Council adopts new utility rates and approves communications campaign to explain costs

Kara, the city’s communications lead, previewed a public outreach plan to accompany proposed utility-rate changes and told the council the outreach will answer three central questions for residents: how much will my bill increase, why are rates rising now, and what value will I get for the money. She described tools including an online bill-impact calculator, postcards, pop-ups and short video features, and said messaging will focus on shifting the conversation from cost to value.

Council members pressed staff for clearer linkage between proposed rate increases and named capital projects, including system-development charges and sewer upgrades, and asked that communications highlight specific projects funded by the rate changes so residents have concrete examples.

After public comment and discussion — which included opposition from one council member and a resident who said multifamily distribution charges favor renters/landlords — the council adopted Resolution 27-2025 to set new utility rates and include an inflation indexing approach. The motion passed 5–1, with Councilmember Sharon Waters recorded in the meeting opposing the measure.

Why it matters: Utility rates fund water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure and include system‑development adjustments; council passage directs staff to finalize the rate schedule, implement the public-education campaign and provide a bill-impact tool to help residents anticipate changes.

What’s next: Staff said they will finalize fee details (several line items were placeholders) and begin community outreach, with a staff booth at the community engagement night and repeated messaging to explain project-specific uses of new revenue.