From: K
To: Sandra Maurer
Cc: Neysa Hinton; Mary Gourley; Jill McLewis; Phill Carter; Stephen Zollman; Oriana Hart
Subject: Please Update to Reflect EFOC"s actual proposal Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026 11:20:29 AM
Dear Council Member Maurer,
I just got your Council meeting update. As I have written to you several times on this topic, I ask that you present the information with clarity.
The EFOC recommended the removal of tiered rates and freezing of Water and Sewer Rates in conjunction with 3 other recommendations, which include the following: 1) Rejection of 2026/2027 Cost Allocation Plan with the removal of Council Time, Reduction of City Manager Time and Reduction of Finance Administration Plan and moving of Engineer Contract into Contracted Services 2) Refunding of $354,000 in illegal attorney fees to Enterprise Funds 3) Time tracking to create a new Cost Allocation Plan.
In addition the EFOC never suggested a new Rate Study until a new Cost Allocation Plan is done based on Time Tracking, the Grand Jury award of $5,500,000 is resolved, and the Sewer Master Plan is received. It would be a HUGE waste of money to conduct a new Rate Study without this data.
The action that is before Council is purely as Staff and Council idea. It does not reflect the work nor the suggestions of the EFOC.
Please do not indicate that the EFOC is recommending a singular action of revenue reduction.
This is a dangerous action and should not be taken alone. Council cannot simply reduce revenue when there is a huge amount of infrastructure work to be done.
Please change:
Consideration of suspending tiered water rates and water rate increases until a new rate study can be completed. The Enterprise Oversight Committee has asked for the elimination of tiered rates and the 4% rate increase that was planned for July 1.
During the recent Budget hearing the Council voted for a new rate study.
To:
Consideration of suspending tiered water rates and water rate increases due to the fact the City Attorney found them to be illegal. During the recent Budget hearing the Council voted for a new rate study. The EFOC recommends a new cost allocation plan based on time tracking, the Grand Jury findings and an updated Sewer Plan NOT a new rate study.
Thank you,
Kate