SAN CLEMENTE : Rate Hikes OKd for Water, City Services

The water rate was among several fees recently increased by the City Council to help offset higher costs and raise funds for cash-strapped city departments.

The 13% water rate hike, the first in four years, was needed because of a 21% rate hike by the city’s main water supplier, the Tri-Cities Municipal Water District, officials said.

Tri-Cities Municipal Water District officials said their rate increase was needed to cover increased costs of buying water from the Metropolitan Water District, the main water supplier in Southern California.

With the new rate, the average bill will be about $2.88 more per month, for a total of about $25, according to a report to the council by city Finance Director Dean A. Porter. The increase is effective Oct. 15.

Even with the increase, residents will still pay less for water than their neighbors in San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, Dana Point and Coto de Caza, Porter said.

But council members warned residents that another rate hike may be needed again soon if Sacramento legislators use property tax revenue generally reserved for water districts to balance the state budget.

“Without a doubt, we’ll be having to look at water rates again in the future,” Councilman Truman Benedict said.

The council also unanimously approved raising the fees for services in several city departments, as previously outlined in the 1992-93 budget adopted in mid-June.

“This is how we’re going to try and maintain services during a very tight budget,” Councilman Scott Diehl said.

Rate increases were approved for the following:

* A second police response to rowdy parties or other disorderly events, which will now carry a $125 fee.

* Dog licenses, pet adoption and impound fees under the Fire Department CARES program, which will increase by $5.

* Inspection of taxicabs, verification of vehicle identification numbers, release of stored vehicles and signatures for citation corrections by the Police Department.

Fees for taxi-driver licensing, bicycle licensing, fingerprinting, visa letters and report duplications will also be going up.

* Reinspection of properties with code violations by city planners, which will now cost $50.

The higher fees, which became effective Wednesday, are expected to bring an additional $187,000 to city coffers, with more than 75% of that generated by the higher fees for police services.