COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Timothy Kellett, Water Sustainability Program Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Adopt Ordinance No. 24-1330 Declaring the Document Entitled “2024 Amendments to the Lake Havasu City Code Title 4, Water and Wastewater Regulations, April 23, 2024” a Public Record and Adopting by Reference Water and Wastewater Regulations and Penalties, Including Service, Billing, Connections, Charges, Hydrant Meters, Private Fire Protection Services, and Backflow Prevention, and Repealing Lake Havasu City Code Chapters 8.05 and 8.20 and Sections 11.04.280 and 11.04.290, to Amend and Consolidate All Water and Wastewater Regulations into Title 4 (Timothy Kellett)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
N/A
PURPOSE:
The water and wastewater regulations currently in effect are found throughout the City Code and need to be updated. This item consolidates the regulations to a single title within the City Code and updates the regulations to reflect current standards and practices.
BACKGROUND:
The current Lake Havasu City water regulations are contained within the Irrigation and Drainage District (IDD) Rules and Regulations, which the City adopted by reference and incorporated into the City Code. Since the finalization of the IDD dissolution, it is time to review the existing regulations and make improvements. To begin this process, Staff partnered with Jacobs Engineering to review and revise the regulations to ensure that they were utilizing industry standards and following current practices. An effort was also made to clarify definitions, remove inconsistencies, and update references. After the water regulations were updated, it was also decided to consolidate the water and wastewater regulations into a single title.
The purpose of these proposed rules and regulations are necessary to administer water and wastewater operations and to promote public health, the environment, and general welfare. The revised rules and regulations consolidate the water and wastewater regulations into a single title. This makes finding the information easier and allowed the opportunity to update the wastewater regulations and several issues of importance into a single title such as:
• Use of sewer and water system
• Use of hydrant meters
• Application for service
• Hearing and appeal procedures
This item was introduced at the April 9, 2024, City Council meeting. At that meeting staff received feedback and direction from Council to make changes to the Hydrant Meter section. The updated version of the regulations reflects the feedback from Council. The specific changes include:
• Removing the language that stated the Water Division would be installing the meters. Instead, hydrant meters will be issued once an approved application and deposit has been received.
• Applicants will be required to submit meter readings by the 10th of every month. Failure to report meter readings will result in a fine.
• Applicants will be required to exchange the hydrant meter every six months. This will allow City staff the opportunity to verify meter readings and perform flow testing to ensure the meter’s accuracy.
With these changes the implementation of the proposed water and wastewater regulations will be more cohesive, easier to locate, and allow for better implementation.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
By moving the water and wastewater regulations to the same location within the City Code it will increase understanding and improve decision-making.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance No. 24-1330
2024 Amendments to the Lake Havasu City Code Title 4, Water and Wastewater
Regulations, Dated April 23, 2024
Chapter 4.28 Hydrant Meters - Tracked Changes
SUGGESTED MOTION:Recommended Action
I move to adopt Ordinance No. 24-1330 declaring the document entitled “2024 Amendments to the Lake Havasu City Code Title 4, Water and Wastewater Regulations, April 23, 2024” a public record and adopting by reference water and wastewater regulations and penalties, and repealing Lake Havasu City Code Chapters 8.05 and 8.20 and Sections 11.04.280 and 11.04.290, to amend and consolidate all water and wastewater regulations into Title 4.