CC RES 2024-043 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-43
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING A REPORT
IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEWER SERVICE CHARGE
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 13.06 OF THE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE,
DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF SUCH CHARGE FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, AND ORDERING THAT SUCH
CHARGE BE COLLECTED ON THE TAX ROLL
WHEREAS, the California Government Code requires that fees for services
charged by municipalities not exceed the cost of providing the service for which the fee
is levied and that no fee or service charge or increase in an existing fee or charge may
be levied without the, public having an opportunity to make oral or written public
comment at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting; and
WHEREAS, the Abalone Cove Sewer System is owned, operated, and
maintained by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2001, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes adopted Ordinance No. 368, which established sewer maintenance fees for the
Abalone Cove Sewer System as set forth in Chapter 13.06 (Sewer Service Charges —
Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement District) of Title 13 (Public Services) of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code ("RPVMC"); and
WHEREAS, current sewer maintenance fees collected by the City do not
adequately cover the full operation and maintenance costs for the Abalone Cove Sewer
System; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Sections 66013 and 66016 authorize the City to
impose sewer connection fees ("Charge"); and
WHEREAS, City Staff has determined that an Engineer's Report is necessary to
determine the Charge for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and the Charge be increased from the
Charge for the prior Fiscal Year; but to have the charge not exceed the maximum
amount authorized pursuant to the Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, City Staff desires to file a written report (the "Engineer's Report")
with the City Clerk, containing a description of each parcel of real property receiving
Sewer Services and the amount of the Charge for each such parcel for Fiscal Year
2024-25 (commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025) including an increase of
4.0% based on the March 2024 Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles-Anaheim-
Riverside Area, computed in conformity with the Ordinance. Such Report is on file in the
office of the City Clerk and incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, on June 13, 2024, a public notice announcing the City Council's
public hearing and review of the proposed amendment to establish a sewer connection
fee for new connections to the Abalone Cove Sewer System was published in the Palos
Verdes Peninsula News.; and
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WHEREAS, based upon the annual increase in the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics' Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers for the Los Angeles-Long
Beach-Anaheim Area, as of March 1, the City Council now desires to increase the
Abalone Cove Sewer System service fee by 4% for FY 2024-25.
THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES, ORDERS AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council finds:
A. Pursuant to Chapter 13.06 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code and Ordinance No. 367U (the "Ordinance"), the City levies an annual sewer
service charge (the "Charge") on each parcel of real property in the Abalone Cove
Landslide Abatement District that is connected to the sanitary sewer system. The
Charge is levied to finance the costs of ongoing operation and maintenance of sewer
facilities and services ("Sewer Services").
B. As authorized by Section 5473 of the California Health and Safety
Code, the Charge is collected for each fiscal year on the County of Los Angeles tax roll
in the same manner, by the same persons, and at the same time as, together with and
not separately from, the general taxes of the City.
C. A written report (the "Engineer's Report") has been filed with the
City Clerk, containing a description of each parcel of real property receiving Sewer
Services and the amount of the Charge for each such parcel for Fiscal Year 2024-25
(commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025) including an increase of 4.0%
based on the March 2024 Consumer Price Index ("CPI") for the Los Angeles-Anaheim-
Riverside Area, computed in conformity with the Ordinance. Such Report is on file in
the office of the City Clerk and incorporated herein by reference.
D. The Engineer's Report provides that the Charge for Fiscal Year
2024-25 be increased from the Charge for the prior Fiscal Year; but the charge does not
exceed the maximum amount authorized pursuant to the Ordinance.
E. The City Clerk caused notice of a hearing on the Report to be
published in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News on June 13, 2024, and June 20, 2024.
F. The City Council held a public hearing on the Engineer's Report on
July 2, 2024. At such hearing, the City Council heard and considered all objections and
protests, if any, to the Report and all testimony regarding the proposed levy of the
Charge for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Section 2. The City Council hereby overrules any and all objections to the
Engineer's Report; determines that no majority protest against the Engineer's Report,
determined in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 5473.2, exists;
approves and finally adopts the Engineer's Report as filed; determines that the Charge
for Fiscal Year 2024-25 against each parcel described in the Engineer's Report shall be
01203 0006/9935°16 2 Resolution No 2024-43
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as described in the Engineer's Report; and orders that the Charge shall be collected for
Fiscal Year 2024-25 on the County of Los Angeles tax roll in the same manner, by the
same persons, and at the same time as, together with and not separately from, the
general taxes of the City.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to file a copy of the Engineer's Report,
with a statement endorsed on the Engineer's Report over the City Clerk's signature that
the Engineer's Report has been approved and finally adopted, with the City Treasurer
on or before August 10, 2024, pursuant to Section 5 of the Ordinance.
