Water and sewer rate increases

Opposed the increases as too steep, questioned past council inaction and employee raises, and called for a financial audit before raising rates.

Former mayor urged postponing the increase until alternative revenue strategies like sales tax and grants are evaluated.

Said the council can still reject the rates regardless of protest count and cited Long Beach's $12 million rate refund settlement.

Criticized the protest notice process as confusing and English-only, and said future rates would exceed neighboring agencies.

First-time speaker asked the council to pause and consider the unprecedented volume of protests.

Argued the plan is 'too fast, too long, too much' after knocking on 850 doors, and said the city is collecting far more than documented needs.

55-year resident questioned why repairs were deferred and asked which council members opposed the increase.

First-time speaker who collected protest forms urged a no vote, citing the city's surplus and reserves.

Supported the increases, arguing delaying repairs guarantees higher future costs and that general fund subsidies are unsustainable.

Suggested bringing maintenance in-house and using cathodic protection to extend infrastructure life.

Questioned why the city would collect $80 million over five years against roughly $29 million in identified needs, and asked for competitive bidding transparency.

50-year resident concerned about protest counting transparency and future bills of $300-$400.

Suggested a 20-year bond as a fiscally responsible alternative and said the notice flew under the radar.

Planning Commissioner argued the council should not use Prop 218 as a loophole and urged a no vote or tabling.

Thanked the council for doing the right thing, saying residents have been severely underpaying for water.

Blamed years of neglected maintenance for the crisis and gave the council an 'F.'

82-year-old on a fixed pension said the increase would force him to dip into savings.

Cited cumulative increases of roughly 355% for water and thousands of percent for sewer over five years.

Urged the council to find budget waste and alternative solutions, questioning CCPA subsidies.

Called the increases far beyond inflation and criticized the low-income program as redistributive; suggested closing or self-funding the CCPA.

45-year maintenance mechanic said poor valve and well maintenance, not age alone, caused the problems.

Asked what the $82 million would fund and urged pausing the vote to consider creative alternatives.

Pushed back on the mayor's characterization of protesters as misinformed and warned of recall consequences.

Questioned the council's Sacramento advocacy and criticized the plain-paper notice mailing.

43-year resident asked what happens to water quality if rates fail, why general fund support is ending, and what the protest verification means.

Cited Fresno, Oxnard, and other cities' lawsuits and refunds as warnings against the rate plan.

Said residents clearly oppose the increase and the council has a moral obligation to reduce it regardless of the protest count.

First-time speaker asked the council to hold off on the February 1 effective date.

Called the increases outrageous and urged the city to study bonds and long-term capital planning alternatives.

Argued Cerritos' wells should mean water costs one-third of other cities' and questioned where the extra revenue would go.

Blamed state water export policy for supply pressures and urged political accountability.

Raised an ethical objection that the city discouraged residents from submitting protests.

Planning Commissioner said discouraging protests was unacceptable and urged a tiered rate structure and lower reserves.

Argued rates should be capped at 100-200% based on actual project costs, warning of legal action otherwise.

Said most neighbors knew nothing about Prop 218 and that more time would have produced far more protests.

Asked why the notice offered only a protest form rather than a yes-or-no choice.

Criticized city leadership and newsletter content, urging the community to organize.