The Willow Glen Resident Residents face hike in sewer rates; businesses get a break Council will decide on increase at Feb. 9 meeting By Mary Spicuzza The San Jose City Council is in the midst of a debate over whether the protection of neighborhood creeks that flow into San Francisco Bay is worth requiring that local property owners shell out more cash. On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the City Council will listen to reports from staff about community responses to proposed storm sewer rate changes. The rate change as it stands will mean increases for residential properties, as well as schools and churches. However, if the council adopts the proposal as it stands, industrial and commercial properties will end up paying less for services. "We're looking to see how equitable this is, and whether there's a need for increased revenues in the program," says Michelle McGuirk of Councilmember Frank Fiscalini's office. "We're trying to get a better understanding of where the money is going." The money raised from the planned increases will be used to support street sweeping and storm sewer repair, as well as hazardous material clean-ups and storm runoff inspection projects. Rates haven't been changed since 1995, but over the last few years more stringent and expensive federal regulations have been implemented to prevent stream contamination. Staff members will be presenting results of community meetings held in mid-January in an effort to better include residents' voices in the decision. More than 600 letters were sent before the meetings. City employees, especially the staffs of Councilmember Frank Fiscalini's office and the Environmental Services Department are encouraging people to become informed before the rate increase is implemented. If council supports the proposed rate change, a public hearing will be held in April. Property owners will be notified when a date is set. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, February 3, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.