[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6561314,"mediaKeyId","3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4","parentId",3292763,"title","Vacaville holds public hearing on proposed water, sewer rate increases; council asks staff for Chromium‑6 cost analysis","audioSeconds",4060,"startMs",3640000,"endMs",7700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4&start=3640&end=7700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4/thumbnail_3640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561314/Vacaville-City/Solano-County/California/Vacaville-holds-public-hearing-on-proposed-water-sewer-rate-increases-council-asks-staff-for-Chromium6-cost-analysis","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561314-7e338ca37d482295b8656ef7b167f802/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174607&Signature=U8di~QDt4yo0aHCnLlgxLf0R7l1AMX57Rd64PlngTizJrhP9oDS6aNjk2n6Qihpk0YSD3WM8Y9KLdNSdVtrQUmyu4RtTWsHDxxnLGEw0ugFxy0SBNsiCCBuKW9IP9I1hCDae1F8jnobAttAUjgyoi-E0AzIQbn8u-cFJcb3YdvEMTbi2L0XlA-~~RJf5H9OGmwOkzqfkng3kXpdNbNosjf3lOYLwPwoY-gWp--L~CVlKcIzBC~jRTw0HT8c3tWFvpiKvRmjlJ9DptYxlrkFIZN1thzuHeY263oc0ttRARE7bcV2dyEcwbWh2LF~Wpd2B8bZbRLT8QlcQDZopjr4qQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Vacaville","date","2025-05-14T06:47:26.267Z","article","Vacaville City Council held a public hearing May 13 on proposed bimonthly water and sewer rate increases that staff says are needed to pay for aging systems, regulatory compliance projects and rising operating costs.

The city’s utilities director and outside consultants told the council their five‑year plan would restore reserves, meet debt covenants and fund about $96 million in water and $58 million in sewer capital projects — including roughly $36.7 million in wellhead treatment work to meet California’s new hexavalent chromium (chromium‑6) maximum contaminant level. Utilities Director Justin Kohler said, “We have natural occurring hexavalent chromium in our groundwater that affects some of our groundwater wells,” and described state deadlines and treatment planning.

The issue matters because the city has not raised the water rate since Jan. 1, 2020, and sewer rates have not been adjusted since March 2014; consultants said operating costs and regulatory obligations have outpaced revenues.

Consultant Chris Fisher of Willdan Financial Services summarized the study and recommended a series of increases that would produce an immediate, larger first‑year jump to “catch up” the utilities’ revenues with expenses and fund required capital work. Fisher told the council the proposed schedule would restore reserves toward the city’s target and keep Vacaville’s projected five‑year average bill below the regional average as currently reported.

Public comments at the hearing were lengthy. Dozens of residents urged the council to soften the immediate impact on households on fixed incomes, urged more gradual increases, or asked the city to press the State Water Resources Control Board and other agencies for alternatives. Several speakers described the proposed increases as “too steep” and said many ratepayers had not received or understood the mailed notice. A number of residents raised concerns about the share of the increase tied to the chromium‑6 projects and asked whether litigation or negotiation with the state could lower the cost.

City staff and consultants said the chromium‑6 requirement — a state MCL of 10 parts per billion for hexavalent chromium adopted after the federal standard — accounts for roughly a third of the capital estimate; Fisher and staff noted the city is part of a statewide coalition pursuing legal and technical avenues. Kohler said the city is “working with the board and with a coalition” and confirmed “we are involved in a coalition that is involved in litigation.” He also said failure to secure regulatory accommodations or financing could expose the city to enforcement actions, including fines or restrictions on water sources.

Clerk’s tabulation: 1,110 written protests were received by the city clerk during the hearing period; staff said that number did not meet the majority protest threshold required under California Proposition 218 and the protest therefore failed.

Council deliberations focused on two tensions: (1) the need to avoid insolvent utility funds and preserve the city’s ability to operate and comply with regulatory permits, and (2) public concern about the size and timing of the first‑year increase, particularly the portion tied to chromium‑6 compliance imposed by a state board composed of governor‑appointed members.

Rather than adopt the rate schedule at the hearing, the council voted unanimously to ask staff to return with additional analysis that separates the chromium‑6 capital cost from the other utility needs and to show what a rate schedule would look like without the chrome projects. The motion — made by Council Member Stockton and seconded by Council Member Ritchie — set a target return to council on June 10. The clerk’s roll call on that motion was Stockton: yes; Ritchie: yes; Freeman: yes; Wiley: yes; Vice Mayor Chapman: yes; Mayor John Carley: yes.

What happens next: Staff will prepare the requested alternative analyses (including the option to exclude the chromium‑6 projects from the near‑term rate model), provide updated five‑year forecasts and return with legal and financing implications, including a summary of risks of noncompliance and likely timelines for regulatory actions. If the council ultimately adopts a rate schedule it would be subject to Proposition 218 notice, ballot and protest rules already discussed at the hearing.

