THOUSAND OAKS : Proposal to Raise Sewer Rates Fails

After a heated exchange among Thousand Oaks City Council members, a proposal to raise sewer rates nearly 70% failed early Wednesday morning, throwing into question whether an expansion at the city’s sewage treatment plant will go forward as planned.

The council voted 3 to 2 in favor of the increase, with Mayor Jaime Zukowski and Councilwoman Elois Zeanah dissenting. A vote of at least 4 to 1 was required to pass the rate hike, a key component of the financing for the expansion.

Zukowski had called for a third-party review of plans to upgrade the Hill Canyon treatment plant, saying that she questioned the need to add capacity to meet federal clean water regulations that might be overturned in the future.

As Tuesday night’s meeting turned into a Wednesday morning meeting, Zukowski agreed to drop her request for an independent review but still voted against the rate increase.

Councilman Mike Markey said he was dismayed by the vote, which he said could result in lawsuits against the city. He said the increase in sewer capacity is needed to meet demands of already-approved housing developments and corporate expansion. The upgrade is also needed to meet seismic safety requirements, he said.

“I think it was very detrimental to the city,” Markey said. “I’m going to contemplate bringing a proposal to put a moratorium on development in the city because of it. Otherwise I think we are going to run into some liability problems.

“I don’t think after that meeting that there is any way to convince the two dissenting votes otherwise. But it’s really not taking a fair look at the needs of the community.”