HomeMy WebLinkAbout63-07 • •
RESOLUTION NO. 6 3-0 7
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
INCREASING SEWER SERVICE CHARGES IN BOTH THE PALO ALTO AND LOS
ALTOS SEWER BASINS
WHEREAS,pursuant to the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code and state law, the Town
imposes sewer service charges on users of the Town's public wastewater collection, transmission
and disposal system. The purpose of these charges is to generate sufficient revenues to: pay the
annual cost of administering, operating and maintaining the Town's wastewater collection
system,pay the charges levied by the City of Los Altos and the City of Palo Alto for sewage
transmission, treatment, and disposal services, develop sufficient reserves to fund needed
improvements to the Town's system and to provide for unforeseen emergencies, and pay for
other lawful obligations and expenses of the Town;
WHEREAS,the Town retained the services of a HF&H Consultants, L.L.C. to prepare
an analysis of the adequacy of the Town's existing sewer service charges. HF&H completed a
study recommending increases in the Town's existing sewer service charges in order to cover the
Town's obligations, costs, and expenses relating to the wastewater collection system. The Town
Council preliminarily approved and adopted the study at its meeting on June [14], 2007;
WHEREAS,the basis upon which the amount of the fee or charge was calculated is the
following: The Town initially determined the sewer fund's revenue requirements to meet its
obligations for collection system maintenance and operations, for transport, treatment, and
disposal, and for future capital replacement projects in future years. Once those revenue
requirements or costs were determined, a per-connection rate (with a unit being equal to the
anticipated sewer usage of a single family residence) was calculated by dividing the revenue
requirements by the number of units;
WHEREAS,the Town has compiled with all legal requirements in adopting the sewer
service charge, including,but not limited to, California Constitution Article XIIID, Section 6.
The Town provided 45 days mailed notice to the parcel owners that would be subject to the
increased rates, of a public hearing to consider the proposed sewer service charge rates and to
receive protests against the proposal. The public hearing was held on August [7], 2007. The
Town Council heard and considered any objections or protests at the hearing. A majority of
owners of parcels did not submit written protests against the proposed sewer service charge rates
at the public hearing;
WHEREAS,the Town's sewer service charge rates were last adjusted approximately 6
years ago. Since that time,the costs of maintaining the Town's collection system has
substantially increased,necessitating a rate increase. Additionally,the Town anticipates a
number of necessary capital improvement projects in the coming years. Without the proposed
rate increases, due to increasing operating costs and capital needs, the Town's sewer fund would
not have sufficient revenues in future years to meet operating expenses and capital obligations;
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WHEREAS, the Town Council fmds and determines that this action is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA)pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15273
since the action is the adoption of a fee or charge for the purposes set forth in that section.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the Town of Los
Altos Hills does resolve as follows:
1. The annual sewer service charge in both the Palo Alto and Los Altos sewer basins shall be
$733.00 per single-family dwelling equivalent,until amended by subsequent Town action.
2. The Santa Clara County Assessor shall enter the charges against the respective lots and
parcels of land as they appear on the current assessment roll for fiscal year 2007-2008.
The City Clerk is directed to file with the County the information required by Los Altos
Hills Municipal Code section 6-4.309.
3. If the sewer service charge established in this Resolution is invalidated, the sewer service
charges in effect prior to the adoption of this Resolution shall be in effect.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos
Hills on this 7m-- day of August 2007, by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Mordo, Councilmember Kerr
Councilmember O'Malley and Councilmember Warshawsky
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN:None �/
ABSENT: None
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