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Wastewater repairs driven by regional consent order push staff to propose steep fee increases
Summary
Staff said inflation and a regional MOA/consent order require large sanitary‑sewer investments; they presented a model increasing the combined monthly wastewater bill from about $19.10 to roughly $30.06 to meet prioritized repairs and DEQ schedules.
Public works staff explained the city's responsibilities under the regional memorandum of agreement (MOA) tied to HRSD consent orders and DEQ oversight, and presented updated rehabilitation cost estimates. Inflation has raised the 2013 repair estimate from about $165 million to roughly $230 million by 2022; staff said roughly $106 million of work is required through 2030 with another $124 million through 2040.
To meet regulatory schedules and fund required capital projects, staff proposed a combined increase (operating rate plus surcharge) that would raise the typical monthly wastewater bill from about $19.10 to $30.06 — an increase of roughly $10.96. Staff noted the surcharge is dedicated to capital and regulatory compliance and that if council elected a smaller near‑term increase it could jeopardize timely progress on the highest‑priority fixes. Council discussed grant, loan and bonding options and asked for more project detail and the phased cost schedule.
