GARDEN GROVE

Despite protests from hundreds of residents, the City Council recently voted to increase sewer fees, citing the need to maintain the city’s aging sewer system and protect public health. The City Council, acting as the city’s Sanitary District, voted 4 to 1 last week to raise the rates, with Councilman Mark Leyes dissenting. About 7,000 residents had signed a petition opposing the city’s trash and sewer fee increases, but city officials said about 17,000 signatures would have been needed to thwart the increases.