STAFF REPORT: BYLAW NO. 941 – HOUSEHOLD SEWER GRINDER PUMP TRANSFER

COUNCIL REPORT

TO: Council
DATE: January 20, 2016
FROM: Darryl Woodley, Engineering Technologist
MEETING DATE: February 16, 2016

Bylaw No. 941, 2016

Household Sewer Grinder Pump Transfer to Owner

67 View Royal Avenue and 17A Jedburgh Road

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Town of View Royal Sewage System Bylaws No. 397, 2000, Amendment Bylaw No. 941, 2016, be given first, second and third readings.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

BACKGROUND:

The Town is currently responsible for 24 private household grinder pumps in the municipality. These pump systems were installed by CRD as part of the overall sewage collection system for the Town of View Royal in approximately 1979-80. The installations saved on the capital cost of the system as it eliminated the need for mains to be laid along the waterfront areas in many cases involving rock removal.

The Town is responsible for conducting an annual electrical and visual inspection of these Town owned private household grinder pumps, in addition to repairs, regular maintenance and replacement.

As per Bylaw No. 397, 2000, Section 24.2.7, the household sewer grinder pump system property owner will assume ownership, including all responsibility for inspections, maintenance, repairs and replacement, including costs for these items, of a household sewer grinder pump system where premises are the subject of any of the following:

a) an approved change of use under either existing or new zoning;
b) an approved subdivision;
c) an approved Development Permit for any project with a value of $20,000 or greater as determined by the Superintendent;
d) relocation of or modification to the household sewer grinder pump system without prior approval and execution by the Town;
e) refusal to enter into an agreement with the Town required by section 24.2.1; or
f) any change in property ownership.

PROJECT INFORMATION:

As part of our annual grinder pump maintenance program, it was noted that the ownership of 67 View Royal Avenue had changed as of April 2015. This triggered us to send an informational letter of transfer to the new owners in September 2015. This letter informed the new owners that View Royal would perform one last maintenance inspection prior to transferring all future grinder pump responsibility to the new owners.

The letter explained that the ownership transfer was being done as per Sewage System Bylaw No. 397, 2000 section 24.2.7:

The household sewer grinder pump system property owner will assume ownership, including all responsibility for inspections, maintenance, repairs and replacement, including costs for these items, of a household sewer grinder pump system where premises are the subject of any of the following:

f) any change in property ownership.
As part of a subdivision development proposal, it was noted that the ownership of 17A Jedburgh Road had changed as of January 2016. This triggered us to contact the owners and developers and explain the transfer of the private grinder pump system to the new owners. As the new development planned to decommission the grinder pump, it was not necessary for View Royal to perform one last maintenance inspection prior to transferring all future grinder pump responsibility to the new owners.

We explained that the ownership transfer was being done as per Sewage System Bylaw No. 397, 2000 section 24.2.7:

The household sewer grinder pump system property owner will assume ownership, including all responsibility for inspections, maintenance, repairs and replacement, including costs for these items, of a household sewer grinder pump system where premises are the subject of any of the following:

f) any change in property ownership.