Council extends moratorium on industrial sewage credits while staff completes code and rate review

The council voted to extend, for 12 months, a moratorium on Title 9 Chapter 3 provisions that govern industrial sewage discharge and related credits. Staff said the moratorium would allow concurrent processes — a code review and a rate study — to conclude and provide staff time to return recommendations. The moratorium is intended to clarify conflicting language in the code and to create a consistent administrative path for industrial adjustment requests.

Director Babica and other staff traced the moratorium's origin to a 2010 action and said a recent request from an industrial user (identified in‑packet as Lineage) prompted the city to bring the matter forward while the rate study is underway. Councilmembers pressed staff on whether metering or crediting options had been investigated and what impact any adjustment might have on residential rates. Staff said metering is technically feasible (through a second meter) but emphasized the need for a policy decision and a comprehensive assessment. Council approved the extension by roll call; staff pledged to follow up in a timely manner with the requesting party and to incorporate findings into the rate/capital planning process.