COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

May 30, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 24, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

2003-2004 Sewer Service Charges Report for County Sewer Maintenance and Sanitation Districts

Recommendation

Acting as the Governing Board of nine (9) Sewer Maintenance/Sanitation Districts (Districts), adopt a resolution setting the time and place for a public hearing on the filing of the 2003/2004 Sewer Service Charges Report for the nine Districts.

Previous Board Action

Adopted Ordinance No. 04050 on June 26, 2001, establishing the sewer service charge base rate in each of the nine Districts.

Key Facts

1.

The San Mateo County Ordinance Code requires that sewer service charges for the Districts be collected on the tax roll. To accomplish this, your Board must take the following three actions before August 10th of each year:

a.

Adopt a resolution setting a time and place for a public hearing to consider the individual sewer service charges set forth in the Sewer Service Charges Report.

b.

Hold the public hearing and receive testimony.

c.

Close the hearing and adopt a resolution adopting the Sewer Service Charges Report.

2.

The recommended action, adopting a resolution setting the time and place for the public hearing, is the first step in the process and is procedural.

Discussion

The nine (9) Districts governed by your Board provide sanitary sewage collection, transport, treatment and disposal services as well as ancillary field and office services to over 12,000 residences, businesses, schools, and institutions in San Mateo County. Virtually all of the revenue to provide these services in each district is generated by a user fee, the sewer service charge. The 2003/2004 Sewer Service Charges Report, which was being prepared concurrently with this report, will contain the individual charge for each parcel of real property receiving sewer service from one of the nine districts.

The individual yearly charges are calculated using the sewer service charge rates which were adopted by your Board on June 26, 2001. The approved yearly rates for 2003/2004 are:

Sewer Maintenance Districts

County Sanitation Districts

Burlingame Hills

$571

Crystal Springs

$440

Emerald Lake Heights

Devonshire

$358

Old District

$416

Scenic Heights

$323

New District

$304

Fair Oaks

$227

Harbor Industrial

$231

Kensington Square

$311

Oak Knoll

$351

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Vision Commitment to “ensure basic health and safety for all” and Goal Number 7, “maintain and enhance the public safety for all residents and visitors,” as setting the date for a public hearing allows the process to finance sewer service to over 12,000 properties to go forward.

Fiscal Impact

There is no fiscal impact by setting the public hearing. However, levying the individual sewer service charge, which can occur after the public hearing, will result in charges being levied on those parcels receiving sewer service.

There is no direct impact to the General Fund. However, sewer service charges are levied on property that is either leased or owned by the County where sewer service is provided.

A form of resolution has been approved by County Counsel.