Ordinance No. 9140
ORDINANCE NO. 914
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE POLICY OF THE CITY
OF BAYTOWN CONCERNING THE COST, FINANCING, CON-
STRUCTION, EXTENSION, OPERATION AND OWNERSHIP OF
SANITARY SEWERS, PLANTS AND FACILITIES WITHIN THE
CITY .LIMITS, AND IN DEFINED INS'T'ANCES, OUTSIDE
THE CITY LIMITS; CREATING AN OFFENSE FOR VIOLA-
TING THE PROVISIONS OF.THE ORDINANCE AND FIXING
A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF BAYTOWN:
Section 1: Definitions:
For the purpose of this ordinance the following
words and terms shall have the following meanings:
(1); City: City of Baytown.
(2) City constructed sewer.
(a) Any sewer paid for wholly or partly by
the City, and /or contracted for by the
City.
(b) Sewers hereafter paid for directly by
the City.
(c) Those sewers, title to which is here-
after acquired by the City upon assump-
tion of obligations or debts for the
construction cost thereof or by opera-
tion of law.
(d) Sewers paid for by any other person, firm
or corporation or governmental subdi-
vision which hereafter shall be purchased
or otherwise acquired by City for consi-
deration.
(e) Sewers paid for partly by City and partly
by others when connection thereto is to
be made from abutting property, the own-
ers of which did not contribute their
proportionate part thereof to the cost of
said sewers.
(3) Connection charge: Subject to the provisions of
Section 4 hereof, connection charge means the following:
(a) The pro rata charge (as provided in "Annex
A ") per front foot of single dwelling residential property
rectangular or approximately rectangular in shape, but having
a depth of not to exceed 250 feet, measured along a side par-
ticularly perpendicular to the front property line; Single
dwelling residential property of greater depth or irregular
in shape, or having no true or proportionate frontage on a
street or easement containing a sewer, shall pay connection
charges determined under the provisions of Section 4 (b),
hereof.
(b) The pro rata charge (as provided in "Annex
A ") per 200 sq. ft. of connected area served, for lots or
tracts used for business, commercial or industrial properties;
however, regardless of the size or area of the tract to be
served, the minimum connection charge for such property shall
be the amount specified in "Annex A ".
(c) The pro rata charge (as provided in "Annex
A ") per square foot of land to be used for apartment projects,
shopping centers and other multibuilding or multi- tenant pro-
jects containing no dedicated streets, and where private sewers
will serve the project, and be maintained at the owner's ex-
pense even though connection is to be made to City sewers on
one or more locations.
The particular connection charge shall not in-
clude the tapping fee, which fee is imposed for the connection
of the customer's service line to the sewer system.
(4) Department: Department of Public Works of the
City of Baytown.
(5) Developer: A person, firm or corporation, whe-
ther one or more or a combination of one or more, engaged in
the business of improving and selling or using land for the
purpose of constructing residential, commercial or industrial
buildings thereon to be sold or leased to others.
(6) Director: Director of the Department of Public
Works of the City of Baytown.
(7) Force line: A sewer into and through which sew-
age is pumped and transported under pressure.
(8) Front footage or frontage: The length of the
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front property line of a parcel of property, normally that
length of a rectangular parcel of property measured parallel
to the street on which the property normally faces or fronts.
(9) Lateral: A sewer, eight (8 ") inches or less
in diameter, and to which are connected service lines, and the
main purpose of which is to conduct sewage to a sewer main.
(10) Lift Station: An installation constructed
and operated for the purpose of lifting a flow of sewage to
a sewer at a higher elevation.
(11) Main, Main Sewer, Sewer Main: A sewer, more
than eight (8 ") inches in diameter, to which are connected
laterals, and the main purpose of which is to receive and
transport sewage to a disposal plant. A main can also serve
as a lateral where service lines are connected directly to it.
(12) Owner: The owner of a particular lot or lots
or tracts of land, whether improved or not as shown by the
records of the County Clerk of the County wherein the property
is situated.
(13) Privately constructed sewer: A sewer constructed
in compliance with the City ordinances by a property owner,
developer, or others, within a public street or public easement,
and dedicated to the City for operation and maintenance but
reserving the right to connection charges established and col-
,
lected by the City for the constructor's benefit or negotiated
and collected by the constructor or his assignee as provided
by ordinances of City.
(14) Private easement: An easement that is not a
public easement, and is used exclusively by the owner thereof
to serve only his property with sanitary sewer service.
(15) Public Easement: An easement, street or
right of way dedicated to a governmental body or to the public,
either by a recorded map or plat or by a recorded instrument
of conveyance, or acquired by condemnation and within which
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sewer lines, mains and facilities may be constructed, main-
tained and operated.
