Conduct public hearing and receive written protests submitted prior to close of such public hearing from property owners (including their tenants) receiving water service from County Service Area 30, El Porvenir (CSA 30), on a proposal for annual increases in the water service fees for surface water (including any automatic adjustments for any changes by County’s surface water supplier, in the cost of surface water provided to County for CSA 30, and County’s pass-through of any such cost changes to such water users [Gov. Code secs. 53755 and 53756]) and for groundwater (after the new groundwater wells are completed and are in service) to be paid by such water users of the CSA 30 community water system beginning July 1, 2023 and continuing through and including June 30, 2028, pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIID, Section 6 (Proposition 218) and, upon completion of the public protest hearing, approve action item A (additional direction needed for B and C) or D, below, as applicable: A. if the Board of Supervisors (Board) finds that there is not a majority protest against such proposal to increases in the water service fees, Board may adopt a Resolution authorizing such annual increases (including any such automatic adjustments for any changes in the cost of surface water, and such the pass-throughs of any such cost changes) in the water service fees for CSA 30, El Porvenir, beginning July 1, 2023 and continuing through and including June 30, 2028; and B. if the Board finds there is not a majority protest and adopts Resolution described in proposed action A, above, the Board should direct Department staff to utilize revenues to fully amortize and pay off negative balance in the amount that is stated in the report supporting this proceeding over the term established for this rate increase, which is through June 30, 2028, and at the end of such term to assist County’s engineer in preparing appropriate proposed new water service fees for the next rate-setting period for CSA 30 water service fees; and C. if the Board finds there is not a majority protest and adopts Resolution described in proposed action A, above, the Board should direct Department staff to bring the subsequent Proposition 218 proceeding to set water service rates for CSA 30 sufficiently in advance of the expiration of the term established for this rate increase to assure that changes to the new water service rates, whether a decrease or an increase, are able to be put in place at the expiration of the term established for this rate increase; or D. if the Board finds that there is a majority protest against the proposal for such increases in the water service fees for CSA 30, El Porvenir, make the determination that there is such a majority protest and abandon the proceedings regarding the proposal for such increases in the water service, and direct Department to hold a future public meeting with property owners and tenants receiving water services from CSA 30 recommending immediate cost saving steps that include, but are not limited to, encouraging water conservation

Committee

Public Works & Planning

Requested by

Public Works & Planning

Introduced

May 2, 2023

On agenda

June 20, 2023

Passed

June 20, 2023

Enactment no.

Resolution No. 23-235