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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 3711 Intent to decrease sewer rates 20% COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 3711 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, ORDERING A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD ON A PROPOSED TWENTY PERCENT (20.0%) REDUCTION IN THE WASTEWATER (SEWER) TOTAL RATE CHARGED TO CUSTOMERS OF THE MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER (SEWER) SYSTEM. WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman, Montana (City) owns and operates a municipal wastewater (sewer) utility system; and WHEREAS, Section 7-13-4304, Montana Code Annotated (M.C.A.) requires the governing body of a municipality operating a municipal wastewater system to fix and establish rates, rentals and charges for services, facilities, and benefits directly or indirectly afforded by the system, taking into account services provided and benefits received; WHEREAS, Section 7-13-4307, M.C.A., authorizes the City of Bozeman to set rates and charges for wastewater utility services in an amount sufficient in each year to provide income and revenue adequate for payment of reasonable expenses of operation and maintenance and for the payment of funds required to be paid into the sinking fund and for the accumulation of such reserves and the making of such expenditures for depreciation and replacement of said system as shall be determined necessary from time to time by the governing body or as shall have been covenanted in the ordinances and resolutions authorizing any outstanding bonds; and WHEREAS, Section 7-13-4308, M.C.A., grants local government the right to change and readjust from time to time the rates and charges fixed and established provided the aggregate of such rates and charges shall always be sufficient to meet requirements of Section 7-13-4307, M.C.A.; and WHEREAS, Section 69-7-101, M.C.A., authorizes local government to establish and change wastewater rates as it considers proper; and WHEREAS, in 1996, the Commission implemented a surcharge to cover the extraordinary costs incurred due to remediation and monitoring of the Bozeman Solvent Site; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the surcharge was amended in 2001 to include generating local match funds for the $5 million federal grant received for sewer and storm sewer infrastructure improvements; and WHEREAS, a 20-percent reduction in the total rate is now possible while meeting the financial needs of the City's wastewater (sewer) system; and _. ._________.u_..__..._. -..-...-----..... WHEREAS, the new rates are less than they would have been had there been no Bozeman Solvent Site or EPA grant and had the City increased the wastewater rates for inflation each and every year, beginning in 1996, together with the one-time rate increase in 1999 of 25 percent for the capital improvement program; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that the surcharge to cover the extraordinary costs incurred due to remediation and monitoring of the Bozeman Solvent Site and to generate local match funds for the $5 million federal grant received for sewer and storm sewer infrastructure improvements is no longer necessary; and WHEREAS, the Bozeman City Commission deems it advisable to consider a twenty percent (20.0%) wastewater (sewer) total rate reduction, to be reflected in the November 1,2004 billing. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana, that a public hearing be held on Monday, the 20th day of September 2004, at the hour of 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Room located in the basement of City Hall, 411 East Main Street, Bozeman, Montana, to hear public comment on the proposed twenty percent (20.0%) reduction in the wastewater (sewer) rate. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Commission give notice to the customers of the Bozeman municipal wastewater system of said hearing pursuant to the notice requirements set forth in Section 69-7-111, M.C.A., and mail by first class, postage prepaid, a copy of all notices of hearing to the Montana Consumer Counsel. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the 16th day of August ATTEST: ~J~ R IN L. SULLIVAN Clerk of the Commission APPROVED AS TO FORM: -- I ' =dcpt. ~ TIMOTHY A. COOPER Acting City Attorney - 2 - ----- -------- PUBLISHED NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Bozeman City Commission will conduct a public hearing on Monday, the 20th day of September 2004 at 7:00 p,m, in the Commission Room in the City Hall, 411 East Main Street, Bozeman, Montana, for the purpose of considering a proposed wastewater (sewer) total rate reduction of twenty percent (20.0%), to be reflected in the November 1,2004, billing, The 20- percent total rate reduction will generate a $6.20 reduction in an average $31,00 monthly wastewater (sewer) bill. For additional information, contact Robin L. Sullivan, Clerk of the Commission, at 411 East Main Street, Bozeman, Montana, or telephone at (406) 582-2320, ROBIN L. SULLIVAN Clerk of the Commission Display Ad Publish: Sunday, August 29, 2004 Sunday, September 5, 2004 Sunday, September 12, 2004