Residents press council on high water bills and trail safety as staff outline senior-center upgrades

Several residents used the April 7 public-comment period to press the council on individual and citywide service issues.

Water-bill appeal: Robert Wright, a property owner, told the council he received a water bill that rose to about $3,400 following a leak notification. Wright said he spent roughly $3,000 hiring contractors to locate and repair a leak on an empty lot; the city denied his abatement request because current code limits leak adjustments to service-line leaks between the meter and a fully enclosed building. Wright said he was also treated defensively by a city employee during inspection and asked council for help reversing the denial.

Council and staff response: Director Jason Sullivan explained the code and policy: leak adjustments are permitted only when the leak is in the service line between the meter and a building (defined as a structure with walls and a roof). "The leak has to be in the service line between the meter and the building ... to qualify for a leak adjustment," Sullivan said. Several council members expressed concern about the narrow definition and asked staff and the finance department to review the policy for possible interim remedies; the council agreed to refer the matter to the Finance Committee for further review.

Trail safety and parks funding: Jim Grove, a Pierce Conservation District associate board member and frequent trail user, presented photos showing dead and failing trees along the Fennel/Fiddle Creek trail and asked whether the city has an arborist inspection plan, a hazard-tree budget, and a long-term maintenance strategy. Staff said the trail is a mix of city-owned property and easements, that parks maintenance is constrained (the core parks-maintenance line item returned as approximately $7,000), and that emergency tree removals have cost the city roughly $15,000 in past incidents. Councilmembers discussed pursuing outside funding and possibly placing trail and hazard-tree work in a future capital or maintenance budget.

Senior-center upgrades: Staff reported the senior-center renovation has reached the bidding stage and will proceed in phases. Phase 1 — HVAC upgrades, three-phase power, interior/exterior painting, new windows, bathroom upgrades and a deck — will be covered by earlier appropriations (including a $600,000 state allocation). A $150,000 state grant was described as supporting later-phase items such as kitchen equipment and acoustical upgrades; staff expected to bring a phase-1 construction contract to CDC in May for award.

What happens next: The council asked finance/utility staff to review leak-adjustment policy and possible interim measures; staff will also continue efforts to identify external grants or partnerships for trail maintenance and will return with contract awards and scheduling for the senior-center renovation.