[1]
Prior legislation: Ord. 30.
The board of directors hereby finds and determines the necessity for establishing a monthly charge for each fire hydrant to be paid by each fire protection agency rendering public fire protection, whether such fire hydrants are actually used or not, in order to pay the costs and expenses incident to those facilities necessary to supply, store and distribute water for the purposes of fire protection.
(Res. 440 § 1, 1976; Ord. 39 § 1, 1977)
This board of directors hereby finds and determines that it has the authority and obligation to establish charges for fire hydrant service, pursuant to the decision in Arcade County Water District v. Arcade Fire District, 6 C.A. 3d 232 (1970).
(Ord. 39 § 2, 1977)
This board of directors hereby finds and determines that the monthly charge for each fire hydrant has been fixed in accordance with the criteria set forth in Water Code Section 31007.
(Res. 440 § 2, 1976; Ord. 39 § 3, 1977)
This board of directors hereby approves and adopts a monthly charge for each fire hydrant within the boundaries of the district, whether such fire hydrants are actually used or not, as set forth below.
Monthly Charge for Fire Hydrant Service
Type of Hydrant
Charge per Month per Hydrant
Under 4-inch wet barrel wharf head hydrant
$0.75
4-inch wet barrel wharf head hydrant
$1.00
6-inch dry barrel hydrant
$1.50
(Res. 440 § 3, 1976; Ord. 39 § 4, 1977)
The board of directors hereby authorizes and directs that all revenues derived from the charges for fire hydrant service shall be used for purposes incident to those facilities necessary to supply, store and distribute water for fire protection:
A. 
Payment of costs and expenses of operating and maintaining said facilities;
B. 
Payment of repairs, replacements and depreciation of said facilities;
C. 
Payment of interest and/or principal of any bonded debt on said facilities; and
D. 
Payment of costs and expenses of general administration incident to said facilities.
(Ord. 39 § 5, 1977)
The Hi-Desert Water District shall bill each fire protection agency on October 1st, January 1st, April 1st and July 1st of each fiscal year for the fire hydrant charges incurred in the preceding quarter, on the basis of the number of fire hydrants owned by the Hi-Desert Water District within the service area of each fire protection agency. Such bills shall be due and payable by each fire protection agency within 30 days after receipt thereof. Any fire hydrant charges not paid by such due date shall bear interest at the rate of one percent per month commencing on such due date.
(Res. 440 § 4, 1976; Ord. 39 § 6, 1977)
The fire hydrant charges shall be applicable to all fire hydrants in service from and after July 1, 1977; provided, that such charge for any fire hydrant installed from and after July 1, 1977, shall commence on the first day of the month immediately following the month of installation.
(Res. 440 § 5, 1976; Ord. 39 § 7, 1977)
The board of directors hereby finds and determines that the best interests of the public require a working policy to be established with all fire protection agencies which are subject to the foregoing fire hydrant charges and that such working policy is hereby established as specified below:
A. 
That the general manager is authorized and directed to meet periodically with a representative of each fire protection agency to accomplish the following objectives:
1. 
To institute a program for testing fire flow in all fire hydrants and to establish standards to implement said program.
2. 
To institute a program to upgrade existing fire hydrants and to establish standards to implement said program.
3. 
To consider policies relating to operation, maintenance and construction of fire hydrants.
B. 
That the Hi-Desert Water District shall maintain and repair all fire hydrants subject to monthly fire hydrant charges hereunder, except that the fire protection agencies shall paint fire hydrants and maintain the area immediately surrounding said fire hydrants.
C. 
That each fire protection agency shall give to the general manager verbal or written notification of the location of any malfunctioning fire hydrants immediately after such malfunctioning is ascertained by such fire protection agency or any of its officers or employees.
D. 
That each fire protection agency shall submit to the general manager a written report, each month, summarizing the location and description of all malfunctioning fire hydrants.
E. 
That, prior to installation of any new fire hydrants within the service area of a fire protection agency, the general manager shall submit plans and specifications for such installation to such fire protection agency for review and comment.
F. 
That the officers and employees of the Hi-Desert Water District are authorized and directed to take all reasonable actions to maintain an efficient and effective working relationship with each fire protection agency with service areas within the boundaries of the Hi-Desert Water District.
(Res. 440 § 6, 1976; Ord. 39 § 8, 1977)