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From YouTube: San Bruno City Council Meeting February 9, 2021 6b. Cancel Water and Wastewater Rate Increase
Description
San Bruno City Council Meeting February 9, 2021
6b. Cancel Previously Approved Water and Wastewater Rate Increase
C
C
C
So
back
in
2016,
the
city
council
awarded
a
contract
to
porter
wells
associates
to
evaluate
the
city's
water
and
wastewater
rates.
The
rate
evaluation
was
ensured
that
there
is
necessary
revenue
to
cover
the
projected
operations
and
maintenance
costs
for
the
city's
water
and
wastewater
utilities,
and
continue
in
continuation
of
the
ongoing
program
for
investment
in
improving
and
replacing
the
city's
aging
and
deteriorating
water
and
wastewater
infrastructure.
C
So
what
are
some
of
the
factors
for
the
water
and
wastewater
rates
increase?
Well,
the
rate
inc
included.
You
know
projected
increases
in
costs
for
the
purchase
water
from
san
francisco
public
utilities,
commission
to
pay
for
their
upgrades
to
their
infrastructure
as
part
of
their
seismic
improvement
program.
The
existing
sewer
costs
includes
ongoing
treatment
costs
for
their
jointly
owned
south
san
francisco
seminole
water
quality
control
plan
and
there's
also
costs
for
complying
with
the
san
francisco
bay,
keeper
and
regional
quality
board
settlement
agreements.
C
C
Performed
with
the
list
of
projects
that
we
proposed
complete
within
the
five
years,
so,
as
you
can
see,
majority
of
the
projects
have
either
been
completed
or
has
commenced,
designed
five
projects
have
already
been
completed.
Four
projects
have
already
started
the
design
phase,
and
one
project
is
currently
under
construction,
and
one
has
yet
to
start.
C
And
here's
the
list
of
wastewater
projects
that
were
identified
to
be
completed
within
a
five
year
period,
similar
to
the
water
projects,
majority
of
the
projects
have
been
completed
or
has
commenced.
The
design
construction
of
eight
projects
have
been
completed,
one
is
under
construction,
three
projects
have
commenced
design
and,
as
previously
mentioned,
the
most
significant
factor
for
raising
the
water
and
wastewater
rates
is
due
to
this
the
much
needed
improvements
of
our
aging
infrastructure.
C
C
staff
review
the
fund
balances
and
the
projected
water
and
wastewater
fund
balances
through
the
end
of
next
fiscal
year,
assuming
no
rate
increases.
The
fund
balances
shows
healthy
reserved
above
the
reserve
targets
for
both
funds
and
the
city
can
pursue
cancelling
a
rate
increase
for
fiscal
year.
21
22
without
jeopardizing
a
captive
project
of
funding,
so
the
following.
Here's
a
table
that
shows
information
on
the
phone
balance
is
reserved
targets
and
the
balance
above
the
reserve
targets.
C
C
C
And
budget
for
operating
a
debt
services
and
a
reserve
bar
needed
to
operate
the
waters
through
our
enterprise
for
operating
emergency
on
first
and
cost
so
to
project
any
balance
for
fiscal
year.
2122
shows
a
healthy
balance
for
both
water
and
wastewater
fun,
and
even
with
the
reduction
in
the
reserves
target,
there
is
still
a
balance
above
the
reserve
target.
That's
shown
there
on
this
slide.
C
So
should
the
rates
remain
the
same?
You
know
staff
requested
assistance
from
a
race,
a
consultant
to
determine
the
rates
in
comparison
with
other
agencies,
and
this
graph
is
similar
to
what
you
just
saw
from
the
city
manager's
presentation
earlier,
the
the
water
rates
you
know
includes
the
fix
as
well
as
the
you
know,
water
consumption
charges,
the
fixed
charge
you
know
helps
covers
a
portion
of
the
city's
fixed
costs,
which
includes
you
know,
administration,
debt,
service.
C
Here's.
A
similar
slide
that
you
saw
from
the
city
manager's
office
presentation
earlier,
as
well
for
the
sewer
rates
comparison
and
similar
to
the
sewer
similar
to
water.
The
sewer
rates
have
both
the
fixed
end
usage
charges
as
well,
and
this
the
chart
shows
that
the
city's
sewer
rates
are
in
the
middle
range
in
comparison
to
other
regional
agencies,
and
the
seminar
sewer
rate
is
equivalent
to
the
average
as
well,
and
it's
all
comparable
average
for
all
comparable
agency
and
only
three
dollars
higher
than
a
medium.
C
C
A
A
As
I
spoke,
and
then
every
council
member
subsequent
to
me
spoke,
we
gave
direction
a
little
bit
for
us
to
get
that
resolution
done,
but
then
we
also
gave
direction
to
staff
to
bring
this
back
to
us,
based
on
one
of
the
alternatives
that
they
had
offered
that
I
believe
we
all
were
in
consensus
or
to
come
back.
So
with
that.
My
colleagues
questions
comments
or
I
should
get
to
say,
questions
why
we
have
everybody
here.
D
D
C
E
This
is
alex
handlers.
I
was
the
you
know.
The
financial
consultant
worked
with
the
city
in
the
last
two
rate:
studies,
water
and
sewer,
and
the
city's
done
a
good
job.
This
is
going
back.
I
mean
the
rate
increases
that
the
city's
been
doing
has
been
more
of
an
ongoing,
lower,
gradual
rate
increases
year
after
year.
E
So
at
least
I
mean
I
don't
have
the
history
going
back,
but
I
see
rate
increases
going
back,
at
least
until
2008
nine
for
some
data
that
I'm
looking
at,
but
that's
kind
of
been
the
philosophy
of
the
city
and
a
lot
of
agencies
out.
There
is,
rather
than
try
to
do
no
rate
increases
for
a
few
years
and
have
a
big
rate,
spike
kind
of
the
slow,
gradual
increase
to
keep
rates
in
line
with
the
cost
of
service
and
the
city's
done
a
good
job
with
that.
D
E
Yeah,
that's
a
good
question.
I'll,
be
honest
from
my
side:
I've
been
in
the
field
for
about
20
years.
I've
worked
for
more
than
150
agencies
and
I
honestly
the
rate
increases
can
stop
when
the
costs
stop
increasing
and
as
jimmy
mentioned,
you've
got.
You
know,
increasing
wholesale
water
rates,
they're
projected
to
keep
on
increasing
over
the
next
decade.
E
You've
got
you
know,
increasing
costs
for
whether
it's
insurance
electricity,
everything
like
that.
So
the
goal
is,
I
think,
more
management.
You
know
to
try
to
keep
the
rates
just
gradually
moving
in
line
with
the
cost
of
service,
and,
I
think
that's
been
kind
of
the
goal
of
the
city.
There's
has
been
more
of
a
ramp
up
over
the
last
five
to
ten
years
to
increase
funding
for
the
capital
improvements
in
addressing
the
needs
of
aging
infrastructure.
It's
not
just
san
bruno
it's!
This
is
pretty
much
every
city
on
the
peninsula.
E
D
E
Yes,
I
think
you're
correct
about
that,
because
the
city
right
now
has
been
engaging
in
kind
of
a
you
know:
a
system
replacement
and
upgrade
just
through
the
age
of
the
system,
a
lot
of
pipelines
as
jimmy
mentioned,
100
years
old,
80
years
old.
So
after
that
process
is
done,
you're
going
to
have
a
lot
of
pipelines
that
are
built
with
new
materials
that
probably
have
lifespans
of
you
know.
You
know
100
years
or
so
I'm
just
I'm
not
an
engineer,
but
I'm
just
guessing.
So
I
think
it'll
be
more.
E
You
know,
the
replacement
needs
will
go
away
and
it'll
be
more.
You
know,
maintenance
and
stuff,
and
I
think
the
level
of
increases
will
be
less
in
the
future
after
this
program
is
complete
and
doing
this
program.
You're
also,
I
think
reducing
your
maintenance
costs
because,
with
a
lot
of
old
facilities,
there's
more
leaks,
there's
more
problems,
emergency
repairs
and
as
the
system
is
replaced
and
the
highest
priority
needs
are
taken
care
of.
You
know
that
helps
keep
the
maintenance
costs
down.
E
D
D
D
I
think,
really
show
that
about
85
percent
of
the
recommendations
have
been
completed
within
the
five
years
and
I
think
that
as
a
council
member
as
a
newer
council
member,
it
is
really
nice
to
see
the
progress
because
we
hear
a
lot
from
the
public
where's
our
money
going,
and
this
is
something
that's
not
visual.
You
can't
see
it
and
it's
really
important
that
we
see
that
our
money
is
actually
being
spent
on
plans
that
we're
putting
into
action.
F
F
Things
have
a
certain
lifespan
and
we're
looking
at
and
we
have
implemented
using
pvc
pipe
which
lasts
longer
than
cast
iron
pipe.
I'm
ductile
iron
pipe,
so
inflation
is
going
to
be
with
us
and
and
costs
will
continue
to
go
up,
but
we
have
the
data
that
shows
that
we
don't
need
this
increase
right
now
and
it
was
the
right
time
to
do
it
and
it,
coincidentally.
F
We
can,
as
rate
payers
put
that
money
into
fixing
our
storm
water
system
that
over
again,
once
again,
it's
it's
deferred
maintenance,
so
we
weren't
taking
care
of
the
system
as
a
city.
