As the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meet this morning to take public comments and protests against the Clean Water Clean Beaches measure, Glendora city council members voiced their opposition to the fee that would affect 2.2 million parcels in the county, including residents, businesses, schools and churches.
Residents have until the close of the Jan. 15 public hearing in Los Angeles to file heir objections by turning in their protest form or protesting at the public hearing.
If a majority of the property owners reject the fee, the measure does not pass. However, if a majority protest is not received, the Board of Supervisors can approve the mail-in ballot to all property owners in March. Passage of the measure requires only a simple majority.
Under the measure, a typical single-family homeowner would pay about $54 on average and condominium owners $20 or less. About 90 percent of parcel owners would most likely see a bill of less than $100, though large commercial property owners could pay thousands of dollars.
The fees would be used to fund future costs of the recently adopted Municipal Storm Water Permit, requirements and regulations that could cost cities millions of dollars to implement.
Glendora has protested against the permit, claiming that meeting the requirements would be “impossible.”
The estimated revenue to the city under the proposed measure will be $764,000 or about $15,280,000 over the next 20-years. However, according to Public Works Director Dave Davies, the annual costs to implement the permit would be $800,000 to $1 million, leaving the city with a shortfall of $50,000 to $200,000 a year, even if the measure passes.
“We are out of compliance as we speak,” Davies said during last week’s city council meeting. “I don’t see any way to fix that, I don’t see how that would be possible under the permit.”
According to Russ Bryden of Los Angeles County Public Works, cities throughout the county believe the new requirements could bankrupt them.
City Council members addressed grave concerns over the regulations and methods used to comply with the Clean Water Act.
“Listening to the discussion, it just seems to me, that no matter what, no matter if this passes or doesn’t pass, the environmental community is going to be out suing everybody that they can because it’s impossible to comply,” said Councilmember Doug Tessitor.
“I think it’s very concerning that the state of California has such little regard for its citizens and its cities that it’s passing regulations that are so stringent and vague that it cannot be implemented without crippling municipalities,” Councilmember Judy Nelson said.
Public comment for the proposed storm water tax will take place 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, Board Hearing Room – 381B, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles.
For more information, call (800) 218-0018 or e-mail water.info@dpw.lacounty.gov.
