Council told state code forces end to income‑based sewer/refuse discounts; ordinance language to change for monthly billing

City Public Works staff told the council that state law requires removing an income‑based reduction for sewer and refuse charges, affecting about 144 residential accounts out of roughly 23,000. Randy Bennett, Public Works Division Manager, said the change is required by Iowa Code and the city will 'sunset' the local reduction program rather than continue it in conflict with state statute.

"It was brought to our attention under Iowa code section 388.6 that prohibits city utilities and combined utility systems from charging discriminatory rates," Bennett said. He explained the reduction currently applies to both sewer and refuse for qualifying low‑income residents and that the city will need to stop providing that local reduction because of the state statute. Staff said the number of affected residential accounts is relatively small but will have a measurable impact on those households.

Bennett also described an ordinance cleanup tied to Waterloo Water Works moving from quarterly to monthly billing. The city historically used a winter consumption baseline (first three months of the year) to set sewer billing for the rest of the year; language in the ordinance referenced a quarterly maximum and must be updated so the winter consumption baseline still applies under monthly billing. Chad ****, general manager for Waterloo Waterworks, answered technical questions on how usage and exemptions for properties without sewer service would be handled.

Council members asked about the financial impact on affected households and service charges for online payments. Staff said the winter consumption approach will continue on a monthly basis with wording adjusted in the ordinance and that some implementation details (timing for seasonal residents, precise calculation) would be clarified as staff drafts the ordinance amendment.