[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6580416,"mediaKeyId","3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a","parentId",3093038,"title","Carlsbad council approves three-year water, recycled and wastewater rate increases after public hearing","audioSeconds",5996,"startMs",1811000,"endMs",7807000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a&start=1811&end=7807","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a/thumbnail_1811000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580416/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Carlsbad-council-approves-three-year-water-recycled-and-wastewater-rate-increases-after-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580416-504f32509901378c3910ed440e5e4887/orig.mp4?Expires=1775045449&Signature=kCmLwXESSzLBUDiSjxO-pyNap7pLT77mkiZXRZE9KBNguIg-5V3wTH0TV-KtXpoHm-M6LBijf8bloQBLtb3-ReefRXssFsu3Yqggd2q6I4YLZXS6rZRT7DM5c~0ychMO5ivtTuadxrC5P5K4WSi32UBIIt92fZbeImhnih0i9xCUXpAOGK16S1l66XvxxoxpyBWT2RSUNqG1lQXc6lnChMrld7iuW5u9xF0pq5149sf2poJJqgFdUZTgXL8squ9lVY9V1n20zNYfeWIbkX3jQLnmGy7e8mwwVGfaqamclLM9C7psBuLzWhIPdG2dZqKCkRuviM9EQb2WW4HjOeLb-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Carlsbad","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Carlsbad City Council, acting also as the Carlsbad Municipal Water District (CMWD) board, approved a package of three-year rate increases for potable water, recycled water and wastewater services after a public hearing and a tally of written protests. The council voted 4-1 to adopt the resolutions; Council Member Burkholder voted no.

The increases, if implemented as proposed, would be phased over three steps beginning July 2025, raising the combined average single-family customer bill by about 49 percent by January 2027, from roughly $125 a month to about $187 a month, staff said. Utilities Director Amanda Flessy and Senior Management Analyst Shoshana Aguilar presented the proposal and the Prop 218 protest process.

Why it matters: The rate package is intended to fund ongoing operations, maintenance and capital investments for three separate systems (potable, recycled and wastewater) while reflecting substantial wholesale cost increases, notably a large pass-through share that the San Diego County Water Authority charges member agencies.

The city attorney opened the hearing by summarizing the legal requirements. “This public hearing is being held in compliance with the procedural requirements for adopting new or increased water and wastewater rates,” the city attorney said, referring to Article XIII D, Section 6 of the California Constitution (Proposition 218).

Shoshana Aguilar told the council the most common single-family customer uses about 11 units of water per month; under the proposed schedule the potable portion for that average home would rise by roughly $17 in July 2025 and then in subsequent steps to reach about $110 a month for potable water by 2027. Aguilar said about 35 percent of a typical bill covers internal city costs and 65 percent pays for water the City buys from the San Diego County Water Authority; she told the council that desalinated seawater is the county’s most expensive supply.

Public comment was substantial. Speakers included residents, retirees, engineers, and business owners who both opposed and supported the increases. Engineer Michael Drennan, who identified himself as a director of water resources at a local engineering firm and an American Society of Civil Engineers member, said he supported the staff recommendation to invest in infrastructure: “...I support the recommended rate increases that is needed to protect and continue to invest in the water and wastewater infrastructure here in Carlsbad,” he said. Other speakers — including Roseanne Bentley, Tom Rudin and Ted Carr — said the increases would be harmful to residents on fixed incomes and to small businesses.

Staff reported outreach extending beyond the minimum required by law: the city mailed notices to all 30,000 customer accounts, ran webinars for commercial accounts, presented to the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and directly contacted the largest customers. The city clerk reported the written-protest tabulation: of 30,519 CMWD accounts subject to the proposed water increases, staff received 102 written protests (not a majority); of 24,140 parcels subject to the wastewater increases, staff received 61 written protests (not a majority). Because the protest counts did not reach a majority, the council could proceed to vote.

Council discussion emphasized the difficulty of timing amid inflationary pressures and the legal limits of rate design under Proposition 218. Council members asked staff about the cost-of-service study, the role of the San Diego County Water Authority in driving costs, the desalination plant's ownership and expenses, and customer-assistance programs. Staff said the CMWD does not own the Carlsbad Desalination Plant; the Water Authority and member agencies purchase its output. Staff also described customer programs (rebates, water-use audits, payment plans and a residential shutoff protection policy).

The council approved the rate resolutions by a 4-1 vote with Council Member Burkholder dissenting. The city clerk certified that there was not a majority protest for either the water or wastewater measures.

