§ 6-505. RATES.

(a)

Residential Flat Rates. The rates applicable to water service furnished on a flat rate basis for residential use shall be designated in the Master Fee Resolution. Where only a portion of any premises is developed or irrigated, there shall be no charge for that area in excess of 9,000 square feet which is neither developed nor irrigated.

(1)

It shall be conclusively presumed that each premises is fully developed or irrigated unless the customer establishes, by affidavit filed with the Controller on a form furnished by him, that a given portion of such property is neither developed nor irrigated.

(2)

The Controller may compute the charge to be paid for that area in excess of 9,000 square feet upon the basis of an affidavit filed by the customer, or upon the basis of any information within his possession derived from any other source. The Controller or his representative shall have the right of ingress to and egress from the customer's premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such computation, and shall make no deduction for any customer who refuses same.

(3)

Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Controller fixing a charge for premises in excess of 9,000 square feet may appeal said decision to the Water Rate Review Committee, which is hereby created, within ten days of the date such decision is mailed or otherwise delivered to him.

(i)

The committee shall select from its members a chairman who shall serve at its pleasure.

(ii)

Any member of the committee may deputize in writing, filed with the committee, any member of his office or, in the case of the Mayor, a member of the Council, to serve in his place on such committee for such period as he may desire.

(iii)

A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

(iv)

The committee shall be deemed to be in the office of the Chief Administrative Officer and shall meet and keep its files in his office. All appeals to the committee shall be filed in such office.

(v)

The committee shall prescribe such forms, rules or regulations relating to appeals or appeal hearings as it deems necessary, and may receive such evidence or make such investigations as it deems proper.

(vi)

The committee may affirm, modify or reverse any decision of the Controller pertaining to any charge for premises in excess of 9,000 square feet. The decision of the committee shall be final.

(b)

Miscellaneous Flat Rates. The rate applicable to miscellaneous water service furnished on a flat rate basis for other than residential use shall be designated in the Master Fee Resolution.

(c)

Meter Rates. The rate applicable to metered water service shall be composed of a readiness-to-serve or standby charge, plus a charge for the quantity of water actually used, and any additional charges designated in the Master Fee Resolution.

(d)

Private Wells. Private wells used for irrigation purposes, when required to be metered, shall be billed at the rate designated in the Master Fee Resolution per hundred cubic feet of water drawn therefrom.

(e)

Wells in Cemeteries. Wells used for cemetery purposes shall be exempt from water usage charges for a period of five (5) years after annexation; provided, however, that during such period the cemeteries shall pay to the city the amount of any Fresno Irrigation District (FID) fees or assessments attributable to the cemetery property and paid by the city.

After the fifth anniversary of annexation, the cemeteries shall pay for only that component of their normal water usage fee which is directly attributable to and normally charged for the cost of water managements and recharge of underground water supplies.

(Added Ord. 73-120, § 3, eff. 8-16-73; Am. Ord. 73-154, § 2, eff. 10-18-73; Am. Ord. 74-97, § 1, eff. 11-4-74; Am. Ord. 78-174, § 1, eff. 12-22-78; Am. Ord. 80-115, § 142, eff. 8-8-80; Am. Ord. 85-22, § 5, eff. 3-22-85).