The powers and duties of the commission are as follows:
A. Review and comment on proposals made by the department for changes to utility service rates.
B. Develop and provide recommendations to the mayor and city council on issues relevant to the setting of the utility service rates, provided that the commission has no authority to review or revise the utility service levels.
C. Hold rate hearings on proposals made by the department to increase the utility service rates or establish new utility service rates for property-related services furnished by the department, and, upon conclusion of the hearing, provide recommendations to the city council on such proposals. In the preceding sentence, "rate hearings" means the public hearings: (1) required when a local government agency proposes to impose or increase any user fee or charge for a property related service, pursuant to subdivision (2) of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution; and (2) held pursuant to Section 3.44.100 of this code.
D. Act as a liaison to encourage community understanding of, and participation in, the utility service rate setting process.
E. Annually, report to the city council regarding on the activities of the commission. (Ord. 2024-0037 § 1)