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La Mesa approves updated regional wastewater agreement; new billing could add roughly $750,000 a year
Summary
Council unanimously approved a second amended and restated regional wastewater disposal agreement (SARAH) that moves agencies to functional allocation billing and sets cost shares for Pure Water projects; staff estimated La Mesa could see roughly $750,000/year in additional charges from the new billing structure.
La Mesa's City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 12 to approve a second amended and restated regional wastewater disposal agreement (referred to in staff materials as SARAH), updating how the city and neighboring jurisdictions share treatment and capital costs and laying the groundwork for future regional water reuse projects.
Public works staff explained that the revised contract replaces strength‑based billing with a functional allocation method that more closely ties charges to how agencies use regional facilities and adds new peak capacity charges for certain pump stations and treatment plants. "It introduces a new billing system to allocate metro system costs more accurately based on how each agency uses the metro system," staff said during the presentation.
City staff estimated the change could increase La Mesa's costs by about $750,000 annually, primarily because of the new peak‑capacity charges. "Extra costs to the city of La Mesa are estimated at about $750,000 per year," a staff presentation stated. The staff recommended phased implementation of any corresponding sewer‑rate adjustments.
The item drew remarks from Metro JPA negotiators and San Diego Public Utilities. William Baber, a Metro JPA commissioner, described the multi‑year negotiation process and urged council approval. Lisa Slay, executive assistant director for San Diego Public Utilities, called the agreement a "reaffirmation of our partnership" and said it improves transparency and prepares the region for projects such as Pure Water San Diego.
After discussion, the council approved the agreement. Meeting minutes record: "Motion carries with all council members voting yes." La Mesa was identified in the presentation as the first of the regional agencies to approve the document.
Next steps include coordinating implementation with the Metro JPA and communicating phasing and rate‑setting timetables to the public; staff said rate increases would be phased in per current practice.
The council did not set a separate public hearing on rates at the Nov. 12 meeting; rate adjustments, if needed, will follow the city's standard public‑hearing process.
