Riverbank to hold sewer rate hearings

RIVERBANK — The City Council has directed staff to hold a public hearing next month to notify residents for a second time about a proposal to raise monthly sewer bills by about $6 over three years.

The council was poised to raise rates at its Oct. 12 meeting, but Councilman Jesse James White cast the dissenting vote that blocked the increase because he wanted renters to be notified as well.

The city notified more than 5,900 property owners about the rate increase in July. The city can't raise rates if a majority protest. Eighteen owners protested. Cities may notify renters but are not required to.

The council decided Monday to hold a public hearing Nov. 9 to decide whether to notify property owners and renters about the proposed increase.

Councilman Danny Fielder is irked by the delay to accommodate White, especially because the city could be fined by the state for failing to meet an Aug. 2 deadline to inspect and create a maintenance plan for its sewer lines. The city says it needs the rate increase to pay for that as well as other work at the waste-water treatment plant.

"I'm frustrated by his overall lack of understanding of the big picture about everything going on in Riverbank," Fielder said Tuesday. "He's still found a way to screw the whole thing up."

White countered that he's not opposed to raising rates but wants everyone — property owners and renters — to weigh in.

"I'm for the tax raises if they are done the right way," he said.