A. 
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 66013, the board of directors of Western Municipal Water District ("board") is authorized to impose water and sewer capacity charges (referred to herein as "connection fees") for public facilities in existence at the time the charge is imposed or for new facilities to be acquired or constructed in the future that are of proportional benefit to the person or property being charged, including supply or capacity contracts for rights or entitlements, real property interests; and
B. 
The board previously adopted Ordinance 381 revising rules and regulations governing water service and water users ("rules and regulations") and establishing and reaffirming rates and charges for water service; and
C. 
The board previously adopted Ordinance 382 regulating wastewater discharge and sanitary sewer system use; and
D. 
The board desires to make revisions to the rates for water and sewer connection fees; and
E. 
The Western Municipal Water District ("district") completed a series of master plan reports in June 2014 describing the water, wastewater, and recycled water facilities required at ultimate build-out to serve the respective service areas of the district and these master plan reports include updated estimates of the project costs necessary to fund the construction of the additional facilities required to serve each service area; and
F. 
The district engaged a consultant to prepare a water and wastewater connection fees study (the "study") to determine the amount of the water and sewer connection fees; and
G. 
Based on the study, the board has determined to adjust the rates for its water and sewer connection fees and to establish two service areas – the Riverside service area and the Murrieta service area – and different rates for the water connection fees to be imposed in each service area;
H. 
The Murrieta service area is that portion of the district located within the boundaries of the city of Murrieta; and
I. 
Any person requesting a new, additional, or larger connection to the district's water system within the Murrieta service area shall be subject to water connection fees applicable to the Murrieta service area set forth in Exhibit A in WMWDC § 7.50.040; and
J. 
The Riverside service area is that portion of the district not otherwise located within the city of Murrieta; and
K. 
Any person requesting a new, additional, or larger connection to the district's water system within the Riverside service area shall be subject to water connection fees applicable to the Riverside service area set forth in Exhibit A in WMWDC § 7.50.040; and
L. 
For the sewer connection fees the district has established two service areas – the La Sierra service area and the Western Wastewater Reclamation Facility ("WWRF") service area ("WWRF service area"); and
M. 
The La Sierra service area is that portion of the district that is served by the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority treatment plant; and
N. 
The WWRF service area is that portion of the district served by the WWRF; and
O. 
Any person requesting a new, additional, or larger connection to the district's wastewater system in the La Sierra service area shall be subject to the sewer connection fees applicable to the La Sierra sewer connection fees set forth in Exhibit A in WMWDC § 7.50.040; and
P. 
Any person requesting a new, additional, or larger connection to the district's wastewater system in the WWRF service area shall be subject to the sewer connection fees applicable to the WWRF service area sewer connection fees set forth in Exhibit A in WMWDC § 7.50.040.
(Ord. 386, 2016)
A. 
The district, as lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), has evaluated the potential environmental impacts of adopting water and sewer connection fees. As the decision making body for the district, the board has reviewed and considered the information contained in the administrative record for the adoption of the water and sewer connection fees.
B. 
The board finds that the water and sewer connection fees are intended to fund as-yet unknown, future projects, programs, and capital improvement projects related to the district's need to finance capital improvements to provide adequate infrastructure to meet growth-related needs. These fees do not commit the district to approve any particular project, program, or capital improvement, but will be placed in a separate fund for potential future projects. These fees are in response to the district's projected need for additional facilities and infrastructure to provide services to its existing customers and new development. Any activities, including infrastructure improvements, to be funded by these fees will be subject to future environmental review under CEQA, as applicable, prior to district approval.
C. 
The board of directors therefore finds that the water and sewer connection fees are not subject to environmental review under CEQA. First, the fees, in and of themselves, do not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and therefore are not considered a "project" under CEQA. (Public Resources Code, Section 21065, 14 Cal. Code Regs., Section 15378, subdivision (a).) Second, the fees are covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment; here, there is no possibility that the fees, in and of themselves, may have a significant effect on the environment. (14 California Code of Regulations, Section 15061, subdivision (b)(3).) And third, the fees are considered a government funding mechanism that do not involve any commitment on behalf of the district to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. (14 California Code of Regulations, Section 15378, subdivision (b)(4).)
D. 
The board has considered any comments received at the public meeting on July 20, 2016, prior to adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
E. 
The determination that the water and sewer connection fees are not subject to CEQA review reflects the board's independent judgment and analysis.
F. 
The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings have been based are located at 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, California 92518. The custodian for these records is the secretary of the board of directors of the district.
(Ord. 386 § 2, 2016)
The board hereby adopts the water and sewer connection fees at the rates, and effective on the dates specified in the Exhibit A.
Exhibit A
Western Municipal Water District Connection Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2017
Meter Size
3 YEAR PHASE-IN
Current Fee (Average Merged System)
Calculated
1/1/2017
Calculated
1/1/2018
Calculated
1/1/2019
Water Connection Fees for Riverside Service Area
5/8-in
$5,810
$6,434
$7,057
$7,681
3/4-in
$5,810
$6,434
$7,057
$7,681
1-in
$9,587
$10,616
$11,645
$12,674
1 1/2-in
$19,347
$21,424
$23,501
$25,578
2-in
$30,967
$34,291
$37,615
$40,939
Water Connection Fees for Murrieta Service Area
5/8-in
$5,882
$6,271
$6,661
$7,050
3/4-in
$5,882
$6,271
$6,661
$7,050
1-in
$9,705
$10,348
$10,990
$11,632
1 1/2-in
$19,587
$20,883
$22,180
$23,476
2-in
$31,351
$33,426
$35,501
$37,575
Sewer Connection Fees for WWRF (per EDU)
$5,257
$8,018
$10,778
$13,539
Sewer Connection Fees for La Sierra WW (per EDU)
$4,500
$5,540
$6,580
$7,621
Fees shall be adjusted on January 1st of each year using the Handy-Whitman inflation adjustment index.
Note: Meter sizes greater than two-inch require a separate service agreement with the district. Such agreement will include costs for the impacts on distribution infrastructure and water supply.
(Ord. 386 § 3, 2016)
On and after January 1, 2017, and each January 1st thereafter, the rates for the water and sewer connection fees, set forth in Exhibit A in WMWDC § 7.50.040, may be adjusted for inflation each year using the Handy-Whitman Index for that year.
(Ord. 386 § 4, 2016)
To the extent that the water and sewer connection fees established by this chapter are inconsistent with fees previously adopted, it is the explicit intention of the board of directors of the district that the water and sewer connection fees adopted in this chapter shall prevail.
(Ord. 386 § 5, 2016)