(16) Private sewer: A sewer located on private
property or in a private easement and serving only the property
of the owner of the private property or private easement in
which it is located.
(17) Public sewer: A sewer located in a public
easement and under the control, management and use of the City
and available for use by the public.
(18) pump Station: An installation constructed
and operated for the purpose of putting sewage into a force line
and maintaining it under pressure for transportation purposes.
(19) Recorded map, plat or instrument: Legally
recorded in the records of the County Clerk of Harris County,
Texas.
(20) Service line: The sewer line that connects the
waste disposal facilities of a particular property to a lateral
or main sewer serving also as a lateral.
(21) Sewer: A sanitary sewer.
(22) Subdivision: A tract or area of land subdivi-
ded into lots or tracts by a recorded map or plat and to be sold
or leased to others, or used for residential, commercial or
industrial purposes.
(23) Treatment plant: A plant designed, constructed
and operated for the treatment and disposal of domestic and com-
mercial waste.
Section 2: City to construct sewers only in public
rights of way or easements.
The City shall construct laterals, mains, and other
sanitary sewers and facilities under the provisions hereof
only in public easements as that term is herein defined. All
such laterals, mains and facilities when constructed shall
remain the property of the City of Baytown and no person shall,
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by the payment of the connection charge or any other charge
provided for herein, acquire any interest or right in any
laterals, mains or facilities, or any portion thereof, other
than the privilege to have their property connected thereto
for sewer service in accordance with the ordinances of the City.
Section 3: Construction by Developers:
(1) Any developer desiring to develop land as a
subdivision and install sanitary sewer facilities therein,
shall submit his plans and specifications for approval in
accordance with the City of Baytown's Sub - Division regula-
tions. Construction of such facilities shall not be commenced
until the plans and specifications therefor have been approved
by the Planning and Zoning Commission, and a permit issued
authorizing such construction.
(2) All sewer lines and facilites, including lift
and pump stations, constructed under the provisions hereof
will, upon approval and acceptance by the City, become the
property of the City subject to its exclusive control and
maintenance. All such sewer lines and facilities shall be
constructed in public easements.
(3) All developers will install, at their own ex-
spense, mains, laterals and service lines necessary to serve
the land they are developing as subdivisions. They will like-
wise construct at their own expense any and all lift stations
and pump stations to provide sewer service to such land. The
cost of sewer mains, which are required by the City to be lar-
ger than would normally be needed to serve the subdivision,
will be partially reimbursed. Reimbursable amount will be the
difference between the cost of the facilities that would be
adequate to serve the subdivision and cost of the facilities
required by the City. A reimbursement contract will be nego-
tiated between the City Council and the developer. The deve-
loper or property owner paying a portion of the cost of the
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main to serve a subdivision will not be required to pay a
connection charge for service lines connected to such main.
Section 4: Construction of Sewers:
a. New construction of sewers in developed areas
of City:
The Department of Public Works may extend sanitary
sewer laterals or mains in the streets, alleys or other ease-
ments, as provided herein, within the City limits in order
to permit connections by persons desiring, seeking or needing
sanitary sewer service. A connection charge as provided for
in paragraph b of this section shall be made against each lot
or tract of land and the owner thereof, whose sewer line shall
be hereafter connected with any sewer main hereafter constructed
within the City whether contracted for before or after the ef-
fective date of this ordinance.
All petitions for extension of City service under
the provisions hereof shall be in writing and signed by those
persons in an area or subdivision desiring City service. it
shall be filed with the Director and such petition shall indi-
cate the name, address and telephone number of each signer,
and be accompanied with a map or tracts in the subdivision,
or, if not subdivided, for those lots and tracts within a dis-
tance of 300 feet on all sides of the properties owned by the
petitioners, The petition shall also contain any other infor-
mation or agreements that may be specifically required under
the provisions hereof. The petition shall designate one per-
son as "chairman" who shall be the representative of the pe-
titioners and to whom all correspondence from the City will
be addressed, and who shall be responsible for notifying the
petitioners of any action taken by the City on the petition
and of which he is advised by the City, and for obtaining ad-
ditional information for the City and for getting instruments
executed by petitioners in connection with requests of service.
(1) In those areas of the City that have been sub-
divided into usual size residential lots (not larger than 10,000
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square feet) by a map or plat duly recorded in the Map
Records of the County Clerk of the County wherein the land
is situated, and where at least fifty (50 %) percent of the
lots of the subdivided area are developed (occupied by a re-
sidence or commercial establishment) and are not served with
public sewers, the City will, upon receipt of a petition so
requesting, install laterals if the funds are available and
the project is practicable and economically feasible.
