Huntington Park Municipal Code § 6-5.201 Rule One: Applications for service: Installation charges

(a) All applications for water service shall be made in the Revenue Collections Office on forms furnished by the City. The Director of Finance shall have the right to accept applications by mail. Applications shall be accepted from any responsible person who has possession of the property.

(b) The service connection rates or charges set forth in this subsection are hereby fixed and established and shall be charged and collected by the Director of Finance for water service connections to the Municipal Water System of the City. Such rates or charges shall be paid by the applicants for such connections before such connections are made. Connection rates or charges may be changed by resolution of the Council. Unless changed hereafter by the Council, the connection rates or charges are hereby established and fixed as follows:

(1) For each service connection, the rate or charge shall be set at the actual cost of the labor, equipment, and materials, plus 25% to cover administrative and other costs.

Whenever an application is made for a service connection, the applicant shall deposit with the Director of Finance an amount which shall be estimated by the Director of Field Services as representing the cost of the installation requested, computed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. When the actual costs so computed have been determined, the applicant shall be furnished a statement of such actual costs and shall be refunded any difference between the amount of such actual costs and the amount of the deposit so made, if the deposit exceeds the costs. In the event such deposit is not sufficient to cover such installation costs, the applicant shall pay to the City any balance so indicated, and such payment shall be made immediately upon the receipt of a statement therefor. If such amount is not paid within 10 days after the receipt of such statement, the service so connected shall be disconnected; and

(2) For setting and removing a meter for a temporary connection from a fee hydrant or other connection, a deposit of $1,000 shall be required, and there shall be a connection fee of $25 and a recalibration fee as determined by the Director of Field Services, based on the difficulty of each recalibration.

(c) The Director of Finance shall require any person making an application for water service to make a consumer's deposit unless such person submits proof of creditworthiness that satisfies standards established by the Director of Finance. No deposit required pursuant to this subparagraph shall exceed twice the average periodic billing for the type of water service account applied for.

(d) Repealed.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 1, Ord. 429-NS, eff. October 8, 1987, § 1, Ord. 442-NS, eff. February 3, 1988, §§ 1, 2, Ord. 634-NS, eff. December 15, 1999, and § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. December 15, 1999)

(a) It shall be the policy of the City that wherever possible every service from the Municipal Water System of the City shall be served through a suitable and adequate meter for such service. The Director of Field Services is therefore instructed to require such meters to be installed whenever possible.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this article, meters shall be installed without charge in all cases of installation where the initial installation charges provided for in Rule One (Section 6-5.201 of this article) have been paid for such service.

(c) Service shall be discontinued upon the request of the applicant upon the payment of all charges in full to the date of discontinuance.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. December 15, 1999)

(a) Schedule I: Meter rates. The following monthly rates are hereby fixed and established and shall be collected for water furnished through meters by the City from the Municipal Water System of the City:

(1) To any consumer on any property within the City which has been previously assessed by the City for the installation of facilities and improvements of the Municipal Water System of the City; or

(2) To any consumer on property located within a tract within the City, the owner or subdivider of which has, at his or her own cost and expense and to the satisfaction and approval of the Director of Field Services, constructed and transferred to the City all mains, laterals, fittings, appurtenances, and appliances required by the Water Department for water service, including fire protection, to such tract, such amount as the Council, from time to time, fixes by means of a resolution in order to maintain a fiscally-sound Water Department.

(b) Schedule II: Standby service rates. The following monthly service rate is hereby fixed and established and shall be collected for all standby services connected to the Municipal Water System of the City: $5 per inch diameter service.

The Council, from time to time, may increase or decrease the standby service rate by means of a resolution in order to maintain a fiscally-sound Water Department.

There shall be charged for all water consumed in excess of 750 cubic feet per monthly period through any standby service connection between the designated monthly reading dates of such service an amount equal to the charges set forth in subsection (a) of this section under Schedule I according to the classification within which such respective standby services fall.

