City to host public hearing regarding water rate increases
If written protests are not presented by a majority of property owners, council will be authorized to impose rate increase
–The Paso Robles City Council of the City of Paso Robles will conduct a public hearing on the proposed increases to water rates on Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles City Council Chambers, located at 1000 Spring St.
A notice is being sent to all city property owners and tenants receiving water service. If adopted, the proposed new rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2017 with increases annually thereafter for four years. All property owners/tenants and other interested parties are invited to attend the public hearing and be heard on the matter.
The city operates a complex drinking water system with three different sources of water, including: Salinas River alluvial wells, Lake Nacimiento surface water, and groundwater wells. The water system includes more than 170 miles of pipe, four storage facilities, and seven booster stations serving about 10,000 homes and businesses. The city recently constructed a 2.4 million gallons per day water treatment plant to treat Lake Nacimiento water during the summer peak use months.
In the next few years, the city will need to replace the 90-year-old 21st Street reservoir at an estimated cost of $8.4 million, and provide for four million gallons per day of water treatment throughout the year, at an estimated cost of $30 million. In addition, the city has many water lines that need to be replaced. The city was founded in 1889 and there are many water lines that are very old and at significant risk of failure if a regular replacement program is not funded and implemented. The 2014 Water Master Plan identifies $28.8 million of needed pipeline replacements in the next 30 years, as well as $32.9 million in other capital upgrades to the drinking water system.
The rate increases were calculated based on the actual costs of operating the water utility, including meeting the state and federal mandates, providing safe and reliable drinking water to the entire city every day, meeting debt obligations, and providing for infrastructure to treat, pipe, and pump the water. The calculations determined that a significant portion of the costs are fixed and do not vary with the volume of water delivered in a given month. The remaining costs are variable costs, so the more water a customer uses, the more they should pay (such as the costs for chemical and electricity). The rate increases were calculated to be the lowest amounts necessary to meet the overall needs of the water system while properly serving the customers, and properly operating, maintaining and replacing the infrastructure as needed. The rates were calculated based on the analysis included in the 2014 Water Master Plan, the 2004 Lake Nacimiento water agreement, state and federal drinking water standards, government accounting standards, and generally recognized engineering and potable water principles.
Details on the water operating expenses and revenue requirements are addressed in the October 2015 “Water Rate, Facility Charge, and Revenue Analysis” for the City of Paso Robles by Water Consultancy, Inc./HDR, Inc. A copy of the report can be viewed at www.PasoWater.com.
Proposed rate increases:
January 1, 2017 13-percent
January 1, 2018 9-percent
January 1, 2019 9-percent
January 1, 2020 7-percent
January 1, 2021 7-percent
How to be heard
Any record owner of a parcel upon which the water rates are proposed for imposition and any tenant directly liable for the payment of water rates may submit a written protest to the proposed rate increases to the city’s water rates; provided, however, only one written protest will be counted per identified parcel.
Any written protest must:
- State that the identified property owner or tenant is in opposition to the proposed increases to the water rates;
- Provide the location of the identified parcel (by street address or assessor’s parcel number (APN); and
- Include the name and signature of the property owner or tenant submitting the protest.
Written protests may be submitted by mail or in person to the city clerk at 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446, or at the public hearing, provided they are received prior to the close of the public hearing, which will occur when the public testimony on the proposed increases and adjustments is concluded. Any protest submitted via email or other electronic means will not be accepted.
Please identify on the front of the envelope for any written protest, whether mailed or submitted in person to the City Clerk, Attn: Public Hearing on Water Rate Increases.
The council will hear and consider all written protests and oral comments to the proposed rate increases at the public hearing. Oral comments at the public hearing will not qualify as formal protests unless accompanied by a written protest. Upon the conclusion of the public hearing, the council will consider the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the rate increases to the city’s water rates as described in this notice. If written protests against the proposed rate increases and adjustments to the water rates as outlined above are not presented by a majority of property owners of the identified parcels and tenants upon which the water rates are proposed to be imposed, the council will be authorized to impose the respective rate increases and adjustments. If adopted, the proposed rate increases to the water rates will be in effect beginning Jan. 1, 2017, with increases annually thereafter.
For more information or questions about the proposed water rate increases, contact the Paso Robles Department of Public Works at (805) 237-3861 or visit the website for the Paso Robles water rates at www.PasoWater.com.
Comments
