Council hears five-year wastewater rate examples; water study to follow with December rate decisions slated

City staff presented modeled wastewater-billing scenarios that illustrate proposed rate changes from 2026 through 2030 and outlined a timeline for a companion water-rate study. The presentation broke customer classes into usage bands and showed representative monthly bills under a multi-year rate plan staff is analyzing. Using current customer accounts, staff showed examples where larger commercial and industrial customers could see bill increases under the modeled plan while single-family and duplex customers would see slight decreases. For example, staff noted that certain small commercial accounts in the lowest usage band would move from about $47.18 per month today to roughly $79.05 by 2030, while a single-family account shown in the modeling would decline from $43.98 to $39.24 by 2030. Industrial and high-volume commercial accounts showed larger absolute increases in modeled bills. Staff said the water-rate study is underway, with results expected for the council’s review in early October and a recommendation to adopt rate adjustments (by separate resolution) at the council meeting in December; any changes would take effect Jan. 1. Staff also said the water-rate discussion will include consideration of tiered rates and excess-usage charges. Council members asked clarifying questions about fixed fees and the policy goal of aligning rates so customers pay closer to the cost of service. Staff said the proposal intends to “level the playing field” so that customers pay for the volume and type of service they use. The council set an all-day working session to continue capital and water discussions the following week.