Santa Barbara Edhat | Save Water, Get a Rebate

Santa Barbara Edhat | Save Water, Get a Rebate

Goleta Water District Directors Urged to Resign

Goleta Water District Directors Urged to Resign

Goleta Valley Voice

Board members of the Goleta Water district on Tuesday faced calls for their resignations and the suspension of all new connections, annexations and groundwater pumping in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's declaration of a state drought.

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The Brown Act, the state's open meeting law, was once again the subject of heated discussion early in the meeting. ... At issue was why the creation of the two committees had never been reported publicly. ... When Ruskey asked Cunningham what he intended to do about the alleged violation of the Brown Act, Cunningham said he guessed he'd "have to suffer with it."

Ain't No Fleas on Nick Welsh

SB Independent: Once upon a time, Goleta Water District meetings offered the best show in town. That’s if your idea of a good time is watching roosters claw one another to death or pit bulls chomp each others’ necks. Otherwise staid, sensible, middle-aged, propertied, and very white boardmembers could be counted on to lose their collective cool and throw a punch or two. Or perhaps hurl a nameplate at each other. Always there was a free and frank exchange of bodily fluids flying back and forth.

Goleta Water District Votes to Raise Meter Rates

SB Independent

The Goleta Water District decided at a 7/9 meeting to dramatically increase meter rates for many customers, especially those with larger meters. (Customers using less than 800 cubic meters of water per month, however, will pay the same or less.) About 60 residents of the Encina Royale retirement community showed up to advocate payment based on how much customers use per month, but staff and the board insisted that the district's fixed costs made charges based on meter size preferable because the district's income would be less variable.

Goleta Farmers Angry Over Proposed Water Increase

KSBY (Video)

Some farmers in Goleta are up in arms over a proposed water increase.

The Goleta Water District has sent out notices to all their customers telling them in order to improve their aging water pipelines they're looking to pass a rate increase.

But, it's the agricultural land owners who said they will be the ones feeling the biggest pinch.

With more than 50 acres of agricultural land, it takes John Lane a lot of water to feed his Goleta crops.

"I have five different water meters and for me it's almost a $500 a month increase," said Lane Farms Owner, John Lane.

The Goleta Water District is proposing a fee hike that would more than quadruple the costs some customers pay for their meter fees.

Farmers and commercial property owners are the customers who will be the hardest hit if the increase is passed.

"The larger meters will essentially pay more the small meters, who will get a reduction or pay nothing at all," said Goleta Water Board Director Bert Bertrando.

Goleta Water Board Director Bert Bertrando said the increase has been a long time coming, ever since the Goleta Water Company began using state water 10 years ago.

"We should have transferred it to those rate holders a long time ago, we're doing it now," said Bertrando.

If the increase is passed, produce grower Matthew Logan has already calculated his bill will go up 125%. A hefty increase he said he doesn't think his customers are going to stand for.

"They can pass that along to their tenants and businesses but for farmers, people want cheap food," said Fairview Gardens Owner Matthew Logan.

The farmers we spoke with said they feel the increase would be easier to swallow if the water board were to spread it out over two to three years.

To soften the blow, Bert Betrando said they plan to give a $1,200 credit that customers can pay back over three years.

Here are the next steps.

• The first of two public hearings will be held Tuesday night at the Goleta Union School District office on Fairview Avenue.
• The second hearing will be held on July 9.
• A decision is expected to be made in July.

Goleta Residents May See Change in Water Rates

From a 'Staff Report' in the Santa Barbara News-Press today:

The cost of getting water could be going up sixfold for major water users in Goleta.

For those at the other end of the spectrum, the cost could be cut in half.

On May 22, the Goleta Water District will hold a public hearing on changes to what's called the water meter charge, listed on the bill as the Basic Service Charge.

The meeting will start at 7pm at the Goleta Union School District Office, located at 401 N. Fairview Avenue in Goleta.

For the complete article, click here to visit the News-Press (subscription required).