Westgate Village residents raise 44.6% water-billing increase; council to investigate

Resident Gerald Carr addressed the council during public comment to report a sharp rise in billed water charges after new ownership at Westgate Village. Carr said his household’s average monthly bill rose from $33.43 under the previous management to $48.35 over the last two months — an increase he calculated as 44.6 percent — and he asked the city to investigate whether the park owner is marking up water billed from the city. Carr said the park previously billed tenants with a meter-reading charge itemized; under current management he said the bills show a single total and tenants are being charged higher amounts. "Our normal monthly bill for water averaged per month... was $33.43... Presently, we're paying $48.35 average for this last 2 months," Carr told council. City staff responded that the city’s customer for utility billing is the trailer-park owner when a master meter is in place and that the park owner then distributes and bills tenants. "Technically, they are the water customer, and then they distribute it from there," a city representative said. Staff added they were not certain of the park’s internal billing practices and said a state agency handles regulatory oversight of trailer parks. Resident Deb Tyson, speaking later in public comment, said she had firsthand knowledge of the park’s arrangements and urged the council to look into apparent double-charging, noting several trailer parks in the city and concerns about fairness for residents on fixed incomes. Council members did not make an immediate policy change but said staff would "look into it" to determine what the city can do to assist and to clarify whether the park’s billing practice complies with applicable rules. No enforcement action or formal investigation was announced at the meeting.