Titusville council sets preliminary utility and stormwater assessment increases; staff to publish notices

Titusville City Council on July 8 approved a package of preliminary rate actions covering water, sewer, solid waste and stormwater and instructed staff to publish required notices ahead of the public hearings. The action follows a consultant presentation showing multi‑year funding needs for operations, vehicle and infrastructure replacement, and a roughly $210 million 10‑year capital program for the water and sewer system.

The measure directs staff to publish proposed increases and set maximums for the public notice period. The fiscal analysis presented by Stantec showed that a 5 percent annual increase to combined water and sewer rates would raise an average residential bill (5,000 gallons/month) by about $5 per month ($56 annually). Solid waste customers would see a projected one‑year change of about $1.43 per month under the consultant’s example scenario. The stormwater analysis recommended an initial increase of $24 annually (about $2 per month, or an estimated 17.6 percent), with follow‑on smaller annual increases intended to fund a multi‑year stormwater capital program and establish modest operating reserves.

Why it matters: city staff and the consultant said current user charges cover day‑to‑day costs but are insufficient to fully fund identified capital projects and maintain recommended reserve targets. The council asked for clearer, parcel‑level explanations and more detail on the projects that would be funded before final adoption during the August/September budget process.

What the council decided: Council passed a motion to publish the notice of proposed increases and to use the consultant’s scenarios as the working maximums for public notice. The vote was unanimous. Council members emphasized they expect more granular project lists and grant‑funding assumptions during the budget hearings and requested additional outreach explaining how stormwater and utility revenues are used.

Quotes and sources: City consultant Peter Napoli of Stantec summarized the funding choices, telling the council the recommended stormwater program ‘‘would allow you to fund a larger share of the CIP and build a two‑month operating reserve’’ (presentation to City Council, July 8). City Manager Tom Abbate and staff confirmed the mailing and notice schedule for the stormwater assessment. The council’s motion to publish the notices carried unanimously.

Next steps: Staff will mail the required stormwater assessment notices and include the proposed utility notice on upcoming utility bills; the city will present detailed project lists and refine rates at the August budget workshop and subsequent public hearings.