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Council reviews utility rate adjustments; pool gate fee to rise as staff explores concessions and Sundays
Summary
Staff proposed modest increases to several utility rates (water, stormwater and solid waste pass‑throughs) and recommended raising the aquatic center daily gate fee; council signaled support for a near‑term increase and asked staff to pursue concession and Sunday‑opening options next season.
North Ogden — The council reviewed proposed changes to enterprise fees and to the city’s aquatic center rates and operations. Finance staff described modest rate increases across water, stormwater and solid waste to cover operational costs and vendor pass‑through increases; staff also recommended a one‑dollar increase to the pool’s daily admission as a step toward long‑term sustainability.
Utility rates: Staff summarized recommended enterprise changes, including a combined increase for water tied to operational and capital needs (meter replacement planning and chlorine/salary cost increases) and a solid‑waste passthrough reflecting increased hauling and transfer station fees. Sewer staff said the sewer enterprise’s fund balance allowed the city to hold rates steady this year. Stormwater staff recommended a rate increase after drawing down reserves in recent years.
Aquatic center: Justin, the pool manager, and staff recommended raising the gate rate (staff discussed $9.50 as a practical rounding point from the current $8.50 with tax), and councilmembers signaled support for a one‑dollar step increase this year. Staff reported that last year’s $2 gate increase produced additional revenue but that higher chlorine and chemical costs offset some of those gains; the pool’s fund balance remains limited.
Concessions and Sundays: Council asked staff to explore whether moving concessions in‑house or changing concessions operations could increase net revenue; staff said contracting concessions or taking a more active concessions strategy could require upfront investment and staffing, but the pool manager told the council he believes a revised concessions strategy could reach break‑even over time. Staff also said operating Sundays this season is difficult for hiring and scheduling but that Sunday hours could be trialed next year with earlier planning and recruitment.
Next steps: Council instructed staff to return with a final fee schedule and implementation timing for the water, stormwater and solid‑waste changes, and to proceed with planning for a pool gate fee increase and a concessions/RFP process in a follow‑up report.
Ending: Staff will include the enterprise rate changes in the draft budget for final council action; the council asked for additional information on interest income that had supported some enterprise balances in the current year.
