title
GREASE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS (B)
Ordinance No. 0-04-57
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 2, 16 AND 27 OF THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES, REGARDING ENFORCEABILITY OF THE CITY'S GREASE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE CITY'S CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD; AMENDING SECTION 2-377, CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES GIVING THE GAINESVILLE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD JURISDICTION TO HEAR CASES IN WHICH VIOLATIONS ARE ALLEGED OF ENUMERATED SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 27, ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 3, CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELEVANT TO SEWERAGE; AMENDING SECTION 2-378, CITY OF GAINEVSILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES CLARIFYING THAT THE CODE INSPECTOR OR CODE OFFICER MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE CITY'S GENERAL MANAGER FOR UTILITIES FOR PURPOSES OF CODE ENFORCEMENT; AMENDING SECTION 16-17, CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES DEFINING "ENFORCING OFFICIAL" TO INCLUDE THE CITY MANAGER, THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR UTILITIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES AND DEFINING "UNSAFE EQUIPMENT" TO INCLUDE AN ABSENT OR MALFUNCTIONING GREASE TRAP OR GREASE INTERCEPTOR; AMENDING SECTION 16-23, CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES CLARIFYING THAT THE CITY'S GENERAL MANAGER FOR UTILITIES MAY DESIGNATE ENFORCING OFFICIALS FOR PURPOSES OF THIS CODE; AMENDING SUBSECTION (f) OF SECTION 16-26, CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OR ORDINANCES CLARIFYING THAT THE ENFORCING OFFICIAL MAY EXTEND TIME UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOR CORRECTION OF A CODE VIOLATION; AMENDING SECTION 16-27, CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES PROVIDING THAT APPEALS RELEVANT TO UNSAFE EQUIPMENT OR AN ABSENT OR MALFUNCTIONING GREASE TRAP OR GREASE INTERCEPTOR MAY BE TAKEN TO THE CITY'S BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT; AMENDING SECTION 16-29, CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING A NEW SUBSECTION (c) CLARIFYING THAT NOTHING IN THIS SECTION REGARDING LIENS SHALL PRECLUDE THE CITY FROM EXERCISING OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY PROVIDED IN THIS CODE; AMENDING SECTION 27-180.7(d) CITY OF GAINESVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO SPECIFY ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES; PROVIDING DIRECTIONS TO THE CODIFIER; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
Improper discharge of grease into the wastewater collection system is the number one cause of wastewater spills. Over the past three years, 29% of all wastewater spills were caused by grease blockages in both residential and commercial areas. In response, utilities staff initiated routine inspections of all food service establishments within the wastewater service area in November 2002. As part of these inspections, customers are educated about the City's grease management requirements and issued an inspection report detailing any deficiencies with the customer's grease trap or inceptor and their maintenance activities. The utility has completed 507 initial inspections and 304 follow-up inspections. As part of the inspection program, our customers have corrected over 42 recorded deficiencies. The utility has taken enforcement action against two customers, which resulted in termination of water and wastewater services. In addition, revisions were made to Chapter 27 of the Gainesville City Code in September of 2003 to incorporate a Grease Control Manual which details the requirements for installing and maintaining grease control traps and interceptors for commercial customers. In order to broaden GRU's ability to enforce the City's grease control requirements and reduce the likelihood of wastewater spills caused by private food service establishments, the utility is requesting authorization to revise the City's ordinances so that the City's grease control requirements are enforceable by the City's Code Enforcement Board.