And by the 1920s, Sacramentans had developed a love of shade trees and gardens to combat the summer heat. Only Fresno and Modesto have similar provisions in their city charters. The prohibition is so unusual in California that many new residents, who come from cities where metering is taken for granted, are surprised to learn about it. Any attempt to change the provision of the City Charter would require a two-thirds vote of the people. No elected official is likely to advance any mandatory metering proposal.
State law does require the installation of meter casings and pipes on all new homes.
But the law doesn't require actual meters to be hooked up or read. Casey thinks a local effort to change the charter won't work because the issue is too politically charged. It really ruffles people's feathers. Previous attempts in the state legislature to force a change of the City Charter have been made, but failed. Sacramento's unwillingness to meter has caused resentment among other communities downstream that need more water.