Commission Discusses Raising Water Rates
The Water Commission will consider raising water fees up to 12 percent at a pubic hearing June 15.
The Glendora Water Commission reviewed water rate payment options for the next fiscal years, including a 6 to 12 percent rate increase during its Thursday meeting.
The increased rates would help cover a seven percent increase in water costs from the Municipal Water District where the city purchases water, including a three percent increase in energy costs.
The commission discussed a three to five year plan water rate plan for the city’s 13,105 customers. Under the three-year plan, customers could expect to pay larger fees in order to reach the city’s 20 million revenue goal faster.
A very conservative water customer who uses 30 units or less can expect a 6 percent rate increase in their bills, an average customer who uses 45 units of water can expect to pay 7 percent increase, while a heavy user using 60 units or more can pay up to 12 percent more.
“This is very reflective of the impact of the rates for conservation,” said consultant Pete Gautreau. “These revenue requirements won’t hit has hard to the customers that stay in the baseline consumption.”
Currently, the typical bi-monthly bill for a Glendora customer is about $132. Under a proposed three-year rate model, a 6 percent rate increase would add another $9 to the customer’s bill.
Over the past year, the commission has analyzed various water rate options, including a flat base or Readiness to Serve charge. However, according staff reports, research showed that a flat base charge placed too large of a cost burden on customers who used meters less than 1 inch.
Staff also looked at a two-tier water rate model that distributed costs in proportion to water resources as well as a cost of energy component. Based on historical data and average water usage, the model promotes water conservation, issuing larger fees to those consuming more water.
The commission was overall in favor of a three-year rate system.
“There are a little bit higher rates in the three-year option than the five-year option, but also in the flipside after the three years we’re there,” said Commissioner Neil Shockey.
However, Commissioner Dale Snoke preferred to spread the costs over a five-year span.
“I look at the five-year plan, on the consumer, as less of a hit,” said Snoke. “We all know it’s going to happen eventually, but this gives us more time to make adjustments.”
The city council last approved a water rate increase in 2009, when the rate increased to 13 percent to accommodate the Municipal Water District’s rising rates.
The Water Commission will make a recommendation on the proposed water rates at a public hearing Wednesday, June 15 at its next meeting at 6 p.m., 116 E. Foothill Blvd.
Janek
7:04 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Our rates are going up again? This is getting absurd.
Janet
7:53 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
I think before the Water Commission gets another rate hike they should be required to prove how they have tried to cut their costs.
Colleen
8:49 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
they have to pay for the fancy water department and all those trucks somehow.. that monstrosity on Sierra Madre? It's expensive, and fancy for a facility like that and all.. couldn't keep it simple?? they actually called a friend of mine to add decorative awnings.. how about that??? all those new GM trucks. Check on this first people.. the decorative awnings they ASKED for are going to cost thousands because they were told by this person that due to the construction of the building they just can't be 'attached' it will take a bit of construction to be able to do this.. wonder if this is where the rate hike is coming from.. freggin awnings.. are you kidding me? they already went above and beyond 'decorating' the building.. no need for all that expensive facia.. really??
are we also paying to drive water UPhill to the houses??? just a question, don't really know that answer.
bob
1:20 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
learn something before speaking out, when you dont know what you are talking about.
gsuburban
9:06 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
All the city employees want to tell us we need to learn common sense? I'm sure that is out the window when city hired consultants are paid large amounts to dream up ways to get revenue from nothing.
By the way, there's one thing I noticed all the city's "learned" or believe is cheaper than retaining and maintaining their fleet of vehicles. They have some "formula" that outsiders or auctioneers, who have financial interests, suggest to the city how long it makes sense to keep their trucks and equipment before it's considered "costing more to own" after they have been in use. The plan is to recycle perfectly good vehicles and equipment regardless of their condition because they are "old" or have "too many hours on them" and so forth. The only winners in these are the folks who end up with the old trucks and the auction company who makes commissions on these. The city dumps their fleet because of a calendar, gets a portion of revenue out of them, replaces everything with brand new vehicles plus the add-ons which likely cost as much as the vehicle alone. No city should have brand new trucks every so often. Why? They don't need to do long distance hauls and so forth and in the past, they held onto old useless vehicles because they weren't worn out and were paid for.
Compare a private company or a farmer to the above. They don't agree and retain their equipment regardless of the drummed up formulas because its cheaper for them.
Terry
9:14 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Would this affect the Glendorans who are assigned to Suburban Water Systems?
