Richmond residents say proposed sewer-rate jump stinks
By Katherine Tam
Contra Costa Times
Sewer rates in parts of Richmond could increase 8 percent a year from 2012 to 2014 under a city plan to repair its deteriorating sewer system.
Rates in subsequent years would be adjusted based on inflation, with increases capped at 6 percent.
The money would fund repairs and upgrades to the Richmond Municipal Sewer District, which is about 100 years old.
"If we don't invest in our collection system, the (sewer rate) money people are paying will go into fines and environmental litigation," said Chad Davisson, wastewater manager. "This work has to be done."
Some say the cost to taxpayers is too high.
"I don't know what part of city government isn't getting that we can't afford it," said resident Mike Ali Raccoon Eyes Kinney, who said he'd consider selling his house.
The Richmond Municipal Sewer District collects and treats wastewater for about 16,000single-family homes and thousands of multifamily buildings and businesses in the central and south parts of the city and Point Richmond. Single-family homeowners pay $506 a year now and would pay $688 by 2014 if the increase passes.
Single-family homes in Stege Sanitary, which pay $123 a year, and the West County Wastewater District, which pay $226, are not affected. Stege covers El Cerrito and parts of Richmond, among other areas; West County Wastewater also covers parts of Richmond.
The City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday and vote on the fee hike.
Richmond's network of clay pipes is cracking. Some pipes are in such poor shape that crews can't get a camera through it. Water from the Bay pours into the sewer system at high tide. That, combined with rain, overwhelms the pipes, resulting in overflows from manholes onto streets and into waterways.
The nonprofits Baykeeper and West County Toxics Coalition sued the city and other agencies in late 2005, arguing that old infrastructure, poor management, inadequate maintenance and deferred upgrades resulted in raw or partially treated wastewater being discharged into waterways on more than 1,000 occasions since 2000 without permits.
The city agreed to make at least $20 million in repairs and reduce sewage spills under a 2006 settlement. The city also paid $538,000 to cover the environmentalists' legal fees.
Sewer rates went up 8 percent a year beginning in 2006 and continuing through 2011. The city previously issued $40 million in municipal bonds to repair pipes, rehabilitate the 57-year-old treatment plant and other work, Davisson said.
If new rates are approved for 2012 to 2014, the city would issue $35 million in bonds for repairs over the next three years, he said. These include expanding the capacity of sewer lines, fixing pipes and upgrading old equipment.
Projects to meet the Baykeeper settlement and state standards total $160 million for the next 20 years. The $35 million bond the city would issue would allow it to complete nearly 30 percent of the infrastructure needs, Davisson said.
Opponents can stop the rate hike if they submit written petitions from a simple majority of property owners by Tuesday. Frustrated residents at an informational meeting Wednesday evening said they received notice of the plan this week or learned about it from neighbors, leaving them little time to submit a written petition or rally like-minded people. They questioned whether everyone was notified and urged officials to delay a decision.
Single-family homeowners that fall under the federal definition of very low-income can apply for a rebate. A family of four earning $44,650 annually is considered very low-income. The city estimates 1,500 families fit this category.
Under the lawsuit settlement, the city must file annual reports to Baykeeper. Deb Self, Baykeeper's executive director, said the city's 2008 report was encouraging. The 2009 report is due this week. She said the city experienced 12 million gallons of sewage spills this past winter that her agency is looking into.
"We're very concerned about that," Self said. "The 12 million-gallon spill this winter tells us that they're not done yet" with fixing its sewer system.
Katherine Tam covers Richmond. Follow her at Twitter.com/katherinetam.
PROPOSED RICHMOND
SEWER RATE INCREASEs
Richmond sewer rates will increase 8 percent next year. Officials want to continue the annual 8 percent increase for the subsequent three years. Here's what a single-family homeowner would pay if the increase is approved:
Current rate: $506.10
Approved for 2011: $546.59
Proposed for 2012: $590.32
Proposed for 2013: $637.54
Proposed for 2014: $688.54
The City Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 440 Civic Center Plaza.
Contra Costa Times-April 1, 2010
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