Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Art. 2 Definitions

Editor’s Note: Section numbers, as established in Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 15, 2009 have been modified as necessary, for the purpose of continuity.

"Applicant" means a person, firm or company that submits a written application for any type of water service.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Approved water supply" means any water supply approved by, or under the public health supervision of a public health agency of the State or its political subdivisions. In determining what constitutes an approved water supply, the Department of Public Health of the State reserves final judgment as to its safety and potability.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Automatic fire sprinkler service" refers to a service line whose sole purpose is to provide water for fire protection through an automatic sprinkler system within a building.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Auxiliary supply" means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the public water supply.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Backflow prevention" refers to the equipment and technology necessary to prevent potential contamination from cross connection.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Billing period" means the time interval between two (2) consecutive water meter readings which are taken for billing purposes.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Billing unit" means one hundred (100) cubic feet (hcf) of water, equivalent to seven hundred forty-eight (748) gallons.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

For purposes of this chapter relating to water systems, the term "City" may be used interchangeably with the Water Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Council action" means a resolution or ordinance adopted by the Thousand Oaks City Council approving fees, charges, standards or other provisions referenced in this Title.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Cross connection" means any unprotected connection between any part of a water system used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing water or substances that are not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable for human consumption. The term is used in conjunction with backflow prevention.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Customer" means a person, firm or company which has an approved application for water service or who has received such service without an application.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Customer hand valve" means that valve generally located within the meter box and on the customer's side of the meter which can be used to shut off or turn on the water flow.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Domestic service" means service that can be used for potable service regardless of whether the actual use is for same. For purposes of defining the class of service, irrigation meters are within the domestic class.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Dwelling unit" means any residential unit including but not limited to, single family homes, condominiums, townhouses and mobile homes.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Fire flow" means the flow from one or more fire hydrants, usually expressed in gallons per minute. Adequate fire flow is available when the fire flow equals or exceeds the fire flow required for a particular project or property. For fire flow requirements, refer to the Water Design and Construction Standards.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Fire flow surcharge" means a fee levied against development projects based upon the fire flow as required by the Ventura County Fire Department.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Historical base period" means the full twenty-four (24) month billing period which precedes the month when a water shortage condition is first declared by the City Council. The historical base period shall be used for the duration of the declared water shortage condition.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Irrigation service or meters" refers to the portion of the water system specifically used for the irrigation of landscape, greenbelt or parkway areas or similar areas.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

The area generally known as “Lang Ranch” shall include the area north of Tracts 1585, 1093 and 1123 east of Route 23, Conejo Creek Freeway, and south of Improvement Zone 2, Sunset Hills, and east to the City limits as shown on Exhibit A. (See Ordinance)

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Local share" means a contribution made by an owner or company towards an improvement constructed by others where the parcel or property in question is a beneficiary of that improvement. The term is also referred to as a "pro-rata" share.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Main line extension agreement" means an agreement for extension of the City pipeline system and may or may not involve reimbursement to the developer/owner.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Plans" refers to the drawings of water facilities prepared by a California registered civil engineer and approved by the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Plant investment fee" means a fee which reflects as nearly as possible the cost increment necessary to serve a new customer who is asking to connect to the existing water system. This cost increment represents capital costs exclusive of in-tract facilities, such as service mains, fire hydrants, service connections and water meters. Capital costs include reservoirs, transmission mains ten (10") inches and larger, pumping stations, turnout connections from Calleguas Municipal Water District, water wells, treatment facilities, telemetering, and other facilities required to provide source water.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Plumbing Code" means the "City of Thousand Oaks Plumbing Code" as defined in Title 8 of the City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code or as thereafter amended.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Potable water" means water supplied which is considered satisfactory for domestic consumption.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Pressure zone" refers to the zone of service as determined by the elevation of the regulating reservoir or system.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Public water main or system" refers to a water pipeline or associated system including reservoirs and pumping stations dedicated for public use and owned by the City and available to receive connections for service.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Public Works Director" means the Director of the Public Works Department or an authorized representative, also referred to as the Public Works Department when discussing water matters.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Pumping lift charge" means a charge for water on a quantity basis for customers requiring that the water be pumped to their service zone. The pumping lift charge is a surcharge above the base and standard quantity rates.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Purveyor" means the agency or company providing potable water service to any property in the City of Thousand Oaks.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Reimbursement agreement" means an agreement entered into by and between the City and an individual or company per the provisions of this Code where the City agrees to collect and transfer to the individual or company funds from other benefiting properties as reimbursement for a water facility originally installed by the individual or company.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Reservoir" means a storage facility for water which within the City's system generally refers to steel or concrete tanks.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

(Ord. 826-NS, eff. February 24, 1983, repealed by § 2, Ord. 923-NS, eff. June 17, 1986 and Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Service line" means the small diameter line between the street main and the customer's meter.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Service zone" refers to the zone of service as identified by all those customers being served from one or more reservoirs at a particular elevation.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Special facilities surcharge" means a special fee which reflects the additional cost above the plant investment fee necessary to provide reservoir, pipeline and pump station facilities within a particular water service zone.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Unmetered water" refers to water made available to a developer or owner through the City's water system but before an application is made for a meter.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Water Design and Construction Standards" refers to those standards governing the design and construction of water facilities as adopted by Council action and which are available for inspection and/or purchase at the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Water main" means a pipeline within the water system serving one or more customers, fire sprinkler lines, and/or fire hydrants and generally being four (4") inches or larger in diameter.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Water service" means the works and facilities for the storage and distribution of water from the source of supply to the point of connection to the customer's facilities.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Water shortage condition" means a determination by the City Council following notification from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California or the Calleguas Municipal Water District that deliveries of potable water supplies have reached a level such that each member agency of the Metropolitan Water District is being directed to reduce the use of water by a given amount.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Will-serve letter" is a document in which the Public Works Department certifies that an applicants property lies within the City's water service area and that the City is able to provide water service to the property, subject to certain terms, conditions and limitations. A will-serve letter is typically not provided by the City until such time as all fees have been paid and the terms and conditions for City service have been met to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)

"Zone" refers to the geographical area of water service corresponding to service from a particular reservoir or reservoirs of common elevation.

(Ord. 1516-NS, eff. June 5, 2009)