Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities And Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City reports water/sewer forum, LTAC requests and a billing vendor glitch
Summary
Deputy City Manager Carolyn Hope said staff held a hybrid water and sewer comprehensive‑plan public forum with supplier partners and that four LTAC applications exceeded available LTAC funding; several councilmembers also raised reports of duplicate utility bills and missed Waste Management pickups.
City staff reported progress on utilities planning and other operational items at the Nov. 6 council meeting, and councilmembers raised resident complaints about utility billing and trash‑collection schedule changes.
Water and sewer planning: Deputy City Manager Carolyn Hope said the city held a hybrid public forum on the water and sewer comprehensive plans with partner agencies including the City of Everett, Alderwood Water District and the City of Edmonds. Hope said about 36 people attended in person and online and that the forum reviewed supply, treatment, capital projects and preliminary rate study findings. Staff told council they plan further briefings and expect to return with more detailed rate recommendations early next year.
LTAC funding: Hope said the city received four Lodging Tax Advisory Committee applications — Arts of Harris, GetSauced, WAG Fest (with a new operator) and a city application for a July 3 family celebration — and that total requests exceed the available LTAC budget (roughly $80,000). The LTAC review will occur in coming weeks.
Vendor billing glitch: Several councilmembers and a resident described a vendor billing issue in which customers received duplicate bills in the same month; one resident said they nearly paid a duplicate bill and then contacted the city. Staff characterized the problem as a vendor glitch and said they will follow up to identify the scope and notify customers as needed.
Solid‑waste pickup concerns: Multiple councilmembers reported that Waste Management changed pickup maps and schedules and that some neighborhoods missed recycling or yard waste collection. Staff said they will contact the contractor and follow up with affected residents.
Other updates: staff said the generator project, EV‑charging installation and Ballenger Park paving are progressing and that a vaccination clinic for uninsured children is scheduled. The DEI commission and Mountlake Terrace Elementary have discussed potential participation in next year’s Children’s Day events.
Why it matters: water and sewer rate proposals and utility billing errors directly affect households; LTAC decisions affect local events and businesses; service gaps with the solid‑waste contractor have immediate resident impact.
What’s next: staff will schedule follow‑up briefings on water and sewer rates, provide LTAC funding recommendations, investigate the billing vendor incident and coordinate with Waste Management on missed pickups.
