EXHIBIT 2-A

 

ORDINANCE NO. _____  

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

MONTEREY PENINSULA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

TO AMEND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE DISTRICT

ENFORCES ITS RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

FINDINGS

 

1.         The Water Management District (“District”) is charged under the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Law with the integrated management of the ground and surface water resources in the Monterey Peninsula area.

 

2.                  The District is authorized by law to adopt procedures to enforce its Rules & Regulations and ordinances. 

 

3.                  The Board of Directors has determined that a need exists to modify the manner in which it may enforce the Rules and Regulations of the District.  Enforcement issues have become increasingly varied and complex over the years.

 

4.                  Staff and District resources will be conserved and better utilized by adoption of streamlined enforcement. 

 

5.                  Administrative review of enforcement matters will facilitate improved and more consistent rule compliance, reduce obstacles and time delays that result from criminal or civil enforcement, and result in more uniform application of the District’s rules and procedures.

 

6.                  This ordinance shall amend and republish the Rules and Regulations of the Water Management District.

 

NOW THEREFORE be it ordained as follows:

 

ORDINANCE

Section One:               Short Title

 

This ordinance shall be known as the Administrative Enforcement Ordinance of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. 

 

Section Two:               Purpose

 

This ordinance sets forth an Administration Citation and Administrative Order enforcement process as allowed Government Code Section 53069.4.

 

Section Three:            General Enforcement

 

A.  The District Rules and Regulations shall be modified as follows:  The existing text of Rule 110 shall be labeled as Rule 110 A.

 

B.  The District Rules and Regulations shall be modified as follows:  The existing text of Rule 111 shall be moved to Rule 110 B.

 

C.  The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 110 C to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

C. Cease and Desist Order.

 

1.         If General Manager determines that water or property in the District is being used or maintained in a manner that creates or fosters the creation of a public nuisance, the General Manager shall issue a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order to the owner of the subject property, the occupant of the subject property and/or to any other Person(s) responsible for creating or fostering the creation of the public nuisance.

 

2.  The nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order shall:

 

   a.  Describe the nature of the public nuisance being created maintained or fostered by or on the subject property; and

 

   b.  Specify a compliance date by which the public nuisance shall cease.

 

3.   A nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence that the activities, behaviors, conditions or situations described in the order are creating or fostering the creation of a public nuisance unless and until the Board or a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise.

 

D.  The District Rules and Regulations shall be modified as follows:  The existing text of Rule 114 shall be moved to Rule 110 D.

 

Section Four:              Administrative Remedies

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 110.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

 

 

 

RULE 110.5   ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES

 

The General Manager is authorized to use any administrative remedy set forth in this Regulation to achieve enforcement of District Rules and Regulations, in addition to any other legal remedy, criminal or civil, which may be pursued by the District to address a violation of these Rules and Regulations.  Use of administrative remedies provided by this Regulation shall be at the sole discretion of the District.


Section Five:              Administrative Citation

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 111 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

            RULE 111    ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION.

 

A.   Administrative Citations generally address violations of the District Rules and Regulations that the District, in its sole discretion, deems to be minor or transient in nature.  The District adopts the Administration Citation enforcement process, set forth in this Regulation pursuant to California Government Code Section 53069.4, which provides for de novo review of Administrative Citations in court if a Person wishes to challenge an administrative decision upholding an Administrative Citation.  For example, and not by exclusion, Administrative Citations may be used to enforce water waste, water rationing, permit condition and minor or non-recurring violations of the District’s Rules and Regulations. 

 

B.        Whenever the General Manager determines that a violation of the Rules and Regulations has occurred, the General Manager shall have the authority to issue an Administrative Citation to any Person responsible for the violation.  The Board of Directors, by Resolution, shall adopt guidelines to guide staff's implementation of Administrative Citation process provided by this Rule.

