Source: https://ecode360.com/27925329
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:17:46+00:00

Document:
§ 246-2 Statement of findings.
§ 246-4 Imposition of user fees.
§ 246-5 Uniform application of user fees.
§ 246-6 "User" and "owner" distinguished.
§ 246-7 Billing and collection of user fees.
§ 246-8 Late payment penalty; interest paid on unpaid user fees.
§ 246-9 Stormwater management user fees constitute lien on property.
§ 246-12 Policies and procedures authorized.
§ 246-13 Stormwater Management Fund.
§ 246-14 Floods and liability.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 245.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Radnor Township Stormwater Management Fee Ordinance."
The stormwater management needs of Radnor have been identified through citizen notifications, field investigations and in studies conducted by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc., Chagrin Valley Engineering and many other engineering studies and findings, indicating more comprehensive and effective stormwater management in Radnor would contribute to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the residents, and that stormwater facilities, infrastructure and activities associated with stormwater management provide services and benefits to all properties, property owners, residents and citizens of Radnor.
Threaten public health and safety.
Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff throughout a watershed can harm surface water resources by changing the natural hydrologic patterns, accelerating stream flows (which increase scour and erosion of streambeds and stream banks, thereby elevating sedimentation), destroying aquatic habitat, and elevating aquatic pollutant concentrations and loadings such as sediments, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens. Groundwater resources can also be impacted through loss of recharge. Stormwater is an important water resource which supports groundwater recharge for water supplies and base-flow of streams.
A comprehensive program of public stormwater management services which seeks to avoid and minimize flooding, erosion, and water quality degradation is fundamental to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of Radnor, local property and the environment.
In order to establish, operate, enhance and maintain the stormwater infrastructure of Radnor; insure the continued effective operation of the system through installation and management of best practices; and to provide other services such as appropriate inspections, asset management, and regulatory oversight associated with stormwater and watershed management, sufficient and stable funding is required to fund these public services.
Federal regulations, including those found at 40 CFR Part 122, and Pennsylvania state regulations require Radnor to implement a program of stormwater controls that regulates the discharge from the Township's regulated stormwater outfalls to local water bodies. In accordance with those regulations, Radnor is required to obtain a permit that allows stormwater discharges from its municipal separate storm sewer system ("MS4") under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System regulations.
Radnor intends to establish fair and equitable user fees to assure that each developed property within Radnor will pay its proportionate share of the costs of operation, maintenance, repair, administration, replacement and improvement of all stormwater services provided or paid for by Radnor based on an impervious surface rate methodology.
A proposed program for imposing user fees has received input and comment by the public through the Radnor Township stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
A minimum fee per residential unit is reasonable.
Subject to such minimum level, basing the fee upon lot area square footage tiers, as described in § 246-4 below, was derived from a statistical sampling of impervious surfaces on single-family residential properties ("SFR") in Radnor.
Under the tiered approach, SFR parcels would be covered by the square footage tiers.
All other properties would be classified as "other developed properties."
The operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement of the Radnor stormwater management system has been and will be of substantial and direct benefit to users.
Words and terms used in this chapter, and not given specific definition, shall be defined as set forth in the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or ordinance of Radnor, if any, and shall otherwise be given their ordinary and common meanings.
Methods, procedures and analyses specified in the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual to reduce flooding potential and control the volume, flow rate and water quality of stormwater.
A surface that prevents or impedes the infiltration of water into the ground. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, streets, sidewalks, pavements, driveway areas and roofs. Any surface areas designed to be gravel or crushed stone shall be regarded as impervious surfaces.
All developed properties other than single-family residential properties, including multifamily properties such as apartment or condominium complexes and common areas associated with such uses, and commercial, institutional, governmental and industrial parcels.
Any person, firm, corporation, individual, partnership, company, association, organization, society or group owning real property in Radnor.
Each lot, parcel, building or portion thereof, separately established by folio number on the tax rolls of Radnor Township or Delaware County.
Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a home rule municipality.
The associated costs of obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the service life of the Radnor stormwater management system so as to maintain the capacity and performance for which said system was designed and constructed, and shall include costs associated with improvements, including addition of best management practices to the stormwater management system.
Single-family detached homes, attached homes, townhouses, duplexes and row homes.
Includes runoff water from all precipitation events, snowmelts and springs.
Improve Radnor's stormwater management system.
The system of runoff avoidance, infiltration, collection and conveyance, including storm sewers, pipes, conduits, mains, inlets, culverts, catch basins, gutters, ditches, channels, detention ponds, streets, curbs, drains and all devices/appliances and stormwater best management practices and facilities appurtenant thereto used for collecting, conducting, pumping, conveying, detaining, infiltrating, reducing, managing, avoiding the generation of, and treating stormwater.
Any person, firm, corporation, individual, partnership, company, association, society or group using, benefiting from or being served by the Radnor stormwater management system.
Sums assessed, imposed and to be collected from each developed property by Delaware County folio number which uses, benefits from, or is serviced by the Radnor stormwater management system, or discharges stormwater, directly or indirectly, into the Radnor stormwater management system for the use of such system and the service rendered by, and improvement of, such system.
It is hereby imposed upon each and every developed property that is connected with, uses, or is benefited by Radnor's stormwater management system, either directly or indirectly, a user fee for the use, benefit, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement of the Radnor Township stormwater management system. Such user fees are to be imposed on an annual basis.
All other developed properties shall be billed at the annual rate of $29 per billing unit, with one billing unit equaling 1,500 square feet of impervious area.
"Public street," as defined in the Radnor Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 255, Subdivision of Land.
User fees shall be assessed, liened and collected by folio number as to all property, owners, lots, parcels, building units and users, unless exempted.
Reference in this chapter to "use," "user," or portion of a property, lot, parcel or building with respect to the calculation and assessment of user fees shall not be construed to modify or alter the fact that user fees shall be assessed and imposed upon the property pursuant to 53 P.S. § 7106 et seq., as amended, and the owner of each property against which user fees are imposed and assessed under this chapter shall remain liable for payment whether or not such owner occupies the property. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or limit an owner's ability to collect by lease or contract sums due by a tenant or other occupier of the owner's property, but such lease or contract shall not bind Radnor or limit in any way Radnor's authority to impose, assess, lien and collect user fees.
The user fees fixed and established by this chapter shall be effective as to all properties that use, are served, or are benefited by the Radnor stormwater management system existing as of the effective date of this chapter, and shall be effective to all other properties thereof that use, are served or benefited by the stormwater management system subsequent to the effective date of this chapter. User fees imposed by this chapter shall be assessed and billed by Radnor on an annual basis. Such assessments shall be payable at their face amount on or before May 31 next following the date on which said assessment bill was mailed. The annual billing date shall be on or about April 1. The user fees assessed and collected will not be subject to proration or refund by Radnor in the event a property is sold; provided, however, that this sentence shall not bind a buyer and seller from making their own proration of any user fees assessed hereunder.
The Board of Commissioners will review and update the user fees fixed and established by this chapter by resolution every five years or sooner as deemed necessary.
The face amount of all user fee charges shall be payable on or before May 31 of each year, with a penalty of 10% assessed on June 1. On the first day of each subsequent month in which the account remains unpaid, an interest charge of 0.5% of the unpaid user fee shall be added to the account. All unpaid user fees, penalties, and interest shall be a lien against the property using, being served by, or benefiting from the stormwater management system, and the Township Solicitor shall file such liens on or after January 31 of the following year in which the account remains unpaid. Any collection, legal, and filing fees shall be borne by the user.
In accordance with the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. § 7101, et seq., as amended, all user fees, penalties, interest, collection fees, lien filing and satisfaction fees and other charges imposed for failure to pay promptly shall constitute a lien upon and against the subject property and its owner from the date of their imposition and assessment.