(2)(a) Upon receipt by Director of a petition from
the owners of property in an area that has been subdivided by
recorded maps or plats into lots and where at least fifty (50 %)
percent of the lots are not developed (occupied by residences
or commercial estalbishments), and the developed lots are not
served by public sewers, if the Director determines mathema-
tically that the project is economically feasible, that is,
the cost to the City of extending City laterals and mains and
constructing and expanding facilities to accommodate the area
does not exceed the usual average cost per connection or per
acre servable, and that the project is engineeringly practi-
cable, and the City has money available, the City will bear
initially the cost of extending sewers to provide service to
such area on the condition that the owners of the developed
lots pay to the City in cash, and in advance of the City ini-
tiating preliminary work on the project, an amount of money
equal to the difference between the total amount of the per
front foot connection charges (as determined under the pro-
visions hereof) assessable against the owners of the developed
lots and the per front foot connection charges for fifty (50 %)
percent of the lots in the area requesting service. Those
property owners paying the amount of money necessary to meet
the requirement of fifty (50 %) percent development shall be
entitled to receive reimbursement (without interest) there-
for by the City solely from connection charges collected by
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City from persons, other than those entitled to said reim-
bursement, subsequently connecting to said sewers.
(b) The persons entitled to said reimbursements
shall jointly designate in writing a trustee to receive reim-
bursements from the City toward said advance payment. The
trustee shall be responsible to the persons entitled thereto
for making proper distribution of said moneys, he shall be
their agent and representative and City shall not have nor in-
cur any liability either for failing to collect said connection
charge nor for failing to pay said amounts to said trustee.
The City shall likewise neither have not incur any liability
for any acts or omissions of said trustee. The trustee shall
give written receipts to the City for sums received by him on
behalf of said persons; however, the cancelled warrants and
and checks of the City purporting to have been endorsed by
said trustee shall create a conclusive presumption of such
payment by City.
(3)(a) If any area desiring sewer service where
there are business, commercial or industrial establishments
occupying large tracts of land, or where the residential lots
are subdivided by recorded plats having an average area in ex-
cess of 10,000 feet of land, or where the land is not subdivi-
ded by a recorded plat or map, the City will, upon receipt of
a petition in writing and signed by those property owners de-
siring service, install laterals if the funds are available
and the project is practicable and economically feasible, on
the condition that the petitioners will pay in cash to City
an amount of money (hereinafter referred to as "advance payment ")
equal to the connection charge (computed under paragraph b of
this section) for an area of property which, when taken together
with the connection charges assessable against petitioners'
property, will be sufficient to total one -half of the total
amount of connection charges assessable against all property
capable of being served by the proposed sewers. Such pe-
tition shall contain an agreement to this effect.
(b) Upon receipt of any such petition by Director,
if the City has mains available for furnishing all such ser-
vice and if the City has money available for such project,
the Director shall determine the area capable of being served
by the laterals necessary to provide service to the properties
of petitioners, and the amount of money, if any, that petitioners
shall pay in cash to City as advance payment toward the cost
of constructing such lines. He shall also determine the amount
of connection charge to be paid by each of the petitioners
for their respective properties.
(c) If the Director determines that the project
is feasible and should be constructed and the City has money
available therefor, he shall notify the Chairman of the peti-
tioners and advise him of the amount of connection charge for
each petitioner's respective properties and of the total amount
of the required advance payment and request that the petitioners
pay in cash to the City the required advance payment. The
advance payment shall be wholly the responsibility of the pe-
titioners and they shall determine among themselves in what
manner and how much each is to pay, but in any event, said
sum must be paid in cash to the City. As soon as the peti-
tioners have paid the required advance payment in cash to the
City, the Director will proceed with the project in the same
manner as any other sewer construction project.
(4) For owners of property desiring to connect to
such sewers constructed under the provisions hereof a connec-
tion charge will be made (irrespective of any other payments
theretofore made) as herein provided. Property owners will
be permitted to pay the connection charge in either monthly or
annual installments and bearing interest as provided in para-
graph c of Section 4 herein.
