Sewer Rate Increase Being Considered by Lemon Grove City Council

The City Council will consider a proposal to increase sewer rates for the next five years at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Council members heard the first reading of the Wastewater Enterprise Rate Study that proposed a 3.75 percent increase to sewer rates at its May 3 meeting, but put off voting on the measure.

The Sanitation District Board’s last increase was approved in 2007, and raised rates to 7.7 percent through fiscal year 2009-2010, then decreased the rate to 7.2 percent for 2010-2011.

The proposed model would increase monthly sewer rates from $40.18 to $41.69 this year, and go up to $48.30 by 2015-2016.

The city estimates the increase will generate $186,200 in funds for capital improvements during the 2011-2012 fiscal year. If adopted, the new ordinance would take effect no sooner than June 16, 2011.

Council members will hear a presentation by a representative of Bartle Wells, the consulting company that authored the rate study, which will address the purpose of the study, rate comparisons from within the county, the rate model, and the recommended rate structure.

Other business tonight includes discussions of a two-tier retirement plan for new miscellaneous employees, and the prolonged traffic disruptions caused by the railroad crossing arms at the intersection of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue.

The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Community Center.