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HomeMy WebLinkAbout407821 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Ordinance No. 407£ AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 19B, ENTITLED "RECYCLED WATER (WASTEWATER) POND ORDINANCE," TO THE BUTTE COUNTY CODE The Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte ordains as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 19-B is added to the Butte County Code to read as follows: 19B-1 Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to: (a) Protect and enhance public health through the establishment of sound technical and regulatory requirements governing the application of recycled water ponds used solely for the purpose of holding recycled water as described herein. (b) Provide a safe alternative for the management of recycled water for parcels where leachfields cannot function on a year-round basis due to site constraints. (c) Assure the ongoing and adequate operation, maintenance, and monitoring of sewage systems utilizing recycled water ponds. (d) Promote the use of sustainable wastewater collection, treatment, and dispersal systems that utilize recycled 1 1 water. 2 19B-2 Definitions. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this Chapter. The definition of a word or phrase applies to any of that word's or phrase's variants. (a) "Disinfection," shall mean the process of destroying pathogenic and other microorganisms in wastewater, typically through application of chlorine compounds, ultra- violet light, or ozone. (b) "Freeboard," shall mean the vertical separation between the elevation of the Recycled Water in the pond and the top of the berm around the pond, at the berm's lowest elevation, which is designed to prevent spillage and wave erosion of pond berms. (c) "Local Enforcement Agency (LEA)," "Local Enforcement Agency (LEA)" shall mean the Environmental Health Division of the County's Health Department, which is designated as such by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Public Resources Code section 43202. (d) "Person," shall mean any individual (including property owner or authorized representative), corporation, club, association, agency, firm, organization, partnership, company, or any other entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties. This term is not intended 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 to include municipalities or Lake Oroville Area Public Utility District, Thermalito Water and Sewer District, or other public entity, one of whose purposes is the collection, transport, and/or treatment of sewage. (e) "Recycled Water" shall mean wastewater that meets the treatment standards described in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Chapter 3, Water Recycling Criteria (Title 22), for Disinfected Secondary -2.2 Recycled Water, Disinfected Secondary -23 Recycled Water, or Disinfected Tertiary Recycled Water. For the purposes of this Ordinance, Undisinfected Secondary Recycled Water, as defined in Title 22, is not recycled water. (f) "Recycled Water Pond," shall mean an engineered containment structure or other vessel or receptacle used for impoundment of recycled water. (g) "Technical, Managerial, and Financial Competence (TMF)," shall mean the program and criteria for verifying the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of recycled water pond operators, initiated by the 1996 federal Safe Drinking Water Act for managers of public water systems and applied to recycled water pond management. (h) "Wastewater Pond," shall mean a contained body of domestic sanitary wastewater, lined or unlined, for the purpose of treatment, retention, disposal, or reuse of 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 wastewater. This term shall include, but not be limited to, Recycled Water Ponds. This term shall not include agricultural, commercial, or industrial treatment ponds regulated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. 19B-3 Applicability. This Chapter shall apply to all Wastewater Ponds, except for the following: (a) Ponds owned and operated as part of a sewage treatment plant by municipalities that are lawfully permitted and regulated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board; (b) Existing ponds that are lawfully permitted and regulated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and contained in the List of Approved Wastewater Ponds that is maintained and made available to the public, upon request, by the Butte County Public Health Department, Division of Environmental Health; and (c) Ponds for agricultural, commercial, or industrial wastewater that are regulated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. 19B-4 Restriction by Type. (a) No Person shall construct, operate, use, or maintain a Wastewater Pond other than one that is exclusively used for holding recycled water and has been approved under this 4 ill Chapter. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (b) All Wastewater Ponds that have not been approved are deemed to be a public nuisance and may be abated or brought into compliance with this Chapter. 