(c) Schedule III: Miscellaneous service rates. All construction water shall be metered by the use of a temporary meter. All water consumed shall be charged at the current rate per 100 cubic feet.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. December 15, 1999)

(a) When any consumer desires any change in or the moving of any water service, pipe, meter, or other water service facility, he or she shall make a written application therefor to the Director of Field Services. If the Director of Field Services approves, the Water Department thereupon shall perform the work and furnish the required materials.

(b) The Director of Field Services shall keep a record of the cost of the labor, equipment, and materials involved and shall add to such cost an overhead charge of 25% of the amount thereof.

(c) The amount due shall be paid immediately by the applicant upon the presentation of a statement; provided, however, the Director of Field Services shall be under no obligation to cause such change or installation to be made unless a deposit to cover such cost is made by the applicant upon the request of the Director of Field Services prior to the performance of the work.

(d) In the event such deposit is not sufficient to cover the cost of such work, the unpaid balance shall be due and payable immediately from the applicant. In the event such deposit exceeds the cost so computed, the difference shall be refunded to the depositor.

(e) In the event, after making any deposit pursuant to the provisions of this section, the applicant or consumer desires to rescind the application, there shall be deducted from any such deposit the full amount of any cost which the City may have incurred prior to the time of such order of rescission, plus 25% thereof to cover overhead, and the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the depositor.

(f) In the event the requested change is from one size of meter or service to another, the usual charge for the new service shall be made, and the old service shall be removed without charge.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. December 15, 1999)

(a) Billing. Meters for water service accounts shall be read by the City bimonthly, and water service charges shall be incurred bimonthly. After a meter has been read, the Director of Finance shall cause to be mailed to the customer whose service is measured by the meter a statement of water service charges incurred for the preceding period of two months. All charges shall be due and payable at the office of Revenue Collections after the statement of charges has been mailed. Charges shall become delinquent at midnight on the nineteenth (19th) day after the statement of charges has been mailed. Payment for water service charges made by United States mail, where the envelope containing such payments is properly addressed, bears sufficient postage, and is postmarked at any time prior to midnight of the day on which such charges would otherwise become delinquent, shall be accepted as payment before delinquency. If the day on which the payment of charges would otherwise become delinquent falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, then the next full business day thereafter shall be considered the day on which the delinquency occurs.

(b) Overdue Notice. If a bill becomes delinquent, the Director of Finance shall cause to be mailed to the customer a notice that shall include the following information:

(1) The customer's name and address;

(2) The amount of the delinquency;

(3) The date payment is required or by which arrangements for payment must be made to prevent termination of service, which date shall not be earlier than 15 days after the overdue notice is mailed;

(4) The charge for delivery of a final notice of termination;

(5) The procedure to initiate customer complaints;

(6) The procedure to request amortization of delinquencies;

(7) The procedure to obtain financial assistance information;

(8) The telephone number of the City staff member who can provide additional information regarding the account or termination procedures; and

(9) The statement that the City shall assess a twenty-five ($25.00) dollar (or a greater amount if increased by CPI) charge for reconnection of service if service is terminated for failure to pay.

(c) Final Notice. If an account remains delinquent after the date specified pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of this section, service may be terminated. A final notice of imminent termination of service shall be delivered to the occupants of the premises served by the account at least 48 hours before service is terminated. A fee of $5 per unit for this notification will be charged to the account. Unless otherwise required by statute, if service is terminated, service shall not be reconnected until all delinquent charges and penalties have been paid in full and a deposit has been made as required by Municipal Code Section 6-5.201(c). The City shall assess a twenty-five ($25.00) dollar charge for reconnection of service if service is terminated for failure to pay. This charge may be increased by CPI each year. The final notice shall include the following information:

(1) The customer's name and address;

(2) The amount of the delinquency;

(3) The date payment is required or by which arrangements for payment must be made to prevent termination of service;

(4) The procedure to obtain financial assistance information;

(5) The telephone number of the City staff member who can provide additional information regarding the account or termination procedures; and

(6) The statement that the City shall assess a twenty-five ($25.00) dollar (or a greater amount if increased by CPI) charge for reconnection of service if service is terminated for failure to pay.

