Council adopts water, sewer and business license fee increases and initiates data-privacy ordinance

At a specially noticed public hearing the Ferron City Council considered increases to culinary water, secondary water and sewer monthly rates and to connection fees that city staff said are largely pass-through charges from the conservancy/special service district (CVSSD) and state regulators.

City staff explained the schedule adopted by CVSSD: an 80¢ increase to culinary service in the first year and additional 40¢ annual steps thereafter, bringing the example monthly culinary charge from the $17.25 range toward about $18.30 for the coming billing cycle; sewer and secondary charges will see smaller incremental increases. Staff emphasized the city’s administrative fee is modest and that most of the new charge flows to CVSSD or state programs.

After the hearing, Councilmember Morgan moved and Councilmember Singleton seconded adoption of Resolution 2025‑10 to amend and increase culinary water, secondary water and sewer monthly rates and connection fees; the resolution was adopted and will take effect January 1.

Council also approved Resolution 2025‑11 to raise business license fees for 2026 after staff outlined categories and noted state law limits on charging home‑occupation fees unless an added impact exists. Council approved a uniform $200 fee for short‑term lodging categories (hotel/motel/Airbnb/RV/manufactured housing) and other class and administrative fees discussed in the packet.

Separately, the council set Ordinance 2025‑5 in motion to begin establishing a municipal data-privacy program required by the state, including appointing records officers and a data-retention schedule; staff will complete the state questionnaire and implement controls over time.

All items were moved, seconded and adopted by the council during the meeting; staff will publish the adopted rates and updated fee tables with effective dates and incorporate changes into billing and permitting processes.