The Paso Robles City Council voted unanimously this week to select a water rate method and authorize customer notification and the protest ballot process.

The new, uniform rates structure formulated to help pay for the city's portion of the Nacimiento Water Project and differs from a past proposal because it eliminates a flat fee and tiered rate system. As proposed, the uniform rates structure would eliminate an $18 flat fee for all water customers and instead charge simply by the unit, or 748 gallons, with no tiered system. As it stands now, the city charges $1.32 per unit of water. The cost per unit is estimated to increase to $2.50 per unit in 2011, $3.20 per unit in 2012, $3.70 per unit in 2013, $4.10 per unit in 2014 and $4.40 per unit in 2015.

If approved during a public hearing on the proposed increases slated for Tuesday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles Library/City Hall Conference Center, the new rates would take effect on Jan. 1, 2011 with annual increases each Jan. 1 up to and including Jan. 1, 2015. The city is inviting all property owners, tenants or other interested parties to attending the public hearing.

Tuesday's public hearing that included comments and accusations by several semi-regular speakers from the public including members of the opposition group Concerned Citizens for Paso Robles [CCPR], along with council regulars and North County Engineering's Larry Werner, who spoke in favor of moving forward with the proposed rates structure. During the hearing, City Attorney Iris Yang responded to what was described as misinformation in regard to comments made by members of CCPR. In addition, City Manager Jim App responded to a number of concerns and opinions expressed by the speakers, including but not limited to why Paso Robles was not pursuing a tiered rates structure and why the city cannot provide the first five units of water for free to customers. Members of the City Council spoke favorably about the new water rates structure. Many of the comments, suggestions, opinions and questions asked during the council meeting were the same, or similar to those expressed in the past, with a few exceptions.

CCPR leader John Borst alleged that the city was being "deceptive" by numbers represented in a report completed by Kennedy/Jenks, a contractor who has performed extensive work for the city's water rates planning.

During council comments, Mayor Duane Picanco defended city officials against accusations made by Borst that the city was acting unethically.

"The situation which is before the council tonight reminds me of the fairy tale 'The emperor's new clothes.' Like the little boy in the story who awakened the town's people to a fraud the Emperor and tailors tried to get away with, I too say the proposal before the council tonight is a fraud, a deception upon the voting public.

"It seems that there is a double standard here....



For the complete article see the 02-05-2010 issue.

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