Sacramento Municipal Code Ch. 2.88 City of Sacramento Utilities Rate Advisory Commission

The City of Sacramento Utilities Rate Advisory Commission is hereby established. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)

The commission is established for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations to the city council on the city's utility service rates. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)

The powers and duties of the commission are as follows:

A. Review and comment on proposals made by the department for changes to utility service rates.

B. Develop and provide recommendations to the mayor and city council on issues relevant to the setting of the utility service rates, provided that the commission has no authority to review or revise the utility service levels.

C. Hold rate hearings on proposals made by the department to increase the utility service rates or establish new utility service rates for property-related services furnished by the department, and, upon conclusion of the hearing, provide recommendations to the city council on such proposals. In the preceding sentence, "rate hearings" means the public hearings: (1) required when a local government agency proposes to impose or increase any user fee or charge for a property related service, pursuant to subdivision (2) of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution; and (2) held pursuant to Section 3.44.100 of this code.

D. Act as a liaison to encourage community understanding of, and participation in, the utility service rate setting process.

E. Annually, report to the city council regarding on the activities of the commission. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)

A. Number of members. The commission has 11 members:

1. Each councilmember shall recommend one member for appointment (eight members total);

2. The mayor shall recommend one member for appointment; and

3. The Personnel and Public Employees Committee shall recommend two members for appointment.

B. Qualifications. In addition to the requirements and restrictions in chapter 2.40:

1. Members must have demonstrated interest in or has demonstrated leadership in one or more of the following areas: accounting, auditing, construction management, engineering, finance, law, sewage collection and treatment, solid waste collection and disposal, recycling, storm water collection and conveyance, water quality, or water supply and distribution. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning given them in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Department" means the City of Sacramento department responsible for providing the utility service or utility services for which utility service rates are being proposed to the commission.

"Utility service" or "utility services" means the utility service or utility services provided by the department pursuant to title 13 of this code.

"Utility service levels" means the levels of service established by the city council for the provision of utility services by the department.

"Utility service rates" means the monthly utility service charges established by the city council for utility services provided by the department. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)

Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the provisions of chapter 2.40 apply to the commission and its members. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)