Surf City council approves sewer fee

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Residents may see a new fee tucked in with the

rest of their bills this fall as part of the city’s efforts to repair and

maintain its sewer system.

The City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday in favor of developing a monthly

sewer fee to generate much-needed funds for maintenance and operation of

sewage pipelines. Councilmen Dave Garofalo and Peter Green dissented.

With the new sewer fee, single-family homes would pay about $6 a

month, while multifamily complexes would pay $5 per unit. Large

commercial or industrial agencies would pay proportional amounts yet to

be determined and schools would be on a per pupil per day basis, or the

full-time equivalent.

The plan, one of two proposed to the council, would rely wholly on fee

revenue for sewer projects, with the $1.3 million in general funds

traditionally used for maintenance set aside for other infrastructure

needs. The system will need about $132.2 million in revenue for repair

and operation of pipelines, sewer mains, manholes and lift stations over

the next 20 years.

Councilman Ralph Bauer said instituting the fee is paramount because

not only is it necessary to support the sewer system, but it shows that

the city is addressing its sewer needs.

Officials with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, he

added, have said one of the reasons the city is being scrutinized by the

state agency is because of its failure to pass a similar fee in 1996,

when massive sewage leaks were detected in the system.

Then, the council voted against a monthly $1 fee to raise $1 million

annually for sewer upkeep and now the Orange County Grand Jury is

investigating allegations that the city failed to properly report the

leaks.

“What the board saw in that decision was a city that was not

interested enough to take that action, to take that step to fix the

system,” said Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff, who along with Bauer met

with the state agency.

City officials said that the 1990s were financially perilous for

Huntington Beach, which endured not only the county’s bankruptcy, but a

loss in property tax revenue, affecting funds available for projects like

sewer repairs.

Resident Dick Harlow, one of about 60 residents who participated in

the Citizen’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee that set city sewers at

the highest priority last July, supported the need for a fee.

“The system is old, and you know with the problems in the Downtown

area that there is a need for repairs,” Harlow said. “To maintain the

sewer system is cheaper than replacing it, and it really is going to take

a major effort to do that.”

City officials said that final fee calculations should be ready by

April, with public outreach meetings scheduled throughout the summer.

Fees will not appear on resident bills until October.