The city finds and declares that absent effective maintenance, operation, improvement, regulation and control, existing surface water drainage conditions in all drainage basins within the city constitute a potential hazard to the health, safety and general welfare of the city. The city council further finds that natural and manmade surface water facilities and conveyances together constitute a surface water drainage system and that effective regulation and control of surface water through formation, by the city, of a surface water utility requires the transfer to the utility of all surface water facilities and conveyances and related rights belonging to the city. (Ord. 1813 § 1, 1991)