5 Things to Know About Watsonville: City Council Meeting

PG&E officials talked about how Watsonville residents can opt out of the new—and controversial—SmartMeter program.

Basically, you have to pay for the choice.

The costs break down like this: Pay $270 up front and $14 per month, or $135 upfront and a $20 monthly fee/increase in rates. For low-income residents, those fees are dropped to $215 at the onset and $11 per month or $105 upfront and $16 monthly.

That means you still get the new meter, but they turn off the radio transmitter and collect data the old way. The ongoing fees pay for meter-readers.

To delay installation, call  877-743-7378. It's bilingual, English-Spanish.

The information came after a lengthy SmartMeter 101 presentation. City Council members criticized PG&E officials for not including the delay phone number in that talk.

"It's just important to have that delay phone number on a slide and at least giving folks the option," City Councilman Manuel Bersamin said.

PG&E officials said they are calling individual customers to let them know the have a choice. Nearly 6,000 meters have been installed in the county with more than 46,000 remaining, PG&E officials said. Completion is expected in March 2012.

Although there's still a moratorium on SmartMeters in Watsonville, the ban isn't valid. The state Public Utilities Commission overruled the local decision and added the opt-out option while the agency considers if people can permanently avoid SmartMeters.

SmartMeters have created immense concern across the state from people worried that the radio waves are a threat to public health.

City Council members expressed grief and concern for the recent tragedies in Watsonville, specifically the and near the hospital that claimed a Santa Cruz family.

City Councilman Manuel Bersamin said he and other local leaders had been working with Stephen Hull on Native American issues for the past three years. Hull, 62, was shot and killed by his son, Aaron Hull, a week ago. The 36-year-old son then took his own life.

Patsy Hernandez, from the local chapter of the American Red Cross, said the Houghton family—the victims of the plane crash—were great Red Cross volunteers. Hernandez was at the meeting to give a report on the city- and Red Cross-sponsored held in the spring.

City Councilman Oscar Rios applauded the annual Fourth of July parade. Rios got some laughs from locals at the meeting when he said he rode on the infamous "missing" fire truck that the city has spent years acquiring.

"It was here and useful," he said of the fire truck. "It was able to make U-turns on Main Street."

Rios said there were lots of babies amid a huge crowd—people came early to set up folding chairs—to enjoy the parade.

The two-tiered retirement system that city employees, including and , agreed to during contract negotiations this spring is nearing implementation after Tuesday’s meeting.

The council made the formal move to change the contracts—that means sending information to the state retirement system—to match the agreements made with bargaining units. The change will save the general fund about $11,000 per new hire, according to city staff.

“We’re basically affirming the contract with our city employees,” Mayor Daniel Dodge said.

Dodge also thanked city employees for helping leaders balance the city budget.

“I know it’s difficult times for all the working families in the city,” Dodge said. “I appreciate them coming together.”

The City Council is on hiatus now until late August.

The next meeting is Aug. 23. Enjoy the break from city politics.