Ending: The rate increases take effect if implemented on the schedule adopted by the council; the city noted additional customer resources (billing assistance and conservation rebates) and that the new structure includes a pass-through mechanism so changes adopted by the Water Authority will be reflected in the Water Authority portion of Carlsbad bills. Staff said the increases were designed to fund both day-to-day operations and capital projects to avoid more costly emergency repairs in the future.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Carlsbad - City Council Meeting - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Carlsbad City Council, acting as the Carlsbad Municipal Water District board, voted 4-1 to adopt three-year increases to potable water, recycled water and wastewater rates after a public hearing and a tabulation of written protests required by Proposition 218.","taxTitle","Carlsbad, San Diego County, California","taxId",2843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580403,"Council converts Beach Preservation Commission into Environmental Sustainability Commission",1056,8934000,9990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a&start=8934&end=9990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a/thumbnail_8934000.jpg","/articles/6580403/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Council-converts-Beach-Preservation-Commission-into-Environmental-Sustainability-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580403-6ce3d6dd4985dc5544ee5fc50a3b1121/orig.mp4?Expires=1775045449&Signature=RLuPlF5azsfN-NG2-WESLHxE7mg~6CWUKxD0PKAWSgoVtBDEbTqF~WbcTRVGmJYBSICZmaHVNeAANF~jx5inM0iadfap-Lr9IFRnJbghEvn06gLHShy33zI90FKdMCExgmBVHTv7PSZjCzu~0WIoby832iLv0vDU-yQBQjds47UKQvRIrFoWB6Tnjx-onpxLgC-ECFP15Ef-rJuqBCe47pMO6PRo4mMXeg~fU62a6JNo7dOrDv5e9cXaR9e0pVOIYzQfWnyQKVDi3yzP9gZLuW~CskUrEFntMssEgpTf36OzyUJ4F6H2TD153Wl6w9BIJo0rAixHO35nHDlI6JU4PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council unanimously adopted a resolution transitioning the Beach Preservation Commission into a new Environmental Sustainability Commission, expanding the advisory body’s responsibilities beyond shoreline issues to include natural resources, open space and climate adaptation.

Why it matters: The renamed commission will combine beach preservation expertise with broader sustainability and open-space policy work and will advise the council on climate adaptation, preservation of natural resources and policies to discourage reductions in required open space.

Environmental Sustainability Director Jamie Wood presented the item. Staff recommended retaining the current seven-member composition, adjusting appointment timing to align commissioners’ terms with elected officials, and transitioning existing commissioners who wish to continue to the new commission until their terms expire. Staff proposed a schedule in which June would be the final Beach Preservation Commission meeting, an ordinance amending the municipal code would be introduced and adopted in June, and the first Environmental Sustainability Commission meeting would occur August 7, 2025.

Staff said the proposed commission would be appointed by three mayoral appointees and one appointee from each council district (for a total of seven) and that the commission’s work plan would include review of open-space development standards and a policy discouraging exemptions that reduce required open space.

Public commenters supported the change. Linda Daniels (Sierra Club member) and Paige Decino urged quick implementation and broad outreach; Decino suggested opening slots to new applicants to allow the council to consider all interested candidates when the new commission forms.

Ending: The council adopted the resolution unanimously; staff will return with ordinance language and a work plan, and the commission will begin meeting under its new name in August.

","The council adopted a resolution to transition the Beach Preservation Commission into an Environmental Sustainability Commission with an expanded remit that includes shoreline preservation, natural resources, open space and climate adaptation; the change keeps a seven-member structure and sets a transition schedule.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580408,"City outlines $10 million plan to modernize core IT systems; council receives informational update",792,7785000,8577000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a&start=7785&end=8577","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a/thumbnail_7785000.jpg","/articles/6580408/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/City-outlines-10-million-plan-to-modernize-core-IT-systems-council-receives-informational-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580408-754921bc3565c5cbf5d570ca47932a37/orig.mp4?Expires=1775045449&Signature=RxBwVoF0OBtBVPx43TRpCzdCiRTfsGsgAWg7xV4sH6f6E5jc9ozriQUXMbREZS9MAZQ3wdWsm2J7dJgw0RmTjqiYD2mKZPpwZEIVFRMugONPwlH7UBj4qz3an7lOf-MIYjg0hB2VTW786bt9UCKN1Y4I~nxwtfumdThElFg4G5GlXOWeEZGxSLDDLm-ATn9xnY49fepmV~6oDL5ML3~aD5kI2eU0I~Yjzx7U26Kf05Y95JJtl7LoJc~UGelajZ1J~YPwG6hn76J7Fk5ay4O-ocDSxFmn9vF9Pxak45RweuyjaJ2phhFAh9UmJjvMDw2EPSPLc2GCSxFyeDOr6W93wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City information-technology and finance staff briefed the City Council on a proposed information-technology core systems modernization (CSM) project that would replace multiple legacy administrative systems with a single enterprise platform and updated utility-billing and cashiering modules.

Why it matters: Modernizing finance, human resources, budgeting and utility-billing systems is intended to reduce manual processes, lower cybersecurity risk, improve public-facing portals and support more accurate and transparent financial workflows. Staff recommended an 18‑month implementation, supported by professional services and temporary staffing to reduce schedule risk.

