HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-06; City Council; 18891; Request Public Hearing Past Increases Water Sewer Trash Fees15
CITY OF CARLSBAD AND CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT - AGENDA BILL
AB# 18,891
MTG. 2/6/07
DEPT. FIN
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR
PAST INCREASES FOR WATER,
f+^tM/^n M am Trt A f*LJ i i_ c^SEWER AND TRASH FEES
DEPT. HEAD ^§
CITY ATTY. _g
CITY MGR. <jC
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Resolutions No. 1289 and No. 2007-025 setting a public hearing on
April 3, 2007 regarding past increases for water, sewer and trash fees for properties within the
Carlsbad Municipal Water District and the City of Carlsbad.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
The California Supreme Court recently ruled that local governments must notify all water, sewer
and trash customers forty-five (45) days in advance of proposed rate changes, as required by
California Constitution Article XIIID and the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act
(Government Code Section 53753 et. seq.). Therefore, although the City is not proposing any
new rate increases, a majority-protest public hearing should be held to ratify any increases over
the past three years.
A majority-protest public hearing should be held to ratify prior rate increases. The public hearing
is held forty-five (45) days after noticing the ratepayers. Any person interested in objecting to
the increases may file a signed written protest with the City Clerk. The written protest must
contain the address of service, the rate change being protested, the ground or grounds of
protest and received prior to the close of the public hearing. The protestor may appear at the
hearing and be heard on the matter.
Staff is recommending that the following steps be taken to comply with this ruling:
• Affected utility customers are notified by mail of the public hearing.
• The notice (see Exhibit 1) outlines rate changes that have occurred in December
2003, August 2005, and August 2006.
• The notice outlines the protest process.
• The notice provides information relating to the public hearing.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Colette Wengenroth 760-602-2430 cwenq@ci.carlsbad.ca.us
FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY.
COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED
DENIED
CONTINUED
WITHDRAWN
AMENDED
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D
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CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC
CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN
RETURNED TO STAFF
OTHER - SEE MINUTES
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A majority-protest public hearing should be held regarding past water, sewer and trash rate
increases. Staff is recommending that the Board of Directors and City Council set a public
hearing to accept public comment on these increases.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to setting the majority-protest public hearing date.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the establishment or
modification of rates for the purpose of meeting operating expenses (CEQA Guidelines
Regulation 15273).
EXHIBITS:
1. Proposed Notice of Public Hearing.
2. Resolution No. 1289 of the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Municipal Water
District setting a public hearing ratifying water rate increases.
3. Resolution No. 2007-025 of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad setting a public
hearing ratifying sewer and trash rate increases.
Exhibit 1
Prior to the increases, the water and sewer fees had not changed since July
1999. As reflected on the previous page, even with these increases, the City's
rates continue to be among the lowest in the region. The City has been able to
hold off rate increases with effective cost management. However, due to rising
operating costs, the increased cost of water purchased from the San Diego
County Water Authority, and increased costs from the Encina Wastewater
Authority, the City needed to raise the rates.
Below is a summary of the fee increases already implemented that are the
subject of this hearing:
Monthly water service fees increased 5% in August 2006.
• The standard rates increased from $1.60 to $1.68.
• The conservation rate increased from $1.44 to $1.51.
• The recycled water rate increased from $1.52 to $1.60.
• The agricultural water rate increased from $1.29 to $1.37
Both residential and commercial monthly sewer service fees increased 8.5% in
August 2006.
• The residential fee increased from $13.50 to $14.65.
• The commercial fee increased 8.5%.
Residential monthly trash fees increased in August 2005 by 6%.
• The residential fee increased from $16.47 to $17.50.
Both residential and commercial monthly sewer service fees increased in August
2005.
• The residential monthly sewer service fee increased from $13.00 to
$13.50.
• The commercial sewer service fee increased 4%.
Residential monthly trash fees increased in December 2003 by 6%.
• The residential fee increased from $14.52 to $16.47.
A detailed schedule of our water and sewer utility rates is attached.
