Public Workshop On Proposed New Rates

Public Workshop On Proposed New
Water, Sewer, and Recycled Water Rates

The public is invited to the April 17 Workshop

On April 17, the public is invited to a special public workshop on Marina Coast Water District's proposed new water, sewer, and recycled water rates. Over the past several months, the District has evaluated its operational and facility requirements for the next five years. We addressed three challenges: ensuring that our rates remain fair for all customer classes, providing sufficient revenue to fund continued high-quality service for all customers, and obtaining revenue needed for critical facility improvement needs. After undertaking detailed financial and engineering plans, the District is proposing a number of rate changes.

The proposed rate changes are designed to support about $50 million in investment in water, sewer, and recycled water facilities over the next five years. This investment is needed to renew and replace critical facilities necessary to provide quality and reliable service to customers. The proposed rates will also fund ever-increasing water and sewer management and maintenance costs, including engineering, operations, pumping, treatment repairs, and regulatory compliance replacements.

Fair Rates that Fund Quality Service for Customers. The proposed charges for each class of customer — Single Family, Multifamily, and Nonresidential — will vary in the first year (2024–25). The variations are a result of a detailed study that evaluated the actual cost of serving each class of customers and adjusted the rates to ensure each pays their share of the overall costs of serving them. For example, in the first year, the average single-family household is proposed to see the following changes per month: Marina sewer a $0.72 increase and water a $17.33 increase), and Ord sewer a $2.50 increase and water a $14.94 increase).

Everyone is welcome to attend the workshop on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:00 PM at Carpenters Union Hall, 910 2nd Avenue, Marina. For your convenience, there are several ways to participate and learn more: in person, via Zoom, or by phone. Details on how to participate are available on the District's Rate Update 2024 webpage.

Steps taken to increase efficiency and lower costs before considering rate changes. In the face of constantly rising operational and administrative costs, MCWD takes ongoing action to keep costs down. For example:

1. The District obtained about $9.9 million in grants in the last 5 years.
2. Staff completed large facility projects in-house, saving time and money from outsourcing.
3. Staff optimized water pump station operations to ensure the District does most
   pumping during the lowest-cost PG&E hours.
4. Staff are cross-trained to perform water, sewer, and recycled water distribution, sewer collections, pumps, and mechanical functions, reducing the number of workers needed and allowing for quicker responses.
5. Continued major decrease in overtime cost without affecting the quality of service to customers.

The District will continue to provide updates and information as the study progresses on social media, e-news, mailed notices, and more. For more information, contact us at customerservice@mcwd.org or call (831) 384-6131.