19B-5 Minimum Regulatory Permits and Reviews. (a) No Person shall construct a Recycled Water Pond without first obtaining Wastewater Discharge Requirements from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. (b) No Person shall construct a Recycled Water Pond without first obtaining a Use Permit. The permit shall be processed as set forth in Chapter 24. (c) No Person shall construct a Recycled Water Pond without environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. (d) No Person shall construct, operate, use, or maintain a Recycled Water Pond without a management plan approved by the LEA and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Said plan shall include, but not be limited to, elements that address: (1) Control of odors, vegetation, and vectors; (2) Safety and control of public hazards; (3) Pond level and overflow prevention; (4) Contingency and emergency response for problems that may occur, including but not limited to: (i) Equipment malfunctions; and 5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (ii) Failure of treatment or dispersal components; (5) Operation and maintenance manual, the contents of which shall include at a minimum: (i) The name, address, telephone number, business and professional license of the Recycled Water Pond designer; (ii) The name, address, telephone number, business and professional license, where applicable, of the Recycled Water Pond installer; and (iii) The name, address, and telephone number of the certified operator that maintains the Recycled Water Pond; (iv) The instructions for the proper operation and maintenance and a protocol for an assessment of performance of the Recycled Water Pond; (v) The design flow and performance requirements for the Recycled Water Pond; (vi) A list of types of substances that could inhibit performance if discharged to the Recycled Water Pond; (vii) A list of substances that could cause a condition of pollution or nuisance if discharged to the Recycled Water Pond, including but not 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 No 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 limited to pharmaceutical drugs and water softener regeneration brines; (viii) A copy of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board waste discharge requirements; (ix) Monitoring and maintenance location, methodology, and frequency; (x) Wastewater constituents to be monitored, including but not limited to: (A) Total and fecal coliform; (B) Total suspended solids; and (C) Total nitrogen and nitrate; (xi) A flow schematic; and (xii) A Process instrumentation diagram. (e) No Person shall construct, operate, use or maintain a Recycled Water Pond without the applicant first having verified Technical, Managerial, and Financial Competence to the LEA, Butte County Department of Public Works, and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Requirements for TMF include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Technical Capacity Requirements Requirements shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) System description; (ii) Recycled Water Pond capacity assessment; 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (iii) Assessment of alternative to connect to another existing wastewater system; (iv) Operation plan, certification of operator; and (v) Staff training plan. (2) Management Capacity Requirements Requirements shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) Identification of ownership; (ii) Organizational chart; (iii) Management plan; and (iv) Customer service policies. (3) Financial Capacity Requirements Requirements shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) Acceptable budget projection; (ii) Reserves for repair and replacement; (iii)Capital improvement plan; (iv) Budget control measures; and (v) For a single -ownership commercial or industrial use not managed by a public entity, the posting of a bond accessible to the LEA, pursuant to a form approved by County Counsel, in an amount sufficient to pay for the replacement of the Recycled Water Pond and cleanup of the 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 site, as determined of the LEA. (f) No Person shall construct a Recycled Water Pond except under a construction permit approved by the LEA. A construction permit shall be deemed complete when it contains all plot plans, designs, and other components as required in this Chapter, including but not limited to the following: (1) Vicinity sketch; (2) Scaled layout drawing; (3) Dimensional cross-section drawing; (4) Approved quality assurance/quality control plan for liner; (5) Approved management entity; (6) Operation and Maintenance Manual; (7) Management Plan; (8) Identification of certified operator; (9) Verification of Technical, Managerial, and Financial competence; (10) Approved Use Permit; (11) Approved California Environmental Quality Act review; (12) Grading Permit; and (13) Waste Discharge Requirements issued by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. (g) No Person shall construct a Recycled Water Pond 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 without providing a Construction Quality Assurance Report approved by the LEA. (h) No Person shall operate or maintain a Recycled Water Pond except under a renewable operating permit approved by the LEA. The permit shall be renewed annually. 19B-6 Design Flow and Capacity. (a) No Person shall construct a Recycled Water Pond and no Recycled Water Pond shall be permitted under this Chapter unless it complies with the following minimum design flow criteria: (1) Receives the flow from eight single family residences or a minimum flow of 2,500 gallons per day for residential development; or (2) Receives more than 1,000 gallons per day for commercial development. (b) Design flows shall be approved by the LEA and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board based upon consideration of the type of proposed development. (c) Determination of design capacity and pond sizing shall be based on mass balance calculations that take into consideration inflow and infiltration, incident precipitation, run-on, evapotranspiration, and evaporation. (d) Health or Safety Exception: Notwithstanding the minimum daily flow requirements specified herein, the Butte County Planning Commission may approve the construction and 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 use of Recycled Water Ponds for smaller flows, subject to the Use Permit process as set forth in Chapter 24, when the following conditions are met: (1) The existing system is determined by the LEA to be unlawful, as defined in Chapter 19-4; and (2) A municipality or district sewage system is not reasonably available. 