Ordinance 2013-12ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -12
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GILROY REPEALING CHAPTER 27D OF THE
GILROY CITY CODE IN ITS ENTIRETY AND
REPLACING IT WITH A NEW CHAPTER 27D ENTITLED
"POST CONSTRUCTION STORM WATER POLLUTION
PREVENTION"
WHEREAS, the City of Gilroy adopted a Regional Storm Water Management Plan with
Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County to protect the municipal storm drain system and storm
drainage outlets, creeks and rivers from pollutants; and
WHEREAS, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has accepted the
Regional Storm Water Management Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has issued the City
of Gilroy a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Small Municipal Separate Storm
Water Sewer Systems General Permit; and
WHEREAS, an Ordinance was adopted to provide the authority to implement the
Regional Storm Water Management Plan's Municipal Discharge Control and Protection
programs and to prevent pollution from development projects with a Post Construction Pollution
Prevention program.
WHEREAS, the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from review under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as an action taken by a regulatory agency to protect the
environment pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Chapter 27D entitled "Post Construction Pollution Prevention" is hereby deleted in its
entirety and is hereby replaced to read as follows:
Chapter 27D - POST CONSTRUCTION STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION
Sections:
27D.1 -Purpose and intent.
27D.2- Definitions.
27D.3 - Applicability: Permanent storm water pollution prevention measures required.
27DA - Design standards and selection of best management practices.
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27D.5 - Storm Water runoff management plan required.
27D.6 - Storm Water runoff management plan contents.
27D.7 - Preparation of the Storm Water runoff management plan.
27D.8 - Storm Water BMP operation, maintenance, and replacement responsibility.
27D.9 - Storm Water BMP operation and maintenance agreement.
27D.10 - Storm Water BMP inspection responsibility.
27D.11 - Records of maintenance and inspection activities.
27D.12 - Failure to maintain.
27D.13 - Authority to inspect.
27D.14 - Notice of violation.
27D.15 - Appeal.
27D.16 - Abatement by city.
27D. 17 - Charging cost of abatement.
27D.18 - Urgency abatement.
27D.19 - Violations.
27D.20 - Compensatory action.
27D.21 - Violations deemed a public nuisance.
27D.22 - Acts potentially resulting in a violation of the Federal Clean Water Act and/or
California Porter - Cologne Act.
27D.23 - Fees set by resolution.
27D.1- Purpose and intent.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum storm water management
requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the
public residing in watersheds in compliance with applicable provisions of the Federal Clean
Water Act and any National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water
Discharge Permits issued to the City of Gilroy, through the following objectives:
A. Minimize increases in Storm Water runoff from any development in order to
reduce flooding, siltation and stream bank erosion and maintain the integrity of
stream channels;
B. Minimize increases in nonpoint source pollution caused by Storm Water runoff
from development which would otherwise degrade local water quality
C. Minimize the total annual volume of surface water runoff which flows from any
specific site during and following development to not exceed the pre - development
hydrologic regime to the maximum extent practicable.
D. Reduce storm water runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion and nonpoint source
pollution, wherever possible, through storm water management controls and to
ensure that these management controls are properly maintained and pose no threat
to public safety.
The above objectives shall be met through adoption and implementation of best
management practices (BMPs) in design, construction and maintenance. These BMPs shall be
incorporated into permanent site design features, which shall remain functioning throughout the
life of the development.
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27D.2 - Definitions.
The terms used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
A. "Authorized enforcement officer" means the City of Gilroy City Engineer and
those individuals designated by the city engineer to enforce the provisions of this
chapter, including the code enforcement officer(s) of the City of Gilroy's
Community Development Department.
B. "Best management practices" or "BMP" means activities, practices, and
procedures as specified in Section 27D.4 to prevent or reduce the discharge of
pollutants directly or indirectly to the municipal storm drain system and waters
of the United States. Best management practices (BMPs) include but are not
limited to: treatment facilities and methods to'remove pollutants from storm
water; operating and maintenance procedures; facility management practices to
control runoff, spillage or leaks of non -storm water, waste disposal, and drainage
from materials storage; erosion and sediment control practices; and the
prohibition of specific activities, practices, and procedures and such other
provisions as the city determines appropriate for the control of pollutants.
C. "Clean Water Act" means the federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. §
1251 et seq.), and any subsequent amendments thereto.
