[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6261126,"mediaKeyId","3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0","parentId",3124563,"title","Council hears water and sewer rate study; typical combined bill would roughly double over five years under recommended plan","audioSeconds",1816,"startMs",3990000,"endMs",5806000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0&start=3990&end=5806","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0/thumbnail_3990000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6261126/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-hears-water-and-sewer-rate-study-typical-combined-bill-would-roughly-double-over-five-years-under-recommended-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6261126-e61a293be014156c74bfbb5638f8d010/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196726&Signature=JlHBMox~-OwZDTCM3QGiqYlAqOl7l4kycV1JDkOo5xmkNpFnjKnbDINk-nOzJSDeBPVQ0SW9Ivg6RXBlsYV6RdubBstOp0WaiNJKZglTMeFRbCCuOn3PEp0OgyFHLGsNApFB~moaBhOMZDs6cgHxEMQL8BwwvtK6pBWEqVxDjCUJ~BfJ1Ud9VkfcqOc0-kpnvFKVTrJj7tfZZxtE9GMOXg5PIxVHy-Itz5wExHUSE0zUshDIxicXcr9pQ-IUKU2FmcXVeeT8dN-hKaQlu89q2kr-W4DLrkdrU6f9fhjCmALW98dPgZRvZ6OVE67NQVUY1T9r5D8zkcE7r8EF8ssJRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Buellton CA","date","2025-04-25T17:01:54.377Z","article","City finance and utility staff presented an informational water and wastewater rate study to the Buellton City Council on April 24, showing recommended multi‑year rate increases intended to fund capital improvements, restore cash reserves and maintain utility operations.

Willdan Financial consultant Chris Fisher told the council the utilities have not had a rate increase in nearly seven years while operating costs and capital needs have grown. Under the proposed five‑year plan the median combined water and sewer bill for a typical residential customer using 1,200 cubic feet per month would increase from about $101.72 to roughly $218 by the end of the five‑year period. “The total combined bill would go from $101 … to just over $200,” Fisher said when asked by council.

Staff emphasized the drivers: rising operating costs, the need to fund rehabilitation and capital projects (the five‑year capital list totals about $13 million for water and about $5.7 million for wastewater), and the goal of maintaining a best‑practice operating reserve (roughly 180 days of O&M). Under a “status quo” (no changes) projection, the consultant said the water fund would deplete reserves inside the five‑year horizon and the sewer fund would run a larger deficit. With the proposed adjustments, both utilities would generate revenues to cover operations and fund the planned capital program while preserving a minimum reserve by the end of the five‑year period.

Key rate elements shown in the presentation included increases to meter fixed charges and volumetric consumption rates for water and higher monthly service charges for sewer accounts (the consultant showed single-family sewer service rising from about $30.45 to $58.96 per month over the five‑year plan and explained volumetric billing for nonresidential customers). The consultant also reported that Buellton’s current combined rate sits below most neighboring cities; even after the proposed increases the city’s combined bill remains lower than many nearby jurisdictions used in the comparison.

Next steps and procedure: staff said no action was required at the April 24 meeting. Willdan will present the formal study and recommendations on May 8. If the council directs staff to proceed, the city would mail public-hearing notices (required by Proposition 218) to property owners and customers by May 22 for a proposed public hearing on July 10. The clerk will collect written protests; if a majority written protest by property triggers the Proposition 218 threshold, the council may not adopt the proposed rates. If there is not a majority protest, the council could adopt the rates; staff said adopted new rates would be implemented for billing on August 1.

Council members asked staff about the rationale for increases, program priorities and whether low-income discounts could be provided through utility rates. The consultant and finance staff said Proposition 218 requires rates to be based on cost of service and that rate-funded discounts are not permitted; any customer-assistance programs would need to be funded from the general fund or other non-utility sources.