19B-7 Minimum Freeboard. (a) No Person shall design, construct, operate, use, or maintain an engineered containment structure for impoundment of recycled water unless said Recycled Water Pond is designed to maintain and unless said Person maintains a Freeboard of not less than 2 feet as measured from the lowest rim of the Recycled Water Pond. (b) Freeboard calculations shall meet the following parameters: (1) Recycled Water Ponds shall be sized so as to withstand a 100 -year rainfall return year followed by a normal rainfall year without overflow; and (2) Recycled Water Ponds, other than those that have been permitted by Use Permits to remain full year- round, shall be sized so as to be drained completely prior to the subsequent rainfall year. 19B-8 Liner. (a) No person shall design, construct, operate, use, or 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 maintain an engineered containment structure for impoundment of recycled water unless it has a liner, approved by the LEA and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, that meets the following requirements: (1) The Recycled Water Pond shall have either a synthetic or a clay liner meeting the following criteria: (i) Synthetic Liner Criteria: (A) The liner shall be constructed of high density polyethylene (HDPE); (B) The liner shall have a minimum thickness of 60 mil; and (C) The liner shall be ultraviolet light stabilized; (ii) Clay Liner Criteria: (A) The liner shall be constructed with a thickness of 12 inches; (B) The liner shall have a permeability not to exceed 1 x 10-6 centimeters per second; and (C) The liner shall be designed and maintained so as to remain full, subject to the Freeboard requirement herein, throughout the year; 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 M 9 10 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (2) The liner shall be installed over a foundation layer designed and constructed in such a manner as to provide a stable base; (3) The liner shall be installed under the supervision of a licensed professional geotechnical engineer and certified by that professional that the construction has been completed in substantial conformance with the design; and (4) The liner shall have an approved quality assurance/quality control plan and a Construction Quality Assurance Report. (b) Additional containment may be required by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board based on an assessment of the quality of wastewater effluent and risk to water quality. 19B-9 Minimum Setbacks. No Person shall construct, operate, use, or maintain a Recycled Water Pond unless the following setbacks are maintained as measured from the toe of the pond: (a) 100 ft to 10 -year floodplain (high water mark) or floodway; (b) 100 ft to individual or public water system well; (c) 100 ft to lake or domestic water supply reservoir; (d) 100 ft to perennial stream; (e) 200 ft to perennial stream in watershed protection 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 district; (e) 50 ft to ephemeral stream; and (f) 50 ft to property line (greater separation may be required through Use Permit). 19B-10 Geographical Areas of Special Concern. No Person shall construct, operate, use, or maintain a Recycled Water Pond that lies within the 100 -year floodplain unless the following conditions are met: (a) Additional provisions shall be incorporated into the design and approved by the LEA and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to protect the Recycled Water Pond from washout; (b) Verification shall be provided that the design and construction of the Recycled Water Pond will not result in the flood elevation at the property line being increased so as to exceed Butte County Code Chapter 26, Article IV; (c) The minimum top of the berm or other pond protections shall be a minimum of 2 feet above the Base Flood Elevation; (d) Pond development on lands within the 100 -year floodplain, as identified on the most current available maps from FEMA, shall be allowed only if the applicant demonstrates that it will not: (1) Create danger to life and property due to increased flood heights or velocities caused by 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 excavation, fill, roads and intended use; (2) Create difficult emergency vehicle access in times of flood; (3) Create a safety hazard due to the height, velocity, duration, rate of rise and sediment transport of the flood waters expected at the site; (4) Create excessive costs in providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public facilities; (5) Interfere with the existing water conveyance capacity of the floodway; (6) Substantially increase erosion and/or sedimentation; (7) Require significant storage of material or any substantial grading or substantial placement of fill that is not approved by the County through a development agreement, discretionary permit, or other discretionary entitlement; a ministerial permit that would result in the construction of a new residence; or a tentative map or parcel map; and (8) Conflict with the provisions of the applicable requirements of Government Code sections 65865.5, 65962, or 66474.5; and (e) The County shall make findings that it has imposed conditions that will protect the property to the urban 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 level of flood protection, as defined in Government Code section 65007, in urban and urbanizing areas, or to the national Federal Emergency Management Agency standard of flood protection in non -urbanized areas. 