(5) in areas in which the City constructs sewers
under the provisions hereof, all property on which there is
located waste disposal facilites, including domestic, indus-
trial and commercial, and all houses and business establishments
within 300 feet of any such sewer that are not then served by
the public sewers, shall, within 90 days after receipt of writ-
ten demand by the City Director of Public Health, install a
sewer connection, if such property is not already provided
therewith, and make application for a permit to connect, and
upon receipt of such permit connect such wast disposal facili-
ties to such sewer. when such connection is made the private
disposal facilities will be immediately abandoned, excepting
only those facilities of commercial and industrial connections
as may be required for pretreatment by ordinance of the City
or regulations of the Department for pretreatment of certain
kinds of waste.
b. Connection charge, front foot definition, ex-
ceptions and payment:
(1) The connection charge provided for herein shall
be paid by the owner of any property that is connected to any
future City - constructed sewer or any sewer for which the City
pays any consideration. However, for those sewers constructed
by developers or others at their sole cost and dedicated to
the City, either by operation of this ordinance or otherwise,
no connection charge will be made for connections thereto of
property owned by the person who pays for the construction of
any such sewer, their successors and assigns. No connection
charge will be made for connections to sewers existing within
the present limits of the City of Baytown on the date of pas-
sage of this ordinance which may be subsequently acquired by
the City.
(2) The front foot rate (as provided in "Annex A ")
shall normally apply to property fronting on streets in areas
platted into lots or tracts of land, rectangular or approximately
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rectangular in shape, with a depth not to exceed 250 feet.
Where lots or tracts have a greater depth than 250 feet from
the front street line, and are occupied, or are to be occu-
pied exclusively as single unit dwelling places, then the
additional depth shall not be assessed. If the property is
later divided into one or more additional building lots or
sites, then the terms of this ordinance shall apply to the
connection or improvements on each such lot to City sewers
and charges therefor. On lots or tracts of land which ex-
tend through from one street to another, with frontage on
both streets, and where the distance between the property
lines abutting the streets is 450 feet or more, then the char-
ges herein provided for shall be paid on both frontages when
a connection is secured to the lot or tract. Where lots or
tracts are irregular in size or shape, then the connection
charge shall be based upon equivalent rectangular lots or
tracts using one front foot for each 200 square feet of area.
(3) For lots or tracts that are intended to be
used for, or are being used for business, commercial or in-
dustrial purposes, the connection charge shall be the amount
specified in "Annex A" per 200 square feet of connected area
served; however, regardless of the size or area of the tract
to be served, the minimum connection charge for such property
shall be the amount specified in "Annex A ".
Owners of land in any of the above classifications
to be used for apartment projects, shopping centers and other
multibuilding or multi - tenant projects, containing no dedi-
cated streets, and where private sewers will serve the project,
and be maintained at the owner's expense even though connection
is to be made to City sewers on one or more locations, shall
pay a connection charge irrespective of abutting or front foot-
age at the rate per square foot specified in "Annex A ", or the
sum per acre of 43,560 square feet also specified in "Annex A ".
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(4) The connection charge for a building occupy-
ing more than one building lot will be the applicable connec-
tion charge for all lots occupied by the building requiring
service and all or any accessory area to the main building,
such as, for example, but not as a limitation, parking lots,
garages, etc.
No charge will be made for subsequent connections
for buildings erected or the lots for which a proper connec-
tion charge provided for herein has once been paid. In the ab-
sence of factual proof of such payment, City records shall be
considered as correct and final.
(5) A parcel or tract for which a proper connec-
tion charge is once paid shall, on re- connection for any cause
(excepting default in payment of charges made by City), not
be required to pay a second charge even though re- connection
be at a different location or in a different street; the tap-
ping charge is to be at the sole cost and expense of the re-
connecting property.
(6) In the event of a dispute or doubt as to the
amount of connection charge to be paid for a particular pro-
perty or the method of computing same, the Director shall ap-
ply that charge or method of computing that most nearly applies
to the particular property and his decision in the matter shall
be final.
C. Payment of connection charge:
(1) The connection charge shall be paid at the date
and with issuance of permit to make such connection and may be
paid in cash or by written agreement, the property owner may
pay the charge in ten (10) payments bearing interest at the
rate of five (5 %) percent per annum on the unpaid balance, that
is, a cash payment equal to ten (10 %) percent of the total con-
nection charge will be made with the application and the owner
will execute the required City provided form by which annual
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payments equal to ten (10 %) percent of the total connection
charge plus five (5 %) percent interest on the unpaid balance
will be made on each of the succeeding nine (9) permit anni-
versary dates. Delinquent payments will bear interest at the
rate of ten (10 %) percent per annum until paid. The provi-
ded form will contain provisions for details such as descrip-
tion of the property connected, changes in property ownership,
pre - payment of balance due, collections of delinquent amounts
and any other pertinent data or information.
