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Compton council approves $2.5 million WRD fee, $600,000 fuel contract and several budget items
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting the Compton City Council unanimously approved several fiscal items including a $2.5 million groundwater assessment to the Water Replenishment District, up to $600,000 for fleet fuel purchase orders, $300,000 for imported water and smaller park and grant appropriations.
Compton — The Compton City Council on Oct. 7 unanimously approved a slate of spending authorizations that city officials said are routine or necessary to maintain services.
The council approved a $2,500,000 purchase order to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California for groundwater production assessment fees for fiscal year 2025–26, which operations supervisor David Bennett described as an annual, routine payment tied to the city’s pumping rights. “These are routine payments we make every year,” Bennett said, adding the funds maintain the city’s access to groundwater and that additional pumping rights are sometimes purchased to meet demand.
Council members also authorized purchase orders with vendors for gasoline for the city’s non-fire fleet in an amount not to exceed $600,000. Council members asked the city manager for a departmental breakdown of fuel usage and expenditures; the city manager’s office said it would provide the requested tabulation by the end of the week. Councilmember Bowers noted the figure seems high and requested further detail before the next budget cycle.
Other approved items included $300,000 to the Metropolitan Water District for imported water as needed; the city confirmed that MWD charges would continue even if local wells are rehabilitated because imported water is retained as a reserve and emergency connection. The council also amended the recreation department budget by $10,000 for Kelly Park equipment and supplies and accepted and appropriated a $250,756 water recycling grant (OWR‑4).
Votes at a glance - Kelly Park improvements: $10,000 — Approved (Roll call: Doohart yes; Spicer yes; Bowers yes; Darden yes; Mayor Sharief yes) - Fuel purchase orders (fleet, excluding fire): up to $600,000 — Approved (same roll call) - WRD groundwater assessment fees: $2,500,000 — Approved (same roll call) - MWD imported water: $300,000 — Approved (same roll call) - Water recycling grant (OWR‑4): $250,756 — Approved (same roll call) - League of California Cities conference attendance: approved for Mayor Sharief, Councilmembers Spicer and Bowers — Approved (same roll call)
What council members said David Bennett, operations supervisor for the water department, characterized the WRD payment as routine and part of the city’s established pumping rights: “These are routine payments we make every year,” he said. On the $600,000 fuel authorization, council members pressed for a current usage log to justify the increase; the city manager’s office said staff would deliver the usage and expenditure breakdown.
What’s next Staff will provide the requested fuel-usage breakdown and any additional detail on prior-year WRD payments; the approved appropriations will be processed by the city manager’s office for the 2025–26 fiscal year. No amendments or additional conditions were recorded during the votes.
