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218 <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: UTILITY RATES AND FEES <br /> <br /> Ms. Rita Scott, Director of Finance, explained that each <br />of the utilities are completely self supporting and costs to <br />the City are determined by 1) water and wastewater service <br />purchased from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority and gas <br />purchases; 2) billing and administrative costs; and 3) <br />capital improvements to the system. Ms. Scott stated that <br />each system is designed to be break even, with no profit <br />made. Ms. Scott stated that water rates will decrease an <br />average of 2.3%; sewer rates will decrease an average of 15% <br />and gas rates for a home heating customer will increase by <br />approximately 12%. The hookup fees are recommended to <br />increase from $10 to $20 which will bring them more in line <br />with the~ actual cost of delivering the service. Ms. Scott <br />stated that $10,000 is budgeted in the gas fund to use as a <br />match for private donations for the Gas Assistance Program. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Ms. Scott <br />stated that Virginia Power charges a $15 connection fee plus <br />a large deposit and Centel charges a connection fee of <br />between $23 and $33, with a large deposit also required. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Ms. Scott <br />stated that approximately $15,000 of the Gas Assistance funds <br />were used in the current year. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano requested clarification regarding the <br />working capital funds and Ms. Scott stated that previously <br />funds for 60 days of operations were maintained as cash in <br />order to pay large bills but this year the working capital <br />has been reduced to 45 days. Ms. Scott stated that the <br />working capital has been used to reduce the utility rates-in <br />the current and next year, but because these funds have been <br />reduced this reduction will not be possible the following <br />year. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter suggested that next year staff look at <br />least cost planning and measures people can take to be more <br />efficient in their gas usage. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters questioned whether relocation of all utility <br />meters to the outside of buildings could be built into the <br />cost of the system, adding that she felt it would be <br />beneficial to the City to not have to read indoor meters. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller stated that an additional $50,000 would be <br />necessary to keep up with the demand to move meters outside <br />of buildings. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she would like to have the staff <br />investigate adding the cost of moving the meters outside into <br />the cost of the system. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br />As there were no speakers the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano requested that information be provided <br />regarding who gets terminated from gas service and what <br />happens to them. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Toscano, seconded by Ms. Waters, the <br />ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REORDAINING <br />SECTIONS 31-29, 31-56,31-57, 31-59, 31-60, 31-61, 31-62, <br />31-64, 31-66, 31-104, 31-152, 31-153, 31-156 AND 31-159 OF <br />THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, 1990, AS AMENDED, <br />RELATING TO UTILITY RATES, DEPOSITS AND FEES" was offered and <br />carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT: ROCK CREEK DRAINAGE <br /> <br />Mr. Bruce McNabb, Assistant Director of Public Works, <br /> <br /> <br />