Council adopts interim and long‑term cuts to sewer connection fees, keeps Oct. 1 impact‑fee timeline

Following adoption of the wastewater impact fee ordinance, council approved two resolutions to change sewer connection fees: a temporary, interim schedule to apply immediately and a long‑term resolution setting a flat $10,000 connection fee for all meter sizes effective Oct. 1.

Jason Van Gilder, public works director, told council the interim fee schedule is designed to avoid a pricing vacuum between now and the Oct. 1 effective date for impact fees. Under the approach discussed, the combined amount customers see would remain close to the current $15,000 for a typical residential 5/8 x 3/4" meter while redistributing the amount between connection and impact components. Council adopted Resolution 544‑26 (temporary decrease) and Resolution 545‑26 (long‑term decrease to $10,000) by unanimous roll calls.

Council and staff noted the changes will be reviewed annually and that the impact‑fee code requires a five‑year formal review. Council also emphasized the need to coordinate the fee schedule with budget work because the current budget is built assuming existing fee structures.