City of Arcata Hosting ‘Water Rates Workshop’ February 25, April 15
This is a press release from the City of Arcata:
The City of Arcata invites residents, business owners and community members to attend a public informational workshop on proposed water and wastewater (sewer) rate increases to understand proposed changes.
The workshop will provide an overview of the City’s water and wastewater systems, upcoming capital improvement needs and the rate study that supports the proposed changes. The proposed rate increases are based on the 2025 Water and Wastewater Rate Study prepared by Bartle Wells Associates, an independent rate consulting firm. The study evaluates the cost of providing water and wastewater services and recommends phased rate adjustments over five years to help maintain reliable service, address aging infrastructure and meet regulatory requirements.
There has been a lot of talk about the initially proposed 44% increase in the water portion of the City’s water and wastewater bill. Though, under the rate scenario selected by City Council, the average single family residential customer will only see a 3.6% increase in their total utility bill in the first year. City staff and Bartle Wells Associates’ consultant will be available to explain how rates are developed, what projects the rates fund and how the proposed changes may affect customers. Attendees are encouraged to bring a copy of a recent city utility bill to better understand how the proposed rates could impact their account.
The workshop will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D Street, Arcata. Please note that this meeting is for informational purposes only and is separate from the formal public hearing process.
A public hearing on the proposed water and wastewater rate increases is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. in Arcata City Hall. At that meeting, community members may provide formal comments and submit written protests in accordance with California law.
Community members are encouraged to attend the workshop to ask questions and learn more about the proposed rate changes in advance of the public hearing.
Additional information, including the full 2025 Water and Wastewater Rate Study, is available on the City’s website.
For more information, please visit the Arcata 2025 Rate Study webpage or call (707) 822-5951.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Why the hell are there outside organizations saying how to raise rates? I have to call bullshit on this one. The city is being run by idiots who can figure this stuff out?
I’m not familiar with the process of water rates; how is it usually done?
Funny how they say everything is a human right. Except when it comes to water. Water is life, everything dies without it. Water is a human right. They know it is a necessity, therefore we can’t just discontinue service .To have to pay $200 a month to take 15 showers a m9nth is despicable They doubled rates few years ago to fix the exact same infrastructure. They are giving the exact same number to fix “infrastructure” that Mark Andre did a few years ago. Arcata needs to be audited.
If you want to really “understand” these new rates just think about all the “wonderful” stuff that the City of Arcata spends your money on all the time. Heck- maybe even include some high-wage occupations in the city government where there may be some button-pushers who do little actual work. All that cool stuff costs actual tax dollars- YOUR tax dollars. Then wonder why that money got spent on foolish stuff while the water system needs so much. It’s like children were running the store…
Not children but high paid phonies who don’t care about people who can’t afford high water bills . Who came up with the thieving tier system anyway ? They should be ashamed to show their faces in public.