D. "Development" means land disturbing activities; structural development,
including construction or installation of a building or structure, creation of
impervious surfaces; and improvements related to land subdivision; any activity
that moves soils or substantially alters the pre- existing vegetated or man-made
cover of any land. This includes, but is not limited to, grading, digging, cutting,
scraping, stockpiling or excavating of soil, placement of fill materials, paving,
pavement removal, exterior construction, substantial removal of vegetation
where soils are disturbed including but not limited to removal by clearing or
grubbing, or any activity which bares soil or rock or involves streambed
alterations or the diversion or piping of any watercourse. Development does not
include routine maintenance to maintain original line and grade, hydraulic
capacity, or the original purpose of the facility, nor does it include emergency
construction activities (i.e., land disturbances) required to protect public health
and safety.
E. "Enforcement officer" means the city engineer and his or her designee, including
authorized enforcement officer.
F. "Hillside" means property located in an area with known erosive soil conditions,
where the development contemplates grading on any natural slope that is twenty -
five percent or greater.
G. "Impervious surface" means a surface composed of any material that
significantly impedes or prevents the natural infiltration of water into soil.
Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, rooftops, buildings, streets
and roads, and any concrete or asphalt surface.
H. "Industrial General Permit" means a NPDES permit issued by the state water
resources control board for the discharge of storm water associated with
industrial activity.
I. "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) Storm Water
Discharge Permits" means general, group, and individual storm water discharge
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permits which regulate facilities defined in federal NPDES regulations pursuant
to the Clean Water Act. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board,
Central Coast Region (hereinafter, Regional Board) and the State Water
Resources Control Board have adopted general storm water discharge permits,
including but not limited to the general construction activity, general industrial
activity, and operation of municipal separate storm water sewer systems..
J. "Operation and maintenance agreement" means a written agreement entered into
pursuant to Section 27D.9, providing for the long -term operation and
maintenance of storm water management facilities and practices on a site or with
respect to a land development project, which when properly recorded in the deed
records constitutes a restriction on the title to a site or other land involved in a
land development project.
K. "Owner" means the legal or beneficial owner of a site, including but not limited
to, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee or
other person, firm or corporation in control of the site.
L. "Pre- project" means Storm Water runoff conditions that exist on -site
immediately before development activities occur. This definition is not intended
to be interpreted as that period before any human- induced land activities
occurred. This definition pertains to redevelopment as well as initial
development.
M. "Receiving waters" means any natural stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, canal,
waterway, gully, ravine or wash, in and including any adjacent area that is
subject to inundation from overflow or flood water.
N. "Redevelopment" means, on an already developed site, the construction or
installation of a building or other structure subject to Planning or Building
approval including: 1) creation or addition of impervious surfaces; 2) the
expansion of a building footprint or addition or replacement of a structure; or 3)
structural development including construction, installation, or expansion of a
building or other structure. It does not include routine road maintenance, nor
does it include emergency construction activities required to immediately protect
public health and safety.
O. "Site" means any tract, lot or parcel of land or combination of tracts, lots, or
parcels of land, which are in one ownership, or are contiguous and in diverse
ownership where a development is to be performed as part of a unit, subdivision,
or project.
P. "Storm drain" means any pipe, conduit or sewer of the city designed or used for
the disposal of storm and surface waters and drainage including unpolluted
cooling water and unpolluted industrial process water, but excluding any
community sanitary sewer system.
Q. "Storm Water Management Guidance Manual for Low Impact Development and
Post - Construction Requirements" means a guidance manual approved by the city
engineer, which specifies the requirements for new development to demonstrate
compliance with low impact and post - construction requirements adopted by the
Central Coast Regional Quality Control Board, as amended from time to time.
R. "Storm water management" means the collection, conveyance, storage, treatment
and disposal of storm water runoff to enhance and promote the public health,
safety and general welfare.
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S. "Storm Water Control Plan" means a document defined in the Storm Water
Management Guidance Manual for Low Impact Development and Post -
Construction Requirements, describing how existing runoff characteristics will
be affected by a land development project and containing measures for
complying with the provisions of this ordinance.
T. "Storm water runoff' means water from rain that flows over the land surface
without entering the soil.
U. "Treatment control BMP" means any engineered system designed to remove
pollutants by simple gravity settling of particulate pollutants, filtration,
biological uptake, media adsorption or any other physical, biological, or
chemical process.