Hazel Lodevico-To'o
9:23 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Hi Terry,
No this city proposal wouldn't affect Suburban Water Systems customers, although they have proposed their own rate hike in January. http://glendora.patch.com/articles/suburban-water-systems-proposes-39-percent-rate-increase
Dave
10:38 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
(part 1 of 3) Hello fellow Glendorans! Its my first post and its a long one. I love Glendora and we can solve this easily by cutting ties with MWP. I remember our water tasting clean and chemical free just a few years ago before Glendora decided to make a deal with them. MWP fluoridates their water supply. Meaning, they ADD sodium fluoride on top of the already naturally occurring fluoride.
Contrary to Glendoras website saying fluoridation is OK, I would like to offer another viewpoint (because we are essentially paying MWP to fluoridate us with increases in water prices).
Fluoride is poison. Just do a google image search on "fluoride rat poison". Fluoride is the main ingredient. Fluoride is more toxic then lead. Fluoridated toothpaste specifically states to contact the Poison Control Center right away if INGESTED. The Material Safety Data Sheet of fluoride classifies it as "toxic if ingested" as well as saying it "may cause cancer". It is on the California Directors List of Hazardous Substances. There are no studies to verify the safety of fluoride in the water supply. The National Kidney Foundation recently revoked their support of water fluoridation.
(continued)
Dave
10:39 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Sodium fluoride is a by-product from the aluminum manufacturing industry. It is a waste product being added into our drinking water. This doesnt make any sense at all. Much of the fluoride being add into water today is coming from China now. 94% of the entire world does not fluoridate anymore. America is the last stand, but is finally waking up. There are cities all across North America banning fluoride in their water supplies. Many are doing it for health and safety reasons, others to save taxpayer expenses. From big cities like Calgary, Canada to small towns like Mt. Clemens, Michigan... people are waking up.
The old stories that fluoride helps tooth decay is a false claim. The decrease in cavities since the 1950s is due to better nutrition and better dental practices, not fluoridation. Countries that have banned fluoride since the 9170s have also seen the big reduction in cavities. in fact, in some cases... even less cavities than those countries that still fluoridate. There have been some reports over the years making a case for topical fluoride treatments. I do not deny that. Brushing your teeth with a fluoridated paste is a topical treatment. The dentist using a fluoride solution topically on your teeth is another. Ingesting fluoride and having it go throughout the body in hopes of reaching your teeth is not a smart practice. If you wanted to wax your car, you would not pour the car wax in your gas tank.
(continued)
Dave
10:40 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Fluoride is a neurotoxin. It affects your brain. It has been linked to hypothyroidism, dental fluorosis, reduction of IQ, calcification of the pineal gland (early onset of puberty in girls), osteoarthritis, bone brittleness, and osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
There have even been a few cases now of class action lawsuits against cities and counties for the illegal medical practice of medicating without a prescription.
For all of the reasons listed above and for the added costs to taxpayers, I am calling for a complete cessation of the addition of this toxic waste by-product from our drinking water. Thank You.
Sodium Fluoride Material Data Safety Sheet
http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Sodium_fluoride-9927595
Calgary News
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2011/02/08/calgary-fluoride-city-water-supply-removal.html
Government Advises Less Fluoride in Water
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704739504576068162146159004.html
High Doses of Fluoride Prove Detrimental
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20110321-907464.html
Contacting Steve Patton would be a good start. He is Glendora's Water Division Manager. Contacting the city council is another smart move.
Steve Patton, Water Division Manager
116 E. Foothill Blvd, Glendora CA 91741
spatton@ci.glendora.ca.us
(626) 852-4838
Glendora City Council
http://www.ci.glendora.ca.us/index.aspx?page=37
bob
1:41 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
Hey dave , it is up to the california department of public health when comes to dealing with Fluoride in the water. it is the MWD of southern california which adds the fluoride to the water not the city of glendora.
Dave
2:16 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
Hi Bob. I recommended at the beginning of my post to do away with MWP since they are the ones adding in the additional unnecessary fluoride into the water supply. We should be complaining to them too. Glendora City Council should also know about these fluoride facts so that they too can complain to MWP.
Its simple. Glendoras water rates may go up again because MWPs rates will or already have gone up. Cutting MWP out of the equation would not only save our city money, it would save our health too.
gsuburban
9:09 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Dave, I read the same reports and agree. Why the government thinks we citizens need "teeth healty" additives is beyond me. Some folks say, "They are using it to control us". Makes you think a little.
bob
1:15 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
hey people you all live in the desert? water is not cheap and most of you waste it on your beutiful grass lawns. grow up my rate are about double what glendora is propossing, I am tired of everyone complainting, move out of Southern Califorinia if you want cheeper water.
