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Assembly refers $9.4M wastewater bond ordinance to finance committee after debate on timing
Summary
After staff said the utility lacks the near-term capacity to spend bond proceeds and testimony urged letting voters decide now, the assembly referred Ordinance 2026-36 (water/wastewater capital bonds, ~$9.4M) to the Assembly Finance Committee for FY28 consideration; an amendment to place it on the ballot failed.
City staff described ordinance 2026-36, which would authorize up to $9.4 million in general-obligation bonds to finance wastewater capital improvements and explained that current staff capacity and an existing backlog could make immediate issuance impractical.
A public testifier urged the assembly to place the bond before voters, characterizing it as a well-scoped capital project and contrasting bonds with mill-rate increases. Assembly debate focused on execution capacity and urgency: some assembly members argued the utility is facing a backlog that warrants immediate ballot consideration; others said staff capacity means issuance should be timed to when the utility can spend the proceeds.
Assemblymember Brooks proposed an amendment to place the ordinance on the upcoming ballot; that amendment failed 6–1. The assembly then agreed to refer the ordinance to the Assembly Finance Committee for FY28 planning and voted to proceed with referral, with an understanding staff would coordinate bond issuance timing with finance.
Manager clarified that if voters approved bonds now the administration could delay issuance until projects can be executed, but the committee referral will allow closer alignment of capacity and timing.
