Ethics policy, sewer rates on council agenda
Three noteworthy items this week:
First, the City Council is scheduled to take up ethics and open government regulations at a special meeting next week, after the topic has lingered on council’s agenda since last year’s municipal election changed the group’s voting complexion.
An ordinance prohibiting council candidates from soliciting campaign contributions from city contractors and placing other limits on contributions from individuals and businesses whose interests are affected by council decision-making will be part of the discussion.
Other topics include establishing a code of conduct for elected and appointed officials, instituting a “whistle-blower” procedure, prohibiting closed-door council committee meetings, mandating ethics training and tape-recording closed-door council sessions.
A new law is needed to replace a 1972 ordinance that didn’t prevent abuses related to closed-door meetings with council members, city management staff and developers in 2004-05 Town Center planning and 1990s bonuses secretly awarded top city officials.
Sadly, the ethics expressed by individual council members during a campaign can’t be counted on post-election, so written rules with enforceable consequences are necessary.
Residents can expect a strong ordinance, since ethics reform was a key platform point for ‘08 winners Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing and is ardently supported by John Anderson.
Second, westside residents whose sewers are owned and maintained by the Yorba Linda Water District will continue to supplement maintenance costs for the city-owned sewers generally east of San Antonio Drive, based on a recent 3-2 council vote.
Anderson, Rikel and Schwing nixed a proposed increase in eastside sewer rates from $1.62 to $7.19 monthly, with Jan Horton and Jim Winder in favor of the new charge.
According to a city report, the current $1.62 rate will raise $124,700 for 2009-10 eastside sewer costs, with the city contributing $465,042 from the general fund to pay the balance of the estimated $589,742 budget.
The city sewers serve 6,175 land parcels, with the remaining 15,357 Yorba Linda parcels served by the water district. Most of the district’s $5.50 monthly sewer fees are collected on the monthly water bill, while the city fees are assessed on the annual property tax bills.
Third, the same 3-2 council lineup denied a city staff recommendation for a $190.50 fee to be charged to about 250 industrial and commercial facilities for inspections related to storm water pollution prevention, including a $95.25 non-compliant re-inspection fee.
An unfunded mandate adopted by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board will require about 300 inspections in the next five years, costing the city $21,000, which will now come from the city’s general fund.
First, the City Council is scheduled to take up ethics and open government regulations at a special meeting next week, after the topic has lingered on council’s agenda since last year’s municipal election changed the group’s voting complexion.
An ordinance prohibiting council candidates from soliciting campaign contributions from city contractors and placing other limits on contributions from individuals and businesses whose interests are affected by council decision-making will be part of the discussion.
Other topics include establishing a code of conduct for elected and appointed officials, instituting a “whistle-blower” procedure, prohibiting closed-door council committee meetings, mandating ethics training and tape-recording closed-door council sessions.
A new law is needed to replace a 1972 ordinance that didn’t prevent abuses related to closed-door meetings with council members, city management staff and developers in 2004-05 Town Center planning and 1990s bonuses secretly awarded top city officials.
Sadly, the ethics expressed by individual council members during a campaign can’t be counted on post-election, so written rules with enforceable consequences are necessary.
Residents can expect a strong ordinance, since ethics reform was a key platform point for ‘08 winners Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing and is ardently supported by John Anderson.
Second, westside residents whose sewers are owned and maintained by the Yorba Linda Water District will continue to supplement maintenance costs for the city-owned sewers generally east of San Antonio Drive, based on a recent 3-2 council vote.
Anderson, Rikel and Schwing nixed a proposed increase in eastside sewer rates from $1.62 to $7.19 monthly, with Jan Horton and Jim Winder in favor of the new charge.
According to a city report, the current $1.62 rate will raise $124,700 for 2009-10 eastside sewer costs, with the city contributing $465,042 from the general fund to pay the balance of the estimated $589,742 budget.
The city sewers serve 6,175 land parcels, with the remaining 15,357 Yorba Linda parcels served by the water district. Most of the district’s $5.50 monthly sewer fees are collected on the monthly water bill, while the city fees are assessed on the annual property tax bills.
Third, the same 3-2 council lineup denied a city staff recommendation for a $190.50 fee to be charged to about 250 industrial and commercial facilities for inspections related to storm water pollution prevention, including a $95.25 non-compliant re-inspection fee.
An unfunded mandate adopted by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board will require about 300 inspections in the next five years, costing the city $21,000, which will now come from the city’s general fund.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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