Laserfiche WebLink
File Number: 25-176 <br />including operating expenses and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) costs to develop <br />cost-of-service based rates and produce a Wastewater Rate Study. <br />At the March 3, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council accepted the Wastewater Utility Rate <br />Study (“Study”), and authorized City staff to move forward with sending notices to property <br />owners, to open the legally required 45 day protest period, and to hold a public hearing to receive <br />and count protest votes to ascertain whether a majority protest against the proposed sewer rates <br />was achieved, all as required by and in compliance with Proposition 218. Notices were mailed to <br />all property owners in the City of San Leandro sewer service area on March 17, 2025, which <br />allowed for more than the required 45-day protest period before the Public Hearing on May 5, <br />2025. The City Clerk kept a record of all protest notices received and will report on the total <br />number of protest votes, including those made in person at the Public Hearing. City staff mailed <br />14,589 notices, so if fewer than 7,294 protests are received, the City Council is authorized under <br />Proposition 218 to approve the proposed rates described in the notice. <br />Attachment A Exhibit A shows rates for Fiscal Year 2025 currently in effect, and the proposed <br />rates for the next five years. The proposed rates would be effective July 1, 2025, and July 1 in <br />subsequent years. <br />Analysis <br />The Study included three key elements: <br />1.Financial projections using historical and estimated future operational and CIP <br />expenditures; <br />2.Flow and wastewater strength projections using historical usage data and anticipated <br />changes; <br />3.An evaluation of customer class and fee structure <br />Financial Projections <br />There is a projected increase in costs due to increased staffing and projects as part of the <br />10-year CIP to address aging infrastructure and stricter requirements from the State Water Board <br />for nutrient reduction. In addition, the proposed sewer rates support maintaining at least one year <br />of operating funds in reserve. This level allows the Water Pollution Control Plant Enterprise Fund <br />to absorb unexpected changes or disasters without reliance on the General Fund. <br />The City analyzed the upcoming capital improvement needs for the wastewater enterprise over <br />the next 10 years. The CIP plan was presented to City Council on October 21, 2024. The plan <br />aims to address the aging infrastructure with upgrades to the Water Pollution Control Plant, sewer <br />pipelines, and lift stations. While some of these costs are offset by grants, the remainder comes <br />from sewer fees. <br />In July 2024, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Water Board”) <br />imposed limits for the first time on the quantity of nitrogen that can be discharged to San <br />Francisco Bay. Complying with this requirement will require changes to the WPCP. The CIP Plan <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 9/4/2025