La Verne approves consultant contract and establishes ad hoc water & sewer rate committee

The La Verne City Council on July 1 authorized a professional‑services agreement to complete a water and sewer cost‑of‑service and rate‑design study and established an ad hoc Water & Sewer Rate Study Committee to guide outreach and provide stakeholder input.

Public Works Director Meg McWade told the council the city conducted a competitive selection and invited top firms for interviews; staff recommended Raftelis (listed in staff materials) to prepare a legally defensible administrative record and assist with Prop 218 procedural requirements. A representative of the selected firm (John Wright) was in the audience.

McWade said the study will inform a multi-year rate plan and that the city plans to recruit one committee member per councilmember via direct appointment, vet the applicants publicly and produce bylaws for the ad hoc committee. The process will include outreach through water bills, social media and other channels; staff noted mailers were not planned because of postage costs but that water-bill inserts and targeted postings would be used.

Council discussed Prop 218’s majority-protest requirements and asked about success rates; staff said properly run outreach processes typically avoid a successful majority protest. The council approved the contract and the resolution establishing the ad hoc committee; staff will release the application packet and begin outreach.

The action authorizes the city manager to execute the consultant contract and any related amendments and directs staff to return the committee appointments to the council for approval.