Laserfiche WebLink
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE <br />HELD ON Wednesday, November 12, 2003 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference <br />Room. <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br /> Work Session: Utility Rates <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox <br /> <br />BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - November 12, 2003 <br /> <br /> Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Schilling. <br /> <br /> Ms. Rita Scott, Director of Finance, reviewed the Water Rate Structure Report <br />which was prepared in response to a resolution adopted by Council. Ms. Scott's report <br />included objectives of the resolution, background on City demographics, and top 100 <br />water users. Ms. Scott said that when the U niversity is excluded, 86% of the City's water <br />use is residential. Ms. Scott presented the following rate structure options: base charge <br />(current); minimum charge with amount of water included; volume based charge (block <br />rate structure); seasonal rates; individualized or tailored rates. Ms. Scott said the <br />individualized rates would be very labor intensive and cannot be done with our current <br />system. Ms. Scott said an inclining block rate could be combined with a fixed monthly <br />charge tied to the size of t he meter. She said there could also be a combination of an <br />inclining rate for residential use and a seasonal rate for others. Ms. Scott said there <br />would be no savings for small families with a fixed monthly charge with a certain amount <br />of water included. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he does not think the inclining block rates are equitable for <br />anyone. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would like a structure that provides equity for the greatest <br />number of people. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati suggested giving credits to commercial users rather than penalizing <br />them through seasonal rates. <br /> <br /> Mr. Aubrey Watts, Chief Operating Officer, noted that the large water users are <br />government, schools, hospitals and public housing, and said that if rates are raised for <br />them the City's bills will increase. <br /> <br /> Ms. R ichards said these users should not be left out of the plan to incentivize <br />water reduction. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said we should be looking at why we are looking at a new rate <br />structure, and noted that the cost incurred is primarily with storage capacity. He said h e <br />feels we should look at a seasonal rate. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox noted that the chart showing winter and summer usage does not reflect as <br />much fluctuation as he thought it would. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said more water is still being used in the summer. He said it is all <br />about s afe yield. He noted that Albemarle County charges more for hookups. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said we may want to increase the hookup rate to equal the County's. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that in the end we will need the same amount of total money to <br />pay for water service, and he would favor shifting the cost to provide an incentive to <br />