Water-fee ballot is approved, but council waits to set a date

San Diego Union Tribune – San Diego,CA,USA
The Jarvis tax group has sued Encinitas and Solana Beach over
similar issues. It reached a $1.2 million out-of-court settlement with
Encinitas and is …

DEL MAR – City Council members have agreed to a less expensive, mail-in ballot to poll whether property owners want to approve its fee increase for a clean-water program.

But at its Monday meeting, members said they want to review the language to be used on the measure and choose a date for the vote before proceeding.

The vote will be on a fee levied to help comply with federal and state regulations requiring the cleanup of storm water and other runoff. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Organization has challenged the fee, which the city assesses property owners in sewer-water bills. The Jarvis group argues that Proposition 218, approved by California voters in 1996, requires voter approval for taxes and many other charges assessed property owners.

The voting mechanism, as discussed by the council, would be by mail-in ballots sent to 2,823 property owners, and the water fees would remain if a simple majority of those responding approve it.

Councilman David Druker praised the approach as “the simplest” and Councilman Henry Abarbanel said it was “less costly” at less than $6,000.

The Del Mar council voted Feb. 5 to raise its clean-water fee to $3.84 from $2.95 a month for a single-family residence.

Mail balloting would cost about $2,700 to $5,400, compared with about $90,000 for a special election or about $4,000 if the vote were added to next year’s general elections in June or November, city officials estimate.

Councilwoman Crystal Crawford suggested balloting be held sometime after Labor Day, when summer vacations are winding down.

The Jarvis tax group has sued Encinitas and Solana Beach over similar issues. It reached a $1.2 million out-of-court settlement with Encinitas and is preparing to go to court next month with Solana Beach.