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· Published three display ads in the Daily News with information about the <br />proposed rate increases along with the date, time, and location of the June 13, <br />2016 public hearing. <br />· Held two community meetings that provided an in-depth overview of why rates <br />are increasing and information about the rate protest process. <br />· Mailed over 20,000 notices of the increase according to Proposition 218 <br />notification processes on April 26, 2016. <br />· Posted all of the above information on the City’s website. <br /> <br />To date, the City has received 13 letters protesting the water service charge increases. <br /> <br />On June 13, 2016, the City conducted a Proposition 218 public hearing on the proposed <br />increase to water utility service rates and charges and introduced the Ordinance <br />amending Redwood City municipal code section 38.5 (Water Service Charge). <br /> <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />According to the requirements of Proposition 218, the City must receive protests from <br />more than fifty (50) percent of current property owners and rate-paying customers on <br />record to negate the proposed rate increases. The City Council could reject or revise <br />the recommended rate increases regardless of the number of protest letters received. <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />If Council approves the recommended changes, an average Redwood City residential <br />customer’s monthly water utility bill will increase by approximately 6.8% per year for the <br />next three fiscal years. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW <br />This ordinance is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act <br />(CEQA) review pursuant to Public Resource Code section 21080(b)(8). The City <br />Council finds that the water service charges are for the purpose of meeting operating <br />expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits, purchasing or leasing <br />supplies, equipment, or materials, meeting financial reserve needs and requirements, <br />and obtaining funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within existing <br />service areas. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TERENCE KYAW <br />ASSISTANT PUBLIC W ORKS DIRECTOR <br /> <br />6.4.A. - Page 4