Supreme Court of California

Capacity and fire suppression fees imposed as a condition of making a new connection to a water system, the proceeds of which are used to finance capital improvements, are not "property assessments" or "property-related fees" subject to the voter approval requirements of article XIII D of the California Constitution.

Appellate Information

• Decided 02/09/2004
• Published 02/09/2004

Judges

• KENNARD, J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
•  Law Offices of Walter P. McNeill and Walter P. McNeill, Redding, for Plaintiffs and Appellants., Trevor A. Grimm, Los Angeles, Jonathan M. Coupal, Sacramento, and Timothy A. Bittle for Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants., Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and David P. Lanferman, San Francisco, for California Building Industry Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Law Office of David L. Edwards, David L. Edwards, Redding;  Colantuono, Levin & Rozell, Michael G. Colantuono and Sandra J. Levin, Los Angeles, for Defendant and Respondent., Betsy Strauss, City Attorney (Rohnert Park) for 84 California Cities, the Association of California Water Agencies and the California State Association of Counties as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent., Law Office of William D. Ross and William D. Ross, Los Angeles, for California Fire Chiefs Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent.