City Council unanimously approved an increase in the sewer rate residents will pay Monday.
During the regularly scheduled City Council meeting, council members heard live from one protester to the new rate. City Clerk Kathy O’Connell reported the city had received other formal protests. The protests totaled 284 or 2.31 percent of the households. In order for the protest to beat the tax, it had to represent a majority of the households.
The minimum sewer rate will increase from $493.54 per year to $510.34. The sewer rate is calculated by using data from the North Coast County Water District on water use during the two wettest months each year. This year’s sewer rate is based on November and December 2010 water use.
The city maintains a collection system of sewer mains, collector mains, trunk lines and pump stations that carries water to the plant. The state of the art plant, which became operational in 2000, treats 3,1000,000 gallons of wastewater per day at the tertiary level.
Early in the development of the plant, the future rate increases were often discussed during public meetings as a necessary factor to pay for the plant. The plant contains many green elements, including solar panels and a digester modification project, which together save ratepayers about $900,000 a year. The digester modification project results in only two, instead of three or four, truckloads of sludge leaving the facility every week. Chemical use has decreased for the odor control system, as well.
The plant provides Pacifica with discharge standards that meet the most stringent requirements.
Nevertheless, Pacifica has been subject to fines by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board because the sewer lateral system overtaxed the collection system between 2006-2008.
The sewer budget is $12 million this year, a $3.4 increase from last year. City staff is working on a sewage master plan and financial plan, which will upgrade and replace the collection system.
Staff will present options to City Council in December for financing the improvements.
