City needs to rethink septic ban approach

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I am writing this letter to urge the city rethink their proposed solution to the septic ban as mandated by the Regional Water Quality Board.

To address the ban, the city proposes that the residents and businesses located within the affected areas indebt themselves to pay for the required wastewater treatment facility. The costs to build such a facility as projected by the city, could exceed $52,000,000. This, as pointed out in the press, would mean $17,000 per month per parcel for commercial property and as much as $500.00 per month for the residential parcels. These financial obligations presumably will continue on in perpetuity

First, let me start off by saying that this wastewater problem is one that affects our entire city.

As a city, part of our tax base comes from sales taxes generated by our local businesses, many of which, along with a host of resident serving commercial establishments, are located within the effected areas. No business can conceivably survive and absorb these anticipated costs along with the current rents they are required to pay. If implemented as planned, our city is sure to suffer the loss of even more businesses and the badly needed sales tax revenue they generate.

The residents of the affected areas are no different. They will be burdened by this financial obligation for no other reason than because of where they live.

When we became a city 20 years ago it came with certain responsibilities. One of those responsibilities was to collectively share in the health and welfare of our entire community. We all enjoy the sales tax revenue generated by our businesses. We all enjoy clean water and clean beaches. We all pay for shared services even though many of us do not directly benefit from them. Wastewater treatment is a service no different than fire protection or police.

We are all affected by this mandate and we should all share in the solution. Only through shared responsibility can we be assured that the costs needed to solve this collective problem will not significantly impact our quality of life. The city must act in a manner that finds a viable and affordable solution to this significant problem. The current plan as outlined by the city demonstrates that they have ignored the true economic impacts associated with their proposed solution.

Mike Sidley