Oxnard Municipal Code Art. III Rates

(A) The rates charged for all water supplied by the city shall be established by ordinance of the city council. Each customer receiving water service is liable for payment for such service at the rates so established.

(B) (1) Pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code, Section 53756, the city may adopt a schedule of fees or charges authorizing automatic adjustments that pass through increases in wholesale charges for water and adjustments for inflation, for a period of five years. The amount of automatic adjustments (pass-through charges) to account for changes in wholesale water costs will be based directly on the incremental difference in costs that the city will incur from every third party water supplier (including but not limited to United Water Conservation District and Calleguas Municipal Water District) as a result of increases or decreases in the amount such water suppliers charge the city. Any such adjustments will only be made if the increases or decreases are not already reflected in the schedule of charges then in effect. The pass-through cost applies only to the volumetric usage charge component of the water used and will be assessed on all volumetric us in hundred cubic feet (“HCF”) used by a customer. A notice of at least 30 days will be provided to customers before any such adjustment will take effect.

(2) The automatic pass-through charge is calculated as follows:

Pass-through rate ($/HCF) = (Proposed FY water purchase costs - FY 2022-2023 water purchase costs)/(Calendar year water use)

(C) Annual revenue adjustment. Revenue adjustments are not the same as rate increases. The revenue adjustments in the table below depict the overall total increase in rates revenue and correlate to the yearly rate increases found in the rates and charges in sections 22-61 and 22-62.

(D) When the city council declares the existence of a water shortage condition pursuant to section 22-154 of the city code, the water rates and charges provided in sections 22-61 through 22-66 of the city code that are based on water use shall be adjusted to reflect the level of severity and corresponding mandatory water conservation percentage reflected in the water shortage condition declaration. For example, if the council declares a Stage 2 water shortage condition with a mandatory water use reduction goal of 20% then the rates provided in sections 22-61 through 22-66 of the city code that are based on water use shall be concurrently adjusted upward by a drought rate calculation percentage, which is 9.4% for a 20% reduction. This drought rate adjustment may be initiated by resolution of the city council after a declaration of water shortage condition. The drought rate adjustment shall terminate as of the date of the termination of that water shortage condition declaration.

(1) The drought rate adjustments, based on the stage of the water shortage condition are as follows:

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-42) (Ord. No. 1771, 2306, 2490, 2921, 3028)

The following rates, fees, and charges for water usage and service relating to the water system of the city are established and effective during the dates indicated, as follows:

(A) Monthly rates for single-family residential water use:

(B) Monthly rates for multi-family residential water use (per dwelling):

(C) Monthly rates for commercial water use:

2” METERS AND BELOW

(D) Monthly rates for industrial/city water use:

2” METERS AND BELOW

(E) Monthly rates for irrigation:

2" METERS AND BELOW

(F) Monthly rates for commercial, industrial, and irrigation use of recycled water in lieu of potable:

(G) Monthly rates for oceanview commercial:

(H) Monthly rates for oceanview agricultural irrigation, which will be adjusted yearly for cost of service increases to customers over three inches pursuant to the requirements in uncodified Ord. 2752, section 4(b).

(I) Monthly rates for metered construction:

(J) Monthly rates for Procter & Gamble:

(K) Monthly rates for recycled water by customer class:

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-43) (Ord. 2373, 2451, 2576, 2624, 2661, 2750, 2819, 2859, 2921, 3028)

In addition to monthly rates for water use (per HCF) as set forth in section 22-61, all accounts shall pay one of the following monthly meter rates, based on service connection or meter size as follows:

(A) Monthly fixed water meter charges according to meter size:

(B) Monthly fixed charges for fire service lines:

(C) Monthly charges for recycled water meters:

(D) Monthly fixed rates for non-metered construction:

(E) Monthly fixed rates for metered construction:

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-44) (Ord. No. 2921, 3028)

Each customer shall pay the following fees, according to the service received.

(A) Flat rates: Effective July 1, 2023. Where meters are not installed, water services shall be paid at the rate and/or fee as set forth in sections 22-61 and 22-62 of this article, for each dwelling facility, business activity, construction site, or service, whether or not such facility, activity, site or service is at the same location. Any unmetered service shall be temporary and limited to the shortest duration practical.

(B) Service to the city.

(1) The city shall pay for all installation services furnished to the city at the rates established by this article. However, the Water Division shall be exempt from paying for installation service.

(2) The city shall pay for all water furnished to the city at the rates established by this article. However, the Water Division and the Fire Department shall be exempt from paying for water provided to them.

(3) All water furnished to property owned by the city shall be metered.

(C) Temporary agricultural use. The city may provide water on a temporary basis for agricultural purposes in accordance with section 22-66 of the city code. Monthly water rates for temporary agricultural purposes shall be the same as commercial/industrial recycled water rates or commercial potable water rates.

