For my Fullerton neighbors:
Fullerton Ad Hoc Water Rate Study Committee Meeting – 3/11/19 (New Location)
The next, and likely last, meeting of the Fullerton Ad Hoc Water Rate Study Committee will be this Monday – 3/11/19 at 8 AM. The location has been changed to the Board Room at the Fullerton Community Center (directly across Commonwealth Ave. from the Library) in order to accommodate more members of the public.
The drafts of two important documents related to the new proposed water rates are now available. Note that these are not final, and may change following discussion at the the 3/11/19 meeting. I don’t think these documents are available on the city website, so I have posted them on a website that I manage.
The first document is the draft of the consultants’ complete rate study report with appendices: https://tinyurl.com/y67gnhgs
The second document is the draft of the consultants’ presentation for the 3/11 meeting where the new rates will be on the agenda: https://tinyurl.com/y3be5psr
If you are unable to attend Monday’s meetings, please read at least the second document, and send me your comments. I will send them to the ad hoc committee.
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Categories: Community Voices, Local Government, Local News
To: the Fullerton City Council Members March 22, 2019
Regarding: Water Rate Increase Proposal
The water bill effective July 1 will shock Fullerton residents. You will be creating a “gilets jaunes” event if you approve the Water Rate Increase proposal.
If you haven’t already done so, calculate the increase in your bill and you will be stunned. Assuming you are actively conserving water, the first year and cumulative 5 year increases are exorbitant.
You have done little to convince residents that our deteriorating water system infrastructure commands immediate funding. A water break every three days and well closures need to be addressed. However, there are several issues with the proposal:
• The incentive to conserve water is sadly shattered by the increase in water allowed at a reduced rate in the first tier. Water usage allowable at the first tier increases 68% in gallons per billing period and the cost per thousand gallons drops by 39%. Do we want to “maximize the amount of water pumped from the basin” or be smart and make smart choices?
• The biggest portion of the increase effective July 1 is to fund the water department. Maybe 25% of the increase goes to funding infrastructure replacement in the first 5 years.
• Replacement of infrastructure will advance at a snail’s pace. Although a California low-interest loan was discussed and may be available for projects affecting health issues, a bond to replace pipe at a faster rate was not considered.
• California AB 1668 and SB 606 water efficiency standards effective in June 2022 were not considered. The first tier should be a baseline for all residents. Subsequent tiers should include pass through and other costs.
• For transparency and comparisons, calculations for rate effects on residents should be based upon the current bimonthly billing period, not monthly. Effective July 1, the rate for a 1 inch meter will be $82.60 per billing period, an increase of 133%, before any water is used.
• For transparency, the bimonthly water bill should separate out cost for running the department, cost for water usage and costs for infrastructure repair.
• Residents who conserve water might request to change-out meters from 1” to 5/8” based upon the return on investment to make the replacement.
City of Fullerton elected officials have been derelict of duty concerning our city’s infrastructure & public roads while lining the pockets of high-ranking police & fire manager pension & fringes benefits.