Council introduces ordinance to create sewer reimbursement district for Liebenhain subdivision

Encinitas city staff briefed the City Council on an ordinance to establish a sewer reimbursement district for a recent sewer main extension in the Liebenhain area. The ordinance was introduced and progressed by council action so the city can collect reimbursement fees from parcels that later connect to the new public sewer main.

John (last name not specified), an engineer with the city’s Land Development Services Department, explained that in January 2022 a developer, Randy Lang, received approval for a three-lot subdivision. Because of site constraints, the developer and four neighbors funded an extension of public sewer main to serve the parcels. After the city accepted the sewer as public infrastructure, the developer requested a reimbursement district so that future connecting parcels would pay a proportional share back to the contributors.

Staff said the city reviewed project receipts and identified 12 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) that could connect to the line. The analysis yields a net reimbursable amount of approximately $184,000, an assessment of about $37,096.34 per EDU, a simple interest rate of 6% computed from the ordinance effective date, and a 20-year term for the reimbursement obligation.

Council members asked several clarifying questions during the presentation. There was an initial discrepancy in the presentation about the length of the extension — a slide showed roughly 14,000 linear feet, which prompted a council question — staff later corrected that figure in the hearing, saying the actual installed sewer main was approximately 1,200 linear feet. Staff also explained why some nearby parcels were not included in the district (they are served by a different wastewater district and had not joined the annexation process for Cardiff Sanitation District in time).

Developer Randy Lang spoke in support of the ordinance and noted the project’s multiyear timeline and family ties to the property. At the conclusion of the presentation a council member moved approval and another seconded; the council called the question and proceeded to the next agenda item, indicating the item had advanced.

Key technical and financial points disclosed to council:

- Number of benefiting EDUs identified: 12. - Net reimbursable amount (if all parcels connect): approximately $184,000. - Reimbursement fee per EDU shown in ordinance: $37,096.34. - Simple interest: 6% from the effective date of the ordinance. - Ordinance term: 20 years. - Municipal authority cited: Municipal Code Chapter 18-12 authorizes creation of sewer reimbursement districts.

The council advanced the ordinance introduction; staff indicated the district language would be incorporated into the municipal code and the reimbursement methodology would be applied when parcels connect to the sewer mains.

Ending — Next steps

Staff will finalize the ordinance text and related municipal-code amendments, record the district maps and fee schedule, and proceed with the City Council adoption steps for the ordinance. The city will reimburse contributing parties proportionally as new connections are made over the 20-year term.