(d) Multiunit Residential Structures or Mobilehome Parks. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, at least 10 days prior to termination of service to a multiunit residential structure or mobilehome park where the owner or manager is listed as the customer, the Director of Finance shall make every good faith effort to notify residents of their right to become customers. The notice shall also explain what the residents must do to prevent termination of service or to reestablish service, the estimated monthly or bimonthly cost of the service, how to contact a City employee regarding continuation of the service, and shall also provide the address and telephone number of a legal services project which has been recommended by the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Where water service to a multiunit residential structure or mobilehome park is furnished through a master meter, the notice shall be posted on the door of each residential unit at least 15 days prior to termination, unless it is impracticable to post on the door of each unit, in which case two copies of the notice shall be posted in each accessible common area and at each point of access to the structure or structures.

(e) Languages. Notices provided pursuant to this section shall be in English and Spanish. Notices provided pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall also be provided, to the extent practical, in any other language that the Director of Finance determines to be the primary language spoken by a significant number of the residential occupants.

(f) Amortization. If a residential customer fails to comply with an amortization agreement for payment of a delinquent account, the City shall not terminate service without giving notice to the customer at least 48 hours prior to termination. Such notice shall state the conditions the customer is required to meet to avoid termination.

(g) Extensions. Once per calendar year, a customer shall be allowed an extension of the period in which a delinquency must be paid prior to termination of service. The Director of Finance shall have discretion to allow additional extensions of the period in which a delinquency must be paid prior to termination of service. Such additional extensions may be granted if, in the opinion of the Director of Finance, particular or peculiar circumstances apply to an account so as to justify such additional extensions. Any extension must be authorized by the Director of Finance, or his or her designee, in writing. No extension shall exceed 30 days.

(h) Waiver of Penalty. The Director of Finance may waive any penalty for a delinquent account if, in the opinion of the Director of Finance, particular or peculiar circumstances justify such a waiver.

(i) Special Meter Readings. The Director of Finance may order special meter readings on any specified date due to vacancies, changes in ownership, changes in tenancy, or for any reason deemed sufficient by the Director of Finance.

(j) Other Amounts Due. All other charges for water service not expressly provided for in this section shall be due and payable immediately upon the presentation to the customer of a statement therefor.

(k) Closing Bills. All closing bills shall be due and payable immediately upon the date of the termination of service.

(l) Adjustment of Dates. The Director of Finance shall have the right to change billing dates or meter reading dates, and shall prorate the charges accordingly.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 3, Ord. 634-NS, eff. December 15, 1999, § 1, Ord. 900-NS, eff. October 4, 2012, § 1, Ord. 903-NS, eff. February 22, 2013, and §§ 1, 2, Ord. 906-NS, eff. March 4, 2013)

All meters, where metered service is furnished, shall be read to the nearest 100 cubic feet, and statements for service shall be billed accordingly.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986)

(a) The City reserves the right at any time, without notice and without liability, to shut off the water in all or any of its mains or services for the purpose of making installations, improvements, repairs, removals, or extensions, or for the purpose of performing any other work or act reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the operation of such system, or to meet any emergency on any part of the system or in any part of the City. All services shall be rendered and shall be accepted accordingly.

(b) The Director of Field Services shall have the right and is hereby authorized to shut off or disconnect, or cause to be shut off or disconnected, any water service pursuant to the rights reserved in subsection (a) of this section and shall have the further right and is hereby granted the authority and right, without liability, to turn off the water and to disconnect any service for any violation of any rule or regulation set forth in this article by either the owner, tenant, or person in possession or control of any premises served from the water system of the City.