(2) To facilitate billing and accounting proce-
dures Director is authorized to divide the principal and
interest payable for connection charges into nine (9) equal
annual installments, rather than computing each year the in-
terest due on the balance of the principal. However, should
the debtor pay the balance due or any portion thereof prior
to its due date, an adjustment shall be made so that in any
event the City will receive interest during the existence of
the debt at the rate of five(5 %) percent per annum, except
that in cases of default or delinquent payments the interest
will be charged at the rate of ten (10 %) percent per annum
on the amount of the delinquent or defaulted payment until
paid. In case of default in making any payment when due Di-
rector shall have the option to declare the whole balance due
and payable, and in such event, such balance will bear interest
at the rate of ten (10 %) percent per annum until paid. In
the event of suit to collect any amount due under the pro-
visions of this ordinance, the City will be entitled to judge-
ment for reasonable attorneys'fees.
(3) city shall have a lien against the property
connected for the amount of the connection charges and all
interest and penalties, and when the property involved is
homestead, the agreement provided for in (1)above, shall be
signed by the husband and wife owners, and acknowledged by
each of them in the manner prescribed by law and the instrument
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recorded in the Mechanic's and Materialman's Lien Records
of the County Clerk of the County in which the property is
located. The agreement shall be executed, acknowledged and
recorded before the construction is commenced or the connec-
tion is made.
(4) Billing for payments of connection charges
will be by the Finance Department which will bill for de-
ferred connection charges to sewer lines and delinquent pay-
ments. Delinquency will be dealt with in the same manner
as for delinquency in payment of water service, by cutting
off water service to force payment of delinquent accounts.
All payments will be made to the same offices collecting wa-
ter service charges.
Section 5: Cost of construction and maintenance
of sewer facilities:
Except as otherwise provided herein, the obliga-
tion for the cost of constructing, operating and maintaining
sewer facilities shall be as follows:
(1) The construction cost of lateral sewers shall
be borne by the owner of the property served thereby.
(2) The construction, operating and maintenance
cost of sewer mains shall be borne by the City.
(3) The cost of laterals and service lines, wholly
within and required to serve a subdivision, shall be borne by
the developer.
(4) The cost of constructing sewage lift stations
and pump stations located on laterals and required to serve
a subdivision shall be borne by the developer. Upon com-
pletion to the satisfaction of the City, the lift station or
pump station will be deeded to the City, at no cost to the
City, after which the cost of operating and maintaining such
life station will be borne by the City.
(5) The cost of constructing lift stations on
main line sewers and the cost of constructing and operating
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sewage treatment facilities shall be borne by the City.
(6) The cost of operating and maintaining the
sanitary sewer systems of the City, other than those sani-
tary sewer systems operated and serviced by privately owned
treatment plants, shall be borne by the City.
(7) Those sanitary sewer systems operated and
served by privately owned sewage treatment plants shall be
operated and maintained at the expense of the owner of the
treatment plant serving them.
Section 6: Connecting properties outside City
to City sewer:
The City will permit properties outside of the City
limits to be connected to City sewers for sanitary sewer ser-
vice upon the following conditions:
(1) Any property located outside of the City limits
and adjacent to a City sewer may be permitted to connect to
the City sewer upon making application therefor to Director
and paying the applicable per front footage connection charge
provided for herein, plus the additional charge specified in
"Annex A" per signle family residence or single family resi-
dential equivalent served, this latter charge to represent the
cost of plant and main capacity required to accommodate said
connection.
(2) The City may permit the extension of its la-
terals or the connection of laterals to its mains to serve
residential property not to exceed 30 acres or 100 homesites
developed or to be developed as residential subdivision out-
side of the City limits. The owners of such property or their
duly designated representatives shall make application to
Director for a permit to make such lateral connection or ex-
tension, submitting plans and specifications therefor. if
Director finds that such lateral connection or extension is
feasible and capacity exists to properly serve property with-
in and outside of the City and approves the plans and specifications
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submitted, he may grant such permit. Such permit shall pro-
vide that all such lateral connections or extensions shall be
constructed at the sole cost and expense of the property to
be served and shall be dedicated for the use of the public
by the parties constructing same. City shall inspect the con-
struction as it progresses and such construction shall be in
strict accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
Applicant will pay to City in addition to any other fees, an
inspection charge as specified in "Annex A" per lineal foot of
sewer to be constructed, such payment to accompany the appli-
cation for permit.
(3) Property owners desiring to connect to said la-
teral extensions or connections of the City sewer constructed
under Sub - paragraph (2) above, shall make application to the
Director for a permit to do so and pay to City the fee spe-
cified in "Annex A" per residence, representing that propor-
tionate part of the cost of the City plant and mains required
to accommodate said connection.