Section 4. This resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Quality
Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines because the sewer
Charge constitutes a government funding mechanism or other government fiscal activity
which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a
potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
Section 5. The City Clerk is directed to file a copy of the Engineer's Report,
with a statement endorsed on the Engineer's Report over the City Clerk's signature that
the Engineer's Report has been approved and finally adopted, with the County Auditor
of the County of Los Angeles on or before August 10, 2024, pursuant to Section 6 of the
Ordinance.
Section 6. The City Clerk is authorized to take such other action as is required
to implement this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of July, 2024.
Mayor
ATTEST:
ity Clerk
State of California
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, TERESA TAKAOKA, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify
that the above Resolution No. 2024-43 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by
the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on July 2, 2024.
C--- b"-4N- ity Clerk
01203 0006/993516 2 Resolution No. 2024-43
Page 3 of 3
ANNUAL REPORT
Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge
Fiscal Year 2024-25
Prepared for the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Los Angeles County, California
June 18, 2024 B-1
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Annual Report – Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge – Fiscal Year 2024-25
June 18, 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certificates .........................................................Pg. 1
Introduction .......................................................Pg. 2
Cost Estimates....................................................Pg. 3
Annual Charge Rate Calculations ......................Pg. 4
APPENDIX
Preliminary Sewer Charge Roll
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City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Annual Report -Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge -Fiscal Year 2024-25
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Report
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge
The undersigned respectfully submits the enclosed report.
DATED : June 18, 2024
June 18, 2024
'/i....,
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the enclosed Engineer's Report, was filed with me on the / f' day of
~ n.t..-2024.
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk,
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Los Angeles County, California
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the enclosed Engineer's Report, was approved and confirmed by the City
Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on the / f""-day of ~ , 2024.
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk,
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Los Angeles County, California
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Annual Report – Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge – Fiscal Year 2024-25
June 18, 2024
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INTRODUCTION
To insure a flow of funds for the on‐going operation and maintenance of the sewer facilities in the
Abalone Cove area, the City Council formed the Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge. This Sewer
Service Charge ensures a fair and equitable levying of the necessary costs of operating and
maintaining of the facilities and was established in compliance with the provisions of Proposition 218,
Article XIIID of the California Constitution, Section 6(b).
The maximum rates, which may be levied for each Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU), may be increased
automatically by the annual increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI), as described in the City’s Code
13.06.020. Additionally, Mailed notices were sent to all affected property owners and the Public
Hearing was held on July 17, 2001. Since there was not a majority of written protests, the charge was
established with a not to exceed maximum increase of seven percent (7%) each year.
This report, as signed and presented to the Council for approval, has been prepared according to the
methodology and rates approved by the City Council in 2001.
The City Council annually reviews the current and projected year's costs for the operation and
maintenance of the sewer facilities and sets the rates for the ensuing fiscal year, which runs between
July 1 and June 30. In setting the annual rates, the City Council will consider any new or updated
maintenance costs, any fund balances or shortages, and adjust the rates accordingly.
The Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge is levied under the authority of the California Health and
Safety Code, Sections 5471 et seq. (the "Code"). Payment of the charges for each parcel will be made
in the same manner and at the same time as payments are made for county property taxes for each
property.
This report contains the necessary data required to establish the annual charge rates and is submitted
to the City Clerk for filing in the office of the City Clerk where it shall remain open for public inspection.
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COST ESTIMATE
The estimated annual cost of the Abalone Cove Sewer System is provided below in Table 1.
Table 1 – Estimated Annual Costs
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ANNUAL CHARGE RATE CALCULATIONS
The rate structure for the Sewer Service Charge is based on the amount of sewage flow generated by
each parcel of land within the sewer system service area.
Equivalent Residential Units
The sewer flow rates used to calculate this User Charge are based on the Los Angeles County
Sanitation District (LACSD) standards, as outlined in their Master Service Charge Ordinance of South
Bay Cities Sanitation District of Los Angeles County, as adopted on March 18, 1998. This ordinance
describes the user categories and mean loading of sewer usage for flow in the South Bay Cities
Sanitation District of Los Angeles County.