 

C.   Each Administrative Citation shall be served in accord with the provisions of Rule 111.7, and shall contain the following information:

 

1.   The date of the violation or, if the date of the violation is unknown, then the date the violation is identified;

 

2.   The address or a definite description of the location where the violation occurred;

 

3.   Reference to the section of the Rules and Regulations, or to the provisions of any ordinance, violated and a description of the circumstances pertaining to the violation;

 

4.   The amount of the fine for the Rules and Regulations violation determined in accord with this Regulation;

 

5.   A description of the fine payment process, including a description of the time within which and the place to which the fine shall be paid;

 

6.   An order prohibiting the continuation or repeated occurrence of the Rules and Regulations violation described in the Administrative Citation;

 

7.   A description of the Administrative Citation review process, including the time within which the Administrative Citation may be contested and the place from which a request for hearing form to contest the Administrative Citation may be obtained; and

 

8.   The name and signature of the General Manager, or his delegated agent acting as Enforcement Officer.

 

Section Six:    Administrative Compliance Order

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 111.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 111.5   ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDER.

 

A.   Administrative Compliance Orders generally address violations of District Rules and Regulations and ordinances that the General Manager, in his or her sole discretion, deems not suitable for the Administrative Citation process contemplated by this Regulation.  For example, and not by exclusion, Administrative Compliance Orders be used for serious, continuing or recurring violations, or similar matters. 

 

B.        Whenever the General Manager determines that a violation of any provision of these Rules and Regulations or of any District ordinance has occurred or exists, the General Manager may issue a written compliance order to any Person responsible for the violation.  The Board of Directors, by Resolution, shall adopt guidelines to guide staff's implementation of Administrative Compliance Order process provided by this Rule.

 

 

C.        The Compliance order sets forth a description of the observed violation(s), a description of what the Responsible Party is required to do to bring the water use or property into compliance, and the date by which compliance must be achieved.  The Compliance Order provides notice as to administrative penalties that shall accrue if compliance with the Order is not achieved by the date listed on the Compliance order.  The Administrative Compliance Order may be contested through an administrative hearing process.  The decision may contain an order to correct any violations determined to exist, together with an order to pay administrative penalties and costs. 

 

D.        An Administrative Compliance Order pursuant to this Rule shall be served in accord with the provisions of Rule 111.7, and shall contain the following information:

 

1.   The date of the violation or, if the date of the violation is unknown, then the date the violation is identified;

 

2.   The address or a definite description of the location where the violation occurred;

 

3.   Reference to the section of the Rules and Regulations, or to the provisions of any ordinance, violated and a description of the circumstances pertaining to the violation;

 

4.   The amount of the fine for the Rules and Regulations violation determined in accord with this Regulation;

 

5.  The actions required to correct the violation;

 

6.  The penalty related to the violation, if compliance is not achieved;  

 

7.   An order prohibiting the continuation or repeated occurrence of the Rules and Regulations violation described in the Administrative Compliance Order;

 

8.   A description of the Administrative Compliance Order process, including the time within which the Administrative Compliance Order may be contested and the place from which a request for hearing form may be obtained and an explanation of the consequences of noncompliance with this Regulation; and

 

9.   The name and signature of the General Manager, or his delegated agent acting as Enforcement Officer.

 

E.        Each Administrative Compliance Order shall be served in accord with the provisions of Rule 111.7. 


Section Seven:           Notices

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 111.7 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 111.7   NOTICES

 

A.   All notices required by this Regulation shall be served by Personal delivery to the Person to be notified or by deposit in the United States Mail, in a sealed envelope postage prepaid, addressed to such Person to be notified at his last-known business or residence address as the same appears in the public records or other records pertaining to the matter to which such notice is directed.  Service by mail shall be deemed to have been completed at the time of deposit in the post office.

 

B.  Proof of giving any notice may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of the District, or by affidavit of any Person over the age of eighteen years, which shows service in conformity with this Rule or other provisions of law applicable to the service of process. 

 

C.   Where real property is involved, written notice shall be mailed to the property owner at the address as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll.

 

D.   Where Personal service or service by mail upon the property owner is unsuccessful, a copy of the order shall be conspicuously posted at the property which is the subject of the order.

 

E.   The failure of any Person to receive any notice required under this Regulation shall not affect the validity of any proceedings taken under this Regulation.


Section Eight: Hearing Officer Panel

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 112 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 112    HEARING OFFICER PANEL

 

A Hearing Officer Panel, consisting of seven (7) members appointed by the Board of Directors of the District shall be created and empanelled.  

 

The appointment, performance evaluation, compensation and/or benefits provided to any member of the Hearing Officer Panel shall not be directly or indirectly conditioned upon the amount of Administrative Citation fines upheld by the Hearing Officer.

