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requested the City grant access to the Callippe set-aside for more study and establish and educational forum in conjunction with schools and environmental groups. Brendan Lo, student of Foothill High School and members of The City of One campaign, said the campaign raises public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease, and promotes efforts to fight problems in the world's poorest countries. He asked the Council to do more to fight extreme poverty, spoke of their volunteer work, group projects and fundraising and requested the Council adopt a Proclamation which states the City will take part in charity activities, fundraising events, and get more citizens involved in projects. Students spoke and said they have embarked on aletter-writing campaign, asked the Council to help them make this part of Pleasanton's culture, to be able to place flyers at City Hall, businesses, churches, schools, the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, suggested wrapping trees with a white ribbon to get people to talk about The City of One and hold community events with City activities. They encouraged the City to continue efforts after they leave for college, assist in recruiting new members and alleviate local and national poverty. BREAK: Mayor Hosterman called for a break to address the cable casting of the meeting, and thereafter, the meeting reconvened. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS 16. Public Hearing: a. Consider approving sewer rate adjustments and charges within the Ruby Hill area Emily Wagner, Economic Development Fiscal Officer, gave the staff report, stating Pleasanton has been out of the wastewater treatment business since decommissioning their plant in 1970. Since that time, the City has contracted with Dublin-San Ramon Services District and with the City of Livermore, discussed the local component for collection system billing and a regional component for wastewater treatment and disposal costs. The City recently received notification that sewer rates were changing effective July 151 for the regional component. The City's contractual agreements with both entities requires the City collect the regional charges and approve changes to those rates in a timely manner by updating the master fee schedule. Also, Proposition 218 requires that all sewer and water user rates be subject to Proposition 218 which requires a 45 day notification. Proposition 218 requires that the legislative body hold a protest hearing whereby users of the system can protest the increase or change in the sewer rates. Therefore, staff recommends the Council hold the protest hearing. She noted each entity held similar hearings on their rate increase. Ms. Wagner said the Ruby Hill area comprises 820 accounts of which 810 are residential. Residential rates are increasing from $37.70 per month to $39.70, a 5% increase; the 10 commercial accounts are increasing 6%, and Pleasanton imposes a 5% administrative charge for billing and collecting the rates on behalf of Livermore. Therefore, the actual residential rate will increase from $39.20 to $41.70 or $83.40 every two months. Councilmember Sullivan confirmed with Ms. Wagner that the accounting/auditing requirements and costs of the increase are reviewed to verify their legitimacy, through Craig Lawson & Associates (Livermore) and Black and Veech (Dublin-San Ramon). Ms. Wagner said the Council formed the Finance Committee (Thorne and McGovern) for the specific purpose of reviewing water and sewer rates. City Council Minutes 4 June 3, 2008