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Council seeks clarification on commercial impacts of multi‑year water rate plan
Summary
Councilors asked staff for clearer examples of how a proposed multi‑year rate schedule would affect commercial customers; staff explained the treatment‑plant replacement fee is sized to meter capacity and that vacant properties can shut off water to avoid monthly fees.
Councilors raised questions at Wednesday’s workshop about how a proposed water‑rate update would affect commercial customers and small businesses.
Jason (staff) showed example scenarios included in the packet and said the council adopted a multi‑year approach that applies a 1% increase to rates plus changes to a treatment‑plant replacement fee. "They're all getting the same 1% increase plus the change to the treatment plant replacement fee," he said, noting commercial charges are more variable because meter size and usage differ across businesses.
Staff explained the treatment‑plant replacement fee is a fixed charge based on meter equivalent (3/4" meters see a $2.50 increment shown in the staff examples; larger meters are charged proportionally higher replacement fees). Several councilors expressed concern about vacant commercial buildings and the burden of fixed monthly charges; staff said owners may shut off service for vacant buildings so they would not be charged monthly fees while vacant, and customer‑service staff confirmed there is no charge to reinstate service so long as any outstanding balances are cleared.
Councilor Rob asked for clearer, on‑screen examples for commercial customers at the next meeting; staff agreed to supply those tables and noted the packet already included nine commercial examples in the back for council review. No rate change was adopted at the workshop; staff will return to the next meeting with clearer commercial examples and additional explanation.