 

Section Nine:              Hearing Officer Panel Appointment

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 112.1 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 112.1    HEARING OFFICER PANEL APPOINTMENT; REMOVAL

 

A.        Members of the Hearing Officer Panel shall be nominated by seated Directors, and confirmed by a majority of the District Board.  Each appointee to the Hearing Officer Panel shall serve for a two-year term, provided however, that four members of the panel shall be appointed to terms ending on January 31st in even-numbered years, and three members of the panel shall be appointed to terms ending on January 31st in odd-numbered years.  Any vacancy on the Hearing Officer Panel shall be filled for the unexpired remainder of that term.

 

B.        Any member of the Hearing Officer Panel may be removed prior to the expiration of his or her term by a majority vote of the Board, in the Board’s discretion.

 

Section Ten:               Presiding Officer Appointment

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 112.2 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 112.2     PRESIDING OFFICER

 

The Chair of the District Board shall select one member of the Hearing Officer Panel to be the Presiding Officer.  The Presiding Officer shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Board Chair.  Should the Presiding Officer be absent or unavailable, a majority of the remaining members of the Hearing Officer Panel shall appoint an Acting Presiding Officer to perform the duties of the Presiding Officer.

 

Section Eleven:          Panel Meetings

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 112.3 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

 

RULE 112.3    HEARING OFFICER PANEL MEETINGS

 

The Presiding Officer shall act as the Chair of the Hearing Officer Panel at any meeting of that Panel.  All meetings of the Panel shall comply with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act.

 

Section Twelve:          Panel Rules

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 112.4 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 112.4    HEARING OFFICER PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Hearing Officer Panel may establish and modify, taking into consideration the advice of District General Counsel, rules and procedures that shall govern the conduct of any hearing to review an Administrative Citation Administrative Compliance Order, or a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order.  All such rules and procedures shall be provided to any participant in that hearing.

 

Section Thirteen:       Hearing Officer Selection

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 112.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 112.5    HEARING OFFICER SELECTION

 

The Presiding Officer of the Hearing Officer Panel shall, by random lot, designate one member of the Hearing Officer Panel to be the Hearing Officer for each Administrative Citation hearing.  The Presiding Officer may be chosen as a Hearing Officer.  Should a selected Hearing Officer be disqualified for cause, or should that Hearing Officer otherwise be unable to conduct the hearing, the Presiding Officer shall by random lot designate a successor Hearing Officer from available members of the Hearing Officer Panel.

 

Section Fourteen:       Administrative Citation Fines

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 113.1 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 113.1   ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES.

 

A.   Any fine required pursuant to an Administrative Citation shall be paid to the District within thirty (30) days from the date of the Administrative Citation unless a deposit waiver has been issued in accord with Rule 113.2.

 

B.   Any paid Administrative Citation fine shall be refunded in accordance with Section 1.15.100 if it is determined, after a hearing, that the Person charged in the Administrative Citation was not responsible for the violation or that there was no violation as charged in the Administrative Citation.

 

C.   Payment of a fine under this Regulation shall not excuse or discharge any continuation or repeated occurrence of the violation that is the subject of the Administrative Citation.

 

Section Fifteen:          Advance Hardship Waiver

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 113.2 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 113.2   ADVANCE DEPOSIT HARDSHIP WAIVER.

 

A.   Any Person who intends to request a hearing to contest that there was a violation of these Rules and Regulations or that he or she is the Responsible Party and who is financially unable to make the advance deposit of the fine as required in Rule 113.1 may file a request for an advance deposit hardship waiver.

 

B.   The request shall be filed with the General Manager within fifteen (15) days of the date of the Administrative Citation.

 

C.   The requirement to deposit the full amount of the fine as described in Rule 113.1 shall be stayed unless or until the General Manager makes a written determination not to issue the advance deposit hardship waiver.

 

D.   The General Manager may waive the requirement of an advance deposit set forth in Rule 113.1 and issue the advance deposit hardship waiver only if the cited party submits to the General Manager a sworn affidavit, together with any supporting documents or materials, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the General Manager the Person's actual financial inability to deposit with the District the full amount of the fine in advance of the hearing.

 

E.   If the General Manager determines not to issue an advance deposit hardship waiver, the Person shall remit the deposit to the District within ten (10) days of the date of that decision or thirty (30) days from the date of the Administrative Citation, whichever is later.

 

F.   The General Manager shall issue a written determination listing the reasons for his or her determination to issue or not issue the advance deposit hardship waiver.  The written determination of the General Manager shall be final.