V. "Watercourse" means any natural or artificial stream, river, creek, ditch, channel,
canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine or wash, in and including
any adjacent area that is subject to inundation from overflow or flood water.
W. "Water quality impact" means any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands,
including their quality, quantity, surface area, species composition, aesthetics or
usefulness for human or natural uses that are or may potentially be harmful or
injurious to human health, welfare, safety or property, to biological productivity,
diversity, or stability or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life
or property, including outdoor recreation.
27D.3 - Applicability: Permanent storm water pollution prevention measures required.
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to development or redevelopment of
projects as defined in the Storm Water Management Guidance Manual for Low
Impact Development and Post - Construction Requirements, available at the City of
Gilroy, Public Works Department.
B. No final building or occupancy permit shall be issued without the written
certification of the city engineer or designee that the requirements of this chapter
have been satisfied.
27DA - Design standards and selection of best management practices.
Projects meeting the criteria of Section 27D.3A, must meet the requirements of the
design standards and selection of best management practices and shall be selected and designed
to the satisfaction of the city engineer or designee in accordance with the requirements contained
in the most recent version of the California Storm Water Quality Association Best Management
Practice Handbooks which may be found at California Storm Water Quality Association web site
at:
http:// www. casga. ory/ LeftNavigation /ConstructionBMPHandbookPortal S WPPPTemplate /tabid/
200 /Default.aspx
or an alternative standard approved by the city engineer.
A. Other references which can be used for selection of design BMPs to the satisfaction
of the city engineer or designee are:
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1. Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP)
"Guidance for Implementing Storm water Regulations for New and
Redevelopment Projects ";
2. "Start at the Source Design Guidance Manual developed by the Bay Area Storm
Water Management Agencies Association (BASMAA);
3. Bay Area Storm Water Management Agencies Association "Using Site Design
Standards to Meet Development Standards for Storm water Quality - A
Companion Document to Start at the Source ".
27D.5 - Storm Water Control Plan required.
Projects meeting the criteria of Section 27D.3A must provide a storm water control plan.
The storm water control plan shall detail how runoff and associated water quality impacts
resulting from the activity will be controlled or managed by the project's post construction BMP
designs.
No building permit shall be issued until the storm water runoff management plan has
been reviewed and approved by the city engineer or designee.
27D.6 - Storm Water Control Plan contents.
The storm water runoff management plan shall include sufficient information to evaluate
the environmental characteristics of affected areas, the potential impacts of the proposed
development on water resources, and the effectiveness and acceptability of measures proposed
for managing storm water runoff. The minimum information submitted for support of the storm
water management plan shall meet the requirements as defined in the Storm Water Management
Guidance Manual for Low Impact Development and Post - Construction Requirements.
27D.7 - Preparation of the Storm Water Control Plan.
A. The storm water control plan shall be prepared under the direction of a professional civil
engineer registered in the State of California. The responsible professional civil engineer
shall stamp and sign the approved storm water control plan.
B. The city engineer or designee may require a developer to provide a signed certification from
the civil engineer responsible for preparing the storm water control plan that all storm water
best management practices have been designed to meet the requirements of this chapter.
C. Each certifying civil engineer shall establish to the city's satisfaction that such person has
been trained on the design of storm water quality best management practices not more than
three years prior to the certification signature date.
D. Qualifying training shall be conducted by an organization with storm water quality
management expertise, such as a university, the Bay Area Storm water Management
Agencies Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Public Works
Association, or the California Water Environment Association.
27D.8 - Storm water BMP operation, maintenance, and replacement responsibility.
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A. For the life of projects meeting the criteria of Section 27D.3A, all on -site storm water
management facilities shall be operated and maintained in good condition and promptly
repaired/replaced by the property owner(s), an owners' or homeowners' association or other
legal entity approved by the city.
B. Any repairs or restoration/replacement and maintenance shall be in accordance with city -
approved plans.
C. The property owner(s) shall develop a maintenance schedule for the life of any storm water
management facility and shall describe the maintenance to be completed, the time period for
completion, and who shall perform the maintenance. This maintenance schedule shall be
included with the approved storm water runoff management plan.
27D.9 - Storm water BMP operation and maintenance agreement.
