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Council adopts 2026 fee schedule, including water-rate adjustments and clarifies meter/fee policies
Summary
The council unanimously adopted the 2026 rate and fee schedule after staff explained redlines and discussed water-meter box fees, a proposed fire-service connection charge review, and planned public outreach to explain a 12% water-rate increase and the projects it will fund.
The Leavenworth City Council on Dec. 9 approved Resolution 30-2025, adopting the city’s 2026 rate and fee schedule, after staff answered detailed questions about water fees, system-development charges and miscellaneous charges.
Staff noted the 2026 schedule corrected year-ahead references and carried forward largely the same rates. The public-works presentation included two items that drew extended discussion: a $360 water-meter "resetter" fee tied to substantial regrading or driveway work that requires resetting a meter to be reachable, and a plan to revise system-development charges and create a separate hotel customer class in future rate updates.
On the resetter fee, staff explained it applies where grade changes (about a foot or more) leave the meter unreachable and the city must install a resetter assembly. "The $360 fee is tied to the resetting meter," staff said, clarifying that minor adjustments or lid changes are billed for modest staff time rather than the resetter charge.
Council discussed whether the city should provide residents an upfront estimate for meter-box work; staff agreed it will provide estimates and can add language to the fee schedule to flag that an estimate is available upon request.
Water rates and public outreach: Council members raised concerns about communicating a ~12% water-rate increase to residents. Staff outlined an outreach plan: open houses, pop-up events and handouts that identify major water and sewer projects and explain how the rate changes support proactive replacement versus reactive repairs. Staff said materials and pop-up dates were planned for the coming week.
Other fee items: Staff also identified edits to parking-lot definitions for an employee-parking program, minor clarifications to cemetery and utility fees, and a planned subsequent amendment in early 2026 to refine the fire-service meter charge after the utility-rate study is completed.
Outcome and next steps: Council adopted the rate/fee schedule unanimously. Staff will provide clearer cost-estimate language in the schedule, continue public outreach to explain the rate changes and return to council with proposed fire-service connection charge adjustments informed by the utility-rate study.
Votes at a glance: the council recorded unanimous approval for Resolution 30-2025 adopting the 2026 rate and fee schedule; subsequent items on the consent agenda and professional-services agreements passed separately (see council roundup).
