HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso - CC - 078-2000RESOLUTION 78-2000
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURLINGAME
AFFIRMING SEWER BACKUP DAMAGE POLICY
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Burlingame:
WHEREAS, the City has voluntarily assumed responsibility in most cases for sewer backups
that occur in sewer laterals between a properly installed and maintained cleanout on public property
and the sewer main; and
WHEREAS, such a program encourages the installation and maintenance of proper
cleanouts; and
WHEREAS, this program should be conditioned on conformance to City standards and
recommendations regarding backflow preventers,
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED:
1. The Sewer Backup Damage Policy attached as Exhibit A is approved.
MAYOR
I, ANN T. MUSSO, City Clerk of the City of Burlingame, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 5th day of
July 2000, and was adopted thereafter by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: COFFEY, GALLIGAN, JANNEY, OWAHONY, SPINELLI
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
l I .lX o— // yL 1 /
DEPUTY CITY CLERK
EXHMIT A
SEWER BACKUP DAMAGE POLICY
Sanitary sewer system backups may cause property damage. If property damage does occur, it is
proper for the City and its employees to take immediate corrective steps and assist the property
owner in the cleanup. In order to coordinate the program, the following policy is required:
General City responsibility. Responsibility for damage caused by a backup of the sanitary
sewer will generally be the City's if the blockage occurs in the lateral sewer between the
cleanout and the sewer main, and if:
a. The cleanout is on public property or at the sewer main itself; and
b. The cleanout has been installed in accordance with City standard specifications; and
C. The blockage was not caused by destructive or wrongful use of the sewer lateral
by the affected property owner, the owner's predecessors, or a third parry; and
d. The cleanout has not been buried or built over by the affected property owner or
the owner's predecessors; and
A backwater valve has been properly installed and maintained if recommended by
the City or required by the California Plumbing Code.
Property owners are responsible for the proper installation and maintenance of building and
lateral sewers and cleanouts, and for obtaining the necessary construction and
encroachment permits. Property owners are responsible for keeping the cleanout's three-
foot (T) radius area clear of vegetation or any obstruction for visibility and easy access.
A City employee will spend approximately five (5) minutes in an attempt to locate a
cleanout. In exceptional cases when personnel are available and authorized by the Director
of Public Works, City personnel may be authorized to install a cleanout when excavation
has been performed by the property owner and the installation location on public property
is readily accessible. Cleanout installation will not be provided for any required sewer
lateral testing procedure.
When a sewer backup occurs, the Director of Public Works may authorize City personnel
to obtain the immediate services of a rehabilitation or containment service to minimize
damage and provide emergency cleanup. City personnel will notify the property owner if
he/she is responsible for payment of any services rendered by such a rehabilitation or
containment service. Actual repair or construction work should be deferred to the property
owner and determined through the normal claims process of the City.