 

G.   The written determination of the General Manager shall be served upon the Person who applied for the advance deposit hardship waiver.


Section Sixteen:         Hearing Request

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 114.1 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 114.1   HEARING REQUEST.

 

A.   Any recipient of an Administrative Citation, Administrative Compliance Order, or a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order may contest that there was a violation of these Rules and Regulations, or that he or she is the Responsible Party, or that a penalty should not be imposed by completing a request for hearing form and returning it to the District within thirty (30) days from the date of the Administrative Citation, Administrative Compliance Order, or a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order together with an advance deposit of the fine or notice that a request for an advance deposit hardship waiver has been filed pursuant to Rule 113.2.

 

B.   A request for hearing form may be obtained from the General Manager. 

 

Section Seventeen:    Administrative Compliance

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 114.2 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 114.2   ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE HEARING.

 

A.   If the General Manager determines that all violations have been corrected within the time specified in the Administrative Citation or Administrative Compliance Order, no further action shall be taken.  Notice of this action shall be forwarded to any party requesting a hearing.

 

B.    If full compliance as to each violation is not achieved within the time specified in the Administrative Citation or Administrative Compliance Order, the General Manager shall advise the Presiding Officer of the Hearing Officer Panel.  Each request for a hearing officer shall also be forwarded to the Presiding Officer of the Hearing Officer Panel.  The Presiding Officer of the Hearing Officer Panel shall designate a Hearing Officer in accord with Rule 112.5. 

 

C.   The selected Hearing Officer shall cause a written notice of hearing to be served on the violator and, where real property is involved, a notice of hearing shall be served on the property owner at the address as it appears on the last equalized county assessment roll available on the date the notice is prepared. 


Section Eighteen:       Notice of Hearing

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 114.3 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 114.3   NOTICE OF HEARING.

 

A.   Every notice of hearing on a Administrative Citation, or Administrative Compliance Order, or a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order shall comply with Rule 111.7 and shall contain the date, time and place at which the hearing shall be conducted by the Hearing Officer in accord with Rules 114.1 through 114.5.

 

B.   Each hearing shall be set for a date not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days from the date of the notice of hearing unless the General Manager determines that the matter is urgent or that good cause exists for an extension of time.

 

C.   This hearing serves to provide the full opportunity of a Person subject to a Administrative Citation, Administrative Compliance Order, or a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order to object to the determination that a violation has occurred and/or that the violation has continued to exist and/or that a public nuisance exists.  The failure of any Person subject to an Administrative Citation, Administrative Compliance Order or nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order, pursuant to this Regulation, to appear at the hearing shall constitute a failure to exhaust administrative remedies.


Section Nineteen:      Compliance Hearing

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 114.4 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

 

 

RULE 114.4   COMPLIANCE HEARING; FINDINGS

 

A.  At the place and time set forth in the Notice of Hearing, the Hearing Officer shall conduct a hearing on the Compliance order issued pursuant to Rules 111 or 111.5, and in accord with rules and procedures as may be promulgated by the Hearing Officer Panel. 

 

B.  The Hearing Officer shall consider written or oral evidence pursuant to rules and procedures set by the Hearing Officer Panel pursuant to Rule 112.4.  Evidence regarding the alleged violation or compliance actions may be presented by any party, including the alleged violator, the owner or occupant any real property affected by the alleged violation, and/or by the District. 

 

C. The Hearing Officer shall further consider any objectively reasonable efforts made by a Person who is subject to an Administrative Citation, Administrative Compliance Order, or nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order to comply with that order prior to the compliance date.  The Hearing Officer may take into consideration any condition or situation beyond the control of a Person subject to a nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order that prevents compliance with that order. 

 

D.  The Compliance order and any additional report submitted by the District enforcement officer shall constitute prima facie evidence of the respective facts contained in those documents.  The report on the alleged violation shall set forth a detailed recommendation as to relevant findings and conclusions that flow from the facts presented and a recommended decision based upon those findings and conclusions.  This report shall meet the standards for administrative findings set forth in Topanga Assn. for a Scenic Community v. County of Los Angeles, 11 Cal.3d 506 (1974). 

 

E. The Hearing Officer may question witnesses and/or request additional information from the Enforcement Officer or any party prior to closing the hearing. 

