CHAPTER 2-04
WATER COMMISSION

SECTIONS:

2-04-001-0001    PURPOSE AND EFFECT:

2-04-001-0002    DEFINITIONS

2-04-001-0003    DECLARATION OF POLICY

2-04-001-0004    WATER COMMISSION

2-04-001-0005    OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSION

2-04-001-0006    MEETINGS

2-04-001-0007    APPLICATION; PROCEDURE FOR

2-04-001-0008    ACTION ON APPLICATION

2-04-001-0009    EXTENSION OF URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY

2-04-001-0010    CHANGES IN WATER, SEWER, RECLAMATION SYSTEM

2-04-001-0011    INVESTIGATIONS

2-04-001-0001 PURPOSE AND EFFECT:

The provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of public health, safety, convenience and public welfare. These provisions shall govern whenever they are more stringent than any other statute, provision of this Code, legal covenant, agreement or contract, but shall not abrogate any other requirement which is more stringent or restrictive than the provisions of this Chapter.

2-04-001-0002 DEFINITIONS:

Whenever any of the following words are used in this Chapter, they shall have the meaning herein ascribed to them:

BUSINESS USE: The use of water which is primarily for business or commercial purposes, including the occasional furnishing of water to travelers or tourists by hotels, motels or other owners of places of public convenience.

COMMISSION: The Commission as designated and established by this Chapter.

COUNCIL: The Council of the City of Flagstaff.

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER: The treated effluent which is the product of the municipal wastewater system, which although not suitable for human consumption, may be used for certain industrial or commercial purposes. (Ord. 1789, 01/05/93)

RESIDENTIAL USE: The use of water which is primarily for the persons and property residing in a building or a portion thereof designed to be occupied as an abode. (Ord. 447, 8-26-58)

STORMWATER RUNOFF: The direct response of a watershed or drainage area to precipitation from a storm event and/or snowmelt and includes surface and subsurface runoff or drainage that enters a watercourse, street, storm drain or other concentrated flow during and following precipitation.

SEWER SYSTEM: All the facilities within and without the City required or convenient for the collection and treatment of sewage including the disposal, recycling or utilization of the resulting effluent by the City, within or without the corporate limits. (Ord. 980, 12-7-76)

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DESIGN MANUAL: A manual of technical hydrologic and hydraulic calculations and computations by which all designs of stormwater facilities shall adhere.

STORMWATER MASTER PLAN: A comprehensive plan for all city watercourses that sets forth necessary plans and improvements to improve or mitigate the effects of flooding throughout the community.

STORMWATER QUALITY PROGRAM: A program that involves best management practices that result in an improvement to stormwater quality and that includes the National Pollutant Discharge Eliminations System (NPDES) as mandated United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and other improvements as may be necessary and approved by the Council.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: All activities associated with the Stormwater Management Design Manual, the Stormwater Master Plan, the City’s Stormwater Quality Program, and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY: The boundary established by the City Council that surrounds vacant land areas bypassed by urban growth and immediately adjacent to urban growth that can be most efficiently and effectively provided facilities and services by the City. (Ord. 1789, 01/05/93)

WATER SYSTEM: All the facilities within and without the City required or convenient for the production and distribution of water by the City within or without the corporate limits. (Ord. 447, 8-26-58)

(Ord. No. 1789, Amended, 01/05/93)

2-04-001-0003 DECLARATION OF POLICY:

The Mayor and Council of the City declare that one of the most important duties of the City is to furnish its citizens with water, to collect, treat and dispose of sewage, to reclaim and distribute wastewater, and to develop and implement and effective stormwater management program. It is further declared that production and distribution of water, and collection, treatment, reclamation and disposal of sewage, and management of stormwater within and without its corporate limits requires special investigation and sound recommendations. In order to insure these objectives, both from the standpoint of economy and convenience, a Commission is required to investigate extensions, and priority of extensions, of the water, sewer, and reclaimed wastewater systems; the use and priority of use of water furnished by the City; the treatment, reclamation, and ultimate disposal of the resultant effluent of the sewage system of the City; the management of stormwater; and make appropriate recommendations. (Ord. 1789, Amended, 01/05/1993; Ord. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/2009)

2-04-001-0004 WATER COMMISSION:

There is hereby established a Water Commission. There shall be seven (7) voting members of said Commission, who shall consist of:

A.    Seven (7) voting members to be appointed by the Council of the City, who shall serve for three (3) year terms on a staggered basis.

B.    The Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, or a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, to serve as a nonvoting member during his or her term of office.

C.    Repealed by Ord. 2014-28.

D.    Membership on the Commission shall terminate if any member has two (2) consecutive unexcused absences. The Chair shall determine, prior to any meeting, if a member’s absence is excusable. (Ord. 1789, Amended, 01/05/1993; Ord. 1926, Amended, 12/17/1996; Ord. 2007-12, Amended, 02/06/2007; Ord. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/2009; Ord. 2014-28, Amended, 11/18/2014)

2-04-001-0005 OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSION:

A.    Ex-Officio Members: The following persons shall be ex- officio members of the Commission, but shall have no vote:

The City Manager;

The City Attorney;

The City Engineer;

The City Utilities Director; and

The Coconino County Manager or designated representative.

