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To:Mayor Callahan <br />Council Members <br />Ron Moorsc, City Administrator <br />From:Michael P. Gal'fron. Asst. Planning & Zoning Administrator <br />Date:April 18. 1996 <br />Subject: Pending Septic System Ordinance Updates <br />On-Site Systems Manager Steve Weekman is preparing for your May 13 meeting an ordinance to <br />update Orono's septic system ordinances. The revisions will include the following: <br />Deleting Sections 5.37 and 5.38 regarding licensing of septic system installers and <br />site evaluators. The .MPCA now licenses these professions, and individual cities are prohibited from <br />also licensing them. <br />Revising the wording of a number of definitions, section references and terminology <br />to conform with recent changes in the State Rules Chapter 7080. <br />Clarifying when on-site systems must be inspected, repaired, or alternate sites <br />designated before improvements to a property are permitted, or in conjunction with CUP and <br />variance applications. <br />More accurately defining what constitutes a 'maintenance pumpout’ and requiring <br />pumping contractors to report on the conformity of tanks at the time they are pumped out. <br />For systems outside the Shoreland which are found to be non-conforming ("non- <br />compliant") only due to the lack of 3'separation. establishes a period of 5 years for completion of <br />repairs. The current code allows two years regardless of whether a property is in the Shoreland <br />(Note that the State code now requires that all inspections include a 3'separation determination; <br />although that means we must identify the non-Shoreland nonconformities, we do have the ability to <br />define any period of time we choose for their upgrade. Five years seems like a good balance: not <br />so immediate that we will have to add staff to deal with all the upgrades, but not so far in the future <br />that it gets forgotten...) <br />These code changes are part of Chapter 12: Construction Licensing, Permits and Regulation which <br />is not part of the zoning code. Becau.se of this they can be adopted without a public hearing unless <br />Council chooses to have one. Steve and I believe the impact of the changes is minor, and generally <br />of benefit to our residents. An ordinance making these changes will be presented for adoption at <br />your May 13 meeting. Please feel free to call us if you have questions. <br />I