(c) Any service which has been inactive for a period of six months, in the discretion of the Director of Field Services, may be disconnected at the main, and, upon an application for the reinstallation of such service, the full installation charge for the water service applied for shall be made.

(d) The Director of Field Services, without liability, may disconnect any service for the nonpayment of statements rendered.

(e) The City shall additionally assess a twenty-five ($25.00) dollar charge for reconnection of service if service is terminated for failure to pay. This charge may be increased by CPI each year.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. December 15, 1999, and § 2, Ord. 903-NS, eff. February 22, 2013)

(a) Any consumer shall have the right to demand that the meter through which water is being furnished be examined and tested by the Water Department for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the meter is registering correctly if the consumption in question shows a 15% deviation from the average seasonal consumption. Such demand shall be made on a form furnished by the Finance Department for such purpose. Upon the filing of any such demand, it shall be the duty of the Water Department to cause such meter to be examined and tested. If, upon such examination and test, the meter shall be found to register over 3% more water than actually passes through it, another meter shall be substituted therefor without charge to the consumer. If any such meter, upon such examination and test, registers not to exceed 3% more water than actually passes through it, the meter shall be deemed accurate.

(b) If for any reason a meter ceases to register or does not register within the allowable limits as contemplated in this article, the consumer shall be charged for service through such meter, during the time such meter does not so register, an amount per monthly period for water served through such meter, which amount shall be determined by the Director of Field Services or Director of Finance, or by taking a seasonal average from the past two years. The consumer so affected shall have the right to appeal to the Council for a final determination of the matter. Any such appeal shall be presented not later than the second regular meeting of the Council following the determination of such amount and, if not so presented, need not be considered by the Council.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

The Water Department shall not be required to either read or maintain submeters.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986)

(a) It shall be the policy of the Water Department that all property under single ownership, or where the bill for service is paid by a single party or owners' cooperative, as in the case of a condominium, shall be served by a single service and meter of appropriate size. Under no circumstance will the Water Department split an existing property. In no case shall there be more than one meter per lot.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, and subject to the approval of the Director of Field Services, properties which are being used for commercial and manufacturing purposes may have more than one water meter per lot. As used in this subsection, a "commercial" use do not include any building designed or used exclusively for dwelling no matter how many units the building may have and irrespective of the fact that such building may be located in a commercial zone and/or may be deemed commercial for other purposes. Moreover, the exception set forth in this section does not apply to any building designed or used exclusively for dwelling no matter how many units the building may have and irrespective of the fact that such building may be located in a manufacturing zone.

(c) All service served through any meter shall be subject at all times to the discontinuance of service through such meter as contemplated in the rules and regulations set forth in this article.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by §§ 1 and 3, Ord. 641, eff. May 3, 2000)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make, or permit to be made, any physical connection between his or her service and any other service on different premises within the City, except by the written consent of the Director of Field Services, and then only upon the terms and conditions set forth in any such written statement of consent. A violation of this rule shall render the service of any consumer liable to immediate disconnection. A violation of the provisions of this subsection shall constitute a misdemeanor.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than an authorized agent or employee of the Water Department, to turn on water from the water system to any service before it has been officially turned on, or after it has been turned off, without the written consent of the Director of Field Services. No person shall take or use any water from the water system, except in the manner set forth in this article, without the written consent of the Director of Field Services. A violation of the provisions of this subsection shall constitute a misdemeanor.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to tap any water main or lateral or in any other manner whatsoever to meddle, tamper, or interfere with any part of the Municipal Water System of the City or the property of the Water Department without the written permission of the Director of Field Services. A violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

The City and the Water Department reserve the right to properly and efficiently treat any and all water served through the municipal system with such chemicals, at such times and in such amounts as good public health protection may indicate, in order to guard the City and its consumers and inhabitants against disease and contamination. Neither the City nor the Water Department, or any of the officers, agents, servants, or employees of the City or the Water Department, shall be liable on account of or by reason of any such treatment; nor shall they or any of them be liable for the death of, or injury or damage to, any person, plant, animal, fish, frog, or other aquatic life, or other life whatsoever, which may result from any such treatment. All service shall be rendered and shall be accepted accordingly.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986)