»
For questions about the public hearing process,
lease contact the Finance Department's Customer Service Dept.
at (760) 602-2403
Exhibit 1
CITY OF CARLSBAD AND CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
RATES & CHARGES AS OF 7/31/2006
Commodity Rates
Meter Size
5/8"
3/4"
1"
1-1/2"
2"
3"
4"
6"
8"
Current
Conservation Rate 1
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
$1.44
Units/Mo,
(or less)
7
10
16
30
45
79
123
228
336
5% Adjustment
Conservation Rate
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
$1.51
Units/Mo,
(or less)
7
10
16
30
45
79
123
228
336
Standard (Base) Rate $1.60 $1.68
Recycled Water Rate $1.52 $1.60
Agricultural Water Rate'$1.29 $1.37
1 Conservation Rate is 90 percent of Standard (Base) Rate.
2 Recycled Water Rate is 95 percent of Standard (Base) Rate.
3 Agricultural Water Rate is $0.31 off the Standard (Base) Rate (per the MWD "Interim Agricultural Water Program").
Monthly Delivery Charges
Meter Size
5/8"
3/4"
1"
1-1/2"
2"
3"
4"
6"
8"
Current
$9.25
$1 1 .75
$16.75
$29.25
$44.25
$79.50
$129.50
$254.50
$404.50
5% Adjustment
$9.75
$12.35
$17.60
$30.70
$45.45
$83.45
$136.00
$267.25
$424.75
Wastewater (Sewer) Rates
User Category
Group 1 Residential
Single Family
Multi-Familyf
Mobile Home1
Group II Commercial "*
Group III Commercial £
Group IV Commercial *
Group V Institutional
Schools per ADA3
Elementary
Junior
High
Boarding
Group VI Large Volume
Current
Unit Cost
($/hcf of water)
$1.92
$1.92
$1.59
$2.09
$3.30
$0.21*
$0.41*
$0.61*
$3.04*
(based on volume and
wastewater strengths)
Uniform Rate
$13.50
—
——
...
8.5% Adjustment
Unit Cost
(S/hcf of water)
$2.08
$2.08
$1.73
$2.27
$3.58
$0.23*
$0.44*
$0.66*
$3.30*
(based on volume and
wastewater strengths)
Uniform Rate
$14.65
—
—
—
- —
' Wastewater flow is 90 percent of metered water use.
2 Non-residential wastewater flow is 95 percent of metered water use.
3 Schools: assumes a 200-day working year; ADA: average daily attendance.
* Denotes charge per student based on ADA.
Exhibit 2
1 RESOLUTION NO. 1289
2 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT (CMWD), TO
3 SET A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PAST INCREASES
4 IN WATER RATES.
5
WHEREAS, the California Supreme Court recently made a ruling that local
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governments must hold a public majority-protest hearing, and notify customers forty-five
7
(45) days in advance of increases in water rates; and8
„ WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District increased water rates in
10 August 2006; and
11 WHEREAS, a public hearing must be held regarding the increase in water rates.
12 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the
13 Carlsbad Municipal Water District, as follows:
14 1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
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2. That the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District sets a
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majority protest public hearing for Tuesday, April 3, 2007, in accordance with
18 law on these past rate increases.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Joint Special Meeting of the
Carlsbad City Council and Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors held on
the 6th day of February, 2007, by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Council Member Sigafoose.
ATTEST:
LORRAINE M.'WOOD, Secretary
(SEAL)
-<*A
Exhibit 3
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2007-025
2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING
3 REGARDING PAST INCREASES IN SEWER AND TRASH
4 RATES.
5
WHEREAS, the California Supreme Court recently made a ruling that local
6
governments must hold a public majority-protest hearing, and notify customers forty-five
7
(45) days in advance of increases in sewer and trash rates; and8
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad increased sewer rates in August 2006 and
August 2005; and
11 WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad increased trash rates in August 2005 and
12 December 2003; and
13 WHEREAS, a public hearing must be held regarding the increase in sewer and
14 trash rates.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
16
Carlsbad, California, as follows:
17
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.18
19 2. That the City Council of the City of Carlsbad sets a majority protest public
20 hearing for Tuesday, April 3, 2007, in accordance with law on these past rate
21 increases.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Joint Special Meeting of the
Carlsbad City Council and Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors held on
the 6th day of February, 2007, by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Council Member Sigafoose.
LORRAINE M. WOOD.City Clerk'
<SEAL>