Ordinance No. 509-08 - Superseded
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ORDINANCE NO. 509-08
AN ORDINANCE OF THE SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
REGARDING WATER CAPACITY CHARGES FOR PRIVATE FIRE
PROTECTION BY AMENDING ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTION 3.1.49 (B)
AND SUPERSEDING ORDINANCE NO. 497-06
Be it enacted by the Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District,
County ofEI Dorado, State of California, as follows:
SECTION I - POLICY AND PURPOSE
The purpose of this Ordinance is to adopt certain amendments to the
Administrative Code regarding water capacity charges for private fire protection.
SECTION II - FINDINGS
The Board of Directors ofthe South Tahoe Public Utility District, EI Dorado
County, State of California, makes the following findings:
A. The South Tahoe Public Utility District's ("District") water system was
designed to provide water at pressures appropriate for residential use. Many areas within
the District's distribution system were constructed by private water companies and have
been acquired by the District since its formation. Accordingly, there are areas within the
District's distribution system where water pressure is lower than desirable for fire
suppreSSIOn purposes.
B. In recent years, to serve the public interest, the District has increased the
size of replacement water lines in an effort to provide water at pressures sufficient for fire
suppression purposes. The District's efforts in this regard are ongoing.
C. The adoption of the 2001 edition ofthe California Fire Code by the local
fire department jurisdictions, requiring residential fire sprinkler systems due to reduced
flows from the nearest fire hydrant became effective on February 1,2006.
D. Residential fire sprinkler systems are hydraulically designed, with
adequate fire flows ensured based on assumptions as to water pressure. A reduction in
pressure, all other things held constant, reduces flow. In areas oflow water pressure, the
diameter of a fire sprinkler line connection to the water main must be increased to
overcome the friction loss of smaller diameter lines. When a water distribution system
cannot achieve the requisite pressure, a fire sprinkler system may be required that would
not have been required had there been higher water pressure in the water distribution
system, or a larger-sized fire line may be required than would have otherwise been
required had there been higher water pressure in the water distribution system.
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E. In areas where a sprinkler system is required or a larger fire line is
required solely because oflow flows due to low water pressure, a sprinkler system or
upsized line should not use any more water than would have been used through properly-
sized facilities, were pressures sufficient to deliver the flows required by the sprinkler
system.
F. As, in situations oflow water pressure, no additional water capacity will
be necessary to serve the additional or upsized fire line, the District desires to amend the
Administrative Code to waive water capacity charges for private fire protection service
when the lack of requested flow from the nearest fire hydrant due to low water pressure is
the sole reason for the requirement a fire sprinkler system or an upsized fire service line.
G. The Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interest ofthe
District and the community to allow for these changes to the Administrative Code.
SECTION III - AMENDMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
The following section of the Administrative Code shall be amended to read as
follows:
3.1.49 (b) Private Fire Protection Service. There shall be no water capacity
charge for providing private fire protection service when the requirement for a fire
service connection is based solely upon the lack of requested flow from the nearest fire
hydrant.
If a fire service connection is required due to the square footage of the structure, the
water capacity charge for private fire protection will be based on a fire connection with a
water system of pressure sufficient for fire suppression purposes.
SECTION IV - SEVERABILITY
If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of
this Ordinance and its implementing rules and regulations is for any reason held to be
unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance or the Administrative Code. The Board of Directors declares
and determines that it would have passed section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph,
sentence, clause or phrase thereof of this Ordinance and its implementing rules and
regulations and the Administrative Code irrespective of the fact that anyone or more
sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases may be
determined to be unconstitutional or invalid.
SECTION V - EFFECTIVE DATE
This Ordinance Amending Administrative Code Section 3 .1.49 (b) is retroactive
to February 1, 2006.
Ordinance No. 509-08
Water Capacity Charges for Private Fire Protection
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public
Utility District at its duly held regular meeting on the 5th day of June, 2008 by the
following vote:
AYES:
Directors Mosbacher, Rise, Schafer
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Directors Jones, Claudio
)?t
ary ou Mosbacher, President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
ATTEST:
Kathy Sharp
Ordinance No. 509-08
Water Capacity Charges for Private Fire Protection
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