Laserfiche WebLink
REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />JUNE 18, 2012 <br />TITLE: <br />ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SANTA ANA <br />MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING THE <br />TESTING OF WATER METERS AND <br />ADJUSTMENT OF BILLS <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />? As Recommended <br />? As Amended <br />? Ordinance on 15f Reading <br />? Ordinance on 2"d Reading <br />? Implementing Resolution <br />? Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt an ordinance amending a portion of Chapter 39, Section 24 of the Santa Ana Municipal <br />Code regulating the testing of water meters. <br />DISCUSSION <br />As established by Ordinance No. NS-936 in 1968, a customer may request that the City test the <br />water meter serving his premises for accuracy. The water meter test involves removal of the <br />meter serving the premises, transportation of the meter to the testing facility, performance of the <br />test, and reinstalling the meter at the customer's premises. A water meter test fee of $5 was <br />originally established in order to recover the cost associated with performing the test; however, <br />this amount no longer adequately covers the cost of this service. <br />Staff from the City Attorney's Office and the Public Works Agency has prepared an ordinance <br />amending this section of the Municipal Code to provide that the fee be set by City Council <br />Resolution. The City's 2012-2013 Miscellaneous Fee Schedule includes a proposed water meter <br />test fee of $96 for fiscal year 2012-2013, which will only be implemented if City Council approves <br />the amendments to SAMC §39-24. The fee may be adjusted annually along with other <br />Miscellaneous Fees as a part of the overall City budgeting process which will ensure that the <br />water meter test service is appropriately funded. The ordinance will retain the requirement that <br />the City refund the test fee (as a credit to the customer's bill) if the meter fails to meet industry <br />standards. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT <br />In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the recommended action is not <br />considered a CEQA project. Therefore, no environmental documentation is required. <br />5OA-1