July
2008 | by Dave Druker
 Everyone
wants clean
water to
drink and wants
the water that
drains into
our ocean and
lagoons to be
clean. In the
past, Del Mar
has done a good
job of ensuring
the water that
goes into our
oceans and lagoons
is clean. But
over the past
seven years,
the state has
mandated a number
of changes that
have increased
the expense
for monitoring
and ensuring
the cleanliness
of the water
that is discharged
into our oceans
and lagoons.
The questions
now are how
to pay for these
changes and
how to comply
with the requirements
of Proposition
218.
Proposition
218 requires that
any consumption-based
rates such as
water and sewer
rates are subject
to a protest vote.
Furthermore, fees
such as the Clean
Water Fee must
be affirmatively
approved by property
owners. In early
2007, the City
Council took the
necessary steps
to comply with
Proposition 218
requirements by
holding two separate
public hearings
to receive written
protests on a
previously adopted
five-year rate
schedule. At that
time, the City
did not receive
a majority of
written protests
and the City Council
ratified the previously
approved rate
schedule, including
the City's Clean
Water Fee.
Clean
Water
Vote: Remember
to
watch
for
your
Clean
Water
Fee
mail-in
Ballot
that
should
arrive
in
mid-July. |
|
A
month ago, the
City sent out
notices to property
owners and ratepayers
notifying them
of a proposed
increase in the
Clean Water Fee.
On July 7, the
City Council will
conduct a public
hearing and may
again receive
written protests
based on the notices
that were sent
out at the end
of May. If a majority
of the affected
property owners/ratepayers
submits a written
protest prior
to the close of
the public hearing
on July 7, the
City cannot impose
the proposed Clean
Water Fee. If
there is no majority
protest, the proposed
fees are subject
to a second step
of voter approval
through a ballot
process that asks
the property owner
to vote on the
fees. The results
of the mail ballot
process which
is expected to
begin in mid-July
will determine
whether or not
the Council can
1) ratify the
Clean Water Fee
for the period
Fiscal Years 2005
through 2009,
and 2) adopt a
new Clean Water
Fee for Fiscal
Year 2010 and
beyond, increased
by the San Diego
Consumer Price
Index.
Failure
to implement this
rate increase
will impact General
Fund services
including: operating
programs; capital
projects; and/or
sustainable reserves.
The City will
continue to reduce
the costs mandated
by this Program
by implementing
efficient mechanisms,
as it has in the
past, but the
costs are still
substantial.
Dave
Druker is Mayor
of the City
of Del Mar.
© 2007-08 Del Mar Community Alliance, Inc. All rights reserved. |
