CITY OF RIALTO/RIALTO UTILITY AUTHORITY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED INCREASED WATER AND SEWER/WASTEWATER RATES Notice is hereby given that the Rialto City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board will hold a public hearing to comply with California Proposition 218, (California Constitution Article XIIID, Section 6) on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 6:30 PM or as soon thereafter as can be heard, in the Council Chambers located at 150 South Palm Avenue, Rialto, California. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider proposed modifications and increases to water and sewer/wastewater charges for services furnished by the City/Rialto Utility Authority and to hear and consider objections and protests to the proposed water and sewer/wastewater rate modifications. This notice shall only apply to customers who receive their water and/or sewer/wastewater services from Rialto Water Services, as authorized by the City of Rialto/Rialto Utility Authority.
LOCATION OF REPORT: A report by FG Solutions, LLC, dated May 2024, describing details of the water and sewer/wastewater rate modifications and increases and the method used to calculate the rate modifications and increases (the “Report”) has been prepared. The Report is on file at Rialto City Hall, 150 S. Palm Avenue, and can also be found on the City of Rialto website. A copy of the Report can also be reviewed or obtained upon request by calling (909) 820-2525 ext. 2062 or by emailing [email protected].
AMOUNT OF PROPOSED RATE MODIFICATIONS FOR YOU: The amounts of water and sewer/wastewater rates (existing and proposed) are included as Exhibit “A”.
REASON FOR THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF WATER AND SEWER/WASTEWATER RATES: The proposed modification of Rialto’s water and sewer/wastewater rates is to make the rate structure consistent with the cost of services provided. For water, the increases are primarily to cover an accrued deficit and operational costs for services provided by Rialto Water Services. For sewer, the increases are to cover increased operating costs, and partially for capital improvements needed to the wastewater treatment plant. The revenue from the modified rates and charges will not be more than the funds required for the City/RUA to provide adequate water and sewer/wastewater services.
BASIS FOR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS OF WATER AND SEWER/WASTEWATER RATES: A description of how the modifications were calculated can be found in the Report on file at Rialto City Hall and on the City of Rialto website starting May 2024. A copy of the Report can also be reviewed or obtained upon request by calling (909) 820-2525 ext. 2062 or by emailing [email protected].
PROCEDURE FOR HEARING AND DETERMINING MAJORITY PROTEST: At the time stated above, the Council/RUA Board will hear and consider all objections and protests, if any, to the proposed water and sewer/wastewater rate modifications and other matters described in the Report. The Council/RUA Board may continue the hearing from time to time. Prior to the close of the hearing, if written protests against the proposed modified water and/or sewer/wastewater rates are presented and not withdrawn by a majority of the record owners of the parcels or rate-paying tenants of the parcel that would be subject to the modified water and/or sewer/wastewater rates, the City/RUA may not impose the modified water and/or sewer/wastewater rates; instead, water and/or sewer/wastewater rates would continue at their existing, previously-approved amounts. If, at the close of the protest hearing, there is no majority protest as described above, the Council/RUA Board may approve the water and/or sewer/wastewater rate modifications, as proposed or as changed by the Council/RUA Board, to be effective commencing January 1, 2025.
PRESERVING THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE: Any person who wants to preserve the opportunity to file a lawsuit challenging the proposed water and sewer/wastewater rate modifications, if imposed, or other matters described in the Report must file a written protest with the Council/RUA Board, stating the specific grounds of the protest. Any grounds not stated in a written protest filed with the Council/RUA Board before the close of the protest hearing on June 25, 2024, will be deemed waived and may not be raised in any subsequent lawsuit.
HOW TO PROTEST THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASES: All owners and tenants of property receiving water and/or sewer/wastewater service, and interested persons are invited to attend the Public Hearing noticed above. Written protests must be received (not postmarked) by the City Clerk before or during the public hearing. Council/RUA Board will not count written protests submitted after the conclusion of the public hearing. In compliance with Proposition 218, any protest submitted by e-mail or other electronic means will not be accepted. The protest must be signed by the property owner(s) or tenant(s) and must include the assessor’s parcel number(s) or street address(es) of all property(ies) serviced, and your statement that you protest the increase in either the water or sewer rates. Should the property owner(s) or tenant(s) protest both the water and the sewer rate, then one protest will need to be completed protesting the water rate, and another protest will need to be completed protesting the sewer rate. Only one written protest per identified parcel or property will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a majority protest.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For additional information and answers to questions about the proposed water and sewer/wastewater rate proceeding, contact Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager, at (909) 820-2525 x 2062, or [email protected].
EXHIBIT “A”
WATER CURRENT AND PROPOSED MONTHLY MINIMUM CHARGE:
WATER CURRENT VOLUME CHARGE:
WATER PROPOSED VOLUME CHARGE:
SEWER/WASTEWATER CURRENT AND PROPOSED RATES:
NOTE: Extraterritorial (outside the borders of the City of Rialto) sewer fees have been established at one point three (1.3) times the current sewage charges per Resolution No. 6209 adopted January 8, 2013.
FIRELINE AND HYDRANT RATES