As the City Council prepares to review water and wastewater rates and revenues, it would be good to review facts about these issues, in part because I have heard so much speculation over the past months that is simply wrong. Let’s start with: How did we get to a point where a big rate increase […]
Christina Strawbridge: Water and sewer rates need to be delayed
The winter months have provided California with little rain, making weather forecasters wonder and worry if this is the start of another drought. In November of 2016, as a Benicia Councilmember, I voted along with two of my colleagues to increase the water and sewer rates over a five-year period. Based upon information given […]
A Mayor’s Perspective: A Look at 2017
By Elizabeth Patterson Benicia Mayor (Editor’s Note: A portion of this article ran in Sunday’s Year in Review section. It is being reprinted here in its entirety.) Mutual understanding and consensus on the most pressing issues facing Benicia will allow the city to focus its limited resources and the city council to make the necessary […]
2017 Year in Review: Local issues dominated Benicia in past year
The year 2018 is just around the corner. Before we see what the new year has to offer, let us look back at the big stories that affected Benicia in 2017. Staff changes In February, interim City Manager Steve Salomon left to become the interim city manager of Orinda. Fire Chief Jim Lydon initially filled […]
Letters: Water rates and cannabis
Time for a change? I feel compelled to write this letter about the water rates and outrageous maintenance charges the city of Benicia charges the homeowners who live in Benicia. In the 27 years that my wife and I have lived here, we have been subjected to pay the all-time rates this city has imposed […]
Council continues cannabis interim urgency ordinance
As they have been throughout much of the year, water rates and cannabis were two items on the Benicia City Council’s agenda at its Tuesday meeting. The first reading and public hearing of an ordinance to amend the water rates to add a medical disability discount was tried by the council in October. Staff proposed […]
Letters: Small Business Saturday, water rates and ISO
Small Business Saturday is big for Benicia Benicia is home to dozens of unique small businesses where natives and neighbors can find antiques & collectibles, furniture & home goods, art, music & books, high-fashion & vintage clothing, hand-crafted glass & ceramics, toys for kids and pets, family-owned bakeries & restaurants, and many providers of the […]
Council to vote on cannabis delay, water rates Tuesday
A continuance of a cannabis ordinance and the first reading of an amendment to change the water rates are two items up for discussion for the Benicia City Council’s Tuesday meeting. The City Council will be voting on a moratorium related to cannabis uses in order for more time to be devoted to a study […]
Letters: ISO and water woes
We need an ISO As a Benicia resident I found out about the May 5 Valero refinery near-catastrophic emergency shutdown and major flaring incident in real time, when I drove through the large black cloud of smoke looming over Interstate 680 which was headed directly toward the Suisun Marsh and the city of Fairfield. The […]
Council pushes back water rate, historic building discussions for future meetings
To raise water and sewer rates while deciding the fate of two historic buildings was the question the Benicia City Council had to answer at its Tuesday meeting. The council began reviewing why the water and sewer rates had increased. According to a staff report, water conservation efforts, financial forecasts, Benicia not being able to […]