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Langley council adopts ordinance to codify reduced water rates for low‑income seniors and disabled residents
Summary
The council adopted an ordinance to codify definitions and authorize an existing reduced water‑rate program for low‑income seniors and low‑income disabled residents. Staff estimated the annual utility cost at roughly $16,000, borne by other ratepayers.
Mayor's designee moved and the Langley City Council adopted a code change to formalize a reduced water‑rate program for low‑income senior citizens and low‑income disabled persons.
Director Kelly Beach told the council the program already exists operationally but lacks codified definitions in the municipal code. "The cost is, roughly $16,000 per year, and, that is born by other rate payers," Beach said while introducing the ordinance to create section 13 0 1 4 9 6 and align municipal language with prior planning documents and MRSC examples.
Council members asked staff where program recipients live and whether customers outside city limits participate; Beach said her recollection was that the majority of participants are within city limits but that she did not have an exact split "off the top of my head." Public works staff and council discussed aligning a similar program on the sewer side as part of a forthcoming sewer comprehensive plan.
The council moved, seconded and the motion to adopt the new water‑rate code passed. The ordinance was presented as a cleanup to ensure the city meets state and local requirements while preserving access to the rate‑reduction benefit.
Officials said staff will track program enrollment and fiscal impacts in future quarterly reports and bring back further implementation details if needed.