Ending: The rate discussion is likely to return to council before the state compliance deadline for chromium‑6 that staff cited; residents and local agencies may also continue to press the state board and pursue coalition litigation as staff seeks financing options and federal/state funding sources.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/13/2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Vacaville City Council held a public hearing May 13 on proposed bimonthly water and sewer rate increases intended to fund maintenance, regulatory projects and capital improvements; staff said the plan includes roughly $36.7 million in work tied to a new state hexavalent chromium standard.","taxTitle","Vacaville City, Solano County, California","taxId",3924,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561300,"Vacaville staff outlines $9.2M in proposed cost‑savings and pauses for FY2025‑26 budget",1860,15000000,16860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4&start=15000&end=16860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4/thumbnail_15000000.jpg","/articles/6561300/Vacaville-City/Solano-County/California/Vacaville-staff-outlines-92M-in-proposed-costsavings-and-pauses-for-FY202526-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561300-5a77fdad9d120a5b811dce4fa6455e8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174607&Signature=StYO86x4TGdWWzJG4z7L9IvxhneHvZ5mJynW-D8GKwsI7n9yPO9YDx9mF7OfJak4XPIkA6oV5RhaUndsRdBG2Rvb0ytsPZa5t6TEhAqEPEMiJp6Q~jcrKLXzJqnNkHHcvPmOW1XGWkU2ORtNemZZDWo6CKV~R5~qUME9Corh9ezaKOhz5i0ma~ygy6pwTSOgW6x0CVIFNP5JPR03w~7ijwGiDhA1poqXKwBdhw1xdo8aPUscPo3uOfJb7gqznV~CI1lwG2Ax5VAVhlKm8SNHqzs0UZbjITqpxoXU4uwnX6Tld~SPoOU1JF~rHxaP8CbEWG1VrDEBTGhK6b5F6zGT8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a budget study session May 13 that outlined proposed cost‑saving measures to close a projected fiscal 2025‑26 gap between ongoing revenues and expenses.

Staff said the gap would be roughly $11 million under a status‑quo budget. The package presented asks each department to identify 2.5 percent in ongoing reductions and recommends pausing some Measure M pilot programs, deferring certain capital contributions and suspending annual general‑fund CIP allocations for a year.

City budget staff said the proposal would generate approximately $9.2 million in savings across general fund and other impacted funds: about $4.7 million in department reductions, roughly $1.36 million from pausing selected Measure M pilots (with two exceptions retained — neighborhood cleanup and a $150,000 youth scholarship program), and additional savings from reduced capital contributions and internal service fund pauses.

Department heads described where the 2.5 percent savings would come from: a mix of hiring delays and vacancies, reduced non‑full‑time hours and cuts to services and supplies such as travel, training and consulting. Examples included delaying five public‑safety hires in the fire and police departments (staff cautioned that overtime and minimum staffing requirements would reduce gross savings in those units), postponing an assistant director hire in housing, and reducing arts/theater programming and recreation instructor hours.

Staff noted one‑time resources that improve the near‑term picture: proceeds from a corporate asset sale related to a local employer yielded an unexpected one‑time payment (approximately $7 million) that reduces the projected FY2025‑26 reserve gap but does not eliminate the structural imbalance between ongoing revenues and expenses.

Next steps: staff will return May 27 with a Q3 budget update and an updated five‑year forecast, and a draft budget will be available for the June study session; budget adoption remains scheduled for the June 24 council meeting.

Ending: Council members praised staff for the analysis and asked for follow‑up information; the item was informational and no final budget action was taken May 13.

","City staff presented a plan May 13 to close an $11 million ongoing gap in the general fund, proposing department‑level 2.5% reductions, pausing certain Measure M pilot programs and deferring some capital contributions. The package would reduce ongoing costs by roughly $5.5 million and total near‑term savings by about $9.2 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561304,"Vacaville council appoints Savita Chaudhary as city manager, 5‑year term",450,17160000,17610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4&start=17160&end=17610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4/thumbnail_17160000.jpg","/articles/6561304/Vacaville-City/Solano-County/California/Vacaville-council-appoints-Savita-Chaudhary-as-city-manager-5year-term","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561304-f77f3ffdb446edf08286c3d9ad73590c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174607&Signature=aotrmCkv4ujQxx6DAnsV89DvH6hYSw9lWG8LftTjG4eReksSVvDEaT9rbKAvXv9H7YcCozrKdkEIBZf2oAyvVQ7mCOM04XigE7RFcdsNLFQiIIMg9Xfp7Y46CixAhae5CGyhw-eKu1L2~Xv1amUBjPYAv5ezN0JpbSAMQLCmhygOmfvpk7AP43x39lgEweAHzQ4OyoSX1UGdSZ3YeoONSSgpVQY8i5SOynVc9aJcR0y2lPx0WU4-RjVFSSCJaGYIY0LEmfW-fUQWsqKHoVqNA49l3AgXTddk5ppNmLgZIYEU6tE9Yq8wW0uUmLr1pQA3dx7-izQF3emfwBCm50kRSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vacaville City Council on May 13 approved the appointment of Savita Chaudhary as city manager, with a five‑year employment agreement that will begin June 30, 2025.

