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Committee recommends second-reading ordinance to raise water, sewer and system development fees
Summary
The Finance Committee recommended forwarding a second-reading ordinance that raises base water and sewer service fees and increases system development fees by 4% to reflect inflation; committee discussed timing of system development fee payments and conservation concerns.
The Cheyenne Finance Committee on May 20 recommended City Council approve a second-reading ordinance that updates water and sewer rates, tap and system development fees, and related administrative charges as recommended by the Board of Public Utilities.
Brad Bowen, administration division manager for Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, told the committee the ordinance includes a $3 increase to the base water fee for 3/4- and 5/8-inch meters and a $2 increase to the base sewer service fee for the same meters; other rates were adjusted by the same percentage and system development fees for water and sewer were increased 4% for inflation. Administrative and septic dump rates were adjusted as well.
Committee members asked about constituent reaction; Bowen said the BOP received no public comment at its board meetings when it approved the rates. Seth Lloyd of the Planning and Development Department reminded the committee that the affordable housing task force and staff had discussed delaying payment of system development fees (from building permit to certificate of occupancy) but that the BOP, development department and task force ultimately agreed to keep payment at time of building permit. A committee member who attended a recent water summit urged conservation and said the rate changes help fund services.
The committee voted to recommend adoption at Monday’s City Council meeting; the ordinance was presented as a Board of Public Utilities-recommended annual update to the city’s rates and fees.