119B-11 Fees. Applicants shall pay fees to the LEA, in advance of (requested or provided service, for construction permits, renewable operating permits, and technical assistance in the amount specified by Butte County Code Chapter 43. 19B-12 Enforcement and Penalties. (a) All violations of this Chapter are determined to be unlawful and declared to be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, and are public nuisances. (b) All conditions which render any Recycled Water Pond or portion thereof to be used or maintained in violation of this Chapter shall be abated pursuant to the Administrative Enforcement provisions set forth below and/or Butte County Code Chapter 32A if provisions for their continuance made pursuant to this regulation are not satisfied. (c) In addition to the use of any other remedy, the LEA may seek legal or equitable relief in Butte County Superior Court to enjoin any act or practice and to abate any conditions that constitute or will constitute a violation of this Chapter. (d) No Person shall obstruct, impede or interfere with the 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 LEA or any other designated Butte County employee, contractor or other authorized representative in the performance of code enforcement and/or nuisance abatement duties pursuant to this Chapter. 19B-13 Administrative Enforcement Actions. (a) Administrative Enforcement Actions (1) Whenever the LEA becomes aware that any act/omission constituting a violation of this Chapter has occurred, the LEA may: (i) Issue an administrative order finding that a Person is responsible for a violation of this Chapter and directing such responsible Person to pay an administrative penalty in the applicable amount set forth in subsection (c) of this section; and/or (ii) Issue an administrative order directing any responsible Person to undertake partial or comprehensive actions, so as to provide adequate protection of the public health, safety, welfare, the environment or natural resources, by abating a nuisance resulting from a violation of this Chapter; and/or (iii) If, in the opinion of the LEA, the nuisance constitutes an immediate threat to public health or safety, summarily abate the nuisance; and/or 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (iv) Request that the District Attorney or County) Counsel immediately seek relief as may be necessary or appropriate from a court of competent jurisdiction. Said court, upon finding that there is, or that the conditions complained of may present an endangerment to the safety, health, welfare, the environment or natural resources arising out of or resulting from such nuisance, in whole or in part, shall grant relief to abate the nuisance as is consistent with the relevant requirements of this Chapter and the public interest, to secure adequate protection of the public health, safety, welfare, the environment or natural resources. (2) At his discretion, the LEA may both issue administrative order(s) and request that the District Attorney or County Counsel seek such relief as may be necessary or appropriate from a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to this section. (3) Any such administrative orders shall be served by personal service, registered mail or certified mail with return receipt requested addressed to the Person subject to the order. (4) The administrative order(s) issued by the LEA pursuant to this section shall include a statement of 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 the factual and legal grounds upon which the order is issued, a schedule for completion of specific actions ordered and specify the amount(s) of the administrative penalties applicable, both for violating this Chapter and for failure to comply with specific actions ordered. Such order shall also specifically advise the Person(s) to whom it is issued of the right to contest the order and request a hearing as provided for in subsection (b) of this section. Such order shall also conspicuously advise the Person(s) to whom it is directed that failure to request the hearing within the time and in the manner provided in subsection (b) of this section will result in the order becoming final and binding. (5) The administrative order issued by the LEA pursuant to this section shall become final and binding on the eighth (8th) day following service of the LEA's order, unless the person who has been named in the order files a timely objection which complies in all respects with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. (b) Review of Administrative Enforcement Orders (1) Administrative Review. Any Person who has been named in an order issued by the LEA pursuant to this Chapter may file an objection to such an order. An 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 objection must be in writing and filed with the LEA on or before the seventh (7th) day following service of the LEA's order. An objection must state both the legal and factual bases in support thereof, and must include at a minimum the requested modification(s), if any, of the order together with a summary of the issues, facts and legal authorities to be raised at the hearing. The time requirement for filing an objection shall be deemed jurisdictional and may not be waived. In the absence of a timely filed objection which complies fully with the requirements of this section, the findings of the LEA contained in the administrative order shall be deemed true and correct. (2) Upon timely receipt of an objection which complies with the requirements of this section, the LEA shall refer the matter to a Hearing Officer to conduct a hearing. The Hearing Officer shall be selected pursuant to the protocol set forth in that document entitled the "Butte County Administrative Hearing Officer Program." The Program is based upon an alphabetical rotation through attorneys currently under contract through the Program. Notice of the hearing shall be sent by