Colleen
1:46 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
there's a huge difference between rates going up and WHY they are going up. What's the basis..? seems as if towns are getting a little more careful with their wallets and want to know why.. also, Glendora had a rate hike in 2009.. they've also built themselves a fabulous new facility and, well, people want to know the reason for it. if yours are double.. I'd ask what are they basing your rates on. cities have stopped being blind and not caring where the town spends THEIR money.. if you don't complain, you don't get answers. it is my right and yours to know.
gsuburban
9:14 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Bob, people are moving out in case you haven't already noticed. This state and all the local municipalities are crazy money grubbers. Any dense location should be able to provide all utilities including water cheaper than any rural town could yet, the vast Los Angeles county is more expensive. It's obvious there's too many jobs attached and too much overhead created that is not necessary. Buying in bulk means cheaper, not more expensive.
bob
2:03 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
Colleen, do you buy bottle water? Do you complain about gas prices? Do the guys that work for water have to ride bicycles instead of driving work trucks? Should they be working out of a tent instead of a building? You should look at what it really takes to get water to your home.
gsuburban
9:21 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Bob, did the water company just get invented? It's been here a hundred years and did provide much water to the city with less money. Was the water department so ill run the last 50 years that all of a sudden they looked at their operations and said " We're not charging enough"?
Where did all the water department base funding budget money go to when Glendora decided to make the citizens fund the entire water department solely through the water billings?
Colleen
2:10 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
if you don't live in this town why are you even commenting? yes I complain about the gas, but I need it. no i do not complain about bottled water prices. is there any reason they need top of the line everything to run their water division?? that was pretty much my point bob if you actually read it.
Dave
4:32 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
A few more points about fluoride...
The city of Toronto has been fluoridating its water supply for almost 40 years and Vancouver has never fluoridated. Yet Vancouver has a lower cavity rate than Toronto does.
Naturally occurring fluoride is NOT: sodium fluoride, sodium silicofluoride, or fluorosilic acid. Those are all toxic waste products and those are what is being added into the water supply.
Get rid of fluoride means we get rid of MWP and their price increases... two birds with one stone.
Terry
6:55 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
Dave, you seem to know about the topic.
I checked Suburban Water Systems' fluoride level maps, and it says my area's water is .26PPM (as of March 2011). Would you consider this to be a natural or harmless amount of fluoride?
Dave
1:08 am on Saturday, June 4, 2011
Hello Terry. The various standards of measuring fluoride makes this a confusing issue. Generally it is accepted that 1 PPM = 1 mg/L. For you it would be .26PPM = .26mg/L which would put you at a lower medication rate than that of the rest of Glendora which is at 0.7 to 1.3 mg/L.
In November of 2006 the ADA (american dental assoc) advised against giving babies fluoridated water.
The CDC has stated that fluoride's predominant effect is "posteruptive and topical", meaning the benefits of fluoride would come from direct application of fluoride to the outside of the teeth, not by ingestion.
Statements from European Health Authorities on Water Fluoridation
http://www.fluoridealert.org/govt-statements.htm
Bill C.
1:01 pm on Saturday, June 4, 2011
This thread shows 18 comments yet I can only view the first two. This is getting to be a daily thing with Patch, not seeing all the comments. Can you guys fix this problem?
Hazel Lodevico-To'o
7:58 am on Sunday, June 5, 2011
Hi Bill,
Can you see the comments when you click on the article? I'm contacting our tech support regarding this. Thank you.
Doug Tessitor
8:04 am on Sunday, June 5, 2011
I haven't seen the proposed water rate increases, so I'm not sure of the causes, however...
Several years ago, I think it was 2003, the city council approved a long range plan to do two things with our water rates: First, increase the rates sufficiently to provide capital funds for repairing the water infrastructure. This includes pipes in the ground, water storage facilities, wells, and yes, office space.
Secondly, the rates had to be increased so that the operations of the Water Department would be self sustaining. We felt that the Water Department should not operate at a deficit and be subsidized by the General Fund.
It was clear at the time that rates would increase significantly, and they have. Although, they have not gone up as rapidly as we originally projected. The bottom line is that the reason for the rate increases have been clearly spelled out. The financial figures are available on the city's web site for past rates and they will be for future rates.
Dave, you suggest that we stop dealing with MWD. Unfortunately, they are the only source for water when our city's usage exceeds our wells' capacity. Our ability to draw water from our own wells is limited by law.
Our well water is not fluoridated, any fluorides are naturally occuring. We use as much of our own well water as we can legally, because it is much, much cheaper than buying from MWD.
Dave
9:02 am on Sunday, June 5, 2011
Hello Mayor Tessitor! Thank you for the reply and the clarification. I do notice the difference in water ante MWD compared to now. I would like to thank you for not fluoridating Glendoras portion of the water.
