The City Council will consider on Tuesday affirming a January 2016 water rate increase of 7 percent, the third of six increases approved in March 2014.
In July 2014, the City switched from a category base rate system - where customers paid the same base rate whether they used 8,000 gallons or 20,000 gallons - to a rate structure that has Turlock residents pay for the amount of water actually used.
"With this new structure, people won't use as much because if you use more, you pay more," said Municipal Services Director Michael Cooke in 2014.
Water conservation is even more important this year, as the City struggles to meet its 32 percent conservation mandate set by Governor Jerry Brown.
At the end of the six rate increases, set for 2019, residents will pay a 94 cents per 100 gallons commodity charge, a $29.40 per month capacity charge, and a $3.60 per month customer charge, making the average residential bill approximately $47.10 per month.
On Tuesday, the City Council is also expected to:
• Receive information in a special meeting related to information technology updates with the City's website, Council chambers technology, servers, internet access and other systems.
• Recognize Covenant Village of Turlock as the City's first Water Saving Hero.
• Appoint an Ad Hoc Community Signage Committee.
• Consider conditions of approval for the Turlock Walnut Company expansion. The proposed facility will include approximately 62,500 square feet of warehouse, packing and cold storage, as well as 900 square feet of fumigation space. The existing 2,500 square foot office building would remain on the site. If approved, the new facility will be located at 400 Third Street. The location of the existing business, which will continue to operate as it is currently permitted, is 400 D Street.
• Approve the 2014-2023 Housing Element. The City is required by the State to prepare a Housing Element as part of its General Plan. The purpose of the Housing Element is to encourage the provision of affordable and decent housing in all communities to meet state-wide housing goals.
• Adopt new policies and procedures for administering a monitoring program for the Community Development Block Grant Program. In response to new requirements for grants managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Turlock has drafted a Monitoring Plan to provide an internal control mechanism designed to review performance and evaluate compliance of nonprofit sub-recipients funded with Community Development Block Grant funds.
• Consider using General Funds to pay for an update to the Downtown Design Guidelines and Zoning Regulations or postpone the update until an outside funding source can be identified. The City was notified that possible state grant programs would not be available to help fund a Downtown Plan for future development. The City Council will consider using General Fund revenues to pay for the estimated $300,000 to $400,000 cost of the planning effort.
• Affirming the Community Events and Activities Grant Funding as submitted by the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission.
• Authorize a Request for Proposal to conduct an executive recruitment for the position of City Manager. Turlock City Manager Roy Wasden announced his retirement on Oct. 14, with his final day in the office expected to be Dec. 7.
The Turlock City Council will have a special meeting on information technology at 5 p.m. Tuesday, before its regular meeting at 6 p.m., in the Yosemite Room of City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.