A. Create, supervise and direct the operations of a city water department and any municipal water service activities assigned to or administered by any other department of the city;

B. Make recommendations to the city council regarding the establishment of municipal and agricultural water rates and rates for Kern River sand sales by the council;

C. Make recommendations to the city council for acquisition and sale of real property required to carry out the policies and purposes set forth herein;

D. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, annually a budget for the operation of the water system, which shall be subject to approval by the city council;

E. Control and order the expenditure of moneys received from the sale and use of water for the defraying of expenses or maintenance and repairs and operation of the city’s water facilities, and for any expenses for additions to the same;

F. Collect all charges for water rates or from water sales or exchanges, or from use of any city-owned land for purposes relating to water storage, spreading, distribution or delivery;

G. Conduct surveys and investigations pertinent to the water supply and resources of the city;

H. Appropriate, acquire by purchase, gift, devise, lease and conserve, lease, mortgage, deed in trust, hold, manage, and control water and water rights for any useful purpose and such other property as its interests may require;

I. Store, spread and recharge water and construct dams, reservoirs, canals, ditches and conduits, spreading basins, drilling wells and storm water basins;

J. Drill, construct, install and operate wells, pumps, pipelines, conduits, canals, valves, headgates, meters, and other appurtenances to such wells, pipelines, canals and conduits, and pump water therefrom and thereby for sale, delivery, distribution, or other disposition;

K. Deliver, distribute, exchange or otherwise dispose of any water, or water rights, other than by sale, that may be stored or appropriated, owned or controlled by the city;

L. Appoint and employ such consultants as the board deems necessary or advisable to accomplish its purposes;

M. Contract for services, tools, implements, machinery and equipment as the board deems expedient or advisable to perform the work which it deems necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes set forth herein;

N. Provide for the payment, from the water fund, of all the debts of and just claims against the board;

O. Disseminate information concerning the rights, properties, activities, operations, plans and proposals of the board;

P. Regulate, control, manage, renew, repair, replace, and preserve the water facilities and related lands of the city, to conserve and augment and to preserve the underground water supply in the areas surrounding the city;

Q. Enter into and make contracts, on behalf of the city, to effect and carry out any of the duties enumerated or powers delegated herein;

R. Make rules and regulations governing the conduct of the board and setting the time and dates for meetings;

S. Provide general direction to the manager of the water resources department regarding the operations of that department;

T. Oversee the operation of the Kern River Levee District as directed by the city council, and report annually on said operations to the city council. (Ord. 4961 § 1, 2019; Ord. 3967 §§ 7, 8, 2000; Ord. 2981 § 3, 1985; Ord. 2632 § 1, 1981)