Lodi council keeps water rates steady

Lodians won’t see any changes to their water bills after two motions to hike rates failed at the Lodi City Council meeting Wednesday night in Carnegie Forum.

Councilman Bob Johnson made the motion to approve a proposed three percent increase, which was not seconded.

“It’s like the old commercial, ‘You pay me now or pay me later,’” Johnson said. “I can almost guarantee you that if we were to defer this conversation and defer this rate increase to a future date, we’d have much of the same arguments. At some point in time, you have to bite the bullet, and I’m not too sure that postponing it or pushing it down the road really accomplishes anything.”

Mayor Doug Kuehne then made a motion for a one and a half percent increase, which also failed after only two council members voted in favor.

According to Public Works Director Charlie Swimley, with a decline in revenue and usage due to conservation, the increase would ensure adequate funding for the city’s meter program. The program is currently in Phase 6 out of 8, and is expected to have 13,500 meters installed as of Jan. 1.

City Manager Steve Schwabauer warned that revenue for the water utility would go into the red if the rate hikes were not implemented.

However, with Christmas just around the corner — and after the conservation

efforts of citizens — several council members felt it was bad timing to implement an increase in water rates.

“‘Merry Christmas, we’re going to increase your rates,’” Councilwoman JoAnne Mounce said. “I just think it’s bad timing. I won’t support it.”

Councilman Mark Chandler agreed with the points made by Johnson, but also agreed that it was bad timing.

“I’m very respectful of the public and the timing,” he said, before voicing his concern that if they don’t make incremental increases in the water rates, the city’s water utility would fall behind financially.

At least five citizens agreed and spoke out

against the increase during the meeting Wednesday night.

Lodi resident Mary Jane East felt that she was being penalized for practicing conservation, saying that the increase would make up for the downward trend in water usage and sales due to conservation.

“I have been very proud over the last couple of years during this very, very dire drought period to do the personal things that I can do as a resident to reduce my water usage,” she said. “I find it penalizing to do these things as a conscientious resident and then be slapped in the face with a three percent increase. It certainly isn’t going to break me. I just find it demoralizing to do all

these conscientious things and then be penalized for it.”

Lodi resident Mike Lusk agreed.

“I’m against the water increase,” he said. “I think the city should reward the rate payers in the City of Lodi for their excellent efforts in reducing the water consumption during our current drought, and not penalize them with a rate increase of any kind. The city should hold this year’s budget at the same level as last year’s budget. The city should not start any new water projects unless the funds are already available.”

City staff will now go back to the drawing board to determine an alternate solution for funding the meter program.