13.08.100 Sewer – Extensions by private developers.
A. A developer considering extensions to the Wasilla sewer system shall retain an engineer who is registered as a professional engineer under the laws of the state of Alaska to do preliminary design and cost estimates. The developer shall then either:
1. Petition the city to form a special assessment area enabling the city to construct the improvements; or
2. Determine to construct the improvements at developer’s cost as set forth in this section.
B. A private developer may extend a city sewer lateral, interceptor or trunk only under the terms of a sewer system extension agreement with the city. Any such extensions shall be performed in accordance with city specifications and standards. Extensions or improvements will not be allowed or accepted unless the plans have been approved by the city and by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the developer has signed and met the terms and conditions of the sewer system extension agreement. The design standards and conditions shall become a part of the extension agreement and may be altered from time to time as the council deems necessary. If the extension will benefit other properties, the sewer system extension agreement is subject to approval by the council.
C. Extension Agreement Fee.
1. A developer shall pay the city’s actual cost associated with the work the developer performs under a sewer extension agreement. The city’s cost shall include administration of the sewer system extension agreement, plan review and approval, surveillance, inspection, and administrative overhead.
2. Prior to city approval of a sewer main extension under this chapter, the developer shall pay a deposit toward the city’s costs of the project. The amount due shall be based upon the estimated cost of the improvements to be constructed under the sewer extension agreement as follows:
|
Estimated Cost |
Deposit Due |
|---|---|
|
$34,000 or less |
$1,000 |
|
Over $34,000 up to $500,000 |
3% of estimated cost |
|
Over $500,000 |
$15,000 |
3. If at any time the city finds its costs exceed the total deposit received, the city may periodically bill and receive payment from the developer for those actual incurred costs in excess of the amount of deposits. After the city finds the improvements meet municipal specifications, it shall determine its costs to date. If the costs exceed the total deposits received, the developer shall pay the balance to the city prior to final acceptance of the improvements. Deposits paid under this section shall be deposited in a separate account, dispersed only as authorized by this section and shall not bear interest.
D. Payment in Lieu of Off-Site Assessment Charges.
1. The developer shall pay the city a payment in lieu of assessment district off-site assessments for the developers’ benefit of sewer mains and treatment facilities. The payment amount shall be computed in a manner identical to the off-site assessment computations for Sewer Assessment District 83-S-1, or as changed by resolution of the city council.
2. If the city requires the developer to oversize the sewer system, the city shall credit the difference between the cost of eight-inch pipe and fittings, or any larger size actually required to serve the property as determined by the city, and the cost of any larger oversized pipe required by the city. The credit may be applied against the payment required in subsection (D)(1) of this section.
3. All payments in lieu of assessments payable by the developer are a lien upon the property improved. The city shall release this lien upon the property, or any lot or parcel within the property, when the charges for the property, or the charges for any lot or parcel have been paid.
E. Sewer Service to Other Properties. After the city accepts a sewer system extension, other benefited properties may request a permit to connect to the system. When the city receives a request for sewer connection from the owner of a benefited property, the person so requesting shall be responsible for obtaining the necessary permits, paying fees and performing actions for sewer connection permits as required elsewhere in this chapter. In addition, if the request is to connect to the sewer system within three years of the date of city acceptance of the system extension from a developer occurring on or before June 26, 2005, or eight years of the date of city acceptance of the system extension from a developer occurring thereafter, the requester shall be responsible for the payment of a pro rata share of the developer’s cost of constructing the sewer system extension. The developer’s cost will be determined by the costs submitted by the developer and approved by the city. The pro rata share will be determined on a cost per square foot basis. The square footage will be determined by computing the square footage of the lot or parcel that is within 150 feet of the property line that is adjacent to the easement or right-of-way in which the system piping is constructed, and then prorated among the square footage, computed in the same manner, of all of the property benefited by the project, or as otherwise stated in the developer’s extension agreement. The city may act in the role of collecting and forwarding the moneys received from the connecting property owner to be reimbursed to the developer. However, the city accepts no responsibility or liability in the event of non-payment by the connecting property owner of the amounts to be reimbursed to the developer and may only agree to act in the limited role of collecting agent of the money to be forwarded to the developer. Any and all enforcement of payment of such amounts to be reimbursed shall be the right and responsibility of the developer. The city shall also collect, as part of the connection fee, a payment in lieu of off-site assessment. Such fee shall be computed as described in WMC 13.08.060. (Ord. 05-83 § 3, 2005; Ord. 05-46 § 2, 2005; Ord. 03-19(AM) § 8, 2003; prior code § 5.20.070)