It's
it's
like.
If,
if
you
have
a
car
and
if
you
don't
maintain
your
car
at
one
point,
it's
gonna
start
breaking
down.
You
need
to
buy
a
new
car
and
that's
pretty
much
what
we
had
to
do
with
our
our
water
and
sewer
systems
and
now
we're
seeing
our
stormwater
system.
F
Remember
I
was,
I
was
on
the
last
rate
study
and
we
were
able
to
reduce
the
increase
from
10
down
to
5
by
the
usage
of
bonds
as
well,
so
that
we
could
spread
those
costs
over
time.
So
that's
really
important
to
remember
and
it's
nice
to
to
see
that
we're
able
to
take
a
pause
and-
and
we
will
reevaluate
our
rates
based
on
our
growth
that
will
be
coming
in
the
future
and
that's
in
as
as
we
learned
today
in
2021
late.
F
G
It's
good
to
know
that
we
are
making
some
progress
on
those
things,
and
you
know
just
I
just
want
to
leave
it
at
that
that
you
know
I.
I
realize
that
we're
going
to
have
to
study
this
again
and
depending
on
where
we
are
and
what's
still
left
to
be
done
and
the
the
bonds
that
the
vice
mayor
mentioned
still
need
to
be
paid,
we'll
be
paying
on
those
for
a
while.
And
so
you
know,
I'm
hoping
this
doesn't
set
us
too
far
back.
G
One
of
the
reasons
for
the
rates
increasing
so
quickly
was
that
we
did
the
city
allowed
itself
to
fall
into
sort
of
a
really
deep
hole
of
deferred
maintenance.
That
was
very
expensive
and
it
took
a
lot
to
get
us
out
of
there.
We're
really
on
a
good
track
right
now,
and
I
want
to
make
sure
that
we
don't
do
anything
to
derail
that
progress.
So
those
are
my
comments.
H
So
I'm
absolutely
in
favor
of
pausing
the
increases
and
one
suggestion
that
I
may
have
is
you
know?
Obviously
you
know
we.
You
know
we
hear
from
the
public
and-
and
you
know
not,
everybody
knows
where
this
money
is
going,
and
I
echo
council
member
mason's
comment
about.
You
know
it's
wonderful
to
see.
You
know
we
put
in.
H
We
put
the
plan
in
place,
we're
completing
all
these
projects,
but
the
public
that
largely
doesn't
know
that
this
is
happening,
and
I
think
we
we
should
try
to
address
that,
and
I
don't
I
don't
want
to
go-
spend
a
bunch
of
money
in
order
to
do
that.
But
you
know
just
through
social
media
those
types
of
those
types
of
channels
to
you
know
to
get
the
get
the
word
out
when
these
projects
are
completed,
because
you
know
a
few
of
the
projects.
H
I
got
a
preview
of
of
the
presentation
a
couple
of
weeks
ago
during
my
onboarding
with
director
tam,
a
few
of
these
projects
that
I
understand
came
in
significantly
under
budget.
This
huge
win-
and
you
know
that
that's
able
to
to
contribute
to
the
to
our
ability
to
be
able
to
forego
this
this
this
last
scheduled
increase,
and
those
are
that's
information
that
the
public
needs
to
know
in
in
order
to
understand
where
their
money
is
going.
A
Okay
and-
and
one
one
thing
I
will
say,
is
people
businesses,
especially
in
san
mateo
avenue
they.
They
appreciate
the
depth
of
what
was
being
replaced
and
done
because
they
would
come
to
work
and
they
would
see
it
daily,
but
at
the
same
time,
what
I
would
get
from
folks
is
god
that
street
really
looks
great.
It's
been
paved,
but
everything
underneath
that's
brand
new,
that's
really
assisted,
as
vice
mayor
said,
it
was
the
regional
board
that
initiated
a
lot
of
that
because
of
the
ssos.
A
They
keepers
join
them
because
they
follow
agencies
around
to
get
special
little
projects
for
other
things.
But
but
yes,
I
think,
as
one
of
our
callers
said,
what
is
the
money
really
going
for?
I
don't
see
it,
but
once
it's
all
done,
it
gets
paved.
You
have
a
nice
street
on
top,
but
really
no
one
has
the
gravity
of
what
really
has
transpired
down
below
so
anyway,
but
yes
and
councilman
mason,
then
we're
gonna
go
to
our
city
manager.
D
I
So
absolutely
the
city
council
asked
us
to
look
into
this
matter
as
we
were
talking
about
a
storm
water,
a
potential
storm
water,
218
process
and
the
increase
in
stormwater
is
roughly
equivalent
to
what
the
total
combined
savings
would
be
for
delaying
or
canceling.
