Council approves first reading to mirror Melbourne water rate increase; ordinance read into record

The City Council approved first reading of Ordinance No. 20 25-23 to mirror the City of Melbourne’s recently adopted water rate increase for the period West Melbourne will continue to purchase water from Melbourne. The motion for first reading carried 7-0.

City Manager Rody said Melbourne enacted a 10.5% annual rate increase for five years; West Melbourne’s staff recommended mirroring that increase for the two remaining years in which the city will purchase water while the city’s own water plant is completed. Rody described the city’s water bill as composed of a fixed-charge portion (West Melbourne’s operational costs) and a usage portion (the pass-through cost of Melbourne’s water). Staff said the ordinance would be timed to take effect to coincide with Melbourne’s effective date so the city does not absorb higher purchase costs.

Council discussion covered how the increase affects a typical residential customer (staff estimated roughly $3.23 per month for a 4,000-gallon household) and noted West Melbourne plans to operate its own water plant after the two-year purchase period. Staff said the city will not seek its own matching increase after the second year and estimated that, once producing its own water, West Melbourne’s rates should be lower than Melbourne’s over time.

Councilmember Frampus moved approval of the ordinance on first reading; Ms. Maguire seconded. The vote was 7-0. Staff said the ordinance amends section 58-98(a) of the city code and that the increase for customers outside the city remains 10% higher than inside-city customers, consistent with the code.