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Home My WebLink About2005-25992 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2005-25992 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE MIAMI-DADE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NOT TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT RATES INCREASE. WHEREAS, on September 6th, 2005, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved, on first reading, a proposal for water and wastewater treatment rates adjustment for the County Fiscal Year 2005/2006, which will have a significant impact on the water and wastewater treatment rates charged by the City to its residents, and wastewater treatment rates charged to surrounding communities served by Miami Beach; and WHEREAS, the City received notice of this proposal on August 23, 2005, and additional supplemental information on September 1, 2005, and the City has had insufficient time to fully evaluate the proposed rates increase; and WHEREAS, however, a preliminary assessment indicates that the proposed rate increases are not supported by a complete detailed needs assessment for the renewal and replacement requirements of the major elements of entire water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, thereby undercutting the ability of affected large wholesale customers to review and support the justification for the significant rates increase that have been proposed; and WHEREAS, the City considers the proposed rate change increase of forty (40) percent, for wholesale water, and sixteen and a half (16.5) percent, for wastewater treatment, to be excessive; and WHEREAS, the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program provides capital dollars to improve infrastructure in underdeveloped areas within the County, not maintaining the current infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the water and wastewater infrastructure expansions should be paid by the communities re,ceiving the benefit and not be paid by all rate payers, to include the Miami Beach residents; and WHEREAS, the General Obligation Bonds should be used to fund existing water and wastewater renewal and replacement needs more broadly benefiting the County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission urge the Miami-Dade Board of County.r missioners not to approve the proposed water and wastewater rates increase. // I' I PASSED..arJo ADOPTED this 8th ,2005 , '* ;: AUJ:ST:; ., '.~..'.'.:.'... ,....',....;..... ,.......,.'.._.'............'.'..... '.....~.. ...........C...........'..........,. '.Ht .....> :r: 'J'1tu~ 'c. CITY CLERK Robert Parcher MAYOR APPROVED AS David Dermer TO FORM & LANGUAGE & FOR EXECUTION At~-p ~~.O~ CITY OF MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139 www.miamibeachfl.gov COMMISSION MEMORANDUM From: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission Jorge M. GonzaleZq ~ City Manager ~ 0 SUPPLEMENT 0 R5H - A RESOLUtiON OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE MIAMI-DADE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NOT TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT RATES INCREASE. Date: September 8,2005 To: Subject: ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION Adopt the resolution. ANAL YSIS On September 6, 2005, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved, on first reading, a proposed increase of the wholesale rates for water and wastewater treatment. The respective proposed 'pass through' rates would increase the wholesale water charge by $0.34 (from $0.85 to $1.19 per 1 ,000 gallons) or a 40 percent increase and the wastewater treatment charge by $0.28 (from $1.70 to $1.98 per 1 ,000 gallons) or a 16.5 percent increase. The proposed rates change would increase the average Miami Beach residential customer combined water and sewer bill by $6.82 or 9 percent. The City's annual expenses for wholesale water and wastewater treatment would increase by an estimated $5,249,224. Based on a preliminary assessment, the Administration believes that the proposed increases are excessive. The City Administration received notice of the revised proposed rates increase on August 23, 2005 and supplemental information September 1 s\ 2005. As such, the City has had insufficient time to fully evaluate the proposed rates increase. It should also be noted per the County Manager's memorandum to the Board of County Commissioners, dated August 31 s\ 2005, that the passage of the Building Better Communities general obligation bond program will provide additional capital dollars, that will be primarily targeted to improving infrastructure in underdeveloped areas within the County, not maintaining the current infrastructure. If the general obligation bond program is to support expansion of the existing W ASD infrastructure, the Administration believes the general obligation bond should be paid by the communities receiving the benefit and not be paid by all rate payers to include the Miami Beach residents. J~FHB/RTH/Pb T:\AGENDA\2005\Sep0805\Consent\W&S Rate Increases memo.doc Agenda Item R S H I Date q-8-0~ /' ilt. ZO()~- 2 r-r1h CITY OF MIAMI BEACH 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH. FLORIDA 33 I 39 o :::, ()"\ ~ ~-o ",:1) rn (-. '. -, - RICHARD L. STEINBERG COMMISSIONER ~. en If.~ :;'l>.:, (j'l ~ -< rn tf) 0 o o ~ rn September 12, 2005 Richard Kuper 226 East Flagler St. Ste. 200 Miami, FI 33131 Dear Mr. Kuper: On Thursday, September 8, 2005, the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously passed a resolution opposing the water and wastewater treatment rate increases approved on first reading by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. The proposed rate changes will, if approved on second reading, increase the wholesale water rate by 40% and the wastewater treatment by 16.50/0. I urge the Miami-Dade League of Cities to oppose this exorbitant increase and request that the League send the attached resolution to all Miami-Dade County cities so they may consider passing similar resolutions. Sincerely, Richard L. Steinberg Commissioner City of Miami Beach c: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager Robert Parcher, City Clerk F:\CLER\COMMON\2005\20050908\League Transmittal water rate increases.doc 11 .. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-25992 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE MIAMI-DADE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NOT TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT RATES INCREASE. WHEREAS, on September 6th, 2005, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved, on first reading, a proposal for water and wastewater treatment rates adjustment for the County Fiscal Year 2005/2006, which will have a significant impact on the water and wastewater treatment rates charged by the City to its residents, and wastewater treatment rates charged to surrounding communities served by Miami Beach; and WHEREAS, the City received notice of this proposal on August 23, 2005, and additional supplemental information on September 1, 2005, and the City has had insufficient time to fully evaluate the proposed rates increase; and WHEREAS, however, a preliminary assessment indicates that the proposed rate increases are not supported by a complete detailed needs assessment for the renewal and replacement requirements of the major elements of entire water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, thereby undercutting the ability of affected large wholesale customers to review and support the justification for the significant rates increase that have been proposed; and WHEREAS, the City considers the proposed rate change increase of forty (40) percent, for wholesale water, and sixteen and a half (16.5) percent, for wastewater treatment, to be excessive; and WHEREAS, the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program provides capital dollars to improve infrastructure in underdeveloped areas within the County, not maintaining the current infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the water and wastewater infrastructure expansions should be paid by the communities receiving the benefit and not be paid by all rate payers, to include the Miami Beach residents; and WHEREAS, the General Obligation Bonds should be used to fund existing water and wastewater renewal and replacement needs more broadly benefiting the County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission urge the Miami-Dade Board of proposed water and wastewater rates increase. PASSED and ADOPTED this 8th, Coun~y/C~rrmissioners not to approve the /'/i I I /" / I J / /~' I 1/ /r .1;/ da,Y of, ,. ,2005 i / I l I ' f t ii/- MAYOR David Dermer : ATTEST: JftUt r Ptu dllA., CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE & FOR EXECUT'ON /tq ~ FC"~,,\ CI_ I? ...1\ C -- Robert Parcher