Title
Preliminary Review of 2020 Utility Rates and General Facility Charges
Recommended Action:
Committee Recommendation:
The Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) recommends the proposed 2020 utility rates and general facility charges.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to recommend the proposed 2020 utility rates and general facility charges and forward to Council for further consideration.
Issue:
Whether to recommend a proposed 2.48 percent increase for the 2020 utility rates and a $318 increase to the 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
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department, 360.570.3741
Presenters:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director
Gary Franks, Waste ReSources Director
Mike Buffo, 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 $265 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 (...
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