Jul 23, 2008

Residents fume over sewer hikes

Some rates skyrocket under new Los Altos formula

By Will Oremus / Daily News Staff Writer

Over the cries of dozens of livid residents whose fees will double, quadruple, or even multiply eightfold, the Los Altos City Council passed a new set of sewer rates it believes will more fairly spread the burden of rising costs.

Despite some reservations, notably by Council Member Lou Becker, the council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to adopt the changes recommended by the city's staff and consultants. Rather than charging a flat rate, the city will now base residents' sewer fees on the amount of water they use in certain months. The new formula is expected to increase revenue by 34 percent overall, partly to pay for needed upgrades to the system.

But some people, particularly in single-family homes, will be hit hard by the new fees.

That's because the city's formula ties rates to estimates of usage to encourage conservation and guard against claims of unfairness. The state Supreme Court recently ruled that cities can't subsidize some utility users by overcharging others.

To the residents who packed council chambers to protest the changes, however, the new system appears far from fair.

Bill Lonergan said he was "flabbergasted" to receive a letter from the city showing that his rates would jump 450 percent. "How you can introduce that in one fell swoop is beyond belief," he told the council.

Tom Lynch's estimated increase makes Lonergan's seem modest by comparison. He said his bill will rise from $285 per year to $2,250.

Lynch admitted he uses a lot of water, but said the bulk of it is for irrigation - meaning it never enters the sewer system.
"I think it's unfair I'm being penalized because my lawn's well-landscaped," he said.

The city admits the formula isn't perfect. To gauge sewer usage accurately would require separate sewer meters for each user, which would be prohibitively expensive.

Instead, the model tries to capture the difference between sewer water and irrigation by basing rates on usage only in the winter months. The assumption is that people don't need to water their lawns and gardens as much in winter because of the rain.

For people who still feel they're being overcharged, the new system comes with an appeal process, which its saving grace, some council members said.

Becker wasn't so sure. He echoed several residents who said the number of people whose rates will skyrocket suggests the formula is flawed and staff could be flooded with appeals. Still, he voted for the changes on the condition that staff deal carefully with complaints.

Council Member Ron Packard agreed the new system is "messy." He said his own rate will rise above $1,200. But he said he doesn't see a better alternative, especially with a deadline looming for the city to adopt its rates for 2008-2009.

Council Member David Casas pointed out that while many residents will pay more, about 20 percent will pay less under the new system.

Looking out over the 60 or more people who turned out to Tuesday's meeting, Casas said, "I'm willing to take the heat, because I realize that 50 years from now we need to have a strong sewer system."



E-mail Will Oremus at woremus@dailynewsgroup.com