Council direction: councilors gave general direction to proceed with the schedule presented and asked staff to return May 8 with the formal rate-study report and proposed hearing schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Buellton - City Council Meeting April 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and consultants presented a five‑year water and wastewater financial plan showing recommended multi‑year rate increases that would raise the typical residential combined bill from about $101.72 today to roughly $218 by the end of the plan.","taxTitle","Buellton City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",72226,"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},6261131,"Buellton council amends housing element and introduces zoning and specific-plan ordinances to align emergency-shelter rules",2096,1141000,3237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0&start=1141&end=3237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0/thumbnail_1141000.jpg","/articles/6261131/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Buellton-council-amends-housing-element-and-introduces-zoning-and-specific-plan-ordinances-to-align-emergency-shelter-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6261131-0605fec561a391d0e1c5277e473677af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196726&Signature=QmpjL~VFjn9ukpKn8Md~onW7GOJX8INgBzJ58lZgcMwaOg1ViLyI4UYjUhI3yPzf2E0DWGYSeEM3gs8iDSHzeOjGjcwzOPlB5I1E-bFgmRt55izGT-6bhW-kF55Y7goHiP8x2I4jE4PJAraSzLRaEkh23kDFElH2n2Q4jwWI2E0p9RZPFHRDOWDL6UAYvD~v5Yu7s6~A04i6zvpKdqrwhlbNcINmdh8XWdkOg2~s-FNYROth4Akxp4b7c7mLrcJJvDKxBBgyy6lBJ-ra6Ow1EuEDmMmX4ZDscv6F4RU4U3s0bf37H0nQ5Vj2Lh22zB5SftE5s~j2SYwNZ1ONG1i6QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buellton City Council on April 24 adopted a resolution amending the housing element of the General Plan to reflect a previously adopted urgency ordinance on emergency shelters, and introduced two ordinances to update the zoning code and the Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan to implement housing-element programs.

Planners told the council the package consists of three linked actions: Resolution 25-11 to revise housing element background and justification language related to emergency shelters; Ordinance 25‑02 to amend Title 19 (zoning) to codify the earlier urgency ordinance and implement adopted housing programs; and Ordinance 25‑03 to amend the Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan for consistency with the proposed housing and zoning changes.

Associate Planner Tara Morales summarized the proposals as housekeeping and implementation measures. The zoning ordinance amendments would: codify the urgency ordinance that allows emergency shelters by right in the industrial zone and removes that allowance from general commercial and service commercial zones; implement supportive and transitional housing provisions (including low-barrier navigation centers and employee housing standards); and consolidate or clean up several housing-related definitions and preferences.

Planning staff also said the amendments would address density bonus requests under state law and their interaction with the city’s Development Opportunity Reserve (DOR) within the Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan. The council was presented three options: (A) disallow DOR when a density bonus is requested; (B) disallow DOR only when a DOR is functionally similar to a density-bonus concession; or (C) allow both DOR and density bonus requests and evaluate DOR on a case‑by‑case basis. Planning staff noted the city must grant state density bonuses when applicants qualify.

Council discussion focused on maintaining local discretion and avoiding procedural hurdles. One councilor said limiting DOR when a density bonus applies would tie the council’s hands; several members favored allowing DOR alongside density bonuses to retain flexibility. Council members also discussed whether to create a separate application fee for density-bonus requests; staff said state law requires a separate application but that a fee would require a fee study and might present administrative obstacles. Council consensus favored not setting a new density-bonus application fee at this time.

Environmental review: staff reported the housing-element amendment is subject to a general-rule CEQA exemption; the zoning amendments were covered by the housing-element initial study and negative declaration; and the specific-plan amendment was covered by a prior initial study and mitigated negative declaration.

Action and votes: the council adopted Resolution 25‑11 (amending the housing element) by recorded vote. The council then introduced Ordinance 25‑02 (amending Title 19 zoning) by title only and waived further reading; council direction established Option C — allowing both DOR and density-bonus requests, with DOR considered case by case — and the council also directed staff not to set a separate density-bonus application fee at this time. The council introduced Ordinance 25‑03 (Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan amendment) by title only and waived further reading; the introduction passed on voice vote.

