Placer County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
Placer County Grand Jury City of Lincoln Water Connection Fund City of Roseville Call Center
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
The city has repeatedly failed to conduct required nexus studies to determine reasonable costs for the PCWA connection fee.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Lincoln refund charges that exceed the regulated and unregulated PCWA connection fees due to modification of the rate structure in 2017, even if it exceeds the statute of limitations.
F2
The rate modification in 2017 was not done in a manner required by statute.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Lincoln identify and refund excess water connection charges to homes in low-density villages for wrong EDU water factor even if in excess of the statute of limitations.
F3
Lincoln’s 2019 modification of the PCWA water connection fee did not correct the fees that were improperly established in 2017 and also did not comply with statutory requirements.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Lincoln identify homes not in villages 13, 19, 23, and portions of 18 that were charged the unregulated PCWA water connection fee instead of the regulated fee, and refund the overcharge even if it exceeds the statute of limitations,
F4
Lincoln’s unlawful actions resulted in significant over-charges to its citizens.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Lincoln City Council require a review every 5 years for all connection fees to determine reasonable costs.
F5
Lincoln made loans from the WCF to other city funds with no assurances that the funds receiving the loans will be capable of repayment within any reasonable timeframe.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Lincoln restructure loans made from the WFC to comply with state regulations or return the funds to the WFC.
Additional Recommendations 1
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R6Lincoln City Council conduct a retroactive study of the performance of city officials and initiate systemic corrective actions including closer oversight of city functions going forward. Exhibit M, 1998 Placer Holdings, Inc. Development Agreement with City of Lincoln detailing the projects EDU schedule.
Conclusions 1
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CL1City officials acknowledge that the Twelve Bridges development agreement was too complex for the city to administer effectively. The agreement was flawed in calculating the fees for very low-density high-elevation housing, but the city agreed to those terms and should either abide by them or modify the agreement. The arbitrary changes and establishment of water connection fees in 1997 and 2017 were not done in a manner set forth by law. It seems clear that Lincoln has unlawfully collected water connection fees in excess of its reasonable costs for providing such service. It has not attempted to conduct any studies to justify these actions. For the past twenty-two years there has been insufficient city council oversight of the conduct by unelected city officials. As a result, the citizens of Lincoln have been charged unjustified and excessive water connection fees. Such conduct cannot be minimized by the city’s assertion of the statute of limitations. - 5 - Placer County Grand Jury 2018-2019 Final Report