Seaside adopts water and sewer rate changes; council selects split‑rate approach for water

The Seaside City Council adopted resolutions adjusting water and sewer rates for the coming fiscal cycle, citing enterprise fund sustainability and recent capital and emergency costs.

Utility staff presented 10‑year revenue and expense charts showing water and sewer enterprise funds have run deficits in recent years and face upcoming capital projects including a water master plan and sewer master plan. Staff recommended a 3% overall adjustment for water to stabilize the fund. Council selected the staff’s split‑rate option (option B): a smaller percentage increase on typical residential meters and a larger percentage increase on larger, nonresidential meters to preserve lower bills for typical households while shifting more of larger‑user cost burden to big meters.

The council adopted the water rate resolution with the split approach and scheduled the adjustment to take effect for the June 15 billing cycle so summer usage would reflect the change. Utilities staff explained the split results in a 1.5% increase for common residential access and a larger 6.6% increase for larger nonresidential meter access and usage categories; staff noted some figures in the staff report were corrected during discussion.

For sewer, the council adopted a separate resolution amending sewer user rates; because the sewer fund already uses usage‑based charges in many classes, staff recommended a uniform approach. Both resolutions passed with no recorded nays. Staff said the adjustments are intended to stabilize enterprise finances while the city completes master planning work and addresses capital needs.