Council defends fee hike

Local officials Thursday defended their support of a county sewer rate raise, noting that the money will go toward projects of concern to residents as well as a number of long-term cost-saving measures.

The Orange County Sanitation District voted to raise sewer rates on residents by about 10% a year for five years, resulting in a 61% increase from current rates by 2013. Single-family residences will pay $201 in 2008-09 — up from the current rate of $182.

Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Daigle, who serves as Newport’s alternate vote on the Orange County Sanitation District, voted for the increase, noting she did so following unanimous support by the City Council during a public hearing.

“The kind of projects [the Sanitation District is] funding are really apple pie to our community,” she said. “It’s a pretty lean operation, and they’re funding issues of concern to our residents.”

Daigle cited the 2007 City of Newport Beach Community Survey, indicating Newport residents wanted their elected officials to emphasize better maintenance of the bay and ocean, and said she therefore acted on behalf of the expressed wishes of her constituents.

“The kinds of improvements that the fee increase will be funding are consistent with what the residents want the council to emphasize — maintenance of the bay and beaches,” she said in an e-mail. “Secondary treatment of sewage, too, will improve our water quality.”

Costa Mesa Representative and Sanitation District Chairman Jim Ferryman also voted for the increase, saying the funds would be useful in building a much-needed pump station for the county that would transfer sewage efficiently and cheaply. The central pump station would replace 21 separate stations the district uses now.

“This isn’t yet a done deal; it’s in its initial stages,” he said. “But, it will benefit Costa Mesa and Newport Beach immensely — it’s a real upgrade.”

“A big pump station is an extensive proposition, and we simply couldn’t do it without the sanitation district,” he added.

But other members on the board stood by their “no” vote on the measure, saying it was an exorbitant, abrupt strain on taxpayers that could be eased through long-term financial planning.

“They could’ve done a public/private partnership in having these things built, then pay for them over the next 20 or 30 years,” said Anaheim Councilman and Sanitation Representative Harry Sidhu. “I would prefer baby steps, as opposed to collecting all of this money within five years and then paying for the whole [project].”

“Of course the infrastructure is old — I do see that — but we need a long-term solution,” he said.

Sidhu said he would have supported a smaller rate increase, but declined to specify a rate.

VOTE BREAKDOWN

YES (17):

Roy Moore, Brea

Patsy Marshall, Buena Park

Phil Luebben, Cypress

Larry Crandall, Fountain Valley

Don Hansen, Huntington Beach

Rose Espinoza, La Habra

Mark Waldman, La Palma

Ken Parker, Los Alamitos

Leslie Daigle, Newport Beach

Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana

Charles Antos, Seal Beach

David Shawver, Stanton

Doug Davert, Tustin

Rich Freschi, Villa Park

Jim Winder, Yorba Linda

Jim Ferryman, Costa Mesa Sanitary District

Darryl Miller, Irvine Ranch Water District

NO (6):

Harry Sidhu, Anaheim

Don Bankhead, Fullerton

Bill Dalton, Garden Grove

Jon Dumitru, Orange

Constance Underhill, Placentia

Joy L. Neugebauer, Midway City Sanitary District

ABSENT (2):

Christina Shea, Irvine

Chris Norby, County Board of Supervisors

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.