B.    At the first meeting held in any calendar year, the members of the Commission shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from among its voting members. (Ord. 1789, Amended, 01/05/1993; Ord. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/2009)

2-04-001-0006 MEETINGS:

The meetings of the Commission shall be held at the time and place adopted for the regular monthly meetings of the Commission.

Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Board and Commission Members’ Rules and Operations Manual adopted by resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, and in compliance with all other local, State, and Federal laws.

A quorum shall consist of four (4) voting members of the Commission. (Ord. 1789, 01/05/93; Ord. 2007-12, Amended 02/06/2007; Ord. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/09; Ord. 2014-28, Amended, 11/18/2014; Ord. 2016-30, Amended, 07/05/2016)

2-04-001-0007 APPLICATION; PROCEDURE FOR:

Any person, corporation or association desiring a water connection or tap, reclaimed wastewater connection, or sewer connection outside the limits of the City shall first apply to the Commission for such connection or tap. The application shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Clerk of the City, who shall forthwith submit it to the Commission or to a person designated by the Commission to receive the same. The Commission shall thereupon, at the next regular or special meeting called for the purpose, consider the application and may, in its sole discretion, require a public hearing before granting said application. In the event that a public hearing is thus required, notice thereof shall be given in writing to those persons designated by the Commission and notice containing the time, place and purpose of the meeting shall be published at least once in the official newspaper of the City, which publication shall be at least five (5) days prior to the time set for such hearing. At such hearing, the Commission may hear such testimony as it may deem advisable and may, at its discretion, permit cross-examination of the applicant and other witnesses by any party interested; however, the scope of the cross-examination shall at all times be discretionary with the Chairman of the Commission.

After any hearing provided by this Section, the Commission shall, within five (5) days thereafter, advise the Mayor and Council, in writing, of the nature of the application, whether a public hearing was held and the recommendations of the Commission on said application.

With the consent of the Mayor and Council, the Commission may give the City Manager or his or her designee authority within a prescribed area and within prescribed limits to allow water connections, sewer connections, and reclaimed wastewater connections for business and residential uses; provided, however, that such uses are in accordance with the regulations theretofore adopted by the Commission or Council. (Ord. 1789, 01/05/93)

(Ord. No. 1789, Amended, 01/05/93; Ord. No. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/09)

(See Title 7, Chapter 3 of this City Code for additional water regulations.)

2-04-001-0008 ACTION ON APPLICATION:

After receipt of the application and the action thereon as provided in the preceding Section, the Council shall consider recommendations of the Commission at its next regular meeting, or at such meeting as may be determined by the Mayor and Council, whether regular or special, but in any event the application shall be acted upon not later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the recommendations of the Commission by the Mayor and Council. The Council may thereupon grant or reject the application and may provide such hearing or hearings as the Mayor and Council may, in their sole discretion, determine and shall give such notice of such hearing as may be determined to be advisable or convenient. (Ord. 244, Amended 8-26-58; Ord. 1541, Amended 1-5-88)

2-04-001-0009 EXTENSION OF URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY:

Any application for a water or sewer connection to serve a business, residence, or development in an area which would require an extension of the Urban Service Boundary, whether within or without the corporate limits of the City, shall be considered by the Water Commission and the recommendation of the Commission shall be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. Impact on adjacent areas shall also be considered when evaluating applications for extension of the Urban Service Boundary. (Ord. 1789, 01/05/93)

(Ord. No. 1789, Amended, 01/05/93; Ord. No. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/09)

2-04-001-0010 CHANGES IN WATER, SEWER, RECLAMATION SYSTEM:

No extension, replacement, maintenance or repair of the production or distribution water system or collection of sewage, treatment thereof, reclamation or disposal of resulting effluent of the City, whether within or without its corporate limits, which requires a bond levy, shall be undertaken until the same has been submitted to the Commission for its recommendation in accordance with Section 2-04-001-0007 of this Chapter, and the Mayor and Council shall have approved the same in accordance with the procedure established in Section 2-04-001-0009 of this Chapter. (Ord. 1789, 01/05/93)

(Ord. No. 1789, Amended, 01/05/93; Ord. No. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/09)

2-04-001-0011 INVESTIGATIONS:

In addition to those other duties, as provided by this Chapter, the Commission shall study and be responsible for the evaluation of the long range water needs of the City as well as the review and evaluation of the City water conservation program. It shall, on request after investigation and upon consideration of an orderly, normal increase of the population of the City, make recommendations to the Council regarding exploration and development and new and additional water resources. The Commission shall recommend to the City Council measures it deems necessary to protect existing and potential water resources.

The Commission shall request or study, evaluate, and from time to time make recommendations to the Council on sewage disposal, the degree of purification treatment, and the ultimate disposition and utilization of the resultant effluent and reclaimed wastewater, within guidelines and mandates of Municipal, State and Federal regulations and laws governing such activities. (Ord, 1789, 01/05/93)

(Ord. No. 1789, Amended, 01/05/93)

The Commission shall provide input to City staff; provide a forum for public comment and input; and study, evaluate, and make recommendations to the City Council regarding new initiatives and revisions, additions, and variance requests to Stormwater Management Activities. (Ord. No. 2009-08, Amended, 03/03/09)