WESTMINSTER WATER RATES ....HUMMMM WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Though for the last 35 years I have been analyzing and managing growth in a large department at the University of California, and although I asked to be on the Water Rate Structure Committee several times, this pleasure was denied me.  Though I have served on several City committee's and was personally asked by the Mayor to serve on the Rose Center Foundation Board of Directors, and personally promoted by the Mayor to be the President of that Board, the City Council did not see fit to put me on the Water Rate Structure Committee.  I was on the first Water Rate Structure Committee which met once.  Then the council changed last November, but before it did, the council decided to disband the previous committee and let the new council select a new committee.  Although at a council meeting I spoke publicly and offered my services to be on this committee, this council decided on other people to be on the committee.  I am happy for them.  I am happy for me actually.  Because the water rates are going up and I wouldn't want that on my resume.  Now, not unlike President Obama, the "Notice of Public Hearing Regarding the Extension of Current Water Service Rates" doesn't give us the "exit strategy", or end date of this extension.  It just says the increases adopted on December 10, 2008 are currently due to expire on July 1, 2009.  The proposed Water Service Rate extension, if adopted will remove this expiration date, allowing the December 10, 2008 rates to remain in effect until further modified by the May and City Council.  The time extension (which has no "until" date), they go on to explain, is needed to allow the Ad Hoc Water Rate Committee, staff and the consultant to complete a detailed and comprehensive study to formulate a new water rate structure.

What was wrong with the old water rate you might ask?  Well, it was developed with a few flaws.  It gives a heck of a break to owners of multi family residences, and penalized those persons (such as myself) who have large lots they must water or risk living in a desert wasteland.  Kermit Marsh did not vote in favor of that water rate structure when it was adopted, and thankfully he is on the committee now. 

That's the good news.  The bad news is that (A) there is not a deadline for the extension of the currently flawed water rate structure and (B) The State of California is claiming that they are suffering from a water shortage and therefore the places we buy water from  will be increasing rates to users.  The City of Westminster and several other cities in the county are required to buy water from other sources because they are not allowed to pump but only so much of their own water.  The City of Westminster was built on Artesian Wells.  There is bog land so near the surface in this city that in some parts of our cemetery you cannot bury people "two deep" which is common for husband and wives in most cemeteries.  The courthouse was built on such a bog, and one late night many many years ago it sunk  and millions of dollars were necessary to shore it up.  We practically live on a water reservation.  But we are forced to buy water from from other sources and limit the pumping from our own wells.

So, what will this result in?  A raise in the fees on the water rates in Westminster.  Our remaining hope is that there is equal justice on this committee and the Apartment Owners Association does not again prevail in getting a lower rate than the rest of the taxpaying, water rate paying public.