(4) All sewers constructed under the provisions of
Sub-- paragraph(2) above, will be dedicated to the public and
will be maintained by the City and there will be added to the
service charge established herein an amount sufficient to re-
imburse the City for the cost of such maintenance. Such ad-
ditional amount will be placed in a separate fund and will not
be considered as income to City nor as a part of the general
fund but solely as a maintenance fund to compensate the City
for the cost of maintaining such sewers. Cost of maintaining
such sewer by the City while they are outside the City limits
shall never exceed the money available in such fund. The Di-
rector may increase or decrease the charge for maintenance in
accordance with annual experience of actual costs incurred.
City Council may provide for the disposition of any money
in said fund upon the City annexing the area served by such
sewers.
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(5) In those instances where a developer or the
residents of an area containing more than thirty acres or more
than 100 homesites desire the extension of City sewers for
the purpose of providing such area with sanitary sewer service,
an application for such extension of service shall be made by
such developer, or duly designated representative of such re-
sidents to Director, in the manner and containing the matters
and information required in Sub - paragraph (2) hereof. If
the Director finds that the City plant and main capacity are
available for such service and approves the proposed plans
and specifications for such extension of service, he shall make
his recommendation to City Council, setting forth the amount
of connection charge to be made, the amount of service charge
required, and any other provisions or conditions he deems ne-
cessary in order to protect the interest of City. If City
Council approves the permitting of such extensions as recom-
mended by Director, the City Attorney will be directed to pre-
pare a written agreement between the City and the applicant
containing substantially the requirements and conditions re-
commended by Director and such other provisions as in the opi-
nion of the City Attorney are necessary to protect the interests
of the City. The City Attorney will likewise prepare an or-
dinance authorizing execution of such agreement on behalf of
the City. When a fully executed copy of the agreement has
been submitted to Director, he will issue to applicant a per-
mit to make the extension and authorizing City sanitary sewer
service to the area in accordance with the terms and condi-
tions of said agreement, and all pertinent City ordinances.
The service charges and all other charges set forth in said
agreement will be subject to revision from time to time by
City Council in order to fully and completely compensate City
for all costs and expense of the service for which the charge
is made.
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(6) Subject to the provisions of Sub - paragraph (5)
above, the regular monthly charge established by City ordinance
for property outside the City limits whose waste is discharged
into and processed by the City Sanitary Sewer System will be
made to those properties served under the provisions hereof.
The City shall have the right to discontinue service to any
property failing or refusing to pay when due the charges made
by City for such service by disconnecting the service line of
said property from the lateral or main to which it is connected.
Service to said property may be restored upon payment by pro-
perty owner of the delinquent account and any penalties due
plus the disconnection charge specified in "Annex A" and by
making connection to said lateral or main at the property own-
er's sole expense after obtaining from Director a permit au-
thorizing such reconnection. This sub - section (6) applies
whether or not the sewer connected or reconnected to is owned
by the City.
(7) Except as provided in Sub- paragraph (5) above,
the regular monthly sewer service charge for sewer service
to areas outside of the City limits shall be the amount spe-
cified in "Annex A" per single family residence. For pro-
perties connected other than single family residence, the charge
will be as specified in "Annex A" for each four (4) persons
of the average number employed, housed, taught, hospitalized
or otherwise accommodated per month, the amount of such charge
will be determined and computed by Director and his decision
in each particular case will be final. If the City maintains
that portion of the sewer system that it would maintain if the
lines were located within the City, there will be assessed
an additional monthly charge as specified in "Annex A" per
single family residence or its equivalent. This charge will
be collected and placed in the maintenance fund as provided
in Sub - paragraph (4) of this Section and subject to adjustment
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and the other provisions of said Sub - paragraph (4).
(8) Each and every resident of property receiving
sewer service from City through connections made under the
provisions hereof thereby releases the City from all causes
of action and claims for damage that they might otherwise
have as a result of the City exercising any right reserved to
itself under the provisions hereof.
Section 7: Construction of mains and treatment
plants within the City with initial
financing by the Contractor:
The following procedure shall be the exclusive
method whereby a developer or other person (hereafter called
developer) may finance the construction of sanitary sewers
and disposal plants within the City to serve a subdivision
and recover from City that portion of the cost of such sani-
tary sewers or disposal plants normally borne by the City of
Baytown according to its ordinance.
when the City does not have funds available to fi-
nance the construction of a sanitary sewer disposal plant,
or that portion of the cost of sanitary sewer laterals or
mains which the City usually bears, to provide sanitary se-
wer service to a subdivision, if the project is approved on
behalf of the City, the City will enter into an agreement with
the developer to provide for the financing of such sanitary
sewers or sanitary sewage disposal plant upon the following
terms and conditions:
a. Sewage Treatment Plant:
(1) The design of the treatment plant must be ap-
proved by the Director.
