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Service facilities to pay for inspections
Storm-water inspections necessary for permit
STORY TOOLS 
More from Local NewsThe Moorpark City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday that will require food and automotive service facilities to pay for storm-water inspections.
Under the ordinance, food service businesses will have to pay an annual fee of $45, while automotive businesses will pay $40 for the inspections.
This year, however, the businesses will pay only half the amount during a phase-in period that begins in July and ends July 2009.
The annual fee will be collected at the same time as the business registration renewal.
The inspections are necessary for compliance with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirement.
The permit requires each facility to be inspected once every two years for compliance with a variety of storm-water practices.
Under the new ordinance, Charles Abbott Associates will inspect 101 food service facilities for compliance, while 31 automotive service facilities will continue to be inspected by county inspectors. The city pays for both inspections every two years — $82.94 for food services facilities and $79.17 for automotive service facilities.
The state does not provide funding for this requirement, and the city has absorbed the cost for the past eight years through the general fund, said Shaun Kroes, management analyst for the city.
The fees collected from the businesses will offset about $5,800 in costs to implement the permit requirement.
The city will send notices to the businesses explaining the phase-in period and subsequent costs associated with the inspections.
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