02/14/1983 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e per month would provide about $2.00 per month toward the six- to twelve-month operating deficit for the treatment plant, $2.00 toward elimination of General Fund support, $2.00 toward operating a more effective treatment plant, and $.90 toward capital expansion. Public hearing was opened on both ordinances being considered under this item. Speaking in favor of the ordinances: Jim Saul, 2780 Elinor Street, said he favored the user rate increase, since he believed that it was appropriate that sewer services be funded by user fees rather than other City funds. He said that a sewer user fee of $2.00 had been set in about 1940 and noted that if that fee had been increased at the rate of inflation it would currently amount to $14.04 per month. He noted this did not take into consideration the costs of construction or more stringent treat- ment requirements. He felt that the $.90 to be devoted to capital improvement projects was also appropriate, since such improvements are essential to the well-being of the community. Mr. Saul said he believed that sewers are a convenience and a luxury well worth the cost of their operation and maintenance. Speaking in opposition to the ordinances: Jan Gund, 1670 Lorane Highway, said she believed the proposed flat rate increase penalized and was inequitable for owners of small homes who did not use large amounts of water. She felt that under the flat rate users of small amounts of water were subsidizing users of large amounts. She urged the council to institute flow-based rates. e Ruth H. Larsen, 2650 Baker Boulevard, objected to the proposed flat fee rates which would charge users of small amounts the same fee as users of large amounts of sewer service. She said small users would be subsidizing large users. She felt this was an inequity and objected particularly to small users being charged the same amounts as users with large homes, large families, and equipment such as pools, saunas, and hot tubs. Virginia Newman, 1505 Main Street, Springfield, suggested that the budget of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) be reevaluated or indepen- dently audited. She felt that an alternative budget should have been presented for consideration by the council. She suggested that the new treatment plant be mothballed and that the existing plants be used until new growth occurs that requires use of the new system. She said the proposed flat rate would increase fees to apartment owners by three times the current amount, while fees to home- owners would be increased only 2.5 times. She said that a study had been con- ducted of flow rates and had found that the average flow rate during winter months was 5,970 gallons per single-family dwelling and 3,809 gallons per indi- vidual apartment--a differential of 34 percent. She suggested that apartment buildings be charged the commercial fee rate. She urged that a flow-based rate be instituted. Wanda Simmons, 1183 Skipper, asked who would pay for providing sewer service to River Road-Santa Clara. - MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 14, 1983 Page 2