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Residents urge more equitable trash, water and stormwater charges; call for clarity on small fees
Summary
Two residents urged the council to adjust utility billing structures to reduce cross-subsidies affecting seniors and small households, questioned the stormwater fee methodology and asked for clearer payment-fee policies.
Two residents who spoke during the council's citizen appearance urged changes to how the city structures utility and service fees, saying current rate and fee designs disproportionately affect seniors and small households.
"Most, if not all, senior households only put out 1 trash can per week and fill recycle bins less than once every 2 weeks," said Dave Shaw, a resident at 215 West Wing Drive, who argued that a 10% senior discount on refuse service is insufficient and recommended at least a 25% discount. Shaw said Coppell currently receives two trash pickups per week and one recycling pickup but that many seniors cannot use that full schedule. "They should not be made to subsidize larger households and or extra services not required by them," he said.
Shaw also criticized the city's current potable-water allowance and tiering. He said households using about 5,000 gallons per month effectively pay roughly $7.44 per thousand gallons while larger users paying $4.31 per thousand gallons under current structure. He proposed increasing the basic allowance from 1,000 gallons to 2,000 gallons and reducing the base charge, while raising higher-tier prices so revenue is borne more by larger users. "A change to increase the basic allowance from 1,000 gallons base to the more typical in most cities, allow 2,000 gallons base...and reducing the basic charge some more would further mitigate the concern," Shaw said.
On stormwater charges, Shaw called the fee "an inherently flawed concept" because it levies the same charge on every property regardless of actual contribution to runoff; he proposed basing drainage-maintenance charges on land area or property value. He also asked about a monthly 10¢ public-education fee and questioned why the city charges fees for non-cash payment options: "If the city is going to continue to deny citizens use of cash...they should not charge fees to use any other normally acceptable form of payment." Jeff Ornell, a second speaker, offered brief support for Shaw's points.
Council members did not take action during citizen appearance; the council's workshop later discussed the budget and fee projections but did not adopt new utility policies during the meeting.
