Council presses for clear public notice and quarterly reporting on right-of-way fee and utility transfers

Council members Julian Ramirez and Joaquin Martinez asked staff how future changes to the right-of-way fee would be communicated to the public and how increases would be distinguished from routine rate changes.

Ramirez asked whether right-of-way or franchise fees (for example, AT&T's) have guardrails and whether such fees fluctuate year to year; staff replied franchise terms vary by statute or contract and that CUS modeling will include debt service coverage and days cash on hand so that any transfers do not undermine creditworthiness. Joaquin Martinez asked specifically about community notification and how residents would be informed if fees rose beyond the initial $5 assumption; staff said increases would be part of the budget process and that the committee will receive quarterly reporting on CUS metrics.