Del Mar: Changes Considered For Clean Water Charges

Press release from the City of Del Mar:

October 2, 2020

The City’s Clean Water Program protects and enhances the quality of lagoons, beaches, and the Pacific Ocean by preventing contaminated water from entering the storm drain system.For Del Mar, clean water ties directly to quality of life and is key not only to health and recreation, but to property values, tourism and visitor spending.Clean water charges pay for maintaining the city’s storm drains, gutters, inlets and other storm water collection facilities. In addition to operating costs, clean water fees would pay for more than $2.8 million in capital improvements over the next 10 years.Since 2008, the City has placed clean water charges on bimonthly bills based upon the amount of potable water consumed.In September, City staff told the City Council that the future rate structure would tie clean water charges to metrics related to parcels of property.City staff members expect to bring a draft rate schedule to the City Council for review in early 2021. Staff is developing the rate methodology in cooperation with SCI Consultants. Presentations to the Finance and San Dieguito Lagoon committees are expected this fall.State and federal laws require Del Mar to prevent pollutants from entering the watershed.Throughout its storm drain system, Del Mar must replace segments of aging, corrugated metal pipe. In recent years, failures of the corroded pipes have required emergency repairs that are costly, inconvenient for the public, and can result in fines for polluting water bodies.At their meeting Sept. 21, Council members appointed Deputy Mayor Terry Gaasterland and Council member Dave Druker to a subcommittee to provide guidance on matters of public education and engagement.Extensive public outreach and solicitations of public input are planned for the winter and spring of 2021.Changes to the rate structure will be subject to the approval of Del Mar property owners through a mailed-ballot election in the spring of 2021.

Open the Staff Report

Open the Clean Water Program webpage

This press release was produced by the City of Del Mar . The views expressed here are the author’s own.