Is this a Vote?

Editor: We recently received in the mail a notice from the City regarding a proposed new five-year program of increases in the water rates we pay and a public hearing scheduled for Monday September 17th at 6 p.m. However if you read toward the bottom of the notice, as my wife so astutely pointed out, you can submit a written letter protesting the rate hike. The notification continues to inform us that “if written protests are presented on behalf of a majority of the parcels on which the water fees and charges are to be increased, the City Council will not impose the increases in the water use rate.” Well, doesn’t this sound like a ‘vote’ without having to go through the process of putting it on the ballot?