The Director of Field Services, or any other authorized officer or employee of the Water Department, shall be admitted, without interference by the occupants, at all reasonable hours to all parts of all premises supplied with water from the water system to see that all of the rules and regulations with reference to the service and use thereof are being observed.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986)

The City and the Water Department reserve the right to turn off the water at any time without notice when such turning off becomes necessary or advisable for the purpose of making installations, removals, or repairs or for the performance of any other act reasonably necessary or incidental to the operation of the water system or any part thereof. Neither the City nor the Water Department, or any of the officers, agents, servants, or employees of the City or the Water Department, shall be liable for any damage or injury which may be suffered as the result thereof. Whenever time and circumstances reasonably permit, the Director of Field Services shall give reasonable notice of the proposed shutoff of the water for the purposes set forth in this section, but it shall not be mandatory for him or her to do so.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

The consumer shall be held responsible and shall pay the Finance Department, upon demand, the full actual cost of the repair or replacement of any meter or meter box or other equipment, facility, or property serving or used in connection with the service of the premises owned, occupied, controlled, or under the supervision of such consumer and which may be due to any act of omission or commission or negligence on the part of such consumer or any person acting for, on behalf of, on account of, or through such consumer.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986)

No consumer shall waste, or permit or allow the waste of, any water served through his or her service, and the Director of Field Services may disconnect any service through which any such waste may occur. It is hereby made the duty of all consumers and all persons having knowledge of any water being wasted through any service to immediately notify the Director of Field Services of such fact.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

The Water Department, upon the request of any consumer and upon such terms and conditions as the Director of Field Services may prescribe, shall shut off the water at the meter and turn on the water again when requested to do so. Such shutoffs, however, shall be temporary only for the purpose of permitting the owner to make repairs, installations, or alterations of his or her own plumbing or piping system served by the Water Department, and no deduction in rates shall be made for such temporary turning off of service.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

(a) No consumer or any other person shall place or maintain, or permit the placing or maintaining, in, upon, or about any fire hydrant, gate valve, manhole, stopcock, meter, meter box, turnoff valve, turnoff box, or other facility of the Municipal Water System any building, fence, wall, shrubbery, plant, brush, vine, object, material, debris, rubbish, garbage can or receptacle, or accumulation of any kind which prevents, or is apt to prevent, full, free, easy, immediate, and unimpeded access to such facilities at all times by a representative of the Water Department.

(b) No consumer or other person shall have or maintain in, upon, or about the premises served by any facility of the Water Department any dog or other animal of vicious or threatening nature or demeanor in such proximity or location with reference to any Water Department facility as to permit such dog or other animal to come in contact with any representative of the Water Department engaged in the performance of any function for the Water Department in or upon such premises.

(c) Any violation of the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall render the service so affected a "violating service." Any "violating service" may be disconnected at any time upon three days' written notice of intention to do so to the consumer or occupant of the premises involved. Such notice shall state the violation existing in, upon, or about such premises and shall require its abatement within three days. Such notice may be served personally or may be mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to the consumer or occupant at the premises in question. The Director of Field Services is hereby authorized and directed to disconnect any "violating service" immediately upon the expiration of the three day period of such notice.

(d) If, by reason of any violation of the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section, it becomes necessary for a representative of the Water Department, on official business of the Water Department, to revisit any premises, whether to read a meter in any monthly period or otherwise, an additional charge of $5 for each such revisit shall be made and shall be paid by the consumer and may be added to the regular water account of such consumer.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

(a) Every consumer receiving water service from the Municipal Water System shall be responsible for all water passing through the service or meter connecting his or her premises with the Municipal Water System, and the Water Department shall not be required to adjust excessive bills or charges incurred by such consumer, unless it is clearly shown to the satisfaction of the Director of Field Services that any excessive bill or charge was incurred on account of or by reason of the negligence of the Water Department or the City. Every such consumer shall further be responsible to see that the rules and regulations set forth in this article are observed in connection with the installation, maintenance, and use of the service to his or her premises and for which service he or she is designated on the records of the Municipal Water System as the consumer.

