Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 13.40 Acquisition of Water Stocks and Water Rights

In order to provide an adequate water supply for new dwellings, subdivisions, other land developments within the City, approved developments outside the City, and to conserve the water supply, landowners, subdividers, and developers, before receiving final approval or securing water service, shall first pay to the City certain fees. The fees received by the City are to be utilized for the purpose of obtaining approved water stock and water rights. (Ord. 2880, 2019)

The "Water Source Acquisition Fund" shall be established to implement the Redlands general plan and finance acquisition of approved water stock and water rights to assist the City in maintaining an adequate supply of water to meet the needs of development requiring water service from the City. All revenue collected in accordance with this chapter shall be deposited into the Water Source Acquisition Fund. All interest on the cash balance of the fund shall accrue to the Water Source Acquisition Fund. (Ord. 2880, 2019)

For the purpose of carrying out the intent of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT: An attached or a detached residential dwelling unit which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the single-family dwelling is situated. An accessory dwelling unit also includes the following:

A. An efficiency unit, as defined in section 17958.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

B. A manufactured home, as defined in section 18007 of the Health and Safety Code.

ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY: The Director of Municipal Utilities and Engineering of the City.

DEVELOPMENT: Any use to which land is put, building or other alteration of land and construction incidental thereto.

SENIOR RESTRICTED DWELLING UNIT: For purposes of this chapter, is defined as:

A. A unit restricted by a covenant that runs with the land addressing the required age restriction to the satisfaction of the City.

B. The unit's water meter serves only internal water use. Landscape irrigation shall be provided through a separate water meter service.

C. The dwelling unit shall be less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet of livable area.

Removal of the age restriction or an increase in the size of the unit will result in a reassessment of the charges.

WATER STOCK AND WATER RIGHTS: The water stock and water rights identified and referred to in the "Water and Wastewater Rate Study Update - 1991" as prepared by the Public Works Department and approved by the City which identifies water stock and water rights needed to serve new development that will be required to obtain City water service. (Ord. 2880, 2019)

For any development project that will require water service or incremental water demand from the City, a water source acquisition charge shall be approved by the City Council and shall be paid as a condition of final approval of that development. The charge due shall be that amount in effect on the date approval of the development is given by the City. ( Ord. 2962, 2024: Ord. 2880, 2019)

On July 1 of each fiscal year, the City's Finance Director, in coordination with the City's Municipal Utilities and Engineering Director, shall make annual adjustments to the specific amounts of the water source acquisition fees approved by the City Council by a percentage equal to the percentage change in the construction cost index of the Engineering News-Record's "Construction Cost Index" - twenty (20) cities annual average for the preceding twelve (12) month period. The purpose of this adjustment is to offset the effects of inflation related construction cost increases or any deflation related decreases. If this index should cease publication, the Finance Director shall use any appropriate official index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or similar agency as may then exist or may then be most nearly equivalent thereto. (Ord. 2962, 2024: Ord. 2880, 2019)