Voice of the People: A Letter to Mayor Paul J. Foster

Dear Mr. Foster: I have watched several times on the television the comments, remarks and questions of some residents of the City of Redlands during the City Council meeting of March 15, 2016, wherein you and three members of the council approved the water rates increase of 19% for 2016, 11% for 2017 and 10% for 2018 or an effective rate increase of 45% for three years and 2.5% for sewer rate. During the meeting I have taken notes of the following: 1. That long before the public hearing you and the three council members were already determined to approve the water and sewer rates increases, no matter what you hear during the public hearing; 2. You stated that if the increases will not be implemented, the utility will lose a net annual of $3.3 million. Despite your estimated loss of $3.3 for fiscal year 2015-2016, I and other residents were surprised that the City Council APPROVED the hiring of the additional Managers and Supervisors of the Municipal Utilities & Engineering Department (MUED) for fiscal year 2015-2016, as follows: 2.1 City Engineer (M84) with a minimum annual basic salary of $108,085 ($131,378) Maximum); 2.2 Management Analyst (MM40 )w/a minimum annual basic salary of $59,434 ($72,242 Max.); 2.3 Water Resources Specialist (MM48) w/a minimum annual salary of $64,358 ($78,228 Max); 2.4 Civil Engineer (MM61) w/a minimum annual salary of $73,246 ($89,031 Max); 2.5 Utilities Operation Manager (M82) w/a min. annual salary of $102,871 ($125,047 Max); 2.6 Prod. Pump Maint. Operator (G51) w/a min. annual salary of $47,618 ($57,880 Max). This is just the minimum annual increase of $455,612 in basic salaries, not including allowances and benefits. 2.7 And for fiscal year 2015-2016, you also approved an adjustment in the salary of MUED employees by 3%, which amounted to an estimated amount of $172,864, based on ESTIMATED MUED basic payroll of $5,762,126 for fiscal year 20114-2015. Note: Salaries, wages and employees benefits is only one item in the operating cost of MUED. 3.That every time there is a problem with MUED, it was your belief that the best and only solution is to INCREASE the water and sewer rates, plus increase in managerial positions, WITHOUT analyzing the problems , such as unbilled water caused by the following: 3.1 Leakage 3.2 Pilferage 3.3 Defective meters 3.4 Wrong or non-meter reading 4. Your statement that there were some Redlands residents disagreed and some AGREED to your proposed water increases of 19% for 2016, 11% for 2017 and 10% for 2018 or an effective rate of 45% for three years is UNBELIEVABLE,because there is no person in his right mind who will AGREE that after sacrificing and obeying the mandatory rule of cutting his/her water usage of 25% to 36%, you will increase his/her water bills by an effective rate of 45% for the next three years. 5. Lack of exploration for alternative solutions, such as transferring or separating the water and waste water operations to another entity or agency similar to Yucaipa Valley Water District, which operate and supply water to the City of Yucaipa. For your information, Yucaipa Valley Water District has only sixty two (62) full time employees for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 compared to one hundred seven (107) full time employees plus five (5) part time employees and other support personnel from other department or division, such Accountant, Payroll Technician, Purchasing, Human Resources, etc. of MUED. 6. Even with your approved increased in water and sewer rates only very little or no amount will be left for the projected replacement of 25,000 miles pipes within ten years because Water Customers will continue to save water as mandated and to reduce household expense, coupled with the increases of fixed expenses of MUED, such as salaries, wages and employees’ benefits. I trust that you will treat this letter with an open mind and reconsider your position. cc: U.S. REP. PETE AGUILAR REDLANDS KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS CA STATE SEN. MIKE MORREL REDLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CA STATE CONTROLLER BETTY T. YEE ROTARY CLUB OF REDLANDS REDLANDS COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL BARICH KIWANIS CLUB OF REDLANDS