 

F.  Within a reasonable time following the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall make findings and issue a determination, as to each alleged violation, regarding:

 

1.   The existence of the violation and/or public nuisance;

2.  Whether a nuisance exists that requires abatement;

3.   The identity of each responsible Person;

4.   The failure of the violator or owner to take required corrective action within the required time period;

5.  The absence, or extent, of mitigating conditions or situations beyond the control of the Person subject to the order.

 

G. Findings shall be supported by evidence received at the hearing.

 

H.  If the Hearing Officer finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation has occurred and that the violation was not corrected within the time period specified in the Compliance order, the Hearing Officer shall issue an Administrative Order in accord with this Regulation; and may order reimbursement to the District for the District's administrative costs incurred in that proceeding pursuant to Rule 115.2-A.

 

I.  If the Hearing Officer finds that no violation has occurred or that the violation was corrected within the time period specified in the compliance order, the Hearing Officer shall issue a finding as to those facts; and may order reimbursement to the alleged violator for reasonable and necessary costs incurred to defend that proceeding pursuant to Rule 115.2-B.

 

J. If the Hearing Officer finds a nuisance requires abatement, the Hearing Officer Board shall also issue a nuisance abatement order and may impose any or all of the following:

 

1.   An order to discontinue the use of or certain activity at the subject property, temporarily or permanently, as needed to protect the health, safety or welfare of Persons or property on or near the subject property or to eliminate, lessen or prevent the continuation, exacerbation or reoccurrence of the detrimental impacts created by the public nuisance; and

 

2.   An order imposing conditions on the continued use of or certain activity at the subject property, as needed to protect the health, safety or welfare of Persons or property on or near the subject property or to eliminate, lessen or prevent the continuation, exacerbation or recurrence of the detrimental impacts created by the nuisance; and

 

3.   Where the implementation of conditions requires a permit or an amendment to an existing permit, an order conditioned upon the property owner applying for and obtaining the permit or modification of an existing permit applicable to the subject property.


Section Twenty:         Administrative Order

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 114.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 114.5   ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER.


If the Hearing Officer determines, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a violation or public nuisance occurred which was not corrected within the time period specified in the compliance order, the Hearing Officer shall issue an Administrative Order that imposes any or all of the following:

 

A.   An order to correct, including a schedule for correction where appropriate;

 

B.   Administrative penalties as provided in Rule 115.1;

 

C.   Administrative costs as provided in Rule 115.2.


Section Twenty-One: Administrative Penalties

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 115.1 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 115.1   ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

 

A.        In accord with this Regulation, the Hearing Officer may impose administrative penalties for the violation of any provision of these Rules and Regulations, or for allowing an unabated public nuisance, in an amount not to exceed a maximum of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) per day for each ongoing violation, except that the total administrative penalty shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) exclusive of administrative costs, interest and restitution for compliance re-inspections, for any related series of violations.

 

B.        Penalty fines for violation of the District Rules and Regulations, and the fine for any Administrative Citation, shall be set forth in the schedule of fines established, and periodically amended, by Resolution of the District Board.  The schedule of fines shall specify an increased penalty fine for repeat violation of the same provision by the same Person within thirty-six (36) months from the date of an Administrative Citation.  The schedule of fines shall specify the amount of any late payment charges imposed for the payment of a fine after its due date.

 

C.   In determining the amount of the administrative penalty, the Hearing Officer may take any or all of the following factors into consideration:

 

1.   The duration of the violation(s) and/or public nuisance;

 

2.   The frequency, recurrence and number of violations, related or unrelated, by the same violator or at the same site;

 

3.   The seriousness of each violation;

 

4.   The good faith efforts of the violator to come into compliance;

 

5.   The economic impact of the penalty on the violator;

 

6.   The impact of the violation on the community;

 

7.   Such other factors as justice may require.

 

D.   Administrative penalties shall accrue from the date specified in the compliance order and shall cease to accrue on the date the violation is corrected as determined by the Hearing Officer. 

 

E.   The Hearing Officer, in his or her discretion, may suspend the imposition of applicable penalties for any period of time during which:

 

1.   The violator has filed for necessary permits; and

 

2.   Such permits are required to achieve compliance; and

 

3.   Such permit applications are actively pending before the District, state or other appropriate governmental agency.

 

F.   Administrative penalties shall be due by the date specified in the Administrative Order.

 

G.   Administrative penalties are a debt owed to the District and, in addition to all other means of enforcement, if the violation is located on real property, may be enforced by means of a lien against the real property on which the violation occurred.

