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CASE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PERMIT AND FEE FOR SEPTIC TANK PUMPING By: Community Development Director Sylvia Frolik Background: Approximately one year ago, the Ramsey City Council amended Section 8.30 of the City Code entitaled "Sewage Disposal Systems". The intent of the amendment was to update our local regulations regarding on-site septic systems to more closely resemble the language required by Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080 regarding Individual Sewage Treatment Systems (ISTS). Observations: Ramsey's amended regulations requires the City to create a comprehensive septic system management and maintenance program. This program requires pumping and cleaning of the septic systems every three years unless an inspection shows that the pumping and cleaning is not necessary. It will be the City's responsibility to maintain a database regarding septic systems that includes information gathered during inspections and pumping. To accomplish this data gathering exercise, City Staff has devised a Septic Tank Pumping Permit (attached) that all pumpers will be required to fill out and return to the City for each tank pumped. The permit will ask for pertinent information regarding the system being pumped and that information will be entered into a computer database. To help defray the City costs incurred in administering the permits and entering the data, City Staff has determined that a nominal permit fee of $5.00 is appropriate. Staff is intending to implement the requirement for a Septic Tank Pumping Permit effective June 1, 2002. With regard to implementing the ISTS program in Ramsey, all pertinent information regarding each on-site septic system in the City was retrieved from the property files and entered into a computer database. Then Staff published an article in the Ramsey Resident regarding the new septic system maintenance program. Last week we sent survey cards to property owners in the eastern 1/3 of the City with on-site septic systems. The survey asks for the most recent date of tank pumping. Those responses will be entered into the data base and the property owners will be sent reminders of the pumping/inspection requirement every 3 years from that date forward. In 2003 we will cover the central 1/3 of the City and in 2004 we will do the same in the western 1/3 of the City. Full implementation of the new ISTS program will take several years. Recommendation: City Staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution #02-05- and Charges to include a $5.00 Septic Tank Pumping Fee. amending the 2002 Rates Committee Action: Motion to recommend that City Council amend the 2002 Rates and Charges to include a $5.00 Septic Tank Pumping Fee. Review Checklist: Building Official Finance Officer FC: 05/14/02