Westminster Ca Utilities

A decision on whether to lease the city's water system to a private company will most likely be delayed until November while the plan is reviewed by an independent auditing firm, City Manager Bill Smith said Wednesday. For the past several months, city staff members have been soliciting bids from companies interested in leasing and operating the aging water system, which is $10 million in debt and needs about $20 million in repairs. A proposal from the top bidder, California-American Water Co.

After applauding the city's "prudent budgeting," the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday that will save residents approximately $2.80 per housing unit. The ordinance lowers the city's utility users tax 1%. A Financial Review Committee last year determined that a reduction of the tax from 5% to 4% was possible in light of the city's surplus in general funds. Council members believed residents could benefit as the result of the city's healthy financial condition.

The city should continue to seek the most favorable deal to privatize its aging water system, a divided City Council decided Tuesday. "I don't think there's any reason not to continue with this," Mayor Charles V. Smith said. "It's a textbook example of how privatization can save the taxpayers money." For the last several months, the city's staff has been soliciting bids from private companies interested in leasing and operating the city's water utility.

Though plans to lease the city's water system were considered dead after the November municipal election, the City Council has made it official. "It's time we move on," Mayor Frank G. Fry said. "I feel we've done all the looking at privatization that we can do." For about six months last year, city officials solicited proposals from private companies interested in leasing and operating the water system.

A flier distributed in the community by City Councilman Frank Fry Jr. drew dozens of residents to a council meeting Tuesday, many of whom denounced a proposal to privatize the city's water system. Fry, who is running for mayor in November, said he "wanted to alert the people that they're about to lose the water works. We got out 10,000 fliers over two days."

Though new City Council members won't take office until December, last week's municipal elections are having one immediate effect: halting a plan to lease the city's water system to an outside company, City Manager Bill Smith said Monday. "The plan's dead," Smith said. "Philosophically, it's not what the community wants to do." Councilman Frank Fry Jr., a strong opponent of the proposed lease, won the mayor's seat Nov. 5 over Councilwoman Charmayne S.

The City Council has directed its staff to investigate two major proposals: privatizing the water utility and converting from general law to a charter city. "I think we'd be remiss if we didn't look into these [options]," Mayor Charles V. Smith said. Westminster should consider privatizing its water system because budget constraints have postponed many repairs and upgrades, City Manager Bill Smith said. In 1991, the city identified $7 million in repairs and improvements to the water system.

Though plans to lease the city's water system were considered dead after the November municipal election, the City Council has made it official. "It's time we move on," Mayor Frank G. Fry said. "I feel we've done all the looking at privatization that we can do." For about six months last year, city officials solicited proposals from private companies interested in leasing and operating the water system.

After applauding the city's "prudent budgeting," the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday that will save residents approximately $2.80 per housing unit. The ordinance lowers the city's utility users tax 1%. A Financial Review Committee last year determined that a reduction of the tax from 5% to 4% was possible in light of the city's surplus in general funds. Council members believed residents could benefit as the result of the city's healthy financial condition.

Though new City Council members won't take office until December, last week's municipal elections are having one immediate effect: halting a plan to lease the city's water system to an outside company, City Manager Bill Smith said Monday. "The plan's dead," Smith said. "Philosophically, it's not what the community wants to do." Councilman Frank Fry Jr., a strong opponent of the proposed lease, won the mayor's seat Nov. 5 over Councilwoman Charmayne S.

A decision on whether to lease the city's water system to a private company will most likely be delayed until November while the plan is reviewed by an independent auditing firm, City Manager Bill Smith said Wednesday. For the past several months, city staff members have been soliciting bids from companies interested in leasing and operating the aging water system, which is $10 million in debt and needs about $20 million in repairs. A proposal from the top bidder, California-American Water Co.

A flier distributed in the community by City Councilman Frank Fry Jr. drew dozens of residents to a council meeting Tuesday, many of whom denounced a proposal to privatize the city's water system. Fry, who is running for mayor in November, said he "wanted to alert the people that they're about to lose the water works. We got out 10,000 fliers over two days."

The city should continue to seek the most favorable deal to privatize its aging water system, a divided City Council decided Tuesday. "I don't think there's any reason not to continue with this," Mayor Charles V. Smith said. "It's a textbook example of how privatization can save the taxpayers money." For the last several months, the city's staff has been soliciting bids from private companies interested in leasing and operating the city's water utility.

The City Council has directed its staff to investigate two major proposals: privatizing the water utility and converting from general law to a charter city. "I think we'd be remiss if we didn't look into these [options]," Mayor Charles V. Smith said. Westminster should consider privatizing its water system because budget constraints have postponed many repairs and upgrades, City Manager Bill Smith said. In 1991, the city identified $7 million in repairs and improvements to the water system.