05-16-91 Public HearingMay 16, 1991
So. Tahoe Public Utility District
Board of Directors
I would like the Board to seriously review and revise
the Schedule of Units. This schedule no doubt was made in
1977 or 1978 and has not been updated in many years. I think
it is grossly unfair that a Motel unit (b) is charged for ]
sewer unit and Laundromats (f) are charged 2 units for 1 wash-
ing machine. A Motel gets upwards of $60.00 per night and
Laundromats get $1.00 to $1.25 per washer. Is this FAIR?
What about car washes? How many units are they charged for?
I believe this rate structure should be looked at and revised
to All Other Commercial Establishment (j) or 1 sewer unit per
1 washing machine. Also 2 units for swimming pools (g) ridiculous!
Whatever Staff or Directors set this old schedule up must have
had a grudge against Laundromats and favored the real big users
of the sewer system. If sewer rates are going to continue to
go up something should be done with this out-dated rate schedule
PRONTO!!! There are nine (9) Laundromats in the So. Lake Tahoe
area, 261 washing machine, 2 units per 1 machine =522 sewer units,
$42,344.64 annually. To ali. of the small business owners, this is
big portion of the So. Lake Tahoe National Debt. Who is the
burden on? LAUNDROMATS!!!!!
Thank You for your time
and consideration.
Mary Lou Baisley
1024 Emerald Bay Rd.
So. Lake Tahoe CA. 96150
(916) 541-4745
ST055377
Dear..Customer:, , . ,
What you are being billed for, Or what you
should be billed for:
SCHEDULE OF UNITS --
The following is a schedule of the number
of units to be applied to the'several types
of connections to the sewe. r system of this
District:
(a) Homes and Apartments: A minimum of
three (3) units for each home or each
· . apartment plus an additional unit for
each bath or half-bath in excess of two
baths, except that a studio apartment
shall be two (2) sewer units.
(b) Motels: Each bath,,,1 unit; each kit-
chen, I unit. ;~:-.
. (c) Restaurant: l'unit'per restroom; '5
units for the first 20 seats,'plus 1 addi-
tJonal unit for every 20 seats or frac-
:.' tion thereof over 20. For the purpose
of this section, where a bar is operated
in connection with a restaurant, bar'
stoo s will be counted as seats. Snack
Bars and Delicatessenswith no eating
or seating on the premises shall be
counted as other commercial in sub-
· paragraph (j).
(d) Service Stations: 5 units, 1 unit per
, RV dump.
(e) Trailer Parksi 3 ,units per trailer space,
that will accommodate a trailer in ex-
' cess of 22 feet with a sewer connec-
' .. tion provided; 1 unit per trailer space
for a~l other trailer spaces with a sewer
· ',conniecti°n provided. 1 unit per two
'~ tra~ler spaces without a sewer connec-.
tion provided.
'(f) Laundromats: 2 units per machine.
(g) Swimming.Pools: 2 units .....
, '(h)Automobile Service Garage: 2 units
plus 1 for each restroom.'
- ' ' ~ (i) Ta'verns without food facilities: 5 units,
plus 1 unit for each restroom.
(j) All ct'her commercial.estabfish:rne¢
1 -sewer unit per 5 fixture
fined in the Uniform
(k) Example of fixture
' '"' Number of
FIXTURE ' " Uae
Bar sink
Bathtub (w th or
,,~ Dental
cuspidor
Drinking fountain
(each head)
Laundry tub
Lavatory (dental) ,,.
Shower (each ,head)
Sink (bar) 7 , ....
Sink or dishWasher':i
Sink (washup, each
set of. faucets),.,?i
Urinal . ~ ,
SPECIAL CHARGES ~
Facilities in or about residential,
cial and industrial establi..
· charging extraordinary amounts of ·waste
into the sewage system shall be.subject
to such charges and to such conditions as
- may be set by the Board.
The District's current rate .lot',sewer
vice is $-70d~ per sewer uri. it~. p
Please remember, it is the. duty.of:the,
. sewer serwce user to report, any increasei
or decrease of sewer
property. ,
Should you have any questions regarding;
the above, please contact the-SOUTH,
TAHOE PUBLIC 'UTILITY~:'DISTRI(
Customer,- Service:.,,', Depart
(916) 544-6474. ,r. .......
ST055378
Cynthia Thaw
P. O. Box 624108
So. Lake Tahoe,CA
95761
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Board of Directors
RE: Sewer and Water Rate Increases
Dear Directors:
As a rate payer and citizen of this community, I'm
herewith offering my comments regarding the proposed
South Tahoe Public Utility District Budget and proposed
rate increases.
o Number 1: I have felt for many years that the
STPUD employees, particularly management level employees,
were paid substantially more than employees in similar
positions throughout the community. In the past, these salaries
were posted in the newspaper. I notice that this practice
has recently been discontinued. I have no problem with water
and sewer increases if the funds are set aside for plant and
facilities maintenance, improvement, wells, exportation lines,
etc. I cannot, however, buy the argument that employee wage
increases be automatically granted at this time if they are
not truly necessary. In the course of my previous employment
as administrator for the Tahoe Resource & Nevada Tahoe
Conservation Districts, I had an opportunity to conduct a
salary survey, the STPUD being one of the agencies contacted.
During the course of my investigation, it was apparent that
the STPUD salaries were significantly higher, across the
board, compared with other public and private entities.
As to whether or not employee salary increases be granted,
this is a determination that I hope you, as a board, will
carefully and extensively review. In my opinion, this review
should include a salary survey of other utility districts
as well as the public and private sector for comparable
positions. Only after you have some comparisons, can you
adequately judge what is a fair salary and benefit package,
based on the current economy.
o Number 2: In light of the current economic situation,
both locally and nationally, the STPUD should consider some
serious fiscal "belt tightening" prior to implementation of
rate increases. Such items as hiring freezes, limits on
employee travel, limits of use of consultants, etc. should
be carefully considered.
-1-
ST055379
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Page two
o Number 3: I feel that we, the community, should all
pull together to provide the best sewer and water services for
the money. The District is facing difficult times ahead
with new state and federal guidelines for drinking water and
tougher penalties for sewage discharges. This is the time
to conSider upgrading lines, not planning for expansion. Can
the District afford to expand at this time? It is my opinion
that we should take care of what we have, before we try to
expand, especially if the funds are not available. Expansion,
however should be included in long range planning and addressed
periodically.
Finally, let me thank the board for this opportunity to
express my concerns and provide input. Please consider options
to rate increases and remember these are.the 1990s, not the
1980s, and budgets must reflect changing times.
Sincerely,
ST055380