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Wellington hires Raftelis for multi-utility rate and fee study; board discusses advisory group
Summary
Trustees approved Resolution 10-2025 to contract with Raftelis for a utility rate and fee study covering water, wastewater and (new) stormwater; board debated formation and membership of a rate advisory group and declined optional outreach tasks citing budget limits.
WELLINGTON, Colo. — The Wellington Board of Trustees on March 25 approved Resolution 10-2025 to contract with Raftelis to perform a municipal utility rate and fee study. The study will update the town’s last comprehensive review, completed in 2022, and expands the scope to include stormwater in addition to water and wastewater.
Megan Smith, deputy director of public works, told the board Raftelis was selected from two proposals after an internal evaluation; staff rated Raftelis highest with a final score of 78%. Smith said the 2022 study recommended a detailed review every three to five years and that the town’s recent completion of major water and water-reclamation projects makes the 2025 review timely.
Smith said Raftelis proposed two optional tasks — a capital project delivery best-practices review and additional customer outreach — and staff recommended not pursuing either optional task because they would push the project beyond the budget already appropriated. During the meeting trustees asked specifically about the optional customer outreach; Smith identified the optional customer outreach price in the proposal as about $25,000.
Smith also sought board guidance on forming a rate advisory group to serve as a stakeholder body during the study. Several trustees supported reaching out to members of the earlier 2022 advisory group to expedite the process and preserve institutional knowledge; others urged an open call to the public and recommended adding at least one commercial water user or local business owner to represent nonresidential rate interests. Trustees discussed board-appointed membership and term lengths; staff proposed four advisory meetings and suggested board appointment but said no final decision was needed at the March 25 meeting.
Trustees voted unanimously to approve the consultant contract. Roll-call votes recorded: Trustee Cannon — yes; Trustee Daley — yes; Trustee Moyer — yes; Trustee Teets — yes; Trustee Wiegand — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Paton Mason — yes; Mayor Schoese — yes.
Smith said staff will compile lists of prior advisory-group members and wastewater roundtable participants and circulate them to trustees for appointments. The contract kickoff was noted as occurring in early April.