 

H.   If the violation is not corrected as specified in the Hearing Officer’s order to correct, administrative penalties shall continue to accrue on a daily basis until the violation is corrected, subject to the maximum amount set forth above in this Rule. 

 

I.   If the violator gives written notice to the General Manager that the violation has been corrected and if the General Manager finds that compliance has been achieved, the General Manager shall deem the date the written notice was postmarked or Personally delivered to the General Manager or the date of the final inspection, whichever first occurred, to be the date the violation was corrected.  If written notice is not provided to the General Manager, the violation will be deemed corrected on the date of the final inspection.


Section Twenty-Two: Administrative Costs

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 115.2 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 115.2   ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

 

A.     The Hearing Officer shall assess administrative costs against the violator when it finds that a violation has occurred and that compliance has not been achieved within the time specified in the Compliance order.

 

B.     The Hearing Officer shall assess administrative costs against the District when it finds that evidence available to the District before the hearing was convened that reasonably established that a violation had not occurred or that compliance had been achieved within the time specified in the Compliance order. 

 

C.     The administrative costs shall include reasonable and necessary costs incurred in connection with the matter before the Hearing Officer including, but not limited to, costs of investigation, costs incurred to prepare for the hearing and for the hearing itself, and costs for all re-inspections necessary to enforce the Compliance order.

 

D. The Hearing Officer may waive the assessment of administrative costs against either party where unique circumstances are present, or in the interests of justice.

 

Section Twenty-Three:          Interest

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 115.3 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 115.3   INTEREST.


Any Person who fails to remit payment to the District of any fee, fine, penalty, cost or any other charge required to be paid to the District pursuant to this Regulation on or before the date it is due shall, in addition to the amount of the fee, fine, penalty, cost, and charge, pay interest on the amount due at the rate of ten (10) percent per annum, pro-rata, from the date on which the amount due first became delinquent until the date that payment is received by the District.

 

 

Section Twenty-Four:            Failure to Comply

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 116 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 116      FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A COMPLIANCE ORDER.


Failure to pay assessed administrative penalties and/or administrative costs specified in the Administrative Order, or failure to pay additional administrative costs incurred due to non-compliance with compliance order itself, shall be enforced by the General Manager as:

 

1.   A Personal obligation of the violator; and/or

 

2.   If the violation is in connection with real property, a lien upon the real property.  The lien shall remain in effect until all of the administrative penalties, interest and administrative costs are paid in full.


Section Twenty-Five: Recovery of Penalties and Costs

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 116.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 116.5   RECOVERY OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES AND COSTS.


The General Manager shall collect administrative penalties and administrative costs by use of all available legal means, including recordation of a lien pursuant to Rule 119.5. 

 

Section Twenty-Six:   Report of Compliance

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 117 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 117      REPORT OF COMPLIANCE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE  ORDER.


When the General Manager determines that compliance has been achieved after a compliance order or nuisance abatement Cease and Desist Order has been sustained by the Hearing Officer, the General Manager shall file a report
with the Hearing Officer Panel indicating that compliance has been achieved.

 

Section Twenty-Seven:          Compliance Dispute

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 117.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 117.5   COMPLIANCE DISPUTE.

 

A.   If the General Manager does not file a report pursuant to Rule 117, above, any Person who believes that compliance has been achieved may request a compliance hearing before the Hearing Officer by filing a request for a hearing with the Presiding Officer of the Hearing Panel. 

 

B.   The hearing on the compliance dispute shall be noticed and conducted in the same manner as a hearing on a Compliance order provided in this Regulation.

 

C.   The Hearing Officer shall determine if compliance has been achieved and, if so, when it was achieved.  Based on this finding, the Hearing Officer may issue an Order to provide relief, or may impose further enforcement remedies.

 

Section Twenty-Eight:           Judicial Review

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 118 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 118      JUDICIAL REVIEW.


Any Person aggrieved by an Administrative Order of the Board under this Regulation, or by the final determination of any Hearing Officer under this Regulation, may obtain review of the Administrative Order in the Superior Court by filing with the court a petition for writ of mandate pursuant to the provisions and timelines set forth in Rule 16 of these Rules and Regulations and in accord with the California Government Code Section 53069.4.

