Council to Vote Tonight on Big Increases in Water, Refuse Rates

The Palo Alto City Council will vote tonight on whether to implement a 20.9 percent water rate increase and a series of refuse rate increases.

The jump in rates is designed to shore up a $3.4 million gap in the City's Water Fund and a $3.7 million deficit in the Refuse Fund. The new rates would go into effect October 1.

The planned increases were selected in June by the Council for implementation, but require a public hearing first—to be held at tonight’s meeting—as per rules under Proposition 218.

More than 50 percent of affected property owners would need to give the council written protests tonight in order to stop the rate increases.

The shortfall in the Water Fund is largely due to the massive cost of retrofitting regional water pipes, which is forcing the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to raises rates for all its clientele, including Palo Alto.

The planned increases in refuse rates, which include a 29 percent jump in the cost of mini garbage can disposal, come after angry residents last year convinced the council not to raise rates on the mini-cans, citing the value of the smaller cans in helping Palo Alto move toward its goal of being a zero waste city.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers at .