Acknowledging the need to invest in the city’s aging infrastructure, the Mountlake Terrace City Council at its Monday, Nov. 4 meeting unanimously approved a staff proposal to raise the city’s sewer rates by 42.5% and its stormwater rates by 95% in 2020.
After that initial jump, which becomes effective January 2020, ratepayers will see subsequent lower annual percentage increases through 2024. Those two rate increases will join the average $22-per-month water rate hike residents experienced in January 2019.
The average single-family homeowner’s combined utility bill (water, sewer and stormwater) will jump 31.1% in 2020 — from $93.89 to $123.07.
No one testified during a public hearing that occurred before the 6-0 vote. (Councilmember Steve Woodard was absent.)
“As difficult as it to accept rate increases, for us to be able to maintain and continue to have the ability to flush the toilets, have clean water, drinkable water come from our faucets, we wouldn’t have that if we didn’t make these investments,” Councilmember Bryan Wahl said before voting to approve the measure.
The rate increases will pay for both operations costs and capital investments necessary as the city’s sewer and stormwater systems near the end of their useful lives. Many of the city’s pipes — installed in the 1950s — are undersized for the city’s current needs. In addition, cracked water pipes and faulty joints allow groundwater to seep into the city’s sewage system, causing an increase in overall flows — which increases the city’s wastewater treatment costs.
The City of Mountlake Terrace sends its sewage to the City of Edmonds wastewater treatment plant, and the city pays Edmonds for sewage treatment under a long-term interlocal agreement. There are also increased capital costs. Mountlake Terrace is helping to fund planned upgrades to the Edmonds treatment plant, where planning is underway to replace its aging sludge incinerator.
The city also will be able to hire two additional staff members to assist with operations and maintenance work on its system, which includes 74 miles of sewer pipes in its 2,400-acre service area, plus 1,500 manholes and four lift stations.
The council Monday also unanimously approved a proposed ordinance to rezone and approve subdivision of a 4.6-acre parcel at 214th Street Southwest and 38th Place West, near Mountlake Terrace High School. Approval came after councilmembers heard from three nearby Brier residents who expressed concerns about speeding traffic and lack of sidewalks near the development, which could pose a danger to MTHS students who walk through the area to get to school.
In other action, the council:
– Approving the transfer of Frontier Cable’s franchise in Mountlake Terrace to Northwest Fiber.
– Recognized Eagle Scout candidate Michael Frary for his scout project, which involved coordinating with other scout troops to apply markers to 364 storm drains citywide in four hours. The effort included 18 participants working across the city on Sept. 14, 2019. Stormwater Program Manager Laura Reed. noted that the goal of labeling the storm drains is to educate citizens that they shouldn’t be dumping waste products down the drains.
— By Teresa Wippel
What the heck I can’t afford that!
I just moved here and am outraged. What makes it worse is that nobody opposed this and it went through on a 0-6 vote.
Our bill is $186.41 without water usage as of date.
Water Services
– Flat Rate: $50.41 – Usage Charge: – 1-10 CCF: $6.96 per CCF – 11-32 CCF: $8.37 per CCF – Over 32 CCF: $10.84 per CCF
Stormwater Services
– Flat Rate: $55.92 – There is no usage charge for stormwater system maintenance
Sewer Services
– Flat Rate: $80.08 – Usage Charge: – $5.61 per CCF
The water infrastructure in MLT is in desperate need of repair and replacement, but the city undercharged for water service for over a decade. They were losing $600k/year by 2019, the year of this post. They really had no other choice than to raise rates higher than what is typical to make up for the decade plus of undercharging. The city council members who voted for this all live here in town and pay the same inflated rates as the rest of us, so they know how high they are but also know there is no funding to service our failing infrastructure without these higher rates.
My usage is low, combined usage for sewer,water, and storm is $40 this month. Meanwhile, flat rate is $140.
“The average single-family homeowner’s combined utility bill (water, sewer and stormwater) will jump 31.1% in 2020 — from $93.89 to $123.07.”
Not sure how this “average” works out in reality. My house is a 3 bed 1 bath with two people, we pay around $190, consumption is not high its the tacked on flat rate that is the vast majority of the bill. Even if we went to Arizona for six months our bill would still be higher than the “average” being quoted in the article.
They should have specified that they were using an average monthly amount as the metric. Your $190 bimonthly bill averages $95/month.
I have a friend in Seattle who pays half of what my low usage water bills have been. The flat rate is ridiculous and doesn’t exactly encourage people to save water. My usage was $31.38 but the flat rate is $45.31. My friend also does not have the storm water flat fee of $53.43. My sewer base is $71.14. My usage was $19.93. My total bill after this year’s increase is 221.09. I paid less for a higher consumption in August which is when higher summer rates are in effect. Sounds like we are looking at 2 more years of increases. I’m on a limited income but I can afford it. For now. How in the world are middle class families paying these rates? And single moms? And those affected in some way(s) by covid and the variants. Anyone who thinks Mountlake Terrace is affordable needs to think again.
It should not be legal to add such astronomical price hikes renters responsibility. The city is using years of their own neglect on the infrastructure while many MANY of the folks who benefited from not paying their way now.
They’re allowed pass on the water maintenances fees to renters (at $200 a bill) without ever having the declare it as a part of the cost.
My current, very basic, ‘GI Bill’ rental probably sold for less than $20k when it was new. We pay $2,100 before any utilities or basic costs of living.
When you wonder why you can’t get anyone in the working class to stay around, look at your local politicians and those who made easy money off of other people.
I’m especially sorry for the social security senior citizens and working poor who must basically be bankrupted by this.
Arents property taxes intended for property owners? What’s next?
One would assume that property taxes are going to updating infrastructure. The increase in rates is for just that.