DATE: December 18, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF FEES FOR WATER UTILITY SERVICES, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW ADMINISTRATIVE, RECYCLED WATER INSPECTION, AND PLAN CHECK FEES
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to adjust and establish new Water Utilities Department fees in order to ensure cost recovery associated with the services provided by the Department.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Staff recently performed an analysis addressing "cost of service" requirements in compliance with Proposition 218 and the California State Constitution. Through this process, it was determined that costs associated with personnel, resources, and equipment involved with several of the Water Utilities Department fees have changed, requiring an update of existing fees to accurately recover costs. The existing fees originate from various prior resolutions and many have been updated through subsequent resolutions.
Additionally, to account for new services offered by the Water Utilities Department and to recover costs associated with development that historically have not been charged, staff recommends establishing the following new fees:
* Customer Requested Offsite Meter Exam Fee - To recover costs when a customer requests that their water meter be removed, tested offsite using the City's Testbench exam tool, and reinstalled or replaced.
* Sand-Oil Separator Permit Fee - To recover the compliance costs associated with monitoring and reporting customers with sand-oil separators.
* Recycled Water (RW) Inspection Fee - To recover inspection costs when customer RW systems are being constructed. Fees are tiered by project square footage.
* Water Utilities Building Inspection Fee - To recover inspection costs associated with new building sites where water or sewer inspection is needed.
* Shut-Off Fee - To recover costs when a Department rep...
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