Title
Preliminary Review of 2019 Utility Rates and General Facility Charges
Recommended Action:
Committee Recommendation:
The Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) recommends the proposed the proposed 2019 utility rates and general facility charges.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to recommend the proposed 2019 utility rates and general facility charges and forward to Council for further consideration.
Issue:
Whether to recommend the proposed 2019 utility rates and general facility charges and forward to Council for further consideration, as recommended by staff and the Utility Advisory Committee (UAC).
Staff Contact:
Gary Franks, Waste ReSources Director, Public Works Department, 360.753.8780
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department, 360.753.8475
Presenters:
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director
Gary Franks, Waste ReSources Director
Dever Haffner-Ratliffe, UAC Chair
Background and Analysis:
City Utilities are expected to provide uninterrupted public health services for our community. Our responsibilities include ensuring drinking water is healthy, sewer infrastructure safely conveys waste to the LOTT treatment facility, solid waste is managed for reuse or disposal, flooding is minimized, and our urban natural resources are protected.
Given these core public health mandates, Utilities are structured as municipal enterprise funds. Enterprise funds are financially self-supporting, rather than supported by general tax funds. The Utilities pay a fair share of various City overhead costs (e.g., building mortgage, insurance, administrative overhead).
Typical single family residences pay a bi-monthly utility bill totaling $250 for the four City Utilities and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. Multifamily, commercial, and institutional customers are charged on a similar rate structure that incorporates their variable use of utility services. Annual rate increases are expressed to the Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) and Council as changes to single ...
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