Beach Avenue Sewer Assessment 1960June 22, 1999
CITY OF
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VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
Ms. Ida Whitfield
1960 Park Street
Atlantic Beach, FI 32233
Reference: 1960 Park Street
Dear Ms. Whitfeld:
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Ms. Ida Whitfield
1960 Park Street
Atlantic Beach, Fl 32233
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The City has recently reviewed the State Statutes and City Codes relative to utilities, and we have
recognized that there are properties in Atlantic Beach that are not connected to the City sanitary sewer
system. The City is obligated to notify property owners when the City central sewerage system is
available, and we have not been able to confirm that any notification has been made to you in the past.
The purpose of this correspondence is to provide notification of the availability of the sewerage system for
your property referenced above, and to provide information about the connection requirements and the
necessary steps to connect to the system.
Florida Law requires connection to City sewer service where it exists. These regulations were enacted
to protect the environment and the public health.
Florida Statutes Section 381.00655 requires connection to the City sewer system within 365 days from
the date of notice of sewer availability. Atlantic Beach City Code Section 22-175 requires the City to
commence billing for sewer service within 90 days from this date of notice, whether or not connection
has been made to the sewer.
The connection to the City sewer system must be performed by a licensed plumber selected and paid
by the property owner. Your septic tank must be properly abandoned after connection to the sewer
system, and your plumber can perform this function and obtain the necessary permits from the Duval
County Health Department and the Atlantic Beach Building Department.
City impact fees, and possibly tap fees, will be assessed at the time the plumbing permit is issued by
the Atlantic Beach Building Department. These fees are calculated by the Building Department based
on several factors regarding your specific property. For this reason, we are unable to provide you with
a specific dollar amount until your application is reviewed. However, the "typical" Sewer Impact Fee
for a single family, residential connection is $1,250. The City will offer a payment plan for those
people who need to finance this expense.
I hope that this information is helpful to you. If you have any questions regarding the permitting and
procedures for this connection, please contact Mr. Don Ford, Building Official, at 904-247-5826. For
questionnregarding billing for sewer service, contact our Customer Service Supervisor, Joyce Lanier at
904-247-5816.
Sincerely,
David E. Thompson
City Manager
Attachment: Florida State Statute 381.00655 Connection of onsite sewage treatment and disposal
systems to central sewerage system; requirements.
381.00655 Connection of existing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems to central
sewerage system; requirements.—
(1) (a) The owner of a properly functioning onsite sewage treatment and disposal system,
excluding an approved onsite graywater system, must connect the system or the building's
plumbing tan available publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system within 365 days
after written notification by the owner of the publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system
that the system is available for connection. The publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage
system must notify the owner of the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system of the
availability of the central sewerage system. No less than 1 year prior to the date the sewerage
system will become available, the publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system shall
notify the affected owner of the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system of the anticipated
availability of the sewerage system and shall also notify the owner that the owner will be required
to connect to the sewerage system within 1 year of the actual availability. The owner shall have
the option of prepaying the amortized value of required connection charges in equal monthly
installments over a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of the initial notification of
anticipated availability. Nothing in this section shall operate to impair contracts or other binding
obligations relating to payment schedules in existence as of October 1, 1993. Nothing in this
paragraph limits the power of a municipality or county to enforce other laws for the protection of
the public health and safety.
(b) The owner of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system that needs repair or
modification to function in a sanitary manner or to comply with the requirements of ss.
381.0065-381.0067 or rules adopted under those sections must connect to an available publicly
owned or investor-owned sewerage system within 90 days after written notification from the
department. In hardship cases, upon request of the owner, the department may approve an
extension of not more than 90 days for sewerage connection. The department may approve only
one extension. This paragraph does not authorize the owner of the onsite sewage treatment and
disposal system to create or maintain a sanitary nuisance.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) or any other provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding:
(a) The local governing body of the jurisdiction in which the owner of the onsite sewage
treatment and disposal system resides may provide that any connection fee charged under this
section by an investor-owned sewerage system may be paid without interest in monthly
installments, over a period of time not to exceed 5 years from the date the sewerage system
becomes available if it determines that the owner has demonstrated a financial hardship. The
local governing body shall establish criteria for making this determination which take into
account the owner's net worth, income, and financial needs.
(b) A publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system may, with the approval of the
department, waive the requirement of mandatory onsite sewage disposal connection if it
determines that such connection is not required in the public interest due to public health
considerations.
History.—
s. 2. ch. 93-151.
1997 Florida statute'