(D) Broken locks. In the event a customer breaks a lock placed on the water meter, in addition to all other amounts due, the customer shall pay a fee of $12 to replace the broken lock.

(E) Billing and collection; delinquent bills; nonpayment. The customer shall pay a fee of $15 for each visit to a customer’s property to collect a water bill that is delinquent. If water service is discontinued due to nonpayment or non-compliance with the city code or this section, in addition to all other amounts due, the customer shall pay a fee of $80 for resuming service.

(F) Billing procedure for periodic charge for city water service. Water service bills shall be computed according to the rates then in effect and the number of days in the service period at each rate.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-45) (Ord. No. 2921, 3028)

As provided in section 22-37 of the city code, the customer shall pay for installation of each water service and water meter.

(A) In addition to the cost of administration and materials, the rates for installing each new service and each new meter, which amount shall be paid in advance, shall be as follows:

(B) The rates for installing each new box on a service, previously installed and paid for, shall be as follows in addition to the cost of materials:

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-46) (Ord. No. 2921)

As provided in sections 22-19, 22-26, 22-33, 22-35, 22-39, 22-40, 22-46, 22-48, 22-49, 22-61, 22-62, 22-63, 22-64, and 22-66 of the city code, the city shall require the payment of deposits, fees and charges as follows:

(A) Fully allocated hourly rates:

(B) Deposit guaranteeing payment. Each applicant for service shall be required to place a deposit with the city to guarantee the payment of all water charges. The amount of this deposit for monthly water service shall be:

(C) Meter testing. Upon written request to test a meter, the customer shall deposit $100 for a meter size of up to eight inches and $200 for a meter size of over eight inches.

(D) Turning water on or off. Except in an emergency situation, the charge to have water turned on or off during customary business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) shall be $80. To have the water turned on or off at any time after hours (this includes weekends and city-observed holidays), the charge shall be $145.

(E) Removal of meter and reinstallation. In the event a customer turns on the water service or permits or causes water service to be turned on after water service has been turned off for nonpayment or non-compliance, the city shall again turn off service and remove the meter, and the customer shall pay a fee of $120, in addition to other amounts due, before water service is restored.

(F) Request for relocation or abandonment of meters or service will be estimated in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) Relocate meter box laterally (not in paved area):

(2) Relocate meter box from yard to sidewalk:

(3) Relocate meter box from driveway to sidewalk:

(4) Abandonment of water services:

* Relocation or abandonment of services will be done by Water Distribution personnel unless it is determined by the water resources manager that a contractor will be used. It is required that the contractor follow the proper public works procedures, obtain all necessary permits, have all necessary inspections performed and pay all required fees.

(5) Credit for existing meter removed and replaced with a larger service and meter in the same location:

(G) Backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Timely submission of forms demonstrating completed testing and inspection compliance for backflow prevention and cross-connection control device(s) shall include a $21 fee for each device. If the properly completed compliance forms are not returned within 30 days, the water resources manager shall send a second notice and assess an additional $16 late fee. If the properly completed compliance forms are not returned within 60 days of the original notice, the water resources manager shall send a third notice and assess an additional $27 late fee. If the properly completed compliance forms are not returned within 90 days of the original notice, the customer or owner shall pay an additional $53 plus the cost of all administrative, labor and materials required to complete the work. Inspection services by city employees shall be provided for a fee of $48 plus $16 per device.

(H) Fire hydrant testing, inspection and repair fees:

(Ord. No. 2921)

(A) Water may be provided on a temporary basis for agricultural purposes, provided the area to be served was within the CMWD on August 19, 1976. The words “agricultural purposes” shall mean the growing or raising, in conformity with recognized practices in husbandry, for the purposes of commerce, trade, or industry, or agricultural, horticultural, or floricultural products, and produced:

(1) For human consumption or for the market;

(2) For the feeding of fowl or livestock produced for human consumption or for the market;

(3) For the feeding of fowl or livestock for the purpose of obtaining their products for human consumption or for the market, such products to be grown or raised on a parcel of land having an area of not less than one acre utilized exclusively therefor; or

(4) For the feeding of fowl or livestock for the purpose of obtaining their products for human consumption or for the market, such products to be grown or raised on a parcel of land having an area of not less than five acres on which incidental domestic uses of water related to residency may also occur.

(B) Monthly water rates for agricultural purposes shall be set by ordinance of the city council. The agricultural rates shall be calculated to three decimal places by subtracting the agricultural subsidy rate from other metered water rates so that the total subsidy is passed on to agricultural users. The “agricultural subsidy” is defined as the “water for all other purposes” rate less the “agricultural water” rate as promulgated by CMWD.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-47) (Ord. No. 1771, 2306, 2921)