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Council approves first reading of utilities ordinance updating tap fees, backflow rules; public hearing set
Summary
On first reading the Alamosa City Council approved amendments to Chapter 20 of the municipal code addressing water, sewer, stormwater, solid waste and backflow prevention, and set a Sept. 17 public hearing. Council voted 5–1 on the ordinance; Councilor Carson cast the lone no vote.
Alamosa City Council on first reading approved changes to Chapter 20 of the city code covering utilities, including updated tap fees, clarified service-line responsibilities, a requirement tying some water services to annexation, and revisions to backflow prevention rules. The council voted 5–1 to advance the ordinance and set a public hearing for Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
The ordinance, introduced by public works staff, rewrites the utility chapter to separate stormwater from sanitary sewer, modernize terminology (for example using the term “service line”), and explicitly identify the curb-stop valve as Water Works property that the public may not operate. Deacon (public works staff) told the council the rewrite was prompted in part by a recent state law that requires changes to backflow prevention practices: “One of the reasons why we’re finally bringing this to you is, the state passed a bill this last year that requires some changes to our backflow prevention,” Deacon said during the presentation.
Councilors heard staff explain the substantive changes. Tap fees, last set in February 2007 at $500 (not including plant investment fees), were recalculated to reflect current meter materials and installation labor. Deacon said the city broke down meter costs by installation type and is adjusting fees “to cover the costs of the meters, material, and labor.” Harry (city staff) added that the city will perform a rate study next year and that the current adjustments are intended only to align tap fees with the city’s immediate hard costs.
Other changes in the ordinance include: - Clarifying where responsibility for service lines begins and ends between property owners and the city; - Adding explicit code language restricting public operation of curb-stop valves; - Updating the solid-waste section to reflect the city’s existing green-waste drop-off and to limit commercial tree-trimming businesses from using residential drop-off areas; - Altering backflow-prevention tagging and testing rules, including removal of the annual testing requirement for many residential irrigation systems in line with the new state law; and - Explicitly tying eligibility for city water service in some cases to annexation under the city’s three-mile annexation plan, while allowing limited exceptions.
Councilor Liz Hensley said the fee changes address equity between developers and existing ratepayers: “I would say I also considered it an equity issue to where development’s paying for itself instead of all the ratepayers paying for it.” Councilor Carson cast the only no vote; the clerk announced the motion carried 5 to 1.
The ordinance was given first-reading approval and is scheduled for a public hearing and second reading on Sept. 17, 7 p.m., or soon thereafter. Councilors and staff said the draft ordinance will be revisited after the planned citywide rate study next year, which could further adjust plant investment fees or other rates.
Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve Ordinance No. 20-20-25 (first reading) amending Chapter 20 (utilities) and set public hearing for Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. — Mover: Councilor Yanvijo — Second: Councilor Liz Hensley — Outcome: Passed 5–1 (Councilor Carson voted no).
