Aldermen Defer Meter Mandate After Extensive Q&A, Sponsor Agrees to Rework Carveouts

A proposed ordinance to require water meters on certain new service connections and on some existing connections undergoing major rehabilitation drew extended debate on June 12 as aldermen pressed sponsors about cost, scope and protections for residents recovering from recent tornado damage.

Sponsor and scope: The bill, introduced by Alderman Devote and co-sponsors, applies prospectively to new service connections and mandates meters only in limited existing circumstances—primarily where the plumbing division requires replacement of a service line or where a new build or major renovation triggers permit-guided work. The sponsor repeatedly described the measure as a narrow “baby step” to begin broader metering.

Key debate points: Council members asked whether the bill is retroactive, how many residents might be affected in older neighborhoods, who pays for meters and whether relief for low-income homeowners or tornado victims should be codified rather than left to water-division policy. Committee testimony referenced an equipment cost of about $500 per meter; sponsors said the water division would purchase meter equipment and that policies under development could provide relief, but several members urged that qualifying criteria be written into the ordinance rather than delegated entirely to director policy. One councilmember said she could not support the bill without clearer, codified relief for disaster-impacted residents.

What was decided: The board adopted an amendment setting an effective date of Nov. 1, 2026 and the sponsor requested the bill be placed on the informal calendar to allow additional drafting and negotiation on specific carveouts for tornado-impacted homeowners and other relief mechanisms.

Quote: "Let's take a baby step forward ... and let's talk only in terms of new builds or major renovations," the sponsor said during debate. Another member pressed: "If you are on low income, is the water department going to provide meters to residents at a cheaper rate?" The sponsor answered that policies are under development and agreed to consider specific carveouts.

Next steps: Board Bill 28 was placed on the informal calendar for further drafting, with sponsors and colleagues planning to develop clearer protections (for example, targeted carveouts) and to specify how meter costs or payment plans would apply to low-income or disaster-impacted homeowners.

Attribution: Quotations and paraphrases are taken from the June 12 meeting transcript; speaker labels follow the record as given (for example, "Alderman Devote").