Vista authorizes sewer rate study with consultant recommendation (5.5% Vista, 4% Buena) and directs $25,000 lifeline boost

The Vista City Council authorized staff to complete a sewer cost-of-service report and proceed with the Proposition 218 process to collect sewer charges on the San Diego County property-tax roll, after a detailed presentation on system needs and rate scenarios.

Sewer Engineering Manager Ken Nats described system scale (315 miles of pipeline; about 8.5 million gallons per day conveyed), a combined asset valuation of roughly $238 million and master-plan identified pipeline and pump-station deficiencies. He and consultant Sanjay (Water Resources Economics) said Encina treatment costs and inflation have driven a need for near-term revenue adjustments and a robust capital improvement program.

The consultant presented two scenarios: a recommended approach with 5.5% increases for Vista over the first three years to meet reserve and coverage targets, and an alternative (defer then larger increases) that the consultant said could be more disruptive. Staff also recommended moving billing for sewer service to the county property-tax roll to reduce administrative overhead and mailing costs.

Customer impact: under the staff-recommended scenario, a typical Vista single-family account would see an increase of about $36 in the first year. The study shows Vista CIP needs of about $50 million and Buena needs of about $23.5 million over the next five years in the models presented.

Council concern and outcome: several councilmembers asked whether a slightly lower, longer-term ramp (for example 4.9% spread over more years) could be presented as an option; staff said the consultant has completed most of the analysis and will produce the administrative record required under Prop 218 and can show modeled alternatives where feasible. The council voted unanimously to authorize the report and Prop 218 schedule (staff expects to mail notices after March 24), and also voted to include direction in the budget process to add $25,000 into the city's lifeline rebate/general-fund support for low-income sewer customers and to highlight lifeline enrollment information (including a QR code and plain-language outreach) on customer notices.

Next steps: staff and the consultant will finalize the administrative report, post details and outreach material online, mail Prop 218 notices and hold the public hearing timely to allow protests; if adopted the first-year increases would be implemented according to the schedule discussed in the administrative record.