Chapter 16.14 SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES

CHAPTER 16.14
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES

Sections:

16.14.010 CHAPTER DEFINITIONS.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions shall be used in the interpretation of this chapter.

(a) “Increased demand” shall mean any change of use on an existing service which requires a service capacity upsize, adds new residential unit(s), changes the number or type of fixtures, or otherwise increases actual or potential demand on the water system, as determined by the water department.

(Ord. 2016-06 § 6 (part), 2016).

16.14.020 SYSTEM INCOME ALLOCATION.

The revenues collected from the city water system shall be used solely and exclusively for the operation, maintenance, construction, improvement, extension, enlargement and upkeep of that water system; provided, however, that such revenues shall be first applied to the payment and liquidation of the principal and interest of any bonded indebtedness incurred for the water system, as provided in the resolution for the issuance of such revenue bonds.

(Ord. 2016-06 § 6 (part), 2016).

16.14.030 SERVICE RATES AND FEES.

The rates and fees charged by the city for water services shall be established by resolution of the city council. The applicant or account holder is responsible for payment of such rates and fees.

(Ord. 2016-06 § 6 (part), 2016).

16.14.040 SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES.

(a) Purpose. To mitigate the water supply impacts caused by new development in the city of Santa Cruz water service area, certain public water system improvements must be or have been constructed in order to accommodate system expansion. A system development charge shall be assessed to pay the proportional share of the costs of new and existing water facilities necessary to meet the demand resulting from new or enlarged water services.

(b) Charges. A system development charge is payable upon the issuance of any permit, or similar grant of authority, for any of the following activities: installation of a new service connection, the addition of a new or additional residential dwelling unit onto an existing service, the upsizing of an existing service connection, or any other increased demand on the water system.

The system development charge shall be reviewed to determine whether the charge amounts are reasonably related to the impacts created by new or additional demand and whether the listing of system expansion improvements to be financed by system development charge revenues is accurate. Such review shall occur no less than every five years and shall result in a report containing the following:

(1) The specific amount of the charge, including its development methodology;

(2) A list of the specific improvements to be financed by the charge, including the estimated cost of such improvements; and

(3) A description of the correlation between the charge and new development and the benefits from the improvements enabled by the charge.

The system development charge shall be as adopted by resolution of the city council and shall be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.

(c) Use of Charge Revenues. System development charge revenues shall be placed in a separate and special account and such revenues, along with any interest earnings on that account, shall be used exclusively for the following purposes:

(1) To pay for the city’s future construction of system expansion and improvements to be financed by system development charge revenues;

(2) To reimburse developers who have installed system development financed water facilities which are larger than needed for the certain development and are subject to the terms of a reimbursement agreement; or

(3) To pay for water conservation programs approved by the city council which have the net effect of increasing the amount of water supply available for allocation to new or additional demand.

(Ord. 2016-06 § 6 (part), 2016).