Comments on: Water committee members may have found answer to fair water rate question

By: Matt Williams

Matt Williams — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:35:30 +0000

Frank and I welcome comments and questions from anyone who has them. Feel free to contact us at mattwill@pacbell.net.

By: Matt Williams

Matt Williams — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:33:24 +0000

Alan, you raise good points, but since the vast majority of rental units are not individually metered there is no current way for an individual apartment to get an “accurate” bill. Historical usage for a whole apartment complex fairly reflects the load that that apartment complex places on the City’s fixed water infrastructure. What landlords choose to do with the water bill when they receive it is an issue that is beyond the ability of a rate structure to control. On the other hand fairness in handing that landlord a truly reflective bill is indeed within the control of the rate structure. As an example there are two apartment complexes in the City that used essentially the same amount of water last year, but one paid over $3,500 less than the other one did. Do you think that is fair?

By: Alan Miller

Alan Miller — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:39:56 +0000

I would venture to guess that those proposing this own their homes.

The rental population in Davis is enormous. You cannot ‘fair’-ly asses rental properties from one year to the next and base water rates on previous usage. Individual roomates at a residence come and go, sometimes change over completely.

Many property owners now pass on City service bills to their tenants, and advertise the rental rates without City service included. Others do not, making comparison of rents very difficult for incoming persons unaware of this difference, a difference that can sway one’s rent significantly.

Too many decisions are made on the assumption of and the perspective of owners, not renters. Some may be transient, and many are more permanent. Water use is water use, and the historical perspective should be left out, as such a structure in and of itself alienates the majority of residents.