These
rate
increases
so
that
that
is
why
this
item
is
for
you
tonight.
I
In
addition,
connecting
to
what
council
member
salazar
said,
absolutely
we
looked
at
the
enterprise
and
where
we
sit
now
in
our
capital
improvement
program,
the
analysis
is
that
we
will
not
be
hurting
our
financial
solvency
in
these
two
enterprises
to
delay
the
rate
increase
or
cancel
the
rate
increase.
That
does
not
mean
that
subsequent
rate
increases
will
not
be
needed
when
we
do
our
subsequent
studies.
I
One
of
the
things
we
know
is
that,
as
we
deplete
that
accumulated
balance
in
those
in
in
the
fund
balance
with
those
capital
improvement
projects,
we
will
actually
approach
and
potentially
even
come
under
those
reserve
targets.
Now
we
have
in
some
of
those
funds
more
than
10
million
dollars
over
the
reserve
target
accumulated
because
we
have
saved
money
for
capital
improvement
projects
that
are
active
in
design
and
to
start
soon,
and
so
that
money
is
allocated,
but
we
will
spend
it
down.
But
when
we
take
a
snapshot
today
of
the
enterprise,
we
can
cancel.
A
The
important
thing
for
me
is
that
we
are
not
going
to
hurt
the
capital
or
the
the
funds
that
we
have
in
the
enterprise,
and
that
to
me
is
what
is
is
most
critical.
Good
thing
is,
is
that
it
comes
when
we
have
are
having
some
challenging
times.
Everybody
is
so,
I
think,
we're
all
feeling
that
is
a
good
thing
and
and
again
director
tan
was
indicated
earlier
by
councilman
mason
kudos
to
you
and
kudos
to
your
department
and
the
work
that
you've
done.
A
Having
the
work
that's
been
done,
having
a
plan,
that's
been
there
for
five
years
and
it
has
systematically
been
having
progress
and
you've
been
achieving
that
that
work
product
is
appreciated
and
thank
you
to
you
and
your
team
colleagues,
I'm
not
sure
who
might
want
to,
but
this
is
mr
mayor.
Oh
oh
geez.
Vice
mayor
medina.
F
A
Oh,
you
know
what
no
there
has
not
been.
I
maybe
somebody
doesn't
like
what
we're
doing
is
there.
Thank
you,
though,
council
member
hamilton
never
know
I
I've
been
checking
continuously.
As
we've
been
speaking,
there
has
been
none
thus
far,
still
seeing
no
hands
we're
going
to
go
back
to
the
roll
call
for
the
most.
The
motion
in
the
second.
F
A
Thank
you,
councilman
hamilton,
just
as
a
reminder
never
know,
my
eyes
could
be
on
a
different
panel.
Okay,
with
that
we're
going
to
move
back
to
consent
right
so
item
five
consent,
caller
all
items
are
considered
routine
or
implement
an
earlier
counsel
action
and
may
be
enacted
by
one
motion.
There
will
be
no
separate
discussion
unless,
unless
requested
so
for
myself,
we're
going
to
need
on
item
g,
I'm
going
to
need
to
read
a
statement
and
then
before
we
open
it
up
to
the
public.
A
So
right
now
are
there
other
items
that
are
to
be
removed
for
a
separate
vote,
and
then
I'm
going
to
ask
for
items
that
just
need
some
commentary
or
wanting
first
anything
to
be
removed
for
separate
vote.
Separate
vote
scene
no
hit.
Thank
you
vice
mayor,
councilman,
okay,
good
everybody's,
doing
no
is
there
any
items
for
for
further?
You
know,
dialogue
or
a
question
value.
A
H
A
D
Yeah
so
councilmember
hamilton's
was
one
and
then
I
also
wanted
to
ask
that
this
is
more
of
a
general
consideration.
But
in
this
one,
because
the
arena
was
such
a
lively
topic
to
include
the
for
those
residents
who
offered
where
they
lived
to
include
the
city
of
residence
in
the
minutes
and
then
for-
and
this
was
for
the
minutes
of
january
26,
2021
and
then
the
other
area
that
I
had
a
comment
on
was
to
change
the
area
around
the
city
net
services.
D
The
language
right
now
hold
on.
I
actually
have
this,
so
the
language
right
now
just
reads
that
the
city
manager
had
expressed
that
the
city
net
services,
that
there
were
no
city
net
service,
related
expenses
in
the
foreseeable
future
and
I'd
like
to
add
that
it
didn't
mean
that
they
could
not
be
increased
as
the
year
progressed,
and
the
networks
negotiated
their
rates
with
the
city,
which
is
what
the
city
manager
said
during
the
meeting.