(2) Bids for the proposed subject based upon plans
and specifications provided by the developer and approved by
the Director will be obtained by the City in the manner re-
quired by its Charter.
(3) Upon receipt of bids, the City Council will
M &OM
determine the best and lowest bid acceptable to City and the
developer will enter into a contract (upon forms furnished
by Director) with the approved successful bidder for the con-
struction of the project.
(4) Upon completion of the project and acceptance
thereof by City, the developer will enter into a written con-
tract agreeing to convey to the City the sewage treatment plant
at a cost equal to the final construction cost plus engineering
fees not to exceed the schedule of minimum fees set forth in
the latest Manual of Professional Practice, General Engineering
Service, published by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers,
Austin, Texas, plus the value of the plant site (land) agreed
to by City and paid to City by developer for permits or con-
struction inspection of facilities.
(5) As consideration for such agreement to convey-
ante, an annual payment in an amount sufficient to return to
the developer within a ten (10) year period the purchase price
of the plant plus the interest at the rate of four (4 %) percent
per annum on the unpaid balance, will be made by the City from
funds currently available for that purpose. The City will re-
tain an option to pay the remaining balance to the developer
at any time prior to maturity.
(6) The annual mid -year, July 1, payment to the
developer will be equal to 1 /10th of the total cost of the
installation plus interest equal to four (4 %) percent of the
unpaid balance.
(7) If at any time the City fails or refuses to
make the annual payment of principal and interest provided
for in the agreement from funds currently available for that
purpose in such a manner and under such circumstances as to
constitute a legal breach of the agreement, the developer will
have the option to terminate the agreement to convey the
treatment plant and site to.the City, and in the event the
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developer so elects to terminate such conveyance, developer
shall have the right to take possession of and operate such
plant as a public utility, making charge for services ren-
dered thereby subject to the ordinances of the City of Baytown;
provided, however, City shall have an option, within one (1)
year, or resumption of payments by the City, including pay-
ment of interest at the rate of four (4 %) percent per annum
for the deferred period on the then remaining balance due
on the principal, and, upon written demand to developer to
retake possession and operation of said sewage treatment plant
and site and proceed to acquire full title thereto by com-
pletion of the ten (10) annual payments, including principal
and interest, as provided in paragraph (6) above.
(8) The agreement on behalf of the City to make
the annual payments, principal and interest, will never be
enforceable as an obligation of the City, and the only remedy
available to the developer or failure of the City to make
annual payments will be the exercise of the option outlined
in paragraph (7) above.
b. Main Sewers:
(1) The design of the sewarage system which a de-
veloper desires to construct under the provisions hereof shall
be submitted for approval to the Director.
(2) For the construction of all main sewers on
which reimbursement payments by the City are to be made, bids
will be obtained by the City of Baytown in compliance with its
Charter requirements.
(3) Upon receipt of bids, the City Council will de-
termine the best and lowest bid acceptable to the City and the
developer will enter into a contract, upon forms to be fur-
nished by the Director, with the contractor whose bid is ac-
cepted by City Council, for the construction of the project.
(4) Upon completion of the project and acceptance
thereof by the City, the developer will convey to the City of
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Baytown such main sewers, at a cost equal to the final con-
struction cost plus engineering fees not to exceed the mini-
mum schedule of fees as set forth in the latest Manual of
Professional Practice, General Engineering Service, published
by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Austin, Texas.
If the service lines of any developer's property are to be
connected to the main sewer, then an amount equal to the con-
nection charge provided for in Section 1 (c) will be deducted
by the City. This latter payment is to reimburse the City
for that portion of the cost of the main sewer installation
which is to be used by the developer as a lateral sewer.
(5) In consideration of the conveyance by the
developer of the main sewers to the City, an annual payment
in an amount sufficient to return to the developer within a
ten (10) year period the purchase price of the main sewers
as determined in paragraph (4) above, plus interest at the
rate of four (4 %) percent per annum on the unpaid balance
will be made by City from funds currently available for such
purpose. City will retain an option to pay the remaining
balance due on the purchase price to the developer at any
time prior to maturity.
(6) The annual mid -year, July 1, payment to the
developer will be equal to 1 /10th of the total cost of the
installation as determined in paragraph (4) above, plus
interest equal to four percent (4%) of the unpaid balance.
