San Juan Bautista
– The City Council is moving forward with substantial increases
to water and sewer rates.
San Juan Bautista – The City Council is moving forward with substantial increases to water and sewer rates.
The council voted Tuesday to notify property owners of the proposed rate increases, as required by Proposition 218.
San Juan Bautista last increased rates in 2005, but City Manager Jan McClintock said those hikes only addressed the increase in costs since rates were raised in the 1990s.
“What these (new) rates are designed to do is pay back the bonds needed for new work,” McClintock said.
In particular, McClintock said the rate increases are necessary if the Mission City’s water infrastructure improvements – which includes construction of a new water treatment plant and pipes – are going to proceed. She emphasized that San Juan Bautista needs to move ahead with the infrastructure project, not only to improve the city’s water, but also to avoid huge fines from the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The city plans to fund $5.5 million of the project’s $10.2 million cost by selling bonds. The remaining money is expected to come from state and federal grants.
Under the proposed hikes, water rates would increase 86 percent on April 20, with further increases in 2008 and 2009. Wastewater rates would also increase 7 percent every year until 2010.
During the meeting, San Juan Bautista resident Cara Vonk said she was concerned about water and wastewater connection fees, which would increase to $14,223 and $3,266, respectively. Vonk said developers should be able to handle the increases, but she wondered if an exception could be made for residents building a second unit on their property.
“A hook-up is a hook-up,” Councilman George Dias responded.
San Juan Bautista resident Gayle Sleznick said she is uncomfortable with the increases.
“That does hit us hard, because we’re retired and on a fixed income,” she said.
The council plans to consider adopting the new connection fees on Feb. 20, and the new rates on March 20. According to McClintock, if more than half of the affected property owners file written protests, the rate increases will be blocked.
The council also introduced an ordinance that would loosen restrictions on formula businesses – namely, chain or franchise stores that must conform to standardized practices. Under the proposed ordinance, formula businesses would be permitted if they addressed an unmet need.
As an example, McClintock noted that San Juan Bautista has no hardware store, and that one is unlikely to open unless it has the buying power of a chain like Ace or True Value.
A number of residents worried that chain businesses could threaten the city’s historical character, but some also said such stores might boost the Mission City’s ailing economy.
The council will consider approving the ordinance at its next meeting.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
