Water district schedules Aug. 14 hearing for fire mitigation fee

Ramona Municipal Water District will hold a public hearing on the possible adoption of its fire mitigation fee and multi-year facilities and equipment plan at 2 p.m. on Aug. 14.

The hearing will be held in conjunction with the board of directors meeting in Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane.

Each year the district is required to file a fire mitigation fee program annual report with the director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness. The Multi-Year Facilities and Equipment Plan must be annually adopted at a noticed public hearing.

In the fire mitigation fee program, the county collects a fee from applicants when building permits are issued and the money is distributed to fire agencies in the program. Ramona Fire Department Battalion Chief Saul Villagomez said 27 fire protection districts in the county participate in the program.

In Ramona the mitigation fee for new construction or remodel is 46 cents per square foot. The fee is less for agricultural use buildings.

Funds from the program are used to update or expand fire stations or acquire equipment to meet growth needs in the community.

Fire mitigation revenues for Fiscal Year 2012-13 are estimated at $32,000, about the same as the district received in 2011-12, said Villagomez.