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City Manager Jim Smith suggested three questions for Council to consider: <br />1) Should taxpayers of Redwood City subsidize users in the unincorporated <br />areas? <br />2) What is the correct rate to charge for water usage? <br />3) Would selling the system in Emerald Lake Hills relieve the financial <br />burden to Redwood City residents and to Emerald Lake Hills as well? <br />Council discussed the burden on large water users such as Canada College when <br />multipliers are applied, the average water use of Emerald Lake Hills as <br />compared to citywide usage, lower water usage creating higher multiplier, <br />difference in average water bills per month for Emerald Lake Hills residents <br />after new multiplier applied and sale of system; initial justifications <br />for multipliers and Proposition 13 aftermath; and Emerald Lake Hills <br />residents do not pay property tax to Redwood City. <br />Vice Mayor LaBerge opened the public hearing at 9:00 p.m. <br />The following people spoke in opposition to the higher multiplier for Emerald <br />Lake Hills /Canada College water users proposed in Final Report, Water and <br />Sewer Rate Study: <br />Doug Finlay, 360 Summit Drive, Redwood City, submitted PH8/7/89 -1, Emerald <br />Lake Hills Association Water Rate Multiplier Analysis, representing Emerald <br />Lake Hills Homeowners Association and signers of petitions to be presented to <br />City Clerk on 8/8/89, citing: Emerald Lake Hills water users have been <br />subsidizing Redwood City water users; mathematical errors in the Final <br />Report, Water and Sewer Rate Study; illegal to charge franchise tax to <br />residents outside city limits; overhead costs not allocated according to <br />usage or per unit cost; budget rather than actual data was used in the Final <br />Report; and sale of system would benefit both parties. <br />Tom Nolan, County of San Mateo Supervisor, 312 Grayson Court, Menlo Park, <br />asked Council to view the Redwood City and Emerald Lake Hills water users as <br />being members of one service district and offered the good offices of the <br />Board of Supervisors to work with all parties for a beneficial solution. <br />Laura Dowlinq, 140 Springdale Way, Redwood City read a letter from Carole <br />Henley, 157 Sprindale Way, Redwood City, PH8/7/89 -2 asking Council for an <br />accounting of the improvements and actual costs of the Emerald Lake Hills <br />water system. <br />Elizabeth Alexander, Town of Woodside Councilmember, 935 Canada Road, <br />Woodside, PH8/7/89 -3 letter to Council citing neglect of system. <br />Bob Brown, 515 Sunset Way, Redwood City, described lack of maintenance and <br />deteriorating equipment. <br />Chris Bohl, 3924 Lakemead, Redwood City, PH8/7/89 -4 Redwood City Houses on <br />ELH pumps, citing errors in Final Report, Water and Sewer Study; other <br />houses higher in Redwood City hills than many in Emerald Lake Hills do not <br />pay multiplier and therefore the argument that multiplier is based on actual <br />cost is incorrect; and need to find actual cost. <br />Minutes MINUTE BOOK NO. 49 <br />8/7/89 Page No. 58 <br />Page 3 <br />