Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Sewer Service Charge Adjustments

At a Public Hearing to be conducted on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Board Room, 3800 Arthur Rd. Martinez, California, the Mt. View Sanitary District Board of Directors will consider the adoption of a rate increase on annual sewer service charges and other rates and fees of the District for sanitary sewer service.

Wastewater infrastructure is essential to protect public health and the environment. Mt. View Sanitary District (MVSD), established in 1923, has been fulfilling this mission for 100 years. Due to the ongoing and immediate needs to replace critical aging infrastructure and meet increasingly stringent regulations that require significant upgrades in equipment and technology, the District Board of Directors will consider the adoption of a rate increase on annual sewer service charges and other rates and fees for sanitary sewer service. The MVSD Board will vote on this rate increase immediately following the above noticed Public Hearing.

Planning for the Future

Nearly twelve years ago, MVSD completed a comprehensive infrastructure evaluation and began implementing a long-term Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP prioritizes which parts of the treatment plant and collection system are expected to need repair or replacement, and when those projects are expected to occur.

It encompasses all engineered studies and projects related to improvements, repairs, rehabilitation, and replacement of the District’s plant, collection system, pump stations, and marsh assets. By addressing its infrastructure needs now, the District will be able to meet regulatory requirements, prepare for the future, and ensure sustainability. To meet these challenges, rate increases are necessary. The most recent CIP update may be found on the MVSD website at https://mvsd.org/CIP and includes descriptions and photos of each capital project.

MVSD continues its responsible stewardship of public funds by controlling operating costs and investing in key capital improvement projects. These projects ensure that wastewater and its by-products continue to be collected, transported, treated, recycled and reused (when appropriate), and ultimately, disposed of properly.

By proactively maintaining its wastewater infrastructure, MVSD has extended the lifespan of its facilities and will continue to do so into the future.

The strategic goal of the CIP is to complete at least two capital projects, major engineering studies, or strategic initiatives every fiscal year. One of the largest plant projects, the Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Replacement, is scheduled to be completed this summer.

With the UV completion, some of the next projects being evaluated are rebuilding the Headworks automatic screening mechanism; replacing the Centrifuge; making improvements to the Digesters heat / mix room piping, valves, and equipment; replacing the Digesters motor control center; and constructing an influent flow metering system in and around the Influent Pump Station. Other items that may also be addressed are the replacement of an isolation slide gate; replacement of the Sand Filters’ sand; replacement of the Sand Filter air compressors; replacement of an Equalization Basin slide gate; replacement of the Arthur Road potable water pump station; reconfiguration and renovation of the Operations Building restroom/locker room spaces; modification of Administration Building parking lot storm drain pipes; installation of additional steel security fencing and gates; modification of the Administration Building fire suppression system; and implementation of various pavement maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement activities.

Planning for these critical and necessary improvements requires that MVSD maintain a sound financial position. As construction costs continue to rise faster in the Bay Area more than anywhere else in the nation, and as regulatory requirements become more stringent, the cost of wastewater infrastructure continues to increase. The approved CIP projects annual average capital expenditures of $5,135,400 for the next ten years.

To maintain its ability to provide its customers with the best possible service and to fully fund the CIP, MVSD will be requesting rate increases for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 though Fiscal Year 2027-2028. The proposed rate schedule information is contained in the chart below.

The combined impact of changes in customer characteristics and the annual increase in revenue requirements on unit costs and sewer service charges is shown in the table below. When the impact of changes in customer characteristics is combined with the impact of the increase in revenue requirements, the changes in customer bills varies between customer classes.

The above chart states that the percentage shown is “before rounding;” however this is incorrect as they are shown after rounding. All proposed rates are accurate. The actual percentage increase (no rounding) for each fiscal year is shown below.

How to Protest the Proposed Rate Increase

All owners and tenants of property receiving sanitary sewer service from Mt. View Sanitary District are invited to attend the Public Hearing on April 13, 2023, and to comment on the proposed rate increase. Proposition 218 allows property owners to file a written protest before or during the public hearing. If written protests are presented by a majority of the property owners, a rate increase will not be approved. Only one written protest per identified parcel or property will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a majority protest.

Written protests must be received prior to the close of the Public Hearing to be considered. The written protest must be signed by the property owner(s), electronic signatures via PDF are acceptable, and must include a description of the affected property, including address and/or Assessor’s Parcel Number. If you were not identified as the owner of the property on the most recent Contra Costa County tax roll, include written evidence that you presently own the property.

Written protests can be mailed to:

MVSD Board Secretary

Mt. View Sanitary District

3800 Arthur Road

Martinez, CA 94553

Written protests may also be sent via email to info@mvsd.org or may be hand-delivered to Mt. View Sanitary District officials to staff at the Administration Office during its office hours on or before April 13, 2023, or up to the close of the Public Hearing on the night of the meeting, April 13, 2023.

Received Protest Letters

The document below contains all protest letters received by the District and will be updated every Monday morning beginning March 6, 2023 through April 17, 2023.