A. Prior to the issuance of any building permit requiring storm water management BMPs, the
owner(s) of the site shall enter into a formal written storm water BMP operation and
maintenance agreement with the city. The city shall record this agreement, against the
property or properties involved, with the County of Santa Clara and it shall be binding on all
subsequent owners of land served by the storm water management treatment BMPs.
B. The storm water BMP operation and maintenance agreement shall require that the BMPs not
be modified and that BMP maintenance activities not alter the designed function of the
facility from its original design unless approved by the city prior to the commencement of the
proposed modification or maintenance activity.
C. The storm water BMP operation and maintenance agreement shall provide that in the event
that maintenance or repair is neglected, or the storm water management facility becomes a
danger to public health or safety, the city shall have the authority to perform maintenance
and/or repair work and to recover the costs from the owner.
27D.10 - Storm water BMP inspection responsibility.
A. The property owner(s) shall be responsible for having all storm water management facilities
inspected for condition and function by a certified Qualified Stormwater Practitioner (QSP).
B. Unless otherwise required by the city engineer or designee, storm water facility inspections
shall be done at least twice per year, once in fall, in preparation for the wet season, and once
in winter. Written records shall be kept of all inspections and shall include, at minimum, the
following information:
1. Site address;
2. Date and time of inspection;
3. Name of the person conducting the inspection;
4. List of storm water facilities inspected;
5. Condition of each storm water facility inspected;
6. Description of any needed maintenance or repairs; and
7. As applicable, the need for site re- inspection.
27D.11- Records of maintenance and inspection activities.
On or before April 15th of each year, the party responsible for the operation and
maintenance of on -site storm water management facilities under the BMP operation and
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maintenance agreement shall provide the city engineer or designee with records of all
inspections, maintenance and repairs.
27D.12 - Failure to maintain.
A. If the responsible party fails or refuses to meet the requirements of the storm water BMP
operation and maintenance agreement, the authorized enforcement officer may give a thirty-
day written notice to such responsible party under BMP operation and maintenance
agreement to correct the failure and breach of contractual obligation.
B. If such responsible party fails to correct such conditions, the city may take such remedies
such provided in the BMP operation and maintenance agreement. Additionally, such
conditions shall be deemed a nuisance subject to all procedures, abatement of such conditions
and remedies as provided in Chapter 5B of this code.
C. In the event the city determines that the violation constitutes an immediate danger to public
health or public safety, twenty -four hours written notice from the city shall be sufficient in
lieu of the thirty -day written notice required under Section 27D. 12A.
27D.13 - Authority to inspect.
Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any provision of this chapter, or
whenever the authorized enforcement officer has cause to believe that there exists, or potentially
exists, in or upon any premises any condition which constitutes a violation of this chapter, the
authorized enforcement officer may enter such premises at all reasonable times to inspect the
same and to inspect and copy records related to storm water compliance provided that (i) if such
building or premises be occupied, he or she shall first present proper credentials and request
entry; and (ii) if such building or premises be unoccupied, he or she shall first make a reasonable
effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises
and request entry. In the event the owner or occupant refuses entry after a request to enter and
inspect has been made, the city is hereby empowered to seek assistance from any court of
competent jurisdiction in obtaining such entry.
In any circumstance where there appears an immediate threat to the public health or
safety, the authorized enforcement officer may enter any structure or premises without the
consent of any person or court process.
Routine or area inspections shall be based upon such reasonable selection processes as
may be deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of this chapter, including but not limited to
random sampling and/or sampling in areas with evidence of storm water contamination, illicit
discharges, discharges of non -storm water to the storm water system, or similar factors.
The city shall have the right to establish on any property such devices as are necessary to
conduct sampling or metering operations. During any inspection as provided herein, the
authorized enforcement officer may take any samples and perform any testing deemed necessary
to aid in the pursuit of the inquiry or to record site activities.
27D.14 - Notice of violation.
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Whenever the authorized enforcement officer finds that a person has violated a
prohibition or failed to meet a requirement of this chapter, the authorized enforcement officer
may order compliance by written notice of violation to the responsible person. Such notice may
require without limitation:
A. The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
B. The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
C. That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease and desist;
D. The abatement or remediation of storm water pollution or contamination hazards and
the restoration of any affected property;
E. Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs; and
F. The implementation of BMP, source control or treatment BMPs;
G. Compliance with the storm water runoff management plan and the BMP operation
and maintenance agreement.
