The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (District) is the public agency that takes care of sewage generated in most of the City of Santa Clarita and some of the adjacent unincorporated county area. The District’s Board of Directors is being asked to consider a proposal to increase the rates over the next three years to provide, solely, for the continued operation and maintenance of existing facilities and Board-directed activities. Increasingly more restrictive options for the management of biosolids (the solid matter removed from the wastewater) have caused operational costs to grow at a pace faster than that of normal inflation. Upgrades to the existing power distribution system are needed to replace outdated equipment and to help insure operational reliability at the water reclamation plants (WRPs). Likewise, improvements are being made to the existing pumping plant to provide facilities that will minimize the chances of a spill from the sewer system. Lastly, in accordance with the direction of the District’s Board of Directors, the District has initiated activities related to compliance with Measure S. Board-directed activities to work toward a resolution of the chlorides TMDL issue include: test claim for State reimbursement of unfunded mandates, legislative relief efforts, evaluation of the potential use of ultra-violet disinfection technology at the WRPs, studies of water supply options, and continued negotiations with State regulators to develop a workable solution for the Santa Clarita community. None of the proposed rate increase is being budgeted for the development of facilities to control chloride in the Santa Clara River. Any rate increases that may be necessary to support a chloride solution will not be proposed until an acceptable plan is developed. It is important that residents of the City of Santa Clarita and the surrounding communities have a good understanding of the financial factors necessitating the proposed rate increases. To help answer questions and provide interested parties with more background, there will be a series of information meetings in the community as well as tours of the Valencia Water Reclamation Plant as shown below. All of this is to lead up to a public hearing to be held on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the Santa Clarita City Hall when the District’s Board of Directors will consider public input before deciding on whether to enact the proposed rates. A Proposition 218 notice was mailed to property owners on Friday, February 25, 2011. For a generic copy of the Proposition 218 notice, which shows the charge for a single family home, please click here (for Spanish click here). Information Meetings: Location Date Time(s) Castaic Area Town Council Meeting March 16 7:00 p.m. Santa Clarita City Hall March 23 7:00 p.m. Santa Clarita City Hall March 29 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Santa Clarita City Hall April 4 7:00 p.m. West Ranch Town Council Meeting April 6 7:00 p.m. Public Tour of Valencia Water Reclamation Plant: Location Date Time(s) Valencia WRP March 19 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Due to safety considerations, each tour will be limited to 30 people, so you must make a reservation prior to attending. Please RSVP for a tour by telephone at (562) 908-4288, extension 2300, or by email at nmadigan@lacsd.org. If more people than can be accommodated sign up, additional tours will be scheduled. Click here for the tour flyer. Public Hearing: Location Date Time(s) Santa Clarita City Hall April 14 6:00 p.m. SCVSD Current and Proposed Rates per Single Family Home: Proposed FY 2010-11 FY 2011-12 FY 2012-13 FY 2013-14 Existing Facilities Only $16.58 / month ($199/year) $17.92 / month ($215/year) $19.25 / month($231/year) $20.58 / month ($247/year) As shown in the table below, even with the proposed rate increases, the service charge rate in the District in the fourth year will be less than what other similar wastewater agencies are currently charging. Service Charge Rates Comparison: COMMUNITY SERVICE CHARGE $/month $/year Santa Claritaa (2013-14) $ 20.58 $ 247.00 Ventura (current) $ 25.00 $ 300.00 Glendale (current) $ 33.70 $ 404.40 Los Angeles (current) $ 35.24 $ 422.83 Dist. 14b (Lancaster) (2014-15) $ 39.00 $ 468.00 Dist. 20c (Palmdale) (2014-15) $ 44.58 $ 535.00 Ojai (2010-11) $ 52.07 $ 624.84 Santa Paula (current) $ 77.21 $ 926.52 Fillmore (current) $ 82.00 $ 984.00 aThe Sanitation District also receives $5.69 per month of ad valorem taxes. The County Department of Public Works charges $3.38 per month of local sewer maintenance. bIn addition, the District also receives $1.80 per month of ad valorem (property) taxes and the City of Lancaster charges residents $6.50 per month for local sewer maintenance. cIn addition, the District also receives $2.14 per month of ad valorem (property) taxes and the City of Palmdale charges residents $8.64 per month for local sewer maintenance. How To Protest The Proposed Rates You may file a protest against the proposed rate increase. Pursuant to Proposition 218, the protest must be submitted in writing and must be received by the District prior to or at the public hearing on April 14, 2011. Protesting the proposed rates does not negate the District’s responsibility to comply with all legally adopted discharge standards. Consequently, failure to adequately fund the necessary facilities could result in the District (and, ultimately, you the ratepayer) being subject to significant fines and penalties. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE SANITATION DISTRICT’S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AT 1-888-808-1118 OR (562) 908-4871 OR AT RATES@LACSD.ORG.