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For Immediate Release
September 30, 2011
Contact: Nancy Broschart, 805-223-4378
Kelly Flanders, 805-677-3993

Ventura Water and Wastewater Rate Advisory Committee Selected

A nine-member Rate Advisory Committee has been formed to provide community input on a new study of water and wastewater rate options and operational costs in Ventura. A series of public meetings will be held beginning Wednesday, October 12 and running through January 2012 to review the costs associated with protecting our environment and maintaining our water and wastewater systems, and to explore how water and wastewater rates are calculated and charged. Interested community members are encouraged to attend these meetings to become informed about the rate study and to participate in the public testimony process.

The meetings will be led by Raftelis Financial Consultants, a leader in the utility rate industry, with the first meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 at 6 pm at the Ventura Sanjon Maintenance Yard – Assembly Room, 336 Sanjon Road. Following an overview of the study and issues, the Committee will participate in a pricing objectives exercise to determine the priorities of the community in setting rates. In developing rates and evaluating rate structures, community expectations such as affordability, rate stability, and the promotion of water efficiency must be considered to help guide the overall study process.

All nine Rate Advisory Committee members are Ventura residents, and include: Alejandro Robles, Clint Crowell, Sarah LeClaire, Diane de Mailly,  Don Mills, John Mundy, Marty Melvin, Robert McCord, and Irene Henry.

Future meetings are tentatively scheduled for November 16, December 14, and January 18 at the same time and location. The committee members, who have volunteered for this limited-time service, will contribute community insight to any recommendations brought by staff to the City Council at the conclusion of the study.

Ventura Water provides integrated water, wastewater and stormwater services to 109,000+ customers with 32,000 service connections. For more information about the study and meetings, visit www.cityofventura.net/water or call Ventura Water Customer Care at (805) 667-6500.

This release can be found on the City of Ventura's website at www.cityofventura.net. ###