CC MIN 2013-06-10 Joint w/ Successor

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to the cities. Another Council Member mentioned that a neighboring city in the next three years will be looking at 55-65% increases. He opined that therefore the City was doing a fabulous job in only maintaining a minimal increase compared to other cities. He also said that this increase does hurt, but that the City is doing what it can. On another topic, he mentioned that garbage rates were something the City was looking at, because people have smaller garbage containers but the same amount of money was being charged. Vice Mayor Gee shared with the audience the history and importance of the usage of recycled water in Redwood City. He said that prior to using recycled water, the City was using well over their water allotment. Through the recycled water task force, prior Councils, labor partners, and supporters, achieved the implementation of the recycled water usage and were able to reduce the usage of water. He said that iYs that, investment, and conservation that has helped Redwood City maintain and have predictable water and sewer rates. Another Council Member brought up the sewer rates and that there was a differential rate between residential and commercial customers. Assistant Public Works Director Kyaw said that commercial customers pay more because they use more and that their sewer rate was based on their water use. The same Council Member reiterated that sewer rates cannot be metered, but she would be interested to know if there were any statistics to show the costs to residents if sewers were metered. Dr. Bell said that the City would have to analyze the data, that this would be labor intensive, and that there might be diminishing returns. Nonetheless, he did say that they would bring definitive information to the Utilities Committee. Another Council Member said she would be also interested to know what would happen if the City were to charge residential customers for the use of their sewers the same way as commercial customers are charged. Staff noted that this too would be sent to the Utilities Committee. Assistant Public Director Kyaw added that he would also need to factor in the landscape irrigation usage. Vice Mayor Gee concurred, but added caution due to the difference between household water usage and outside irrigation. Furthermore, he said that there might be unintended consequences that might be passed down to the customers. Another Council Member added that the multi-unit versus the single unit needed to be looked at as well, but overall supported this research. Recommendation: Conduct Proposition 218 Public Hearing On Proposed Increase To Water Utility Service Rates And Charges; and Waive First Reading and Introduce Ordinance Amending Redwood City Municipal Code Section 38.5 (Water Service Charge). ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF REDWOOD CITY AMENDING SECTION 38.5 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF REDWOODCITY RELATING TO WATER SERVICE CHARGES AND FEES MINUTE ORDER 13-108 JOINT COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD June 10, 2013 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 6 MINUTE BOOK NO. 64 Page No. 378