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Chance to protest Ripon sewer, water & garbage rate hikes on Tuesday
water treatment facility
The North Valley Regional Recycled Water Project would help provide a reliable water supply to the 45,000 acres of farmland serviced by the Del Puerto Water District using treated tertiary recycled water from the cities of Turlock and Modesto that would be pumped to the westside through the Delta-Mendota Canal. - photo by Journal file photo

Back in November, the Ripon City Council adopted a resolution calling for the increase of utility rates – namely, water, garbage and sewer – over the next five years.

That was in accordance with Proposition 218, the state constitutional amendment protecting taxpayers by limiting the methods by which local governments can create ir  increase taxes, fees or charges without their consent.

At Tuesday’s 6 p.m. monthly session in the Council Chamber, 259 N. Wilma Ave.  Those protesting the hike can have their say during the public hearing. The meeting will not be open to the public due to the current COVID-19 restrictions as specified by the California Department of Public Health and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. Comments can be submitted via email by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting at cityclerk@cityofripon.org.

A majority vote – 50 percent plus one – is required.

According to Engineering Supervisor Elizabeth Quilici’s report: “In the event a majority protest is not present, the proposed water, sewer, and garbage rates for 2021 through 2025 are approved by voters and will be enacted effective Feb. 1.”

She noted that the City has three enterprise funds – water, sewer and garbage – that are operated in a “business-type manner,” charging customers for these services.

The City’s enterprise funds, as required by state law, are established for a maximum of a five-year period following the Prop. 18 process. The last study recommending enterprise fund rate increases was done in 2015.

Council directed staff to prepare a report each year on the financials of each enterprise fund prior to implementing the approved rates.

The annual report, in summary, consisted of:

  • The Water Enterprise Fund’s current meter rates per month are about 13 percent less than the maximum rates adopted in 2015, with the usage rates being approximately 21 percent less than the maximum rates adopted five years ago.
  • The current rates of the Water waste Enterprise Fund (both fixed monthly and flow-based) are about 19 percent less than maximum adopted in 2015.
  • The Garbage Enterprise Fund are also at the maximum level adopted in 2015, as specified under the current rates.

In the event of a majority protest, the City Clerk will add the protest ballots from each parcel during the public hearing.

A majority protest, Quilici noted, would require 2,488 ballots.

More information is available by logging on to www.cityofripon.org.