first class mail postage prepaid to the Person(s) filing the request. The notice shall state the date, time and place of the 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 hearing (which in no event shall be sooner than seven (7) days from the date of the mailing, unless otherwise agreed to by the responsible party and the LEA). (3) Any administrative hearing conducted under this section need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule that might make improper the admission of the evidence over objection in civil actions. The Hearing Officer has discretion to exclude evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will necessitate undue consumption of time. (4) The Hearing Officer shall issue a written decision which shall include findings to support the decision. Written notice of the decision shall be given by mail within seven (7) calendar days after the date of the decision to the person subject to the order and any person filing a written request for notice of the decision. (5) Judicial Review. Pursuant to section 1085 of the 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Code of Civil Procedure, any Person who has been named in an order issued by the LEA pursuant to this Chapter may, following exhaustion of administrative remedies, seek judicial review of the order by filing a petition for writ of mandate within ninety (90) days after the order becomes final and binding pursuant to this Chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1094.5 or 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, any Person who contests a final administrative order issued under this Chapter regarding the imposition, enforcement or collection of the administrative penalties imposed, may seek judicial review of the order by filing an appeal with the superior court within twenty (20) days after service of the order in accordance with section 53069.4 of the Government Code. Any other person who has the right to seek judicial review of the order by filing a petition for writ of mandate pursuant to section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall do so within one hundred eighty (180) days after the order has become final and binding pursuant to this Chapter. The filing of a petition for writ of mandate to review the order shall not stay any action specified in the order. (c) Administrative Penalty for Violations (1) Any Person who violates the provisions of this 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Chapter is liable to the County for administrative penalties in the amount of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), based upon the severity of the offense, for each violation set forth in the administrative order. (2) If a second violation of this Chapter is caused by a responsible Person whom has already been determined to be liable of a violation of this Chapter within one (1) year of the date of the first violation, the administrative penalty shall be up to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), based upon the severity of the offense. (3) If a third or subsequent violation of this Chapter is caused by the same responsible Person whom has already been determined to be liable of a violation of this Chapter within one (1) year of the date of the first violation, the administrative penalty shall be up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), based upon the severity of the offense. (4) Liability under this Chapter may be imposed in a civil action or liability may be imposed administratively pursuant to this section. Any such civil action may be joined with an action for any other remedy, including injunctive relief, available pursuant to State law or pursuant to this code. 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Nothing in this section in any way limits, conditions, or affects liability of any responsible party to the County for administrative failure to abate penalties, abatement action costs or for any other legal or equitable remedy. (5) Neither the imposition nor the payment of an administrative penalty for violating this Chapter shall relieve the responsible Person from his or her obligation to abate any public nuisance resulting from the violation, nor shall it bar further enforcement action by the LEA or the District Attorney. Nothing in this section shall affect or modify in any way the obligations or liabilities of any person under any other provision of State, federal or local law, including common law, for damages, injury, loss or for liability for nuisance abatement and nuisance abatement costs incurred by the County which results from a nuisance in the County. (d) Administrative Penalty for Failure to Abate (1) In addition to the costs of administrative enforcement set forth in this Chapter, if a responsible Person fails to abate a public nuisance resulting from a first-time violation, in violation of any final order issued pursuant to this Chapter, within three (3) days after the notice and order is 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 served under subsection (b) of this section, the administrative penalty established by the order shall become effective. The administrative penalty shall be based on the severity of the offense, but shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). (2) The administrative penalty, or any portion thereof, for failure to abate a public nuisance resulting from a first-time violation which has become effective following the three (3) day corrective period may be waived by the Public Official in his sole discretion only if the responsible Person corrects the violation in accordance with all conditions established by the Public Official. (3) If a second violation of this Chapter is caused by the same responsible Person within one (1) year of the first violation, and the same