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Issaquah council adopts revised water, sewer and stormwater rates; ordinances pass unanimously
Summary
After a multi‑month study and committee review, the Issaquah City Council on Oct. 20 approved updated water, sewer and stormwater rates and adjusted general facility charges to take effect in 2026. The council also authorized the mayor to accept the utility rate study. The ordinances passed unanimously 7‑0.
The Issaquah City Council on Oct. 20 adopted new utility rates and updated general facility charges for water, sewer and stormwater services, voting unanimously to authorize the mayor to accept the multi‑utility rate study and to adopt three ordinances. The council’s action implements changes recommended by FCS Group and refined through multiple Mobility & Infrastructure Committee meetings.
The mayor authorized acceptance of the study and the council adopted Ordinance No. 3116 amending water general facility charges and bimonthly rates, Ordinance No. 3117 amending stormwater general facility charges and bimonthly rates, and Ordinance No. 3118 amending sewer general facility charges and bimonthly rates. Chair Joe moved to authorize the mayor to accept the report and adopt the ordinances; the motion was seconded and approved 7‑0.
The city’s consultant, Sergey Tarasov of FCS, told the council the study follows three analytical steps: a revenue requirement to size the funds, a class cost‑of‑service allocation to divide costs among user types, and rate design to set fixed and volumetric charges. Tarasov said the policy guidance from council committees was to “limit our impacts to our customers to at or below 6%” while planning for longer‑term capital needs and minimizing borrowing when possible.
Key policy and design outcomes the council approved include consolidating duplex classifications with single‑family for water and sewer billing (so duplex usage will be billed like single‑family beginning in 2026), recalibrating minimum sewer consumption charges to align with King County treatment billing (moving the sewer minimum from 12.2 CCF bimonthly to 15 CCF bimonthly), and moving stormwater and sewer general facility charges to cost‑based levels starting in 2026. The council also approved a 10‑year phase‑in for water general facility charges to soften immediate rate impacts.
Public Works Director Emily Moon said staff’s goal was predictable, defensible rates that cover the full cost of service and provide adequate operating reserves. The consultant and staff emphasized the utilities carry large capital requirements that must be funded to maintain system reliability.
During council questions, members asked about treatment of middle‑housing types, whether fire‑flow oversizing affects fixed charges, and how King County pass‑through charges (for sewer treatment) are recovered; staff explained the rationale for the single‑family/duplex consolidation and that irrigation classes do not receive fire‑flow benefits and therefore have lower fixed charges.
Chair Joe summarized committee work noting the Mobility & Infrastructure Committee and the Committee of the Whole met several times, conducted detailed data reviews and recommended the final package presented to the full council.
The ordinances take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and staff will post final rate tables and billing examples on the city website. The council vote on the ordinances was unanimous, 7‑0.
The city provided the study to the council in draft form; the motion also authorized the mayor to accept the study in final form as approved by the Public Works Director.
Additional technical materials and the draft study are available in the council packet for Oct. 20.