(7) The agreement on behalf of the City to make
the annual payments of principal and interest will never
be enforceable as an obligation of the City.
(8) The developer will construct and pay for the
entire cost of lateral sewers and upon completion and approval
by City, those sewers will become the property of the City of
Baytown without cost to it, and subject to the City's exclu-
sive ownership, control, management, use and operation.
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{9} City will permit other areas, outside of the
subdivision area of the developer who have entered into the
agreement provided for above, to connect to main sewers con-
structed under the provisions above, upon the condition that
the other area owners pay to the City, to be credited on any
amounts that the City might then owe such construction de-
veloper, a connection charge to be determined in the manner
herein provided and applicable to the property to be connec-
ted.
Section 8: Extensions into densely populated areas
by City at its own expense - connection
charge by property owners:
When the City Council finds that in densely pop-
ulated areas and in specific locations, due to the absence
of sewer service, the public welfare would best be served
by making sewer main extensions at its own cost, and after
due investigation and consideration, in order to avoid and
eliminate extremely unhealthful conditions which are con-
tributing factors to epidemics, and where money is available
for such purposes, it is the express policy of the City Council,
when expressed by its resolution, to extend sanitary sewers
into densely populated areas without a petition being signed
by the property owners; provided, however, that when lines
are extended following such resolution the property owner
shall be required to pay the connection charges established
by this ordinance when such property is connected to the
sewer.
Section 9: Effective Date of Connection Charges:
The connection charges provided for herein, except
for service outside of the City limits, shall apply only to
connections to lines constructed and /or accepted by the City,
or acquired by the City on or after the effective date of
this ordinance by purchase, assumption of obligations or debts
for the construction cost thereof or by operation of law.
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Section 10: Offense and Penalty:
Any person violating any of the terms and pro-
visions of this ordinance shall be guilty of an offense and
upon conviction shall be fined not more than Two Hundred
($200.00) Dollars. Each and every day that a violation
continues shall constitute a separate offense punishable
as such. A failure to comply with any requirement herein
shall constitute a violation thereof.
Section 11:
The right of persons entitled to refunds under
previous ordinances where the installations have actually
been made of water and /or sanitary sewer mains, shall re-
main unaffected by this ordinance. All rights and remedies
which have accrued in favor of the City under any prior or-
dinance or amendment thereof shall be and are expressly pre-
served for the benefit of the City.
Section 12:
If any provision, section, subsection, sentence,
clause or phrase of this ordinance, or the application of
same to any person or set of circumstances is for any rea-
son held to be unconstitutional, void or invalid (or for any
reason unenforceable), the validity of the remaining por-
tions of this ordinance or their application to other per-
sons or sets of circumstances shall not be affected thereby,
it being the intent of the City Council of the City of Baytown
in adopting and of the Mayor in approving this ordinance,
that no portion hereof or provision or regulation contained
herein shall become inoperative or fail by reason of any un-
constitutionality or invalidity of any other portion, pro-
vision or regulation, and to this end all provisions of this
ordinance are declared to be severable.
1 2 .
The City Clerk shall cause the caption of this
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ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circu-
lation within the City of Baytown at least twice within ten
days from the date of passage of this ordinance.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the City Council of the City of Baytown,
on this the 14th day of March, 8.
Seaborn Cravey, Mayor
ATTEST:
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
'0�'W;. W
William R. Laughlin, City Attorney
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" A N N E X A"
This Annex is designed to provide a schedule of mone-
tary amounts to be used to augment this ordinance, to allow
for a revision in the monetary amounts involved without the
necessity of an amendment to the basic oridnance.
The following is a list of the monetary amounts to be
applied to the provisions of this ordinance, as indicated:
Section
1 (3) (a)
- $
1.50
per front foot
section
1 (3)(b) --
$
2.00
per 200 square feet
Section
1 (3)(c)
- $
.01
per square foot
section
4b(2)
- $
1.50
per front foot
Section
4b(3)
- $
2.00
per 200 square feet;
$
.01
per square foot;
$435.60
per 43,560 square feet
section
6 (1)
- $
90.00
per single family residence
served, or equivalent
Section
6 (2)
- $
.05
per lineal foot inspection
charge
section
6 (3)
- $
90.00
per residence
Section
6 (6)
- $
50.00
disconnection charge
Section
6 (7)
- $
2.00
per month per single family
residence;
$
2.00
for each 4 persons of the
average number employed,
housed, taught, hospitalized
or otherwise accommodated per
month;
$
.25
per single family residence
or its equivalent if the City
maintains that portion of the
sewer system that it would
maintain if the lines were lo-
cated within the City.
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