Davis Council Approves Water Rate Hikes, at 3:18 am

After nearly nine hours of debate about the cost of the controversial water-rate hikes, the council appeared as if they might end Tuesday night's meeting without any concrete answers. 

It was 2:45 am when Mayor Joe Krovoza made a final plea for the project, saying that he believes everybody wants the same thing: "We all want to push the rates down," he said. 

Well over 4,500 water users turned in protests against the rate increase, which comes as a result of Proposition 218.

During the public comments, many people cited this number as clear proof that Davis residents will struggle mightily with the doubling or tripling of their water rates. 

Councilmember Sue Greenwald, who spoke against the project all evening and eventually was the sole vote against it, suggested the council call it quits and get some sleep so that the decision could be made at a later date. 

"What's the rush?" she said, pointing out that the water discussion has been going on for decades. "What's a few more weeks at 3 in the morning."

She said that she was "very angry" about parts of the motion that she felt were misleading to the public, particularly that a one-year rate increase could be approved. Once the first bond is issued, "we are obligated to raise rates to whatever it costs to cover the project," she said in a recent email. 

She made an alternative proposal, which she points out in the comments section of this story. 

The Motion

Right when it seemed like the meeting was going to end without resolve, the council dove back into the specifics of a detailed motion Councilmember Dan Wolk had read earlier.

Here are some elements of that motion, which was ultimately approved. Like Davis Patch on Facebook to get updates on your wall. 

• Maximum water-rate increase of 14 percent per year for five years.
• Establish technical advisory committee free of economic conflicts of interest.
• Bring all decisions about the water project before the council. 
• Explore a publically operated water facility, rather than a private one. 
• Try to employ local workers. 
• Look at using more dollars besides just user fees to fund the project.
• Provide regular community meetings and updates as the issue evolves. 
• Explore low-income household options.