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requested the City grant access to the Callippe set-aside for more study and establish and <br />educational forum in conjunction with schools and environmental groups. <br />Brendan Lo, student of Foothill High School and members of The City of One campaign, said <br />the campaign raises public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease, and <br />promotes efforts to fight problems in the world's poorest countries. He asked the Council to do <br />more to fight extreme poverty, spoke of their volunteer work, group projects and fundraising and <br />requested the Council adopt a Proclamation which states the City will take part in charity <br />activities, fundraising events, and get more citizens involved in projects. Students spoke and <br />said they have embarked on aletter-writing campaign, asked the Council to help them make <br />this part of Pleasanton's culture, to be able to place flyers at City Hall, businesses, churches, <br />schools, the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, suggested wrapping trees with a <br />white ribbon to get people to talk about The City of One and hold community events with City <br />activities. They encouraged the City to continue efforts after they leave for college, assist in <br />recruiting new members and alleviate local and national poverty. <br />BREAK: Mayor Hosterman called for a break to address the cable casting of the meeting, and <br />thereafter, the meeting reconvened. <br />PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS <br />16. Public Hearing: <br />a. Consider approving sewer rate adjustments and charges within the Ruby Hill area <br />Emily Wagner, Economic Development Fiscal Officer, gave the staff report, stating Pleasanton <br />has been out of the wastewater treatment business since decommissioning their plant in 1970. <br />Since that time, the City has contracted with Dublin-San Ramon Services District and with the <br />City of Livermore, discussed the local component for collection system billing and a regional <br />component for wastewater treatment and disposal costs. The City recently received notification <br />that sewer rates were changing effective July 1St for the regional component. The City's <br />contractual agreements with both entities requires the City collect the regional charges and <br />approve changes to those rates in a timely manner by updating the master fee schedule. Also, <br />Proposition 218 requires that all sewer and water user rates be subject to Proposition 218 which <br />requires a 45 day notification. <br />Proposition 218 requires that the legislative body hold a protest hearing whereby users of the <br />system can protest the increase or change in the sewer rates. Therefore, staff recommends the <br />Council hold the protest hearing. She noted each entity held similar hearings on their rate <br />increase. <br />Ms. Wagner said the Ruby Hill area comprises 820 accounts of which 810 are residential. <br />Residential rates are increasing from $37.70 per month to $39.70, a 5% increase; the 10 <br />commercial accounts are increasing 6%, and Pleasanton imposes a 5% administrative charge <br />for billing and collecting the rates on behalf of Livermore. Therefore, the actual residential rate <br />will increase from $39.20 to $41.70, or $83.40 every two months. <br />Councilmember Sullivan confirmed with Ms. Wagner that the accounting/auditing requirements <br />and costs of the increase are reviewed to verify their legitimacy, through Craig Lawson & <br />Associates (Livermore) and Black and Veech (Dublin-San Ramon). Ms. Wagner said the <br />Council formed the Finance Committee (Thorne and McGovern) for the specific purpose of <br />reviewing water and sewer rates. <br />