(b) The Water Department shall refuse to connect a new service for, or to receive an application from, any person against whom a delinquent account exists upon the books of the Water Department, and if, through error, a connection is furnished to such a consumer, the connection may be immediately disconnected upon the discovery of such error, or three days' written notice shall be served upon such consumer to pay all such delinquent amounts. If such delinquent amounts are not paid, the service shall be disconnected. Such notice may be served either personally or by mail upon the consumer or occupant of the premises involved. The provisions of this subsection shall apply accordingly to requests for transfers of service and new applications for service.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

(a) The Field Services Department, in the construction, maintenance, and repair of the public streets, alleys, ways, and places within the City, shall be entitled to obtain water at any time for use in connection with any of its operations from any service of the Municipal Water System; provided, however, in all such cases a reasonable allowance proportionate to the amount of water so used from such service shall be made for such use for the monthly period during which such use was so made.

(b) It shall be the duty of the Director of Field Services to promptly report in writing to the Water Department, prior to the time set for rendering the statement for services affected by the provisions of this section, the days upon which such use was made by the Field Services Department and the service numbers and street addresses thereof.

The Water Department shall have the same right for its purposes to use water from the various services of the City as is granted in this section to the Field Services Department, and in such cases the duty enjoined upon the Director of Field Services shall be performed by the Director of Field Services.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

Only surplus water produced by the Municipal Water System of the City shall be served to any territory or consumer outside the municipal boundaries of the City. The serving of such surplus water may be discontinued on the order of the Director of Field Services or the Council at any time when, in the opinion of the Director of Field Services or the Council, the needs of the consumer and property within the City require such discontinuance of such outside service. Such discontinuance may be made without any liability upon the part of the City or any of its officers, agents, servants, or employees, and all consumers served water from the Municipal Water System to properties or premises located outside the City are hereby notified of the provisions of this section and shall accept such outside service accordingly.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

In all cases and under all circumstances not provided for in this chapter, the Director of Field Services shall, and he or she is hereby empowered to, issue such orders, regulations, and rules and prescribe such rates as in his or her opinion, considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, may be necessary or convenient for the safe, proper, and efficient functioning of the Water Department and the best interests of the City and the Water Department. All such rules, regulations, and orders, when so made, shall be obeyed, and all such rates so prescribed shall be paid; provided, however, any person aggrieved thereby shall have the right to appeal to the Council for the final determination of the matter.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986, as amended by § 2 (115), Ord. 624-NS, eff. Dec. 15, 1999)

An applicant for water service in an area where no Water Department main exists, upon making the application, shall deposit with the City an estimated extension fee equal to $20 per lineal foot. Such deposit shall be a nonrefundable fee intended to cover engineering costs, if the project is not constructed, or to apply as a credit, if the project is constructed.

Upon the receipt by the City of an acceptable bid for the construction of the main, the City Engineer shall credit the deposit of $20 per lineal foot against the total cost of the project, which cost shall include engineering, inspections, and the amount paid to a contractor.

In the event other applicants request service in the new area after such construction has been completed, the new applicant or applicants shall pay a fee or charge computed by the City Engineer in one of the following methods:

(a) If the new applicant is between the original point of connection to the existing main and the original applicant, the cost shall be based upon the proportion which his or her front footage bears to the footage of the main under public or railroad rights-of-way.

(b) If the applicant is beyond the end of the new main, and his or her service will require the main to be extended, the applicant shall pay the cost of the extension, plus a fee based upon the proportion which his or her front footage bears to the footage of the main under public or railroad rights-of-way.

(§ 1, Ord. 409-NS, eff. October 15, 1986)