Fontana Municipal Code Art. II Standards, Charges and Billing

(a) Every person whose property in the city is served by connection to the City of Fontana water system shall pay a water service deposit, monthly water service charge, water commodity consumption charge, and any surcharge, penalty or reconnection fee as established and adopted by the city council. Every new connection to the City of Fontana water system shall pay a water facility connection fee and a water meter fee or deposit.

(b) The charges provided for in this section shall be applicable only to the premises to which a water service is connected.

(c) The council may, from time to time in its discretion, alter, change, amend or revise the charges and rates for services and facilities in connection with the water system.

(d) It shall be the duty of the management services director of the city, or duly authorized representative, to collect all water charges and any other applicable charges or taxes related to water charges.

(e) If any person shall fail to pay any water charge or surcharge when the charge or surcharge becomes due, the provisions of this chapter pertaining to non-payment and service shut-off shall apply.

(f) All persons found to be in violation of this chapter shall be liable to the city for all costs incurred by the city to resolve the violation, including an administrative fee as fixed by the city based on the city's current overhead cost allocation percentage, and all other fines and penalties.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) Applicants for water service shall pay a water service connection fee and deposit an amount corresponding to the size of the water meter, and complete a service application/meter turn on request form prior to receiving water service.

(b) Applicants shall pay all applicable fees, charges, and deposits before water service turn on, which shall be performed by the city public services department or duly authorized representative.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) The city council may, by resolution or ordinance, adopt rules and regulations for the rendering and collecting of water bills. Unless otherwise provided, the rules, regulations, and procedures contained within this chapter shall apply to the rendering and collection of bills.

(b) Water bills shall be sent to the owner or occupant of the property based on the responsible person as listed on a water meter turn on application, who shall be defined as the customer and responsible for payment thereof.

(c) Water bills shall be rendered monthly, or for a two-month period at city option, and shall be due and payable upon presentation. The bill for each period shall segregate the amounts charged for monthly service, water consumption commodity rate, and any surcharge, meter, or penalty fee. The commencement date shall be the date of the meter turn on, with the monthly service charge commencing at the first day of the next month. Billing shall terminate at the date of meter turn off, excepting that the monthly service charge is not prorated.

(d) Water meter turn on and turn off shall be performed by the city public services department or duly authorized representatives.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) On the 15th day of the month following the month in which a bill is mailed, the bill shall become delinquent if the bill or any portion thereof which is subject to a bona fide dispute remains unpaid. A delinquent bill shall be subject to a penalty charge of ten percent of the amount of the delinquent balance. After a bill has become delinquent, the accounting officer shall notify the customer of such delinquency by United States mail.

(b) If the bill remains delinquent for 30 days following delinquency notification, water service shall be disconnected in accordance with applicable law, the meter turned off, and a reconnection fee shall be charged at the time of payment and water meter turn on.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) When water service is disconnected at a property for delinquency of bill or terminated at the request of the customer, the property shall not be occupied until water service is restored.

(b) At the time of customer requested service termination, a final bill shall be prepared including all outstanding charges, surcharges, and fees, and all deposits shall be credited toward the amount due. If appropriate, a refund shall be issued. In the event of outstanding balance due, payment in full shall be made prior to issuance of a new water service turn on, at the same or a new location, for the same customer.

(c) After a service has be disconnected due to delinquent payment, it shall not be reconnected until all delinquent charges plus penalties, any supplemental charges and surcharges, and a reconnection fee have been paid, and all deposits have been restored.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) Any person tampering with or damaging a meter or other portion of the water system can be liable for all costs for restoration of the system to city standards and estimated unmetered water use and may be billed accordingly.

(b) Any person tampering with or damaging a meter of other portion of the water system is guilty of a misdemeanor and liable for fine and imprisonment as the court shall judge.

(c) Any person, firm, business or corporation using water from a service connection, direct line tap, or hydrant without first having applied for service and receiving meter turn on will be liable for all appropriate charges, fees, surcharges, and deposits, and will pay a 25 percent penalty on all charges.

(d) Any person firm, business or corporation using water from a service connection or hydrant without first having applied for service and receiving meter turn on is guilty of a misdemeanor and liable for fine and imprisonment as the court shall judge.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) The public services department shall adopt procedures and requirements pertaining to cross connection control in compliance with applicable federal and state requirements, and shall implement said procedures and requirements.

(b) Any person or customer who fails to provide the necessary cross connection control requirements and procedures shall be subject to water service disconnect, or as determined by the public services director, or authorized designee, in order to protect the public health and safety of the water supply.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

(a) In the event the accuracy of a water meter is disputed, the customer may request the city to test the meter in a manner approved by the American Water Works Association for a deposit of an adopted amount.

(b) In the event the meter reading is found to be inaccurate, the deposit shall be returned. In the event the meter reading is found to [be] accurate, the deposit shall be forfeited in lieu of billing for the testing.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)

The city council hereby adopts the following water fees, charges and billing pertaining to water service provided to the Hunter's Ridge development area:

Water Service Fees, Charges, and Billings (Effective February 20, 1996)

(1) Monthly meter charge (service availability):

(2) Water consumption charge (commodity rate): The water consumption charge shall be equal to 1.1 (110%) times the wholesale rate charged by the agency providing water supply to the city plus a pumping cost charge of $0.0775/HCF. (HCF equals 100 cubic feet)

(3) New account prepayment fee:

New account prepayment fee charge: Two times the monthly meter.

(4) Meter turn on/reconnect/disconnect charge:

(5) Meter replacement charge:

(6) Construction jump start fee (temporary unmetered water service during new construction):

(7) Construction hydrant meter rental/deposit/water consumption:

The water consumption charge shall be equal to 1.1 (110%) times the wholesale rate charged by the agency providing water supply to the city plus a pumping cost charge of $0.0775/HCF.

(8) Meter test deposit (customer requested):

(9) Other water service work (customer requested or caused by tampering):

All other city performed work: Cost of replacement materials, labor, and overhead.

(Ord. No. 1183, § 1, 2-20-96)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1183, § 1, adopted Feb. 20, 1996, added provisions that were not specifically amendatory. At the editor's discretion, said provisions were included as § 31-10.5.

If any provision of this chapter, or part thereof, is for any reason held to be invalid, the remaining sections shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.

(Ord. No. 1179, § 1, 2-6-96)