Committee recommends council consider waiving sewer fees for longtime nonprofit event

The Public Services Committee reviewed a request from a nonprofit to waive sewer charges for an outdoor fundraising event that has been held for about 14 years.

Staff said field inspections by the sewer supervisor and others found no sanitary sewer drains in the immediate area of the mud‑pit activities and supplied a schematic showing where the event would be staged. "They did send along, Matt did from Joe, that there are no sanitary sewer drains in the vicinity," a staff member said, and staff reported that much of the event water would drain to adjacent grass and storm infrastructure.

Committee members raised the possibility of infiltration during heavy rains and concerns about setting a precedent for other applicants. One council member said a partial discount — for example charging a portion of the normal sewer fee — might balance risk and community benefit. Staff estimated the potential waived sewer revenue at about $13,000.

A resident noted that some properties already use separate meters for outdoor water and are not charged sewer on those meters, which informed discussion of possible limits or caps on any waiver.

After discussing alternatives including a permit or application process for future events, the committee moved and seconded a recommendation that the full council consider the nonprofit’s waiver request; the nonprofit is scheduled to present to the committee the following day and the item will then go to council for a final vote.

No final waiver was granted at the committee level; the recommendation sends the request to the full council.