As we drew close to completing a comprehensive cost-of-service study for Montecito Water District, Raftelis was asked to support the District’s stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and efforts to comply with California’s Proposition 218 requirements. We developed a comprehensive Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Plan to guide the District through what a public process to adopt a new rate structure and revenue increase needed to invest in diversified water resources to help insulate the District’s customers from drought impacts. Our strategies, tactics, and messaging worked together to build awareness for the need for increased revenue to fund this critical investment. In the end, the rate change recommendation earned favorable media coverage, the unanimous support of the Board, and no effective opposition.