 

Section Twenty-Nine:            Late Payment

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 119.1 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 119.1   LATE PAYMENT CHARGES.


Any Person who fails to pay to the District any fine imposed pursuant to the provisions of this Regulation on or before the date that fine is due also shall be liable for the payment of any applicable late payment charges set forth in the schedule of fines.


Section Thirty:                       Recovery

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 119.2 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 119.2   RECOVERY OF ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES AND COSTS.


The District may collect any past due Administrative Citation fines or late payment charges by use of all available legal means. 


Section Thirty-One:               Lien Procedure

 

A.        The existing text of Rule 113 shall be renumbered as RULE 119.3         LIEN PROCEDURE.  That existing text shall be labeled as Rule 119.3 A.

 

B.         The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 119.3 B through G, respectively, to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

B.   Whenever the amount of any administrative penalty and/or administrative cost imposed by the Board pursuant to this Regulation in connection with real property has not been satisfied in full within ninety (90) days and/or has not been successfully challenged by a timely writ of mandate, this obligation may constitute a lien against the real property on which the violation occurred.

 

C.   The lien provided herein shall have no force and effect until recorded with the County Recorder.  Once recorded, the Administrative Order shall have the force and effect and priority of a judgment lien governed by the provisions of Sections 697.340 of the Code of Civil Procedure and may be extended as provided in Sections 683.110 to 683.220, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure.

 

D.   Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the judgment remaining unsatisfied pursuant to law.

 

E.   Prior to recording any such lien, the General Manager shall prepare and file with the Board a report stating the amounts due and owing.

 

F.   The General Manager shall fix a time, date and place for hearing before he Board on the report and any protests or objections thereto. 

 

G.   The General Manager shall cause written notice to be served on the property owner not less than ten (10) days prior to the time set for the hearing.  Such notice shall be served as provided in this Regulation. 


Section Thirty-Two:               Lien Hearing

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 119.4 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 119.4   LIEN HEARING AND PROTESTS.

 

A.   Any Person whose real property is subject to a lien pursuant imposed by the District may file a written protest with the District and/or may protest orally at the Board meeting.

 

B.   Each written protest or objection must contain a description of the property in which the protesting party is interested and the grounds of such protest or objection.

 

C.   The Board, after the hearing, shall adopt a resolution confirming, discharging or modifying the amount of the lien.


Section Thirty-Three:            Recording of Lien

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 119.5 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 119.5   RECORDING OF LIEN.


Thirty (30) days following the adoption of a resolution by the Board imposing a lien the General Manager shall file the same as a judgment lien in the Office of the County Recorder of Monterey County, California.  The lien may carry such additional administrative charges as set forth by resolution of the Board. 


Section Thirty-Four:             Satisfaction of Lien

 

The following text, shown in bold, italic, underscored text (bold, italic, underscored text) shall be added as Rule 119.6 to the District Rules and Regulations, as follows:

 

RULE 119.6   SATISFACTION OF LIEN.


If payment in full is received by the District for outstanding penalties and costs, the General Manager shall either record a notice of satisfaction or provide the property owner or financial institution with a notice of satisfaction so they may record this notice with the Office of the County Recorder.  Such notice of satisfaction shall cancel the District's lien.

 

Section Thirty-Five:              Publication and Application

 

The provisions of this ordinance shall cause amendment and republication of the Rules and Regulations of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District as indicated.

Section Thirty-Six:                 Effective Date and Sunset

 

This ordinance shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the 30th day after it has been enacted on second reading.  This Ordinance shall not have a sunset date. 

 

Section Thirty-Seven:            Severability

 

If any subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity or enforcement of the remaining portions of this ordinance, or of any other provisions of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Rules and Regulations.  It is the District's express intent that each remaining portion would have been adopted irrespective of the fact that one or more subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unenforceable.

 

On motion by Director __________, and second by Director ____________, the foregoing ordinance is adopted upon this ______ day of ________________, 2007, by the following vote:

 

AYES: 

 

NAYS: 

 

ABSENT:       

 

I, David Berger, Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, hereby certify the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of an ordinance duly adopted on the ________ day of _____________ 2007.

 

Witness my hand and seal of the Board of Directors this ________ day of ____________ 2007.

                                                                                                                                               

                                                                        David Berger, Secretary to the Board

 

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