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Council amends first reading to tie future sanitary‑sewer increases to CPI with a 3% cap beginning 2031
Summary
On first reading the council approved an amendment to the sanitary sewer rates ordinance (25‑082) to tie annual increases beginning in 2031 to the federal consumer price index, capped at 3% per year; the amendment passed 5‑1.
The City Council on Monday amended the first reading of Ordinance 25-082 to tie future annual sanitary sewer rate increases, beginning in 2031, to the federal consumer price index (CPI) and to cap those increases at 3% per year. The amendment passed on the first reading by a 5-1 vote.
Council Member McCandless introduced the amendment, saying the change would avoid long gaps in adjustments followed by large one‑time hikes. “Beginning in 2031, annual sanitary sewer rate increases will be tied directly to the federal government's consumer price index but shall not exceed 3%,” McCandless said.
Why it matters
Council and staff said the proposal is intended to provide predictable, smaller annual adjustments rather than infrequent steep increases that are harder for residents and businesses to absorb. City staff said the change would tie sewer rates to the general CPI rather than a utility‑specific index and that the Public Utility Advisory Board had unanimously recommended tying the rates to CPI (the board had not reviewed the 3% cap itself).
Council discussion and vote
Council members asked whether the Public Utility Advisory Board (PUAB) had reviewed the exact amendment. Staff said PUAB had unanimously supported tying future increases to CPI but had not reviewed the proposed 3% cap. Council members also confirmed the council could later modify or reverse the policy if future circumstances required it.
The amendment passed first reading 5 in favor, 1 opposed; Mayor Roland cast the lone “No” vote.
Next steps
The ordinance (as amended) will return for a second reading. Staff said the cap would not take effect until 2031 and that any council could later revise the ordinance prior to that date if circumstances changed.
Technical context
Deputy city staff emphasized that the ordinance’s immediate changes (already presented to the council) will proceed, and the CPI‑linked cap would apply after the implementation schedule included in the proposed rate ordinance. Council and staff noted that the change would still allow future council action to reduce or suspend increases if needed.
