Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - November 17, 2021
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Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - November 17, 2021
The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (URAC) held a regular meeting on November 17, 2021, via Zoom, starting at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included a consent calendar, a public hearing on proposed rate adjustments for Recycling and Solid Waste (RSW) services, and a workshop on storm drainage rates. Commissioners present: Vice Chair Vander Werf, Commissioners Baring, Gutowski, and Lee. Chair Thomas and Commissioner Fidel were absent. The meeting adjourned after approximately 2 hours.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of October 27, 2021 Minutes: Approved unanimously (4-0).
- Teleconferencing Meetings During COVID-19 State of Emergency: Received and filed.
Public Comments & Testimony
On Recycling and Solid Waste Rate Adjustment (Item 3):
- Roz Farus: Questioned whether the city would apply for state SB 1383 funding; staff confirmed they are exploring grant opportunities.
- Oscar C: Asked about future reporting to ensure program goals are met; staff described annual state reports and an April 2022 compliance deadline.
- Alma Watson (phone caller, District 2): Opposed the rate increase, stating she is on a fixed income, has experienced rate increases without improved services, and uses only a small garbage can. She suggested the city use plan B funding if the majority protest.
- Dana (phone caller, Riviera Town Homes): Opposed the increase, citing fixed income, vegetarian diet (no food waste), a private road (no need for street sweeping), and infrequent garbage/recycling use. She questioned fees for yard waste collection in winter.
- Oscar C (Zoom caller): Opposed the rate increase, arguing it is unfair to add food waste to green waste while raising rates, and that it will burden the middle class and poor.
- Additional callers experienced technical difficulties and did not complete testimony.
On Storm Drainage Workshop (Item 4): No public comments were received.
Discussion Items
Item 3 – Public Hearing on Proposed Rate Adjustment for Recycling and Solid Waste Services
- Staff (John Febbo, General Manager) presented a three-year rate adjustment to address: SB 1383 organics mandate (unfunded state requirement), COVID-19 impacts, reserve restoration, and fleet/equipment needs. The proposal would increase single-family residential rates (64-gallon container) by $3.83 per month on April 1, 2022, Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024 (total $11.49, 26.98% increase). The rate includes street sweeping and supports a new food waste recycling program starting July 2022. Key statistics: 139,523 Prop 218 notices mailed, 195 written protests (16 invalidated). The fund would fall below its 90-day reserve without approval and become insolvent by FY 2025-26.
- Commissioners discussed: outreach to low-income and mobility-limited residents for free kitchen countertop containers, protest categories (illegal dumping, service decrease, COVID-19), and inclusion of SURA rate assistance program. Staff confirmed a plan to deliver containers upon request.
- Motion to recommend the rate adjustment to the Mayor and City Council; passed 4-0.
Item 4 – Storm Drainage Rate Workshop #4
- Staff (Bill Busath, Director of Utilities) and consultant (FM3 Research) presented results of a second survey of property owners on a proposed storm drainage fee increase (first since 1996). Survey mailed to 8,000 property owners; 1,104 responses received (margin of error ±3%). Overall, 66% of returned ballots indicated support for the increase-only option. Support was strongest among single-family residential and industrial properties; retail/commercial was split. No material impact from the concurrent solid waste rate notice. The survey included information on how funds would be used (e.g., water source protection, sewage overflow prevention).
- Next steps: Prop 218 protest mailer begins Nov. 29, 2021; a rate hearing at URAC in January 2022; city council authorization in February 2022; mail ballot election March 2022; adoption if successful by April 2022, with implementation July 1, 2022.
- Commissioners requested bolder messaging on the 25-year span since the last increase and noted the importance of public outreach. The item was received and filed (no vote required).
Key Outcomes
- RSW Rate Adjustment: URAC voted 4-0 to recommend the proposed three-step rate increase to the City Council. The recommendation includes the new food waste recycling program and associated outreach.
- Storm Drainage Fee: URAC received and filed the workshop information; the next step is a Prop 218 protest mailer followed by a formal rate hearing in January 2022.
Meeting Transcript
Vice Chair, we are live. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the November 17th, 2021 meeting for the Utilities Rate Advisory Commission. This meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish quorum? Yes, thank you. Commissioners, if you have not yet, please unmute and turn on your video. Commissioner Baring. Present. Commissioner Fidel is absent. Commissioner Gutowski. Oh my god, we can't turn our videos on. My apologies. You should have that ability now. Our apologies. Thank you for bringing that to our attention. Commissioner Lee. Present. Vice Chair Vanderwurf. Present. And Chair Thomas will be absent tonight. We have a quorum. Thank you so much, um, Clerk. So this meeting is um via Zoom. For members of the public who wish to join, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, please raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair confirms that public comment speaking period for the desired item online. If you click on the raise hand at the bottom of your screen, or if you're on the mobile app, in the you can raise your hand by tapping raise your hand option in in the more tab. And if you're on the telephone, if you um please raise your hand by dialing star nine, and then unmute yourself by star six. Speakers will be called by the last four digits of their phone number if you're using or if you're calling by phone. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on, and we will now proceed for to tonight's agenda. Our first business uh business tonight is uh approval of the consent calendar. Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Vice Chair, I have no members of the public with their hands raised to make comment on the consent calendar. And there are no members of the public in the call queue to make comment either. Great. Thank you so much. Are there any commissioners who was wish to speak on the consent calendar tonight? I do not see anyone raising their hands. So with that, is there a motion and a second for this item? So moved. Thank you. Um Commissioner Baring, is there a second? Seconded. Perfect. Thank you, Commissioner Lee. Um, with that, can the clerk please call the roll for vote? Yes, thank you. Again, commissioners, please unmute and turn on your video. Commissioner Baring. Yes. Commissioner Fidel is absent.
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