Council to discuss water and sewer rates tonight

The Nevada City Council will be considering two ordinances during tonight's council meeting that will raise almost all residents' water and sewer bills to cover increases in operating costs and for the reserve funds used for equipment and repairs.

One proposed ordinance will raise the rate for water by 17 cents per 1,000 gallons for users who use between 1,000 and 50,000 gallons per month. There is no rate change proposed for consumption of less than 1,000 gallons or more than 50,000.

The city estimates that the median water bill will increase by 28 cents per month, which means that half of the water bills the city sends out will increase by less than 28 cents per month and half of the water bills will increase by more than 28 cents per month. This rate change will increase the amount of money the city collects each year for water by about $26,000.

A second proposed ordinance will raise the sewer tax by 41 cents per 1,000 gallons of water consumed. The city estimates that the tax increase will raise the median sewer bill by $1.55 per month and will increase the amount of money the city collects in sewer taxes by about $127,000 per year.

The council also will be looking at an ordinance to speed up the enforcement of the city's nuisance weed and trash ordinance and still provide due process to residents.

Other items on the agenda include the first reading of proposed ordinances updating the city regulations for employees use of city owned vehicles, amending the 2008 budget to add a $47,000 grant from Aquila to extend Enterprise Drive in the Industrial Park in front of the Ag Provision building, amend the budget to include a $30,105 grant to purchase equipment for the Homeland Security Response Team.

They will also be considering a right-of-way solicitor's application and the second reading of an ordinance setting rural fire fees.