PORT ANGELES — A proposed water pipe connection fee increase failed to get the approval of the city’s Utility Advisory Committee on Tuesday.
The five-member committee, during a discussion dominated by how to balance giving residents and contractors a break while raising enough funds to cover expenses, nixed the approximately 10 percent increase for new water connections proposed for 2011, while keeping increases for electrical permits and the electric base charge in its recommendation to the City Council.
A public hearing on the proposed increases will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. in council chambers, 321 E. Fifth St.
The council decided at its last meeting that the committee should look at eliminating both the proposed water pipe connection fee raise and a 25 percent increase of electrical permit fees.
The committee — which consists of three council members, a representative of the public and a representative of the city’s largest utility customer, Nippon Paper Industries USA — concluded in a 4-1 vote that the city can avoid raising fees only for the water connections, which would have generated only $2,000 next year.
The vote only serves as a recommendation; the City Council next month will consider approval of utility fees and rates for 2011.
City Council member Cherie Kidd cast the dissenting vote, saying the city should look more at cutting costs.
Public Works and Utilities Director Glenn Cutler said the proposed 2011 utility budget had been cut several times by himself and other staff members.
The other council members on the committee, Brooke Nelson and Mayor Dan Di Guilio, also expressed concern about raising fees next year.
“It’s going to be an impact, even if it is $2,” said Di Guilio, referring to a proposed electrical base fee increase.
That fee would increase from $11 to $13 per month in 2011 if approved by the City Council, which must approve any fee or rate change.
The base charge has remained the same since 1993 and doesn’t cover the cost of providing power, staff said.
Staff are also proposing raising the wastewater fee for the city’s approximately $40 million to reduce sewage overflows from up to 100 per year to no more than four. That fee would increase would be $14.95 per month, a $2.65 increase.
Both fee increases are being recommended by the advisory committee, as well as the increase to electrical permits.
The electrical permit fee increase would raise between $30 and $41.40, depending upon the connection.
The increase for water connection permits would have raised the fee by an extra $120 to $130.
Staff are proposing to raise the electrical fee because it’s not high enough to cover the cost of the city’s single electrical inspector, said Larry Dunbar, power systems deputy director.
The fee increase would raise about $25,000 next year.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