responsible party fails to abate a public nuisance resulting from the second violation within three (3) days, the administrative penalty shall be up to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), based upon the severity of the offense. (4) If a third or subsequent violation of this code is caused by the same responsible Person within one (1) year of the first violation, and the same responsible party fails to abate a public nuisance 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 resulting from the third violation within three (3) days, the administrative penalty shall be up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), based upon the severity of the offense. (5) Neither the imposition nor the payment of an administrative penalty for violating this Chapter in subsection (c) of this section nor the payment of an administrative penalty for failure to abate a nuisance pursuant to this subsection shall relieve the responsible Person from his or her obligation to abate', any public nuisance resulting from the violation, nor shall it bar further enforcement action by the LEA or the District Attorney. (6) Nothing in subsection (c) of this section nor this subsection shall affect or modify in any way the obligations or liabilities of any person under any other provision of State, federal or local law, including common law, for damages, injury, loss or for liability for nuisance abatement and nuisance abatement costs incurred by the County which results from a nuisance in the County. 119B-14 Liability. (a) In any enforcement action brought pursuant to this Chapter, whether by administrative proceedings, judicial proceedings or summary abatement, the person who creates or 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 has created the nuisance, either directly or indirectly, shall be liable for all costs set forth in Chapter 3, Article XVI (beginning with section 3-150) of this code incurred by the county, including, but not limited to, administrative costs and any and all cost incurred to undertake, or to cause or compel any responsible party to undertake any abatement action in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter, whether those costs are incurred prior to, during or following enactment of this Chapter. (b) In any action by the county to abate a nuisance under this Chapter, whether by administrative proceedings, judicial proceedings or summary abatement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to a recovery of the reasonable attorneys' fees incurred. Recovery of attorneys' fees under this section shall be limited to those actions or proceedings in which the county elects, at the initiation of that action or proceeding, to seek recovery of its own attorneys' fees. In no action, administrative proceeding or special proceeding shall an award of attorneys' fees to a prevailing party exceed the amount of reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the County in the action or proceeding. (c) Unless otherwise expressly indicated, the standard of liability imposed by this Chapter is strict liability, without regard to any element of mensrea, fault, negligence 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 or other wrongdoing. (d) The scope of liability in this Chapter is joint and several for any Person who has caused, created or contributed to a violation and/or a nuisance as defined in this Chapter, is joint and several. Any Person seeking to apportion the harm must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the component of harm which is sought to be apportioned is scientifically and technologically susceptible to apportionment, that there is a reasonable and practicable basis for apportioning the harm, and that the separate abatement activity proposed for that harm is a practicable, safe, efficient, reliable and cost-effective in providing the degree of protection of the public health, safety, welfare and the environment as the abatement activity or activities, if any, proposed by the LEA or the District Attorney. 19B-15 Non -Exclusive Remedy. This Chapter is cumulative to all other remedies now or hereafter available to regulate Recycled Water Ponds. This Chapter is not intended to be utilized as the exclusive enforcement mechanism to address unlawfully constructed, maintained, used or operated Wastewater Ponds. This Chapter is intended to supplement and to be utilized in addition to other regulatory, enforcement and abatement codes, criminal and other statutes and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 County, the State or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction. Section 2. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is for any reason held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity thereof shall not affect the remaining provisions or other applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application thereof. Section 3. Effective Date and Publication. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after th date of its passage. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors i authorized and directed to publish this ordinance before th expiration of fifteen (15) days after its passage. Thi Ordinance shall be published once, with the names of the member of the Board of Supervisors voting for and against it, in th Enterprise Record, a newspaper of general circulation publishe in the County of Butte, State of California. 29 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County Butte, State of California, on the 22"d day of April, 2014, the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Wahl, Kirk, Lambert and Chair Teeter NOES: None ABSENT: None NOT VOTING: None ATTEST: Paul Hahn Chief Admini and Clerk of 01 ative Officer G� Doug Teeter, Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors 30