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Beaver City council debates separate service connections, ADU fees and several fee‑schedule increases
Summary
Councilors discussed requiring separate meters or prorated fees for accessory dwellings, rejected retroactive billing, and asked staff to prepare ordinance language and cost data; staff also proposed raising conditional use, hydrant meter and sound‑trailer fees.
Councilors spent an extended portion of the April 15 meeting discussing utility connection requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and related fee‑schedule adjustments.
Staff and councilors weighed whether to require separate service connections (water, sewer, power) for ADUs or to use a prorated fee schedule tied to consumption (ERUs). Multiple members urged a data‑driven approach rather than an arbitrary discount. The chair cautioned that retroactive billing would likely be unlawful, saying: "I don't think you can go retroactive." Councilors emphasized the city's interest in protecting the system and avoiding subsidizing private decisions to add living units.
On fees, staff recommended updating the conditional use permit fee (proposal to increase from $25 to $50 to cover postage and staff time) and raising the hydrant‑meter deposit/fee to $1,500 to reflect equipment and processing costs. The council also discussed sound‑trailer rental (current $250/day) and a proposed $400 rental fee to better cover staff overtime and equipment wear. Council asked staff to gather comparative data from other cities, compute labor and postage costs, and prepare ordinance language and a resolution if a fee change is recommended.
No ordinance or resolution was adopted at the meeting; councilors requested draft language and cost analyses to consider at a future meeting.
