Santa Ana City Council raises water rates unanimously

The Santa Ana City Council, led by Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, turned their back tonight on Santa Ana’s residents, when they chose to unanimously raise our water rates. At one point, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido actually left his seat to confer with city staffers as he plotted to screw the voters once again note Chief of Police Paul Walters, looking uncomfortable in the background, and Pulido amigo Stanley Fiala, looking catatonic in the forefront).

Alvarez moved to approve the water increase, but asked that it include a few modifications. Those changes included charging multi-family units the same rate as single family homes; giving residents some kind of discount if they use ten percent less water this year, towards their fees next year; and I believe she mentioned giving folks a rebate if they buy a new front loading washer that uses less water.

I spoke to the Council, and filed a formal protest against the water rate increases. I asked them why the Cities of Orange, Fullerton, Anaheim, Fountain Valley, and even IRVINE charge less for their water than we do in Santa Ana. The Council totally ignored my question. I asked them why the Moulton Niguel Water District, which has a budget that is approximately the same size as ours, charges less for their water and spends only 19% on administration, compared to our city which spends a whopping 33% on administration. Again, they ignored my question. And I was one of only three people who spoke.

A lady got up and spoke in Spanish. She said she agreed with me and asked the City Council not to raise the water rates. They blew her off. A senior citizen got up and also asked them to not raise the rates. But he said he did not know that residents were supposed to file a written protest.

There is a reason for that. The City mailed notices to only 90,000 residents and they did NOT include a protest form. That form was only available at the Council meeting. People just did not know that they were supposed to file a written protest.

Councilman Vince Sarmiento asked City Manager Dave Ream why we don’t have a discount program for people who live in poverty. No answer was forthcoming. But it was a good question.

Councilwoman Michele Martinez had some great questions for city staff. She asked if our city sells or gives away water to any other cities. A staffer got up and said we don’t sell any of our water. But he DID NOT say if we give any water away.

Martinez also asked if the notice sent to the residents was bilingual. Again the staffer said yes. But I have heard reports that it was sent in English to many people who cannot read English.

Alvarez kept harping about conservation. Councilman Sal Tinajero then brought up the issue that our City Charter mandates that we plant grass in our front yards. Ream acknowledged that. Ream said “I know that issue has been studied and will continue to be studied, and I will be happy to prepare a report for you.” And that was that.

So the City of Santa Ana is raising our water rates – while asking us to conserve water – but they won’t stop forcing us to plant grass in our front yards, even though there are many alternatives, such as decorative rocks, concrete, artificial turf, and desert plants, which would use a lot less water. Nice.

Another issue discussed was the fact that Irvine offers a terrific rebate to residents who buy new front loading washing machines that use a lot less water. Does Santa Ana have a program like that? No.

Alvarez mentioned this idea, but Ream made sure to tell the Council that he would bring the water rates back to them for adjustments if the changes Alvarez proposed makes the water budget unbalanced. But when Alvarez asked if the motion could be postponed for thirty days, Ream said no, because the city would lose $300,000 in the interim.

In the end, they all voted to raise our water rates – even Tinajero and Councilwoman Michele Martinez. It was sickening. I am glad the meeting was televised. Hopefully the voters will remember this night when they vote NO on the bogus term limits measure that will give these folks another four years each on the City Council. Thomas Gordon was sitting behind me and all he could say after the water rates were increased was “vote them all out.”

A pajarito told me after the meeting that the REAL reason the Council voted to approve the water rates is because the city’s sewage system is falling apart. They don’t have the money to fix it. Interesting. What have they done with all the millions they have collected from us over the years? Why are they overspending on administration? Why won’t they be honest with us?