Opinion and Commentary By Donna Westfall – June 2, 2026 Despite public comments from the majority of water/sewer ratepayers attending the hearing and describing the hardships that doubling of the rates will cause, four councilmembers voted to increase the rates. Councilmember Ray Altman was the sole hold-out. According to City Clerk, Robin Altman, 1,444 signatures were turned in protesting the increases, short by 355. Several people speculate that had the City mailed out the flyers so that people received them by April 16th, the result would be dramatically different. Is there a next step? Yes. "In accordance with Government Code Section 53759, there is a 120-day statute of limitations to challenge in court any new, increased, or extended fee or charge, commencing from the later of the effective date of the new rates or of the date of the final passage, adoption, or approval of the ordinance adopting the new rates." Good points were brought up before the city council about not being allowed to charge existing customers with the costs of new development and expansion. In my public comment to the council I said, "I believe the the 11.8% expansion figure is fictitious. I believe that this city is intentionally trying to add to inflation by burdening existing ratepayers with the costs of new development and expansion." Lastly, I again suggested that they look to the fraud and corruption from the past, dealing with it with an eye towards restitution. It fell on deaf ears. Will we become known as that small town with big corruption?