17.32.140 Enforcement.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinance 191725, effective July 1, 2024.)

  1. A.  Violations. It is a violation for any person to fail to comply with the requirements of this Chapter or associated rules. Each day a violation occurs or continues may be considered a separate violation. BES will hold each Responsible Party jointly and severally for complying with BES enforcement actions. Violations of this Chapter or associated rules include, but are not limited to:
    1. 1.  Failure to obtain a permit for actions in Section 17.32.030, including failure to supply correct application materials;
    2. 2.  Failure to comply with the conditions of a permit;
    3. 3.  Failure to comply with the conditions of or prohibited access to a public sewer or drainage easement;
    4. 4.  Failure to comply with a written directive or timeline of the Director made under authority of this Chapter;
    5. 5.  Damage, regardless of intent, to any component of the public sewer;
    6. 6.  Unauthorized modification of the public sewer; and
    7. 7.  Failure to comply with enforcement actions as identified in the BES Enforcement Program administrative rules (PPD item ENB-4.15).
  2. B.  Enforcement Tools. BES may use any or all of the following tools to enforce this Chapter or associated administrative rules: notice of investigation, warning notice, notice of violation, compliance order, requirement to obtain a permit, notice of termination, withholding of permits, withholding of final inspection, violation abatement, legal action, criminal case referral, or referral to other regulatory agencies. BES enforcement actions are described in program-specific administrative rules and the BES Enforcement Program administrative rules (PPD item ENB-4.15).
  3. C.  Civil Penalties. A Responsible Party may be assessed civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day per violation according to program-specific administrative rules and the BES Enforcement Program administrative rules (PPD item ENB-4.15). Penalties and other charges will accrue interest from the date of initial City notice assessing the penalty until the penalty is paid in full.
  4. D.  Cost Recovery. The Director may recover all reasonable costs incurred by the City that are attributable to or associated with violations of this Chapter or associated administrative rules per PPD item ENB-4.15.
  5. E.  City Summary Abatement. To the extent permitted by law, the Director may recover from a Responsible Party all costs incurred by the City to summarily abate the following:
    1. 1.  A violation that is not remedied through required corrective actions;
    2. 2.  A situation that poses an imminent danger to human health, public safety, or the environment; or
    3. 3.  Continued noncompliance with this Code or associated rules.
  6. F.  Nothing in this Chapter is intended to impose liability on the City for any injury or damage resulting from the failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this Chapter.