RESOLUTION NO. (N.C.S.)
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL SEWER PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHEREAS, on March 11, 2025, City Council received the sewer rate study findings and recommended completion of the Sewer Rate Study (the “Study”) which recommends increases to the sewer rate over a 5-year period to meet the City of Salinas wastewater enterprise program operational and maintenance costs needs; and WHEREAS, throughout the sewer rate study process, City Council identified the need to develop a program to assist need-based residential sewer ratepayers regardless of the residence type; and WHEREAS, as required by law, the program cannot be funded through user fees assessed to ratepayers; and WHEREAS, on June 17, 2025, City Council appropriated $150,000 from the General Fund for a sewer assistance program as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 City Budget, per Resolution No. 23269; and WHEREAS, Monterey One Water (“M1W”) serves as the billing and collection agency for sewer charges assessed to Salinas ratepayers, and M1W bills properties, not units, on a bimonthly basis; and WHEREAS, in order to provide an assistance program that allows for discounts to be provided to multi-family properties (duplexes, apartments, mobile home parks, etc.), the City must administer a program independent of sewer billing; and WHEREAS, the City of Salinas Residential Sewer Payment Assistance Program (the “Program”) will provide qualifying residential ratepayers with a one-time annual payment equal to 15% of their cumulative City Sewer System charges for the fiscal year regardless of their housing type; and WHEREAS, Program eligibility criteria and requirements are outlined in Attachment 1, “Residential Sewer Payment Assistance Program”; and WHEREAS, each year, the Program will be contingent on the appropriation from the General Fund; and WHEREAS, City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15378.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Salinas City Council hereby establishes a Residential Sewer Payment Assistance Program as shown on the attached Exhibit A.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 23rd day of September 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
_______________________
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk
Attachment: Exhibit A
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