21.290 and the water service to such property may be cut off in accordance with RCW 35.21.300 until the delinquent installments are paid. Upon full payment of the contract, the superintendent on behalf of the city shall execute and deliver to the property owner a release of such lien.

(Ord. 6497, Amended, 03/24/2010)