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Troutdale residents criticize new $15 public safety fee on water bills; council explains why fee was adopted
Summary
Two Troutdale residents told the city council they were shocked by a recently added $15 public safety fee on their water bill and urged clearer notice and a ballot; city staff said the fee responds to escalating costs in contracts with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Gresham Fire and explained the fee is assessed under the city’s existing methodology, which charges commercial properties based on seating capacity.
Cynthia Velasquez, a Troutdale homeowner, told the city council she was "shocked" to find a $15 public safety fee on her residential water bill and said the charge can push tight household budgets into overdraft. She said the city did not put the measure to a ballot and that communications about the fee were limited to social media and the city newsletter. "Shame on you. No ballot. No public voice," Velasquez said.
Restaurant owner Saul Pompeo told the council he has repeatedly raised concerns about how the city applies fees to food-service businesses. Pompeo said some restaurants pay what he described as double the fee compared with comparable…
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