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Council approves new culinary and pressurized irrigation rates after public questions on mapping and shareholders
Summary
After a public hearing and several resident questions about meter mapping and shareholder agreements, the council approved multi-year culinary water fee increases effective July 1 and adopted pressurized irrigation utility fees effective Jan. 1, 2027; the council also amended the fee schedule to replace an annual mapping renewal charge with a one-time mapping change fee.
The American Fork City Council approved changes to water utility fees on June 23 after public comment raised questions about meter mapping, shareholder agreements and the effect on conservation.
Staff presented a multi-year culinary-rate proposal supported by a consultant study and said the last major revision was in 2018. Council approved a resolution amending culinary water utility fees effective July 1, 2026; the record notes a modification to the block-two non-residential volume rate to $353 per the public discussion.
Earlier during the meeting, the council had held a public hearing on pressurized irrigation (PI) fee schedules. Multiple residents praised a new online dashboard for understanding water use but raised concerns about meter mapping accuracy and the status of shareholder agreements that have historically allowed certain shareholders to assign water to the city. Staff said mapping and shareholder agreement updates are underway and will be returned to council for approval in coming months.
On the PI rates, council adopted a resolution establishing PI utility fees to take effect January 1, 2027. The record shows Councilmember John abstained from the PI vote; others voted in favor. Council also updated the general fee schedule, removing a proposed $50 annual mapping renewal fee and replacing it with a $75 mapping change fee to be charged only when a mapping change is requested.
City staff noted HB 501 (referenced in council discussion) motivates cities to ensure rates fully cover costs and replacement of infrastructure; staff said if the city pays replacement costs locally it may avoid state-imposed changes.
Next steps: staff will continue work on shareholder agreements and mapping processes, return detailed proposals for shareholder agreements and mapping procedures to the council, and implement the fee changes on the dates approved.
