3.10.200 Irrigation water availability assessment.
See Appendix B of this chapter for the IWAA formula and rate.
A. Background. The purpose of the irrigation water availability assessment (IWAA) is to fund the ongoing operation and maintenance costs of the water system. The IWAA is assessed where canal irrigation water is available, whether used or not, pursuant to the Uniform Standby Charge Procedures Act commencing at Cal. Gov’t Code § 54984. These charges are to be placed only on lands located within ID1.
IWAA is subject to all parcels of land five acres or larger within ID1 at a rate equal to 3.8 times the irrigation water commodity charge or “canal rate” currently in effect. The said charge as fixed herein shall not apply to any parcel of land less than five acres in size held in separate beneficial ownership and not constituting a part or portion of another parcel of land, unless the total or aggregate size of said parcels equals or exceeds five acres.
The IWAA shall apply whether the irrigation water is actually used or not. The district shall mail to the owner of each parcel of land eligible to receive district water, and to which district water is available, a statement covering the IWAA determined by this article. Such statement shall be mailed to each such owner as soon as practical after June 30th and as disclosed by information and records in the possession of the district. In calculating the number of acres owned by any person, any fraction of an acre in excess of the integral number owned shall be disregarded.
The IWAA shall be paid and/or satisfied as follows:
1. Paying the full amount by any of the district’s currently allowable means; or
2. Paying irrigation water service charges for services rendered to any 40-acre parcel of land or portion thereof, for the fiscal year period of July 1st through June 30th, a total sum of money equal to or in excess of said IWAA against the involved land; or
3. In the event the total sum paid to the district as irrigation water service charges, as in subsection (A)(2) of this section, is less than the amount of the IWAA applicable to the involved land, by paying to the district that amount of money constituting the difference between the total sum paid as irrigation water service charges and the IWAA. Any sum paid as irrigation water service charges cannot be applied in satisfaction of the IWAA against any land to which water has not been made available, but will be applied only in satisfaction of the IWAA against the land to which water is made available.
If a property owner elected to have IWAA removed from their property they may elect to apply for irrigation water service and pay the current IWAA as well as the IWAA not paid in arrears.
B. Irrigation Water Availability Assessment Penalty. Any IWAA remaining unpaid after July 15th shall have a penalty charge per Appendix B of this chapter added thereon, and the unpaid balance with penalty shall be added to and become a part of the annual tax levied upon the land for which the IWAA is unpaid was available, and the same shall constitute a lien on that land. (Ord. 1437.3 § 6-5, 2023; Ord. 1437.2 § 6-5, 2023; Ord. 1437.1 § 6-5, 2022; Ord. 1437 § 2 (Exh. A § 6-5), 2019)