Sandy Hess, the city’s employee relations manager, said Chaudhary is currently the assistant city manager in Fairfield and previously served as director of information technology for Fairfield and as IT division manager in Vacaville. Chaudhary holds a master’s in public administration and a master’s in statistics. The council conducted nationwide recruitment and interviewed finalists before selecting Chaudhary.

Terms approved by council include an annual starting base salary of $301,000, a city contribution equal to 9 percent of salary to deferred compensation, a $400 monthly vehicle allowance and health and leave benefits consistent with other city management staff. The estimated all‑in annual cost to the city is about $412,000; staff said that cost will be built into the FY 2025‑26 operating budget.

Council approved the employment agreement in a unanimous roll‑call vote. Following the vote, Chaudhary addressed the council and said she is a longtime Vacaville resident and pledged to lead the organization with “integrity, transparency and collaboration.” Current City Manager Aaron Bush, who is retiring, congratulated Chaudhary and said he will be available to assist with the transition.

What’s next: Chaudhary will begin in the role June 30; staff will include the position budget in the FY 2025‑26 adopted operating budget and initiate any onboarding and transition steps required by the agreement.

","The Vacaville City Council on May 13 appointed Savita Chaudhary as the city’s next manager effective June 30, 2025, approving a five‑year employment agreement with a starting base salary of $301,000, a 9% deferred compensation contribution and a $400 monthly car allowance.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6561308,"Council approves first bond sale for Lagoon Valley CFD improvement area 1 to reimburse developer for backbone work",596,13824000,14420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4&start=13824&end=14420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3292763-01a72116b1f91c92fd1b9129caa41fc4/thumbnail_13824000.jpg","/articles/6561308/Vacaville-City/Solano-County/California/Council-approves-first-bond-sale-for-Lagoon-Valley-CFD-improvement-area-1-to-reimburse-developer-for-backbone-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561308-729b6c798b6c944985a8e97caa143d04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174607&Signature=aLLLv3aKwiOpBKCXHS-ZFJhpn-JQiV8Jx2Hoy5597ZWpXa5YEnYMS7QdE~tMchOWuuDGGlS7Y2Bopdqa6AjsKdvp0vGW7UkSIiL3MaL0O4-65b9mP8FYo7VmBc6oYRGHOl5opd-rNVDnDoAu0swP6RwY6QDq7wSDMLWsV6HebGCTc6DlVN903dqvU7zf4BArX9elJOwsa36XBcIlBR1sBNcELSEP12lNLE85wAiuv2Ohs2WCfxdF2wwRVBkqGkM69UgkARf4T0ZC0i95UqwUpUk7gb5uaA7vp890qz5~jIC66RjIpSXZcYRorHNtQWcEA3T~KRSe2VyJ8Kzi3x8VnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vacaville City Council voted May 13 to authorize the first series of special tax bonds for Community Facilities District (CFD) No. 13, Lower Lagoon Valley — Improvement Area No. 1.

City staff and the municipal finance team said the bonds will reimburse the developer for backbone public improvements the city has already accepted, including a booster pump station, water storage reservoir and a sanitary sewer lift station. The estimated par amount for the initial series is $13,750,000 with a not‑to‑exceed authorization of $16,250,000; final sizing will be determined at sale in June.

City staff emphasized that the bonds are secured solely by special taxes levied on property within the CFD improvement area; the city’s general fund is not pledged for payment. The CFD formation process began in February 2021, and the district was set up with two improvement areas so each area may issue bonds without cross‑collateralization. Staff said the bonds will be levied starting in the 2025‑26 fiscal year and the annual special tax rates are set by the CFD’s rate and method of apportionment (detailed tables included in the preliminary official statement attached to the staff report).

Municipal advisor Dan Cox and bond counsel explained the planned negotiated sale process and why negotiated underwriting is typical for land‑secured, non‑rated financings; staff said competitive sale would not be appropriate for this issuance because of the credit and structure. Staff also explained proceeds and possible premium treatment: any premium produced at sale must be accounted for among permitted uses — principally reimbursement of developer‑constructed improvements, bond issuance costs and required reserves.

Council action: The council approved a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of special tax bonds for Improvement Area 1 and authorized related documents and signatures. The motion passed unanimously; roll call was Wiley: yes; Vice Mayor Chapman: yes; Mayor John Carley: yes; Stockton: yes; Ritchie: yes; Council Member Grama: yes.

What’s next: Staff expects to sell the bonds in June, receive proceeds and then process developer reimbursement requests for accepted improvements. Additional bond sales for both improvement areas will need separate council action in the future.

","Vacaville City Council on May 13 authorized issuance and sale of special tax bonds to reimburse the developer for public improvements in Lagoon Valley Improvement Area 1. The par amount is estimated at $13.75 million (not to exceed $16.25 million); taxes to pay debt will be levied only within the CFD area.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vacaville holds public hearing on proposed water, sewer rate increases; council asks staff for Chromium‑6 cost analysis

Vacaville staff outlines $9.2M in proposed cost‑savings and pauses for FY2025‑26 budget

Vacaville council appoints Savita Chaudhary as city manager, 5‑year term

Council approves first bond sale for Lagoon Valley CFD improvement area 1 to reimburse developer for backbone work