Council approves fee to offset costs of storm water inspection
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

The City Council, Wednesday, voted to establish a storm-water disposal inspection fee that will affect 132 businesses in Moorpark as of July 2008.

Food and auto service facilities will pay $45 and $40 per year respectively to offset expected expenses, said Mayor Patrick Hunter. The mayor suggested that the new fee should be phased in to ease the financial burden on businesses because they're already struggling in today's economy.

Businesses will pay half of the above-mentioned amount until July 2009. The inspections are necessary to comply with the stringent California Regional Water Quality Board's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination system permit requirement.

Until now, city employees have been performing the inspections without charge. However, the city wants to recoup costs from hereon because of growing budget concerns.

If inspections aren't done, the city may be fined with $5,000 to $50,000 per day for violations, said Shaun Kroes, management analyst for Moorpark.

"It would be great if we didn't have to charge for that, but that's not an option given the budget," said Councilmember Janice Parvin. "Since we're mandated to do these inspections, we're trying to figure out a way to break even."

Businesses will be inspected every other year to ensure they comply with mandated storm-water practices. Employees must also be trained to follow these guidelines.

Inspectors look for a variety of stormwater compliance practices, including, but not limited to, the proper discharge of washwater into the sanitary sewer (instead of the storm drain system), the proper storage of trash and recycling containers and employee training of appropriate stormwater practices. "For example, a restaurant that washes its floor mats outside, where the debris can run off into the storm drain system, would be a violation," Kroes said.