§ 70-182. Definitions.

The following words, teams and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Beneficiaries of drainage service means all developed real properties within the city which benefit by the provision of maintenance, operation and improvement of the stormwater control system. Such benefits may include, but are not limited to, the provision of adequate systems of collection, conveyance, detention, treatment and release of stormwater; the reduction of hazard to property and life resulting from stormwater runoff; and improvement in the general health and welfare through reduction of undesirable stormwater conditions and improvements to the water quality in the stormwater and surface water system and its receiving waters.

Contributors of drainage waters means all developed real properties within the city.

Developed means any property altered in appearance by removal of vegetation, grading of the ground surface and construction of a structure or impervious surface.

Director means the director of public services.

Equivalent residential unit (ERU) means the average impervious area for single-family dwellings in the city, as established by resolution of the city council. It is hereby established as 3,050 square feet (.07 acres of impervious area) the term equivalent residential unit is used in article III of chapter 70 of the Code of Ordinances and such figure shall be used for purposes of calculating equivalent residential units under article III.

Fee means stormwater management utility fee enacted in this article and set forth by resolution.

Hydrologic response means the manner and means by which stormwater collects upon real property and is conveyed from real property, and which is a function dependent upon a number of interacting factors, including, but not limited to, topography, vegetation, surficial geologic conditions, antecedent soil moisture conditions and groundwater conditions. The principal measures of the hydrologic system may be stated in terms of total runoff volume, as a percentage of total precipitation which runs off or in terms of the peak rate of flow generated in the event of a storm of given duration and intensity or statistical interval of return (frequency).

Impervious areas means those areas which either prevent or retard the entry of water into the soil mantle as it entered under natural conditions prior to development and/or caused water to run off the surface in greater quantities or at an increased rate of flow from that present under natural conditions prior to development. Common impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, rooftops, sidewalks, walkways, patio areas, driveways, parking lots, storage areas and other surfaces which similarly impact the natural infiltration or runoff patterns which existed prior to development, including normal water in ponds and lakes.

Multiple dwelling unit means a building or facility consisting of more than one dwelling unit, each such unit consisting of one or more rooms with bathroom and kitchen facilities designed for occupancy by one family.

Nonresidential unit means any building, structure or facility used other than as a dwelling unit or single-family unit.

Open drainageway means natural or manmade open cut which has the specific function of transmitting natural stream water or storm runoff water from a point of higher elevation to a point of lower elevation, such as swales, ditches, canals, streams and creeks.

Peak flow means the highest instantaneous rate of stormwater runoff, measured or estimated in cubic feet of water per second. It is differentiated from total flow volume by the introduction of a unit of time measure during which the maximum rate of flow is measured, calculated or estimated.

Single-family unit (SFU) means one or more rooms with bathroom and kitchen facilities designed for occupancy by one family, such as houses, townhouses, apartment units, duplex units, condominiums, zero lot line, etc., where the units are sold, deeded or leased as single-family units and/or have individual water meters.

Stormwater control system means any means by which the stormwater runoff is conveyed, the peak flow from developed land surfaces is reduced, the erosion created by stormwater is reduced and/or the water quality of the stormwater runoff is improved.

Total flow means the accumulative volume of stormwater discharged from a property, basin or watershed. The total flow is quantified in measures such as acre feet or cubic feet of water.

Utility means the stormwater management utility created by this article.

(Ord. No. 2001-15, § 1(21-71), 8-28-2001; Ord. No. 2007-15, § 1, 5-15-2007)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.