Print Reading Mode Back to Calendar Return

AI# 11878  Regular City Council Meeting 5.16. 09/26/2023:

Information

Agenda Item

Ordinance 1st Reading - Wastewater Utility: Consider an ordinance amending the City of Lubbock Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22, "UTILITIES", to provide for establishing new definitions, delineating sewer line repair and maintenance responsibilities, amending the regulation for city-participation for large mains, and repealing certain inapplicable provisions.

Item Summary

The Public Works Department is recommending amendments to Chapter 22 of the City of Lubbock Code of Ordinances, with regard to replacement of private sewer lateral lines located within public right-of-way (Street or Alley).  The proposed change will allow licensed plumbers to work within public right-of-way to fully repair the private sewer lateral line between the house or business structure, and the City main located in the right-of-way. Under the current ordinance adopted in 2006, licensed plumbers are not allowed to perform this work within the public right-of-way, and these repairs on private lines must be performed by City of Lubbock Pipeline Maintenance Crews. The ordinance prior to 2006 did allow for plumbers to work within City Right-of-Way to perform this work. This recommended ordinance will allow for a more timely response to emergency issues with sewer line back-ups on properties, since the plumber will no longer need to involve the City of Lubbock staff to perform this work.  In addition, this change will save the City of Lubbock the cost of dispatching crews to perform maintenance on a private sewer lateral line. Many recent changes have been made to City Ordinances that we believe will now allow us to fully evaluate plumbers working within our right-of-way. Today's recommended ordinance requires all contractors to permit any work within the right-of-way.  All contractors are required to be bonded and to warranty their work and compaction, within the right-of-way, as well.  These recent changes have allowed for better tracking of contractor's activities, and the ability to ensure contractors are doing proper construction methods in the right-of-way.  Public Works has verified with Community Development, that funding will be potentially available to qualifying lower-income citizens, for purposes of performing this work. The other changes within the Chapter 22 Ordinance were made for general clean-up of the ordinance, to match current operations.

Fiscal Impact

This change, once fully implemented, will reduce City operational and capital improvement costs by an estimated $800,000 annually.

Staff/Board Recommending

Erik Rejino, Assistant City Manager L. Wood Franklin P.E., Division Director of Public Works.

Attachments Amended Ordinance Chapter 22

AgendaQuick ©2005 - 2024 Destiny Software Inc. All Rights Reserved.