As used in this chapter, “water district” means any district or other political subdivision, other than a city or county, a primary function of which is the irrigation, reclamation, or drainage of land or the diversion, storage, management, or distribution of water primarily for domestic, municipal, agricultural, industrial, recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, flood control, or power production purposes. “Water districts” include, but are not limited to, irrigation districts, county water districts, California water districts, water storage districts, reclamation districts, county waterworks districts, drainage districts, water replenishment districts, levee districts, municipal water districts, water conservation districts, community services districts, water management districts, flood control districts, flood control and floodwater conservation districts, flood control and water conservation districts, water management agencies, water agencies, and public utility districts formed pursuant to Division 7 (commencing with Section 15501) of the Public Utilities Code.
Chapter 2Compensation of Water District Directors
Section § 20200
This law defines what a 'water district' is in California. A water district is basically a government unit, other than a city or county, that's mainly responsible for handling water-related tasks. These include irrigation, reclaiming land, managing drainage, and overseeing the diversion, storage, and distribution of water. The water might be used for various purposes such as domestic, agricultural, industrial, and more. The statute lists specific types of districts that fall under the term 'water district', including irrigation districts, water storage districts, and flood control districts, among others.
water district irrigation reclamation drainage water management domestic water use municipal water agricultural water industrial water flood control power production irrigation districts water storage districts reclamation districts public utility districts
Section § 20201
This law allows governing boards of water districts to pay their members up to $100 each day they attend meetings or perform board duties. However, if the board wants to pay more than $100 per day, they must pass a specific ordinance. Any increases in pay should be authorized by the board, not by the Legislature. Additionally, whether a board member's activities on a particular day are eligible for compensation is determined by another section of the government code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing board of any water district may, by ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter, provide compensation to members of the governing board, unless any compensation is prohibited by its principal act, in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each day’s attendance at meetings of the board, or for each day’s service rendered as a member of the board by request of the board, and may, by ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter, in accordance with Section 20202, increase the compensation received by members of the governing board above the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per day.
It is the intent of the Legislature that any future increase in compensation received by members of the governing board of a water district be authorized by an ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter and not by an act of the Legislature.
For purposes of this section, the determination of whether a director’s activities on any specific day are compensable shall be made pursuant to Article 2.3 (commencing with Section 53232) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code.
water district compensation board member pay daily attendance fees ordinance increase compensable activities governing board duties member service compensation per diem limit compensation ordinance pay increase authorization government code requirements board meeting attendance director activities compensation
Section § 20201.5
This law states that when members of a water district's governing board get reimbursed for their expenses, the rules set out in Government Code Sections 53232.2 and 53232.3 must be followed.
Reimbursement for expenses of members of a governing board of a water district is subject to Sections 53232.2 and 53232.3 of the Government Code.
water district governing board expense reimbursement board member expenses Government Code 53232.2 Government Code 53232.3 expense approval public funds compensation rules reimbursement guidelines district board expenses legal compliance official expenses policy
Section § 20202
This law allows a water district's governing board to increase their daily compensation beyond $100 by up to 5% each year, starting from the last pay adjustment. However, board members can only be paid for a maximum of 10 days in any given month.
In any ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter to increase the amount of compensation which may be received by members of the governing board of a water district above the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per day, the increase may not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent, for each calendar year following the operative date of the last adjustment, of the compensation which is received when the ordinance is adopted.
No ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter shall authorize compensation for more than a total of 10 days in any calendar month.
water district compensation governing board pay increase daily compensation limit 5 percent annual increase compensation adjustment maximum compensation days ordinance for compensation board member payment cap monthly pay limit water board ordinance restrictions
Section § 20203
This law allows water districts mentioned in another section to create rules or ordinances. Before making these rules official, they must hold a public hearing. The public must be informed of the hearing by having a notice published in a widely-read local newspaper.
Any water district described in Section 20201 is authorized to adopt ordinances pursuant to this chapter. No ordinance shall be adopted pursuant to this chapter except following a public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code.
water district ordinances public hearing notice requirements publication newspaper notice general circulation Section 6066 Government Code local newspaper rule adoption public participation
Section § 20204
This law states that any ordinance passed by a water district will take effect 60 days after it is finalized. It also gives voters in the water district the right to challenge these ordinances by petitioning for a referendum, as outlined in this chapter.
An ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter shall become effective 60 days from the date of its final passage. The voters of any water district shall have the right, as provided in this chapter, to petition for referendum on any ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter.
water district ordinance effective date 60 days voter rights petition for referendum water district governance final passage ordinance challenge local ordinances referendum petition process community involvement water management district regulations local government ordinances citizen engagement
Section § 20205
This law states that if a petition is submitted against a new ordinance by a water district's governing board before the ordinance takes effect, the ordinance is paused and must be reconsidered by the board. If more than 500,000 votes were cast in the last governor's election, a referendum on the ordinance can happen if 5% of those voters sign a petition. If fewer than 500,000 votes were cast in that election, then 10% of the voters' signatures are needed for a referendum.
If a petition protesting against the adoption of the ordinance is presented to the governing board of the water district prior to the effective date of the ordinance, the ordinance shall be suspended and the governing board shall reconsider the ordinance.
If the number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election within the boundaries of the water district exceeds 500,000, the ordinance is subject to referendum upon presentation of a petition bearing signatures of at least 5 percent of the entire vote cast within the boundaries of the water district for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election. If the number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election within the boundaries of the water district is less than 500,000, the ordinance is subject to referendum upon presentation of a petition bearing signatures of at least 10 percent of the entire vote cast within the boundaries of the water district for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election.
water district ordinance petition protest suspend ordinance governing board reconsider ordinance voter threshold gubernatorial election referendum process voter signatures 500 000 votes 5 percent threshold 10 percent threshold effective date of ordinance presentation of petition vote cast for Governor
Section § 20206
If there's a petition against a certain ordinance, the governing board must let the voters decide on it. They can do this during a regular election or a special one created just for this. The ordinance will only go into effect if more than half the voters agree with it. If they don't approve it, the board can't try to pass a similar ordinance for at least a year.
If the governing board does not entirely repeal the ordinance against which a petition is filed, the governing board shall submit the ordinance to the voters either at a regular election or a special election called for the purpose. The ordinance shall not become effective unless and until a majority of the votes cast at the election are cast in favor of it. If the ordinance is not approved by the voters, no new ordinance may be adopted by the governing board pursuant to this chapter for at least one year following the date of the election.
governing board election petition against ordinance voter approval special election regular election ordinance repeal majority vote ordinance validity one-year restriction local government ordinance voter decision direct democracy electoral process legal ordinance procedures local legislative actions
Section § 20207
This law section states that, unless this chapter says otherwise, the rules in the Elections Code about how to challenge district laws through a referendum will apply to ordinances that have been petitioned against.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of the Elections Code applicable to the right of referendum on legislative acts of districts shall govern the procedure on ordinances against which a petition is filed.
referendum process district ordinances petition procedure Elections Code regulations challenging legislative acts local government ordinances petition against ordinances voter referendum rights legislative act challenges ordinance referendum district legislative acts election laws on referendums petition filing rules district law challenges local legislative procedure
