Public Services committee recommends sending rate‑design study contract to council

The Maumee City Council Public Services Committee voted to recommend that the full council consider a contract to perform a rate‑design study intended to test alternative utility billing structures.

The committee’s discussion, opened by the chair, focused on scope, cost and speed. Jennifer, a city staff member, said the "$120,000 estimate was really a rate study" but clarified the committee was seeking a more targeted "rate design study" to test options such as flat charges for debt and capital rather than charges strictly tied to consumption. She said Stantec — the firm in the proposal — already has much of the local data and that using that team could reduce the learning curve.

"I like the fact that they're going to run a few scenarios ... and kind of test simulate outcome and see how it would affect residents in different pay scales or usage scales," a council member said, urging prompt action so results would be available before the next rate change.

Another member said staff had contacted other jurisdictions and firms and found costs ranging between about $100,000 and $120,000, but that speed and familiarity with local systems argued for moving quickly. The chair said the committee should avoid a lengthy comparative procurement that could delay the study.

The committee moved and seconded a recommendation to send the proposed contract to the full council for a vote.

The committee did not finalize contract language or set a start date; those details will be handled by staff as the item moves forward to council.