Using these standards, residential parcels with single family homes are assigned a flow rate of 260
Gallons Per Day (GPD). Therefore, 260 GPD is defined as 1 Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) and all
other parcels are charged based on the number of ERUs calculated on their property for their
particular use. The total flow rate for each parcel is divided by 260 to calculate the number of ERUs
assigned to the parcel. Vacant parcels have no sewer flow associated with them and therefore would
be assigned 0 ERUs.
The Abalone Cove Beach property flow rate was calculated based on the future improvements to the
beach (consisting of 7 toilet facilities and 2 showers). The flow rates for these facilities were based
on information provided by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, and are shown below in
Table 2.
Table 2 provides a summary of the user categories in the Abalone Cove sewer service area, the
assigned flow rates, and the ERU calculation for each.
Table 2 – ERU Calculation Summary Table
Land use Description Flow (GDP) ERU Calc.
Single Family Home 260 / home 1 / home
Church 50 / 1000 bldg sf 0.19 / 1000 bldg sf
School/Nursery 200 / 1000 bldg sf 0.77 / 1000 bldg sf
Beach Toilet 120 / toilet 0.46 / toilet
Beach Shower 85 / shower 0.33 / shower
Vacant 0 0
Sewer System Components
The Abalone Cove sewer system is comprised of three types of components or subsystems:
A gravity subsystem,
A force main subsystem, and
A low‐pressure subsystem.
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These different and integrated subsystems collect flows from the sewer service area and ultimately
convey it to the LACSD outfall. Flows generated by each parcel are conveyed through one or more of
these subsystems.
Each of these subsystems requires different levels of operation and maintenance and, therefore, have
different costs associated with the annual estimated maintenance costs. Parcels that contribute flow
to a subsystem will be charged for the operation and maintenance of that subsystem. Because the
entire Abalone Cove sewer system flows into the Palos Verdes Drive Pump Station and the 6‐inch force
main and gravity system between the pump station and the LACSD outfall, all users of the system will
be charged for the operation and maintenance of these facilities. The following describes each
subsystem:
Gravity Subsystem. Gravity systems are the most basic of sewer systems and require minimal
routine maintenance. Parcels connected to the Gravity Subsystem would be responsible for
sharing the costs associated with maintenance of the gravity system. All parcels within the service
area contribute to this subsystem, as sewage flows contributed by each parcel are eventually
discharged into the gravity subsystem.
Force Main Subsystem. Force main subsystems include pump station and pressurized pipes in
addition to gravity lines. Parcels connected to the Force Main Subsystem would be responsible
for sharing the additional costs associated with the operation and maintenance of those
components. The pump stations for these lines are located at Thyme Place, Sweetbay East and
Sweetbay at Altamira Canyon.
Low Pressure Subsystem. Low pressure subsystems include grinder pumps at each user
connection to the system as well as low pressure pipes. Parcels connected to the Low Pressure
Subsystem would be responsible for sharing the associated operation and maintenance costs of
those components.
A few parcels that are connected to the gravity subsystem or the force main subsystem require
the use of a grinder pump to get their flow into the system. These parcels share in the cost of
grinder pump maintenance and are considered to be a part of the low pressure subsystem.
Rate Zones
A system of zones was developed to identify the specific combination of subsystems used by each
contributing parcel. These zones are as follows:
Zone A ‐ Gravity subsystem only
Zone B ‐ Gravity & Force Main subsystems
Zone C ‐ Gravity & Low Pressure subsystems
Zone D ‐ Gravity & Force Main & Low Pressure subsystems
Inventory of Parcels
Table 3 and Table 4, on the following page, were compiled from information obtained from the Los
Angeles County Assessor’s Roll, Assessor’s Parcel Maps, and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
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Table 3 – Land Use Inventory
Table 4 – ERU Distribution by Rate Zone and Subsystem
Table 5 provides a summary of the annual Sewer User Charge rates for each of the Rate Zones.
Table 5 – Summary of Annual Charge Rates per ERU
Table 6 provides the annual charge rates for Fiscal Year 2024‐25 and shows the calculated maximum
rates. The maximum rates, which may be levied for each ERU, may be increased automatically by the
annual increase in Consumer Price Index, as described in the City’s Code 13.06.020. Accordingly, the CPI
for this Fiscal Year has been determined to be 4.0%.
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Table 6 – Summary of Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge Rates
Table 7 – Sample Calculations
The Preliminary Sewer Charge Roll, which is a listing of each parcel within this sewer charge area and
its proposed sewer charge for Fiscal Year 2024‐25, is provided in the Appendix.
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Appendix
Preliminary Sewer Service Charge Roll
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Preliminary Sewer Service Charge Roll
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