Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - January 26, 2022: Storm Drainage Fee Recommendation
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Utilities Rate Advisory Commission Meeting - January 26, 2022
The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (URAC) held a teleconference meeting on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) via Zoom. The primary focus was a public hearing on a proposed new property-related Storm Drainage fee and a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council. The commission also unanimously approved the consent calendar and deferred the selection of chair and vice chair to a future meeting.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting minutes of November 17, 2021.
- Passed a motion to continue teleconferencing meetings during the COVID-19 state of emergency (30-day finding).
- Received and filed the 2022 regular meeting calendar.
- Received and filed the Official City of Sacramento Land Acknowledgement.
- Received and filed the Department of Utilities Accountability Plan Update for the 1st quarter of Fiscal Year 2022.
- The consent calendar passed 4-0 with Chair Thomas abstaining.
Public Comments & Testimony
On Item 6 (Proposed Storm Drainage Fee):
- Stephen Maviglio (identified as a progressive) stated there is no dispute the fee is needed but questioned the timing, citing business closures, housing affordability, and recent rate increases. He suggested phasing the increase and noted that federal infrastructure funds ($1 trillion deal) could be used for this purpose. He urged the commission to consider the macro economic impact.
- Roxanne Fuentes opposed the fee, arguing that federal funding (including $8.3 billion for wastewater and $1.15 billion for water storage) should be used instead. She expressed concerns about environmental impacts on wildlife, concrete ditches, and financial burdens on homeowners and renters during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Clarence Cohorn (representing St. Luke's Lutheran Church) asked whether the fee was a replacement for or an addition to the existing fee. Director Bill Busath confirmed it is an additional fee. Mr. Cohorn expressed concern that the church, with half its property vacant, could see its drainage fee rise to $7,000–$8,000, placing a severe burden on a small church already losing attendance and income due to COVID-19.
On Matters Not on the Agenda:
- Angela Tangetty (via written comments previously) questioned the effectiveness of street sweeping services and whether goals are being met, particularly for bike lanes and drainage. She asked how written comments are used by the commission. Chair Thomas committed to providing her contact information to Department of Public Works for follow-up.
- Clarence Cohorn (again) reiterated his concerns about the added fee and requested a formal appeals process. Director Busath offered to provide email guidance on how to challenge the fee.
Discussion Items
Item 6: Public Hearing on Proposed Department of Utilities Storm Drainage Property Related Fee
- Director Bill Busath presented an overview: The city's storm drainage system (137 basins, 105 pump stations, 68 miles of levees) is largely pumped and underfunded. The current fee has not been increased since 1996. The proposed new fee (~$0.02 per square foot of impervious surface per year) would generate revenue for capital improvements (estimated $240 million in needed projects). A Proposition 218 protest mailer was sent to ~155,000 property owners; protests received were less than 0.2% (under 300). A survey in September-October 2021 showed about two-thirds of respondents would probably or definitely vote in favor.
- The fee would be placed in a separate fund and could generate ~1,300 jobs over 10 years. The Department recommends including the fee in the Sacramento Utility Rate Assistance Program (SURA), which currently provides a ~36% discount to ~8,500 participants.
- Commissioners discussed: Commissioner Lee asked about the discount and potential use of federal grants. Commissioner Fidell expressed support, noting the need is clear and the rate design is well-targeted despite the difficulty of rate increases.
- The commission voted 4-1 to recommend the new storm drainage fee and a mailed ballot election to the Mayor and City Council. Voting yes: Commissioners Fidell, Gutowski, Lee, and Vice Chair Vanderwerf. Voting no: Chair Thomas.
Item 7: Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for 2022
- This item was pulled and will be taken up at the next meeting.
Commissioner Comments and Ideas:
- Commissioner Fidell requested a future presentation on federal grant opportunities (stormwater, water, wastewater) from the Department's Government Affairs lead (Ann Sanger). Director Busath agreed to arrange this.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (4-1) a motion recommending a new property-related Storm Drainage fee and a mailed ballot election to the Mayor and City Council. The ballot would be mailed to property owners by February 14, 2022, with ballots due March 16, 2022.
- The selection of Chair and Vice Chair for 2022 was deferred to the next meeting.
- The Department will coordinate a presentation on federal grants for a future agenda.
- The City Clerk will provide contact information for public works follow-up on street sweeping concerns.
- Director Busath offered to provide St. Luke's Lutheran Church with information on how to challenge or appeal the new fee.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, thank you, Chair. We are live and staff is ready when you are. I change my background. Let's go. Good evening and welcome to the Wednesday, January 26, 2022 meeting. I'm sitting there waiting. We do that's the well, first of all, happy new year to everyone as I sit here in stone silence with my colleagues looking at me. Um this is the 26th January 2022 uh utility rate advisory commission meeting, better known as UREC. The meeting is now called to order. Uh will the Kirk please call the role to establish a quorum, please. Yes, thank you, Chair members. If you can please unmute and turn on your video, Commissioner Baring is absent this evening. Commissioner Fidel. I'm here, Commissioner Gutowski. Here Commissioner Lee. Vice Chair Vanderworf. Here and Chair Thomas. Present. Thank you. We have quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um this meeting is virtual via Zoom. For members of the public um who wish to join, uh please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, uh raise your hand uh to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment speaking period for your desired item. Also, if you're online, uh click on the raise hand at the bottom of your screen. In addition, if on the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. If you are calling in tonight and you'd like to have a statement regarding an issue, raise to raise your hand, Dow star nine, then to unmute or or mute now star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on, and now we will now proceed with today's agenda. Um I know this is a little little difficult, but um, we are going to be acknowledging uh those indigenous people. Um I am asking folks to please stand if they can. If they can't, um please understand. I understand. So if you would rise for the opening acknowledgement in honor of the Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands, please. Ni Sainan people, the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Mi Walk, the Putwin Wind Tune peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who come before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento Indigenous People's History Contributions and lives. Thank you very much to all. You may be seated. Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Chair, I have no members of the public with their hands raised to make comment on the consent calendar tonight. Okay. Do our hear a motion and a second for consent calendar. I move that we adopt the consent calendar. Commissioner Gutkowski seconds. McCurk, please call the room. Yes, thank you. Again, members, if you have not, please unmute and turn on your video. Commissioner Baring is absent tonight. Commissioner Fedel. Hi.
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