NESE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When do I have to connect to the sewer system?

How is the Reimbursement Fee calculated?

How does my cost to connect change over time?

The City annexed the streets and right-of-way, what does that mean?

Will the streets be improved?

What’s involved with decommissioning existing sewer systems or cess pools and can it be done privately?

When do I have to connect to the sewer system?
As long as current septic system is functioning properly, the decision of whether or not to connect is entirely up to the property owner. Connecting to the sewer system, which requires annexing to the City of Milwaukie, will only be required when and if existing systems fail.

How is the Reimbursement Fee calculated?

The City’s assessment methodology is similar to the one Water Environment Services’ (WES) is using in its project area adjacent to Milwaukie’s. WES has substantial experience with assessment districts and has developed a method over time that is fair and consistent for neighborhoods similar to the NESE area. WES apportions costs based on an average main cost, an average lateral cost, and an area cost, adjusted to the specifics of a given project:

Cost share = Main cost ($6,000) + Lateral cost ($2,800) + Area Cost (Sq. feet x lot size factor)

The City’s method adopts the same approach. This method accounts for the reality that larger lots may benefit more from the improvement due to future potential development, without placing too much weight on this component of the calculation. The Area Cost is based on the developable square feet of the lot area – total area minus areas with building restrictions around Johnson Creek.

The City's Reimbursement District was finalized on March 15, 2011. The lot size factor is $0.30 per square foot, resulting in the following cost shares:

The Reimbursement Fee will be annual adjusted upwards 2% each year on March 15.

Residents in the area will not be required to pay the full cost of the project. First, the City will pass through the benefits of the federal stimulus money the project has received as a "General" discount. That General discount is available in full until March 15, 2013, at roughly 46.5%. Second, residents in the are eligible for an addition $3,450 reduction in their cost either through the North Clackamas Revitalization Area (NCRA) or the City. Using the same sample lot sizes in the chart above, the net per property cost is:

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How does my cost to connect change over time?

The reimbursement fee increases by 2% each March 15, beginning March 15, 2012, and the City-provided discount is reduced on March 15 in 2013, 2016, and 2021. Therefore, if you connect in future years, the City will re-calculate the total due based on the reimbursement fee (with the 2% annual adjustment factored in) and the applicable discounts available at that time. The following chart illustrates how the cost to connect for the 10,000 square foot lot described above would change over time.

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The City annexed the streets and rights-of-way, what does that mean?

• The City Annexed the Streets and Right-of-Way, What Does that Mean?

In January 2010, the City of Milwaukie began the NE Milwaukie Sewer Extension (NESE) Project. As part of this project, the City took two actions regarding the rights-of-way (i.e. streets) in your area.
 

1. The City obtained jurisdiction of most of the streets in this area from Clackamas County in December 2009. This means that the City of Milwaukie is now responsible for street maintenance. It also means that anyone who wants to do work in the street, such as installing a new driveway approach, must obtain a right of way permit from the City instead of from the County.
2. The City annexed the streets in this area in January 2010. Just to be clear, no private property was annexed. This means that the City is now responsible for enforcing traffic regulations and other regulations that apply to streets,

Below is some additional information and contact information related to these two actions.

• What is a right-of-way (ROW)?

A right-of-way is the technical term for the property a street occupies. Rights-of-way include many different elements, such as vehicle travel lanes, parking lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and stormwater facilities. The rights-of-way in this area are generally considered “unimproved” as they do not contain many of these elements. As a result, the rights-of-way in this area are wider than you might think since most of them are wider than the existing street pavement or gravel. This is not uncommon and allows for future right-of-way improvements, such as sidewalks.

• Who should I call now?
• Enforcement of City codes such as overhanging trees in the street and obstruction of traffic signs, Tim Salyers, (503) 786-7409
• Enforcing traffic rules such as speeding, parking and abandoned vehicles, Milwaukie Police (non-emergency), (503) 786-7500
• Review and approval of modifications in the rights-of-way, Bonnie Lanz, (503) 786- 7613
• Street sweeping, Jamie Clark, (503) 786-7673
• Fixing pot holes in the street, Jamie Clark, (503) 786-7673
   
• Has emergency police service changed?

NO. If you have an emergency, you should call 911. Police service to your home and neighborhood will function as it always has. While Milwaukie Police may monitor speed and traffic enforcement in your neighborhood, Clackamas County Sherriff’s Department will still be the “first responders” for any problems you may have on your property.

• Are permits required for working in the right-of-way?

YES. If you plan to do any work in the right-of-way, including the planting or removal of trees, please contact the City’s Building Department at (503) 786-7613.

• Are the City’s street regulations very different than the County’s?

NO. The City and the County have very similar kinds of street regulations. However, the City’s approach to enforcing these regulations may be different than what you have experienced in the County. The City’s code compliance staff will not be patrolling the streets in your neighborhood looking for code violations. Rather, they will respond to inquiries or complaints made by neighbors or safety and operations staff. Some typical code violations include: overhanging trees and vegetation, blocked vision at intersections, and the blocking of rights-of-way with recreational vehicles. For more information about the City’s street regulations please contact Milwaukie’s Code Compliance Coordinator Tim Salyers at (503) 786-7409.

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Will the streets be improved?

Residents have told staff that they would like the project to include street and storm water improvements. The project will include edge to edge paving of streets that can not be satisfactorily repaired with just a patch that covers the trench the main line was constructed. With the stimulus funding in the equation, staff believes the project can include overlays of other streets as well, without significantly increasing the assessments. (The project will restore gravel streets in the area with additional gravel.)

However, due to constraints placed on the stimulus money and efforts to keep project costs down and individual assessments as affordable possible, stormwater improvements will not be constructed as part of this project.

Check the Street Improvement Plan in the Project Maps section of this project page fore more information.

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What’s involved with decommissioning existing sewer systems or cess pools and can it be done privately?

On residential properties, the work can be done privately, but a licensed contractor will have to perform the work at these properties. Decommissioning typically involves emptying/pumping the system and re-filling with an earthen material to prevent collapse. The decommissioning and outside work can be done by a general contractor; any work inside the building itself must be done by a plumber.

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