Letter: City must consider financial straits

In August of 2013, I attended a city council meeting where I suggested to the council that they consider lowering sewer rates to help offset the increase in water rates.
Currently, the city has one of the highest sewer rates in the state. It was encouraging to read in a recent article that the council was looking to reduce sewer rates to offset the increase in water rates.
It is important that the city council keep in mind what the community was told when the city was preparing to upgrade the sewer treatment plant back in 2006. The Wastewater Study given by Sanjay Gaur back on June 28, 2006 stated that, “When the moratorium is lifted and growth occurs, a lower sewer rate structure can be implemented”. Well, growth has occurred and the moratorium has been lifted.
Over the last five years homes and apartments have been built in several different areas of the city. At the current time, growth continues with KB homes back in town and more homes being built by Cerra Vista School and other areas.
It appears that growth will continue too. In a recent Free Lance article (2-14-14) a demographer’s report predicted 2,500 homes will be planned for our area in the near future. Also, a recent article in the San Jose Mercury stated that Bay Area residents are leaving the area for more affordable housing. Hollister was one of the cities mentioned.
It is my sincere hope that the city council will take into consideration the financial difficulties many families are facing and lower the sewer rates as soon as possible. The entire community would appreciate and welcome some relief. And most importantly, this is what we were told back in 2006. It is the right thing to do.
Aurelio Zuniga, Hollister