City will hold open houses ahead of water rate hearing

SB CITY COUNCIL

The Seal Beach City Council is embarking on its first official step to raising water and sewer rates. The City Council will hold a public hearing related to raising its water and sewer rates on Monday, July 14, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach.

Proposition 218 mandates that cities notify residents when they’re considering raising rates to allow citizens to participate in the process, and to give them the opportunity to protest rate increases.

If approved, income from higher rates will help repair the city’s aging water and sewer infrastructure, which has faced persistent failures that could pose a risk to public health, as well as the city’s fiscal health.

In the public hearing, the City Council will hear and consider oral testimony and written materials submitted regarding proposed rate increases. An official notice has been mailed to all city residents and will begin arriving as early as May 19. People can access the document and related information at the City’s website at utilityratestudy. sealbeachca.gov. Instructions for submitting a written protest and/or written objection are included in the mailed notice.

The city will host two open houses that will feature a series of stations staffed by subject matter experts who will be available for one-on-one conversations about the water and sewer rate proposal. People are free to arrive and depart at their convenience.

The first open house will be held Wednesday, June 4, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Seal Beach Fire Station No. 48, right outside North Gate, located at 3131 North Gate Road, Seal Beach. The second open house will be held Saturday, June 14, from 10:30 a.m.-noon, at the same location.

For more information, email at utilityrates@sealbeachca. gov or call the Public Works Department at 562-342-7389.