Westland council introduces ordinance to revise water and sewer rates; staff to return with projections

The Westland City Council on the evening of Feb. 2026 introduced Ordinance No. 29-w-4061, a proposal to amend Chapter 46 of the city code to change municipal water, sewer and industrial waste control charges. The measure was presented as an introduction only, with council members requesting additional analysis from staff and consultants before a final vote.

Councilwoman Sandy, who spoke during the introduction, said the changes would not take immediate effect if adopted at a later meeting: “The rate effects would go in place July 1,” she told colleagues while urging staff to return with assumptions and projections. Sandy highlighted consideration of a block rate and said the current 5,000-gallon block and the proposed structure could amount to roughly a $13 increase to typical bills over three years, a figure she described as an initial estimate that requires verification by finance staff.

Several council members noted the item followed a water-and-sewer study session earlier the same evening. Councilwoman Rakowski said the average resident uses about 7,000 gallons and urged the council to evaluate that as a starting point for any block-rate structure. Council members asked Jillian (finance staff/consultant) and the administration to provide projections and alternative scenarios before a final ordinance vote.

Public commenters urged caution and fuller analysis. Delaney Hornbuckle told the council the change’s timing was concerning and said residents have limited months to respond before proposed rate changes take effect, pressing councilmembers to negotiate rates and avoid last-minute action. Another commenter, Jeffrey Kane, urged the council to scrutinize sewer charges as part of the review, saying sewage fees often drive larger bill increases than water consumption alone.

City staff reiterated that this evening’s action was only an introduction and that further public discussion and formal readings would follow. The council voted to introduce the ordinance and directed staff to return with detailed projections, rate assumptions and the results of the study-session questions ahead of any adoption vote.