Quotes: “All of the amendments relate to housing in some way,” Associate Planner Tara Morales said as she summarized the package. Planning staff explained the difference between density-bonus mandates under state law and the local DOR program: \"You have to grant the density bonus; but the city has discretion on whether to grant a DOR request,\" a planning presenter said.

Staff will return with draft ordinance language for formal adoption readings and any fee-study proposals if the council later directs one. The council’s chosen approach preserves local flexibility for DOR requests while maintaining compliance with state density-bonus law.","The City Council adopted Resolution 25‑11 to amend Buellton’s housing element for consistency with a prior emergency-shelter urgency ordinance and introduced two implementing ordinances to revise zoning and the Avenue of the Flags Specific Plan.",{"_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},6261136,"Buellton council approves contract for library/field parking lot, will build in two phases",332,683000,1015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0&start=683&end=1015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3124563-7799332f462bd3cac9e5e7a94cccecd0/thumbnail_683000.jpg","/articles/6261136/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Buellton-council-approves-contract-for-libraryfield-parking-lot-will-build-in-two-phases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6261136-8162ba84ad6966fea71135230c8df2d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196726&Signature=H7i2HilN0nUz-o3JOk9n3gbSQ2dUDUXLXutlwuPjYcPPj9jiXZrPnnIbZ02UvfvLylEBHuqaHAa5V-el5r77GZl0h2CR2P2UyeBCH3daR1V1kbnf2xnEIllKjV9HC0UJfyudJmtXLUL2YnCmC22mf2i0YmrsOBPoVvkfSHAt34ZeLL-Jv1eiANkK11GPwIswzUX6T47sbswsJXno4VHVTqZmSISq~xZONtBLKeBJXVjjRb2k7BLPKLaRsS2kdNw4xpIPROwyqKv2xUYmFJ7kC1AIoPeQHxw0Xrsa95XG7X6-PfQYzRNdIOCHZFUuB45kiG~CPccISO~EUAWJ8np7gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buellton City Council on April 24 voted to award the contract for the library/field parking lot project, approving construction of Phase 1 immediately and reserving Phase 2 pending environmental clearances.

Councilors said the parking will serve the library, a future children’s museum and other uses on the lower portion of the property. The council approved the award after a brief debate about whether to delay construction until demand increases.

Supporters said waiting would likely increase costs. “I’d rather spend the money we have now to build a parking lot that we know we’ll eventually need than spend $4,000,000 to build it a few years from now,” Mayor David Silva said during the discussion. Council member Hudson expressed reservations about spending so much before demand is proven: “My reservation is just that, it’s a lot of money to be building a parking lot before we have the demand for the parking lot.”

City staff explained the project will be built in two phases: Phase 1 covers the bulk of the lot and will proceed after award; Phase 2 includes a drainage extension and an access road across a drainage culvert and is contingent on environmental review and permits. Staff said the award will cover both phases but that Phase 2 construction will not begin until the required permits and environmental clearances are obtained.

Council members also discussed cost estimates presented by staff. The council referenced a preliminary estimate of roughly $1.27 million and a current estimate that staff described on the record as about $2.47 million. Councilors emphasized the project is already in the adopted budget and that delaying may increase future costs and worsen neighborhood parking and street congestion.

Action and vote: the council voted to approve the contract award for the library/field parking lot project. The motion carried with councilors voting Aye: Council Member Sanchez; Mayor David Silva; Council Member Hornick; and Vice Mayor Alicia Lewis. Staff said Phase 1 will commence after award and Phase 2 will follow when environmental permits are secured.

The council moved on to other agenda business after the vote; staff said they would return with construction details and timelines as permitting for Phase 2 progresses.","The Buellton City Council approved awarding the contract for the library/field parking lot project, authorizing both Phase 1 construction and a later Phase 2 that is contingent on environmental review and permits. Councilors debated timing and cost before voting unanimously to proceed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears water and sewer rate study; typical combined bill would roughly double over five years under recommended plan

Buellton council amends housing element and introduces zoning and specific-plan ordinances to align emergency-shelter rules

Buellton council approves contract for library/field parking lot, will build in two phases