CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING PROPOSED INCREASES TO
WATER SERVICE CHARGES FOR THE
DIABLO VISTA WATER SYSTEM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Pleasant Hill City Council will hold a public hearing on or after 7:00 PM on July 17, 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter, in the City of Pleasant Hill Council Chambers, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, to consider the adoption of proposed rate changes for water service charges within the Diablo Vista Water System (“DVWS”). Said public hearing will be held to consider all oral testimony and written protests to, and the adoption of the proposed rate increases. If the Pleasant Hill City Council decides to conduct the hearing remotely, information will be included in the published agenda for the July 17, 2023 Pleasant Hill City Council meeting.
Reason for the Proposed Service Rate Increases
In 1950, the Diablo Vista Water District was formed to provide untreated canal water for irrigation to 475 homes bounded roughly by Oak Park Boulevard, the Contra Costa canal, Boyd Road and Patterson Boulevard, known locally in Pleasant Hill as "Poet's Corner." Each of the lots are similar in size and use. In 1963, the Diablo Vista Water District merged with the City of Pleasant Hill (“City”) and became DVWS. Under Pleasant Hill Municipal Code section 13.20.030, the City Council establishes service charges for these water users by resolution.
Currently, residents served by DVWS pay a flat rate of $285 per year for irrigation water from April to December. The $285 fee is comprised of a $150 usage fee and a $135 capital improvement fee. The usage fee funds the DVWS Operating Fund and covers normal DVWS operating expenses. The capital improvement fee funds the DVWS Improvement Fund and finances future DVWS replacements and improvements of the water distribution system.
The usage and capital improvement fees have not increased since the 2004-05 tax year.
However, DVWS’s operating costs have increased and additional capital improvements will be required in the near future to maintain system functionality. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the usage fee and capital improvement fee.
Annual Water Rate Adjustments
Contra Costa Water District Pass Through Adjustment
Contra Costa Water District (“CCWD”) has adopted increases in the water rates that it imposes on DVWS for 2023. In order to pay for the CCWD water rate increases, DVWS is proposing to adopt an increase in the water rates, as shown in Exhibit A, and pass through to customers the CCWD charges, as described in this paragraph.. If approved, the rate increases in Exhibit A will take effect immediately. DVWS is also proposing to authorize, for a five-year period, passing through to its customers in the DVWS service area any future increases in the CCWD water charges that CCWD imposes on DVWS (“CCWD Pass Through Adjustment”). Any annual CCWD Pass Through Adjustment will affect the total water charges DVWS customers pay and may not exceed the actual cost of the CCWD charges in any year. If approved, any annual CCWD Pass Through Adjustment may be implemented for a five-year period beginning April 1, 2024 and any time thereafter through and including April 1, 2028.
Protest Procedure
Owners of record and tenants may submit a written protest against the proposed water rate increases, but only one written protest will be counted per identified parcel. Any written protest must include: (1) the name of the person submitting the protest and their interest in the property (i.e., owner or tenant), (2) identification of the property by either the assessor’s parcel number or street address, (3) a statement of protest (e.g., “I/we protest”) and (4) the original signature of the protesting owner or tenant. Written protests must be received by the City Clerk at 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 before the close of the public hearing. Any protest not received by the close of the public hearing, regardless of date mailed or date of postmark, will not be counted. Any protest submitted via e-mail or other electronic means will not be accepted. Please identify on the front of the envelope for any written protest, whether mailed or submitted in person to the City Clerk, Attn: Public Hearing on Water Rate Increases. The City Council cannot adopt the proposed water service rate increases if, at the close of the public hearing, written protests are submitted by a majority of the water customers of record subject to the proposed water service rate increases.
There is a 120-day statute of limitations for challenging any new, increased, or extended fee or charge.
Questions
For questions about the proposed water service rate increases please contact the Maintenance Division of the City of Pleasant Hill at (925) 671-4646 or by email at [email protected] or DVWS at (925) 383-2233 or by email at [email protected]
Exhibit A
Maximum Water Rates
Current Rate Proposed Rate Proposed Increase
CCWD Water Charge $2.44 per 1,000 gallons $2.59 per 1,000 gallons $0.15 per 1,000 gallons $19.15
DVWS Fee $285 $410 $125