Two outspoken critics of Lodi`s fiscal management said they`ll submit a ballot measure today to roll back a 38 percent water rate increase the City Council approved in September.
The increase, which is being phased in over 18 months, is intended to raise an estimated $45.7 million needed to remove hazardous industrial solvents found in central Lodi`s soil and shallow groundwater. Businesses using the chemicals either dumped them on the ground or into the city`s leaking sewer pipes, creating five major toxic plumes.
Jane Lea and Dawn Squires, who in 2002 led a successful drive to overturn Lodi`s first redevelopment project, plan on submitting their proposed ordinance today.
It would require Lodi to repeal the rate increase, refund money collected to ratepayers and convene a series of public hearings to debate how to pay for the cleanup program.
``This way, we have the option, not them telling us what the options are going to be,`` Lea said of the City Council members. ``People told them this was not a good idea. I would like to see people on the City Council in tune with the common citizens of Lodi.``
Lea and Squires need 2,777 signatures from registered voters in Lodi to qualify their petition for the ballot, City Clerk Susan Blackston said.
They have six months to collect the signatures, but Lea said it shouldn`t take more than a month.
After all, Blackston received 3,795 written protests against the rate increases last year.
For a resident living in a three-bedroom home, water rates will increase by a cumulative $10.50 by July 1, 2007.
Residents who last fall paid $26.83 for a month`s water saw their first of three $3.50 increases on Jan. 1. The second increase is scheduled for July 1 and the third for July 1, 2007.
Lea said like-minded residents have chipped in to pay today`s $200 filing fee. They received advice on their initiative from an Elk Grove man who`s created a Web log that`s often critical of local government, including Lodi`s.
Lea said petitions will be available to download from his Web site.
City Attorney Steve Schwabauer, who`s been instrumental in the city`s court settlements with suspected polluters, said repealing the rate increase would mean Lodi would have to find between $1.5 million and $2 million a year for the cleanup from other sources.
``Whatever the citizens of Lodi want for the city is what`s right for the city,`` he said. ``We`ll do everything we can to present the issue, and we`ll give the citizens the knowledge to choose the right path.``
Schwabauer, however, said the proposed ordinance is invalid, because it calls for public hearings to determine an unknown result.
``The initiative is invalid if, instead of being a legislative act, it directs the City Council to perform one,`` he said. ``The City Council can decide if they want to challenge it or not. It`s illegal. The question is if the council will direct me to challenge it.``
Source |