Within six months of the effective date of this chapter, Radnor shall develop and implement procedures by action of the Board of Commissioners whereby users of the stormwater management system may receive credit for on-site activities which reduce and manage stormwater runoff through detention, retention, infiltration of water and recharge of the aquifer and thereby avoid or minimize public construction, operation, repair and maintenance of facilities and services.
No credit in user fees shall be granted based on age, race, tax status, gender, sexual preference, economic status or religion of the property owner, or any other conditions unrelated to the demand for and cost of services provided by Radnor.
An appeal of user fees must be filed in writing with the Public Works Director, or his/her designee, within 30 days of the charge being mailed or delivered to the property owner ("appeal date"). The appeal date may be extended up to an additional 30 days within the sole discretion of the Township. Any appeal must state the reasons for the appeal.
Using information provided by the appellant, the Public Works Director, or his/her designee, shall conduct a technical review of the conditions on the property and respond to the appeal in writing within 30 days of the appeal date. In response to an appeal, the Public Works Director may adjust the user fees applicable to the property in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
A decision of the Public Works Director that is adverse to an appellant may be further appealed to the Township Manager, or his/her designee, within 30 days of the adverse decision. The appellant, stating the grounds for further appeal, shall deliver notice of the appeal to the Radnor Manager, or his/her designee. The Township Manager, or his/her designee, shall issue a written decision on the appeal within 30 days. All decisions by the Township Manager, or his/her designee, shall be personally delivered to the owner or sent to the billing address of the customer by registered or certified mail.
If payment is not made within 30 days of receipt of an adverse decision by the Township Manager, the appellant's property shall be liened for all past-due amounts in accordance with the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. 7101 et seq., as amended.
The Board of Commissioners may by resolution adopt such policies and procedures as it deems appropriate to ensure collection of user fees assessed and imposed pursuant to this chapter. Without limitation, collection procedures may include referral of delinquent accounts to a collection agency, filing of liens, scire facias sur municipal lien proceedings to collect filed liens, and all other measures or combination thereof which the Board may deem appropriate.
All costs of such collection procedures, including, but not limited to, fees for filing, perpetuation and satisfaction of liens, collection fees, attorneys' fees, court costs, litigation expenses, and charges for service of documents shall, upon being incurred by Radnor, be imposed as a charge for nonpayment and added to the balance due on said owner's account. Chapter 162 of the Radnor Code of Ordinances contains a listing of such charges.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 162, Fees.
No lien shall be satisfied nor shall any collection proceeding be discontinued until all amounts due on an account, including user fees, interest, collection fees, attorneys' fees, court costs and other charges are first paid in full to Radnor.
The Township Manager may implement such administrative procedures necessary to implement the policies and requirements set forth in this chapter.
All user fees and other stormwater-related funds, such as interest or grant monies, shall be deposited in the Stormwater Management Fund of the Township. This fund will be a separate enterprise fund dedicated to the operation, administration, maintenance, repair and improvement of the stormwater management system, and all related capital costs. Prioritization and selection of capital projects shall be established by separate resolution of the Board of Commissioners, and the Board shall establish a citizen advisory committee to assist in implementation of the program and education of Township residents.
Floods from stormwater may occur occasionally that exceed the capacity of the stormwater system maintained and financed with user fees. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to imply that properties subject to charges shall always be free from flooding or flood damage, or that all flood control projects to control stormwater can provide complete protection from all flood and storm events. Nothing whatsoever in this chapter shall deem Radnor liable for any damages incurred from stormwater or from adverse water quality. Nothing in this chapter purports to reduce the need or necessity for flood insurance, and Radnor expressly reserves the right to assert all available immunities and defenses in any action seeking to impose monetary damages upon Radnor, its officers, employees and agents arising out of any alleged failure or breach of duty with respect to Radnor's stormwater management system.

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§ 246

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§ 246

§ 246
 § 246
 § 7106
 § 7101