IT Enterprise Applications Manager Doug Capel explained that the city currently uses multiple software applications originally implemented between 1997 and 2010. Finance Director Zach Korich described the Technology Capital Investment Fund and the plan to use previously set-aside reserves to pay for the project. Korich said the total one-time investment for CSM is estimated at $10,000,000; $5,400,000 has already been appropriated in prior years and the remaining $4,600,000 is planned to be requested in the next two fiscal years. Staff projected that the fund would still show an ending five-year balance of about $21.8 million.

Senior IT Project Manager Rachel Mueller said the selection committee reviewed 12 proposals, selected four finalists, interviewed references and unanimously concurred on a recommended vendor. The project components would include an enterprise resource planning (ERP)-style platform for finance, human resources, timekeeping and scheduling; a modern budget-management system with a public portal; a replacement utility-billing system with improved customer-facing features; and a modern cashiering/payment system.

Staff recommended the city receive the informational report; the council did not take formal regulatory action on the item (the presentation was advisory). Council members asked whether the project would create staffing efficiencies and were told that potential changes to staffing levels would be evaluated post-implementation; staff said the immediate goal is to reduce manual processes and operational risk.

Ending: Staff said vendor agreements were near finalization and planned to return to council with a project authorization item (anticipated April 29 for formal approval). The recommended 18-month implementation schedule and the finance plan were positioned to avoid bond financing and use existing reserves set aside under Council Policy No. 91.

","City information-technology staff presented an 18-month plan to replace aged administrative systems with an enterprise platform and a new utility-billing and cashiering system; the project is funded from a Technology Capital Investment Fund and will require a one-time $10 million investment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580411,"Carlsbad council receives annual growth management monitoring report; council adopts related resolution",311,1600000,1911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a&start=1600&end=1911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093038-44fac8921c0da21a585b70b15d069c1a/thumbnail_1600000.jpg","/articles/6580411/Carlsbad/San-Diego-County/California/Carlsbad-council-receives-annual-growth-management-monitoring-report-council-adopts-related-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580411-2ae4a25026c7bc9abd49048f599d2dcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775045449&Signature=PGprvs7vKQIZcKI~Z4VBny14Q88aZDh62P1ngywSXFbCiNRXfpxAOQ-dTqp2ndrCYcApp-4C6SxcbeIXbaz8m~h3XrSlotk-6ENgvpDrgy~UUD0Y1WCFtPih9hIzWNF2UOxbb9a9pXXFP05AEoEWW4mB62yktFv1UWjdhymjVQxEIXw7la4Lnw~ZCy4FJVZNEjLwRnzysxdKMMfN2gple9KfhF0DuPkkxM8uUJ66KpFwc-m-jaa2~PtOAx~pWsZvtvP60kRrDg7pGEwJzy5YJ4h1fQ~-8aqwowW40INnsF1HdoSulWNTu2qxg4TfwbbYKzHsjlYnzH9NTohP0pJbHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carlsbad City Council received and adopted the annual Growth Management Program Monitoring Report for fiscal year 2023–24, a staff presentation that summarized the city's compliance with public-facility performance standards and updated dwelling-unit capacity projections after recent housing-element rezonings.

Why it matters: State law changes (SB166 and SB330) limit local authority to enforce unit-count growth caps and moratoria. The report shows updated capacity estimates after the housing element rezone program and flags areas where projected buildout would exceed the prior caps, which has implications for long-range facility planning for administrative space, libraries and parks.

City planner Eric Lardy presented the monitoring report, which covers the period 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2024 and explains the city's obligation under the zoning code to prepare an annual compliance report. Lardy said recent state laws (SB166 and SB330) “set limits on local agencies by prohibiting both residential growth moratoriums and residential growth caps, such as limits on the number of dwelling units,” and that the California Department of Housing and Community Development deems such limits unenforceable. Because of those laws, the council previously adopted resolutions on April 6, 2021, suspending portions of the growth management program related to unit counts and moratorium provisions.

The report includes a table comparing prior growth caps with current estimates after the housing element rezones adopted in January 2024; staff told the council that Northwest, Northeast and citywide projections exceed those prior caps at buildout. As population and unit projections have increased, staff said additional administrative facilities, libraries and parks are likely to be needed at buildout and that the city will continue to monitor facility needs annually and through updates to the citywide facility improvement plans.

Council discussion was brief; there were no public speakers on this item. A council member moved adoption of the resolution to receive and adopt the report; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: Staff recommended adoption and receipt of the monitoring report; the council adopted the resolution and will continue to annually monitor compliance and update facility plans as required.

","City planners reported that state law changes (SB166 and SB330) have rendered local residential growth caps unenforceable; the council received and adopted the growth management monitoring report for FY 2023–24 and noted projected needs for facilities at buildout.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Carlsbad council approves three-year water, recycled and wastewater rate increases after public hearing

Council converts Beach Preservation Commission into Environmental Sustainability Commission

City outlines $10 million plan to modernize core IT systems; council receives informational update

Carlsbad council receives annual growth management monitoring report; council adopts related resolution