Water users could get break

Barbara Diamond

Single-family homeowners who use less water may get a reduction in

the amount they pay the city for sewer service -- and others could

pay more -- if voters approve a sewer rate change endorsed by the

City Council on March 15.

Under the proposal, sewer fees for “ultra-low” water users in

Laguna Beach would be reduced, but all other single-family detached

homes will pay $1 per month more.

An “ultra-low” water user is one who uses one-quarter the volume

of water used by an average customer.

Currently, the city charges a flat $33.83 a month, regardless of

dwelling or lot size, number of residents or water use. The fees

raised about $2.5 million a year.

The price break for ultra-low water users will replace a flat fee

system whereby all customers paid the same rate to the city, no

matter how much water they used.

“I started this,” said Eleanor Henry, owner of a small cottage,

who had complained repeatedly to the council about paying the same

sewer rate as a 10,000-square-foot home with a pool and an irrigated

yard. “I had no idea how complicated it was going to get.”

The Council voted 3-2 to charge ultra-low water users $28 per

month -- a $6 reduction for about 18 percent of the property owners.

Increases for the rest of the residents for which the city provides

sewer services will balance the decrease.

“The Brown and Caldwell [sewer] study showed that nearly 80

percent of the city’s sewer costs are fixed and do not vary, based on

the amount of sewage conveyed and treated,” Water Quality Department

Director David Shissler said. “Annual revenue from sewer charges must

cover or exceed all fixed and variable costs.”

Fees will continue to be included on the annual property tax bill,

which Shissler said people seem to prefer and guarantees the city 100

percent participation.

The revision does not take into account the 3.5 percent annual

increase begun last year and to continue for seven more years.

The percentage increase will be on top of the $1-a-month increase

for most rate payers and reduce the benefit to ultra-low users.

The city provides wastewater collection and disposal services --

sewage collection and treatment -- for 6,110 single-family dwellings

north of Nyes Place. South Coast Water District provides the services

for residences south of Nyes Place, the city boundary before South

Laguna was annexed.

Council members Toni Iseman and Cheryl Kinsman voted against the

ultra-low reduction revision, for different reasons.

“What we are doing is convenient, but it is not equitable,” Iseman

said. “We are not dealing with the big users.”

Kinsman said the council should base the fees on square footage --

or better yet, leave them alone.

“This is the third or fourth time this has come before the

council,” Kinsman said. “We have studied it so much, Gary Alstot

would be proud of us.”

Alstot is noted for recommending more studies before the council

takes any action.

“We had a separate hearing on this and only five people showed

up,” Kinsman said. “It is not a hot issue.”

Only two members of the public spoke at the March 15 meeting.

Resident Arnold Hano said the council should give a bigger bonus

to ultra-low water users and bump everyone else up more.

Lee Raymer said the fees should be base on solely on water usage

at each residence, which can be measured.

“The cost of water is directly related to the use,” said

Councilwoman Jane Egly, who voted for the revision. “This is more

difficult. Everyone uses the sewer system.”

Individual property use of the sewage system cannot be identified

so easily, according to Assistant City Manager John Pietig. Water use

can be tracked because homes have meters, he said, but there is no

way to track how much of the water goes into the sewer system or

landscaping.

“How do you count how many times a toilet is flushed?” Mayor

Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider said.

City staff next will meet with Laguna Beach County Water District

officials to determine how much it will cost to obtain the data

necessary to implement the new fee structure.

“Then we will initiate a process similar to that used to increase

sewer service charges, and if a majority of the votes do not oppose

the fee change, we would prepare a resolution for the City Council to

consider,” Pietig said.

If the council approves the resolution -- expected to be presented

to voters in May or June -- the new rates would appear on the 2005-06

property tax bill.