City Council Votes for Trash and Parking Ticket Fine Hikes

Wednesday's City Council meeting dealt mostly with fee increases: solid waste collection fees; parking ticket fines and water rates. The council also discussed a proposed expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill.

Like in a number of other cities throughout California, parking citation fees in Moorpark will go up by $3, but the city won't see any increased revenue. Instead, that money will be handed over to the state to offset fees legislators voted to charge cities under Senate Bill 857. The state will use the money to help cover court costs.

Residential trash collection fees will also increase. The calculated adjusted rate for 2011 will be $26.36, a 41-cent increase over the current fee. Commercial rates will increase slightly.

While the Council voted directly on the trash and parking fees, it only gives recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors on water rates and the landfill expansion project.

Because plans for the expansion have not been finalized, council members asked questions of landfill representatives and voiced some opinions, but did not take action. They'll look again at the project when the plans are more complete.

Finally, despite a presentation by the director of the county's water and sanitation department, Reddy Pakala, the Council voted to send a letter of objection to a proposed 10 percent water rate hike that would affect customers in the county's Waterworks District 1, which encompasses Moorpark and some of its outlying unincorporated areas.

The proposed increase—the third in as many years—is a result of increased costs from the Metropolitan Water District and the Calleguas Municipal Water District, which supply the district's water.

"I have to tell you that people are getting very frustrated with increases each year," Mayor Janice Parvin said. "… I think the Metropolitan Water District needs to hear from the people here."

Council members also voiced concern that there seemed to be a disconnect between residents' water conservation efforts and fee increases.

"How do you go back and tell people, 'Thank you for reducing your water use. Here's an increase. Merry Christmas,' " asked Councilmember Mark VanDam.

The issue will go before the Board of Supervisors Dec. 14.