If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property is required, the notice
shall set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said
notice shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the
established deadline, the work will be done by the city or a contractor designated by the
authorized enforcement officer and the expense thereof shall be charged to the violator pursuant
to Section 27D.23.
27D.15 - Appeal.
Any person receiving a notice of violation under Section 27D.14, above may appeal the
determination of the authorized enforcement officer to the City Administrator. The notice of
appeal must be received by the City Administrator within five business days from the date of the
notice of violation. Hearing on the appeal before the City Administrator or his/her designee shall
take place within fifteen days from the date of city's receipt of the notice of appeal. The decision
of the City Administrator or designee shall be final.
27D.16 - Abatement by city.
If the violation has not been corrected pursuant to the requirements set forth in the notice
of violation, or, in the event of an appeal under Section 27D.15, within ten days of the decision
of the City Administrator upholding the decision of the authorized enforcement officer, then the
city or a contractor designated by the authorized enforcement officer may enter upon the subject
private property and is authorized to take any and all measures necessary to abate the violation
and/or restore the property. It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, agent or person in
possession of any premises to refuse to allow the city or designated contractor to enter upon the
premises for the purposes set forth above.
27D.17 - Charging cost of abatement.
Within 30 calendar days after abatement of the nuisance by city, the authorized
enforcement officer shall notify the property owner of the property of the cost of abatement,
including administrative costs. The property owner may file a written protest objecting to the
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amount of the assessment with the city clerk within fifteen business days. The city clerk shall set
the matter for public hearing by the city council at its earliest available date. The decision of the
city council shall be set forth by resolution and shall be final.
27D.18 - Urgency abatement.
The authorized enforcement officer is authorized to require immediate abatement of any
violation of this chapter that constitutes an immediate threat to the health, safety or welfare of the
public. If any such violation is not abated immediately as directed by the authorized enforcement
officer, the city is authorized to enter onto private property and to take any and all measures
required to remediate the violation. Any expense related to such remediation undertaken by the
city shall be fully reimbursed by the property owner and/or responsible party. Any relief
obtained under this section shall not prevent city from seeking other and further relief authorized
under this chapter.
27D.19 - Violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of
the requirements of this chapter. A violation of or failure to comply with any of the requirements
of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor.
27D.20 - Compensatory action.
In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties, and remedies authorized by this chapter,
the authorized enforcement officer may impose upon a violator, alternative compensatory
actions, including but not limited to storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops,
creek cleanup.
27D.21 - Violations deemed a public nuisance.
In addition to the enforcement processes and penalties hereinbefore provided, any
condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is a
threat to public health, safety, and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance, and may be
summarily abated or restored by the city at the violator's expense, and/or a civil action to abate,
enjoin, or otherwise compel the cessation of such nuisance may be taken by the city pursuant to
Chapter 5B of this code.
27D.22 - Acts potentially resulting in a violation of the Federal Clean Water Act and/or
California Porter- Cologne Act.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any provision of any
requirement issued pursuant to this chapter may also be in violation of the Clean Water Act
and/or the Porter - Cologne Act and may be subject to the sanctions of those acts including civil
and criminal penalties. Any enforcement action authorized under this chapter shall also include
written notice to the violator of such potential liability.
27D.23 - Fees set by resolution.
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The city council shall establish, by resolution, any fees necessary to carry out the purpose
of this chapter.
SECTION III
If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this Ordinance
is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed and adopted this Ordinance, and each and all
provisions hereof, irrespective of the fact that one or more provision may be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
SECTION IV
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its passage and
adoption.
vote:
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of November, 2013, by the following roll call
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ARELLANO, AULMAN, LEROE- MUNOZ,
TUCKER, WOODWARD and GAGE
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: BRACCO
ATTEST:
Freels, City
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APPROVED:
,a JJ
Donald Gage, Mayor
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I, SHAWNA FREELS, City Clerk of the City of Gilroy, do hereby certify that the
attached Ordinance No. 2013 -12 is an original ordinance, or true and correct copy of a City
ordinance, duly adopted by the Council of the City of Gilroy at a regular meeting of said Council
held on the 18'' day of November, 2013, at which meeting a quorum was present.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Official Seal of
the City of Gilroy this 20'h day of November, 2013.
awna Freels, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Gilroy
(Seal)