YC council to take 2nd Hillcrest dip

The Yuba City City Council voted Tuesday to try, try again for a Hillcrest water surcharge.

The council voted 4-0 to send out another round of protest notices and hold another protest hearing. No date was set. Councilman John Miller, a Hillcrest resident, recused himself.

But the next round of protest notices will have a separate count for Region 1 where the protest failed.

The council briefly considered enacting a surcharge for Region 1 without another protest notice, but there was a concern over the fairness of separating those residents when the original vote was for Region 1, 2/3, which might even prompt a lawsuit.

Elaine Miles, an Anita Way surcharge opponent, said Tuesday's vote, recommended by city staff , was a foregone conclusion.

Miles said she was gratified the city recognized the constitutional right of the remainder of Region 1 to vote, rather than declaring a surcharge without another protest.

Miles said a lawsuit would have been filed had the city enacted a surcharge in Region 1 without another protest.

Some residents were in favor of another round of protest notices.

"I think there was a tremendous amount of disinformation," said Bradley Harris, of Camino Cortez. "I want the protest vote to be redone."

Others in Region 1 asked for the better water without another vote.

Tuesday's decision came after a previous attempt at a nearly $20-per-month surcharge was opposed by just over half of the 4,000 homeowners or utility bill payers in August.

"Let's do a much better job than we did the last time," said Councilman Tej Maan.

Councilwoman Leslie McBride said she felt comfortable with another round of protest notices and a hearing because some residents felt they misunderstood the issues.

"Taking it back out for another opportunity for these folks is the right thing," said McBride.

Also on the table was the possible sale of the Hillcrest water system.

The city has proposed a surcharge to connect Hillcrest to a city surface water plant because of arsenic levels in the Hillcrest drinking water from ground wells have tested in excess of new, stricter federal standards during some months.

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter John Dickey at 749-4711 or jdickey@appealdemocrat.com.