To All GHCC Members and Affiliates Regarding Water Rate Increases

 

As I have already alerted you to, tomorrow evening's City Council Meeting is very important to each GWP rate payer.  The message from Hal Weber which I am forwarding to you has a lot of important information.  As former GWP employee, Larry Morehouse told us at our last GHCC meeting on January 9th, the City Council does not listen to the regulars who have been going to speak up about the GWP proposed rate increases.  He urged that the rate payers fill the council chambers to state their opposition to the proposed rate increase.  The city council will listen if they are overwhelmed with speakers opposing the rate increase.  Unfortunately, we suffer from a very apathetic population in Glendale who chose not to become involved and remain silent on very important issues.  Numbers do count.

 

I will not be able to attend the council meeting tomorrow evening, as I cannot leave my wife for any length of time following her hip replacement surgery last week.  She cannot get in and out of bed on her own, so it is imperative that I remain home.  I urge you to attend this meeting tomorrow evening if you want to prevent your water rates to go up incrementally for the next four years.  Following this exercise, the GWP will be doing the same thing for our electric rates.  The city council approved expenditures of over $50 million for the smart meters and smart grid projects, something we did not need with the GWP running a deficit.  The financial deficit facing the GWP was compounded over the past several years with transfers from the water company to the general fund.  I have been going to council meetings and budget sessions for the past five years voicing my concern about this practice along with many other residents who took the time to come to these meetings.  Thanks to the efforts of Harry Zavos, the Glendale City Attorney finally agreed with Mr. Zavos that these transfers violated the California State Charter.

 

The city council is accountable to you.  They are responsible for being the stewards of our city funds, including those of the GWP.  Please do attend to voice your opinion on this very important issue to raise our water rates, again.  And then again, again, and again.  Please click on the items in Hal Weber's message below.

 

Sincerely, Al Hofmann


From: halweber@earthlink.net
Subject: Illegal Transfers to General Fund Require Public to Pay Twice
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:07:29 -0800

New Content:

01-30-12, Illegal Transfers to General Fund Require Public to Pay Twice

Reference: Opinion Regarding Water Rate Increases

Home Page of Open Government in Glendale California:  www.oggc.org