Petaluma water, sewer rates set to rise
Council to consider 3.8% water, 2.6% sewer increases, smaller bumps than in recent years
Published: Monday, December 5, 2011 at 3:58 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 5, 2011 at 3:58 a.m.
The Petaluma City Council will decide today whether to raise water and sewer rates while tying future increases to the pace of inflation.
Under a proposal before the council, the water bill for a typical Petaluma residence would increase 3.8 percent in the new year to $36.92.
The thirstiest homes, ones that consume 18,000 gallons a month or more, could see their monthly bill jump 12 percent to nearly $240 under a payment schedule designed to encourage conservation.
Sewer bills for the typical residence, meanwhile, would increase by 2.6 percent to $63.83, with small industrial customers seeing the largest increase -- nearly 12 percent.
The proposal would mark a reduction from the pace of soaring increases in recent years, particularly for sewer rates. But after years of climbing costs, some oppose going any further.
"When I moved to Petaluma, I never thought I would have to budget for water," said Kevin McClanahan, one of approximately 20 residents to file protests. "My water bill is more than my car payment."
The council's discussion comes a day before the Santa Rosa Council is to consider a combined water and sewer bill increase of about 3.2 percent, a proposal that also has drawn objections from city customers.
For the past five years, Petaluma water rates have increased 5 percent a year. Wastewater rates, meanwhile, increased 13 percent annually until this year, when the increase was 9 percent, driven largely by costs related to the recently opened Ellis Creek sewer treatment plant.
Mike Healy, the city's vice mayor, said he expects the council to try today to reduce the increases for both water and sewer rates.
"There is room for adjustment here; we have to see in what context and to what degree," Councilman Chris Albertson said.
The level of detail and procedures required to make rate changes have cost the city more than $100,000, one reason the proposal aims to reduce the need for council to revisit the issue anytime soon.
In future years, the city would automatically pass on increases in the wholesale cost of water that it purchases from the Sonoma County Water Agency.
Moreover, water rates would rise each year in accordance with increases to the San Francisco Consumer Price Index, which tracks the price of goods and services in the Bay Area.
This year, the annual CPI in August, which is the proposed trigger month, rose 2.9 percent
Wastewater rates would increase by the CPI increase plus 1.5 percent, an additional charge to help cover the costs of rehabilitation projects, debt repayment and ongoing operations, according to the city.
You can reach Sam Scott at 521-5431 or at sam.scott
@pressdemocrat.com.
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