sr-102577-6oY:,,
Santa Monica, California, October 18, 1977
T0: Mayor and City Council 6
FROM: City Staff OCT 2 5 1977
SUBJECT: Establishing Charges for tapping or saddling storm drains,
sanitary sewers, or catch basins
Introduction
This report examines the current billing process for tapping or installing a
connection point on a sanitary sewer, storm drain or catch basin, The report
recommends simp]ifying the City's bookkeeping process by changing the connection
charges from an actual cost basis to a standard rate.
background
Section 7145 of the Municipal Code now requires that the contractor or person
requesting a connection to a sanitary sewer or storm drain must deposit $50 or
$100 depending on the size: of the connection to cover the City's costs in making
the necessary connections. The $50 deposit is for sewers or storm drains with a
diameter of less than i5 inches. The $100 deposit is for xewers or storm drains in
'excess of 15 inches. in diameter. The City then cuts the required hole in the sewer
and installs the connection. Individual work orders must be prepared for each
!equest. These detailed cost .figures are necessary because, if the work performed
fists less than the money deposited, the City must. refund the difference. The
nber of work orders prepared, average refund and actual costs for $50 jobs are
follows:
N0. OF INSTALLATIONS
& WORK ORDERS PREPARED
28
32
'estimated cost)
AVERAGE COST(FOR
$50 INSTALLATION)
$24
$33
$40-45
AVERAGE REFUND
$26
$17
$5-i0
60
OCi ~ F ~a~7
-2-
TO: Mayor and City Council October 18, 1977
Staff reviewed other city policies and. found that Los Angeles City charges
- $125, regardless of the size of the connection and Culver City and Beverly
Hills charge $30 and $25 respectively, but have the contractor make the
connection.
Alternatives
1. Establish a standard fee for each job type (in lieu of the $50/i00 deposit)
and establish one work order for the year to keep track of revenues and expenditures.
This process would save approximately 35 hours from the. time of origination of the
request to the final processing of the work order. It would also eliminate the
processing of refund checks that cost approximately $15 for a hand written check.
2. Retain the current system of processing individual work orders and writing
refund checks. This would continue to cost the City approximately $750 each year.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the City Council approve Alternative 1 and authorize the
City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Section 7145A and B setting a
standard fee ($50/100 )for this service.
Prepared by: Alan P. Melcher
Robert Nash
Stan Scholl
Dave Thorne