Sydney council adopts two electric-rate ordinances, approves budget reports and appoints city manager selection committee

City staff presented two amendments to the municipal code governing electric service and the council adopted both ordinances on Nov. 13.

Ordinance 18-83 amends language that distinguishes small general service and large general service customers by clarifying reporting and demand thresholds; staff explained that customers who reach a 50-kilowatt demand during a reporting period would move to the large general service rate for the remainder of the fiscal year, with earlier written notifications sent at a 40-kilowatt threshold.

Ordinance 18-84 establishes a large power contract rate for customers needing peak demand in excess of 5,000 kilowatts. Interim City Manager Josh Hanson said the change aims to protect the city if high-demand industries — for example, data centers discussed nationally — pursue local service so the city can set contract rates appropriate to unusually large customers.

The council designated both ordinances, waived three readings, passed them by roll call and authorized publication. Clerk read ordinance titles and numbers (18-83 and 18-84) for the record.

On finance items, City Finance Director Kagan Carwin reviewed October fiscal figures: general fund variances, increases in property-tax and DMV revenue, and one-time charges such as an insurance payout and a Maguire Iron charge. The council moved to approve the October budget report and the October claims; both motions passed on roll calls during the meeting.

On personnel process business, the council interviewed or considered three applicants for a city manager selection committee and voted to appoint Tony Jones, Jason Peddick and Joshua Watchhorn (Watcher) to the committee. The committee’s duties will include creating a job description, an advertising plan and presenting the top five candidates to council; the committee may recommend whether to hire an HR firm to assist with the search.