It almost feels like MWD is a drug that Glendora is hooked on. Water use is probably on the rise, furthering the need for Glendoras "fix" of MWD. There are a couple of options that I have read about to reduce a need for water and that includes rainwater gathering (some cities offer discounts on rainwater barrels) as well as reusing grey water. I dont know Glendoras current laws, but I do know reuse of grey water is actually illegal in some cities still. Water from laundry, bath and sinks are reused by diverting said water to (usually) underground piping near the surface. This works perfect for those who have vegetable gardens or even rose and flower gardens. Less watering in the yard would make a huge difference. There are some great books out there.
In regards to fluoride: Families and individuals do have some options available. There are fluoride filters for whole house water filtration systems as well as fluoride filters for smaller in-home water filter units. Finding fluoride filters can be difficult (good luck). Fluoride filters are expensive & hard to come by. Shower filters are important too since our skin is considered the bodies biggest organ. We absorb more fluoride through the skin taking a 3 minute shower than if we drink a glass of water.
Janet
1:20 pm on Monday, June 6, 2011
Thank you Doug for the comment. However I think what Colleen and I would REALLY like to know is what the Water Department is doing to reduce their costs to help keep rates from going up. We see the new facility going up and I have heard rumors of cost overruns on it, specifically the items Colleen mentions and the cost to finish the yard area. My information could be out of date here but do we need to pay for employees to monitor the water rationing when they have no power to enforce it? I know all other departments of the city have had to review their budgets and cut including laying off employees. Has the Water Department done the same?
Thanks!
gsuburban
9:29 am on Sunday, June 26, 2011
Doug, why have a general fund for anything? Why not "enterprise" all of the departments at the city? If this was enabled, everything would be more expensive because you would be "creating" departments versus city hall being the master enterprise. This is why folks are upset about the water increases. Most of the increase is because of the creation of the "enterprise" not the cost of water. Not to mention, all of the luxury facilities, jobs, equipment and so forth. By the way, didn't the city have any plans to maintain or update the water distribution system under the old plan? Were they just going to let it go to the dogs? Not likely but now that this enterprise is in place, what's happening with the "General Fund" money that used to fund the water department and how much was that amount?
Reiner
2:10 pm on Monday, June 6, 2011
Why doesn't Glendora try to acquire more water rights from the basin water rights holders and reduce their dependence on MWD. That is what Azusa, Arcadia and La Verne have done and they reduced their purchases from MWD. Glendora has pumping rights and wells in the spreading basin at the mouth of San Gabriel Canyon and buying diversion rights to the river's flow would allow more river water to be diverted to the spreading basin without violating the MOU with Azusa. I believe Glendora upgraded the wells capacity and the new line on Sierra Madre Ave could possibly handle the increased demand. Currently there are 5 entities that have diversion rights to the river, negotiations should be opened up with them to either lease their rights or sell them. Currently water lessors lease water for 90% to 95% of MWD's rate. There's part of your 12% right there.
Doug Tessitor
9:45 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Glendora has been acquiring additional water rights for the last several years. And we have an agreement with Monrovia Nursery for their water rights as part of the specific plan passed recently.
Unfortunately, water rights are not a readily available commodity. They are primarily owned by agricultural interests (Monrovia Nursery, for example) and they have been minimal in this area for decades.
We have a city policy to try to acquire additional rights whenever they become availiable. The price must be attractive for an acuisition to make economic sense, however.
Colleen
5:10 pm on Monday, June 6, 2011
exactly Janet. bob, trying to just jump on me for my comments, really didn't read my problem.. I don't understand why these buildings must be best of the best and top of the line vehicles, when ultimately, we are paying for this, do we not get a say? yes, we did.. I'm sure there was a bond for it.. the decorative unnecessary items they have, want to add, whatever.. its all about looks and it's not fair in this economy to do that to anyone.
it isn't even about cutting employees etc... have you TRIMMED THE FAT??? all the things you don't HAVE to have to run the department!!? who cares if you have expensive carpets and desks and facia... can you get me my water at a fair price without looking like you work in a beverly hills spa???that's more or less what ppl want. that's pretty much it.. but, there's contracts and nepotism and favoritism and everything else in every city... it is what it is.
Marilyn
7:02 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Finally, we, the taxpayers are getting fed up with government excessive increases. If Glendora is serious about water conservation, why don't they tear out their green grass at City Hall and put in rock and desert landscape, along with all the street landscaping. Is it do what we say not do as we do? Think outside the box once in awhile, we are struggling out here!