On Tuesday at 9 AM, the Energy and Environment Committee holding a Special Meeting to discuss a multiyear increase in our beloved Sewer Service Charge. The CAO report was filed on late Friday afternoon.
The timetable is for the E & E Committee to consider this matter on Tuesday, approval by the Council on Friday, August 12, and the Mayor’s approval on August 19. Prop 218 notices would be sent on September 12. After hearings in November, the Mayor would approve this increase around Thanksgiving and the new rates would be effective on January 1, 2012.
Yet we, the Ratepayers, have not seen any detailed financial information, but it appears that the three year increase is about 21% and the five year increase is almost about 40%.
Combine this with the 21% and 26% increase in our water and power rates over the next two and a half years, 2012 will start off with a real bang.
It might be nice if Ratepayers had the opportunity to get a better understanding of the financial implications of this rate increase, especially how it impacts homeowners and commercial establishments, not just the “average” ratepayer. And it might be nice to know if our Sewer is being operated efficiently.
For your information, here are links to the E & E agenda, the Council File (10-1947), the CAO’s report dated last Friday, July 29, the obligatory power point presentation, and a May 24 City Watch article, Sewer Fees Going Up, Ratepayers About To Be Dumped On.
It seems we are getting the bum’s rush. Reports filed on a July Friday afternoon, a special meeting to the E & E Committee, less than two weeks for consideration by the Council, all in the middle of the summer vacations.
Agenda:
http://ens.lacity.org/clk/
2011.pdf
Council File:
http://cityclerk.lacity.org/
ord&cfnumber=10-1947
CAO Report:
http://clkrep.lacity.org/
The Power Point Presentation:
http://clkrep.lacity.org/
City Watch article:
http://www.citywatchla.com/
s-about-to-be-dumped-on
Sock it to us. How much water will Farmers Field soak in or will it be artificial turf.
Look it, I am not an advocate for DWP. But, there is a way to beat them at their game – start conserving folks!
We lowered our sewer bills in half for the next year by keeping our sprinklers off from November through April. That’s the short list.
Change your habits. Then, you can watch DWP start to fume when they realize the people have finally got it.
I remembered about 7 years ago Neighborhood Councils in the Valley organized and WON the DWP rate hike at that time. What are the NC’s waiting for now?
“We lowered our sewer bills in half for the next year by keeping our sprinklers off from November through April. That’s the short list.
Change your habits. Then, you can watch DWP start to fume when they realize the people have finally got it.”
Makes perfect sense. Especially since the sewer service charge goes to Bureau of Sanitation and not the DWP.
You’re a genius
To people who think conservation will lower their rates—DWP has fixed costs; infrastructure & the monstrous employee wages & pension costs that will continue to go up. They are leeches & will suck you dry & will look for more blood.
To August 1, 2011 1:46 PM,
Your Comment: “What are the NC’s waiting for now?”
My question to you: Why are you waiting for someone to do the work for you? Go attend your NC and make your voice heard. Better yet, volunteer and join an NC board or NC DWP committee.
In that way, you are proactive and being part of the solution instead asking others to do something for you.
Conservation won’t lower your rates, it will lower your bill.
And conservation reduces overall fuel consumption and the need to grow capacity.
learn more about shortage year rates if you want to know how the dept punishes those who conserve water with higher rates.
Thanks Jack for being our Rate Payer Advocate until we have a paid one in place.
I am waiting for the Rate Payer Advocate that we voted for to read the new PA Consulting Report – isn’t that what we are supposed to be asking for?
For the people that ask where the Neighborhood Councils are, there are only so many hours in the day, only so many meetings that Neighborhood Council members can attend. Try being at City Hall at 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM for committee meetings.
Some Neighborhood Council members actually have to work to make a living. We have others that are 90 years old and still going strong! ( I think the LADWP NC Committee members know who I am referring to – Jack probably does; I bet Ron knows too.)
It looks like these increases at the LADWP are how we are going to balance the City budget.
I do know that the Bureau of Sanitation (B.O.S.) does need money to cleanup the LA River because there are lawsuits regarding the impact of the LA River relative to the Clean Water Act.
Anyone is free to correct me on that one, but I think that is why the B.O.S. is required to clean up the L.A. River for trash, metals, bacteria, and I can’t remember what the other criteria are. B.O.S. and LARWQCB people feel free to weigh in and add to this point for clarification.
If we do not clean up the river, then the City is subject to penalties. This rate increase for the B.O.S. came up about two years ago and I warned them then it would be another Measure B.
I told the B.O.S. Storm Water division about two years ago that they needed to do Neighborhood Council outreach regarding that planned rate increase – it was supposed to be tied to our property taxes that year. I don’t know where this B.O.S. increase is supposed to go.
OMG you gotta read who gave Failure of Mayor money for his defense in the ticket scandal
Villaraigosa raises $123,500 to pay costs in free-ticket scandal
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/villaraigosa-raises-123500-to-pay-fines-in-free-ticket-scandal.html#more
Of course the LA Slimes buried this story and its not in the print section about Villar’s ticket scandal.
Why didn’t any council members or any NC reps send out this information about Sewers increases to the public???? If it wasn’t for Jack Humphreville blasting it out to community members no one would have known. Good job posting info here.
Sewer rate hike: Is this a shitty city or what?
If not for Ron & Jack H, LA residents would be in the dark about most issues and City Hall corruption. Most of them still are or they would not elect people like Englander, Cardenas, Perry & rest of the stinking gang.
Thanks to increasingly stringent environmental rules our wastewater will be cleaner than the water we drink at home! Surfers win!