Water, sewer rate hike hearings delayed

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 | 9:12 a.m.

Public hearings and votes on possible water and sewer rate increases for North Las Vegas customers, scheduled for Wednesday, have been postponed until Sept. 17.

The delay will give city staff and a citizens advisory board more time to review proposed increases. City staff originally recommended rate increases that would almost double the average customer's water and sewer bill by October 2005.

City Assistant Public Works Director David Bereskin said he and other department staff members will look for ways to reduce the proposed increases.

The council voted unanimously on Wednesday to delay action on the matters.

The increases proposed by city staff would be phased in with rate hikes Oct. 1 and the two following Octobers, Bereskin said. Sewer charges would increase more than water rates under the proposal, which would raise water rates for the first time in seven years and sewer rates for the first time in 10 years.

The average city water and sewer residential customer pays an average of $37.32 a month based on using 14,000 gallons of water. That customer's monthly water bill is $23.98, and their sewer bill is $13.34, according to city documents.

Under the staff-proposed rate increases, that average customer's monthly bill would increase to $49.99 after Oct. 1, $60.69 the following year and $71.80 in 2005.

The $71.80 bill would include a $38.38 charge for water and $33.42 for sewer.

The larger increases on sewer bills would be the result of the city switching from a flat sewer charge for residential customers, which is now $13.34 a month, to a use-based rate that would be capped at $33.42 a month after Oct. 1, 2005.

The city Utility Advisory Board, a citizens panel that will recommend rate adjustments to the council, has not acted on possible sewer rate changes.

The board has recommended that the council slightly lower water rate increases that staff has suggested.

The board's recommended water rate increases would raise the average customer's water bill to $36.84 in 2005 -- about $1.50 less than where the bill would be under staff's recommendations.

Proposed water-use reduction measures that would mirror restrictions already approved by Henderson and the Las Vegas Valley Water District will also be considered by the North Las Vegas council Sept. 17, acting City Manager Gregory Rose said.

The Boulder City council is expected to discuss proposed water-use restrictions during its Aug. 12 and Aug. 26 meetings, Boulder City Public Works Director Phillip Henry said.

The proposed restrictions, which went into effect for Henderson and water district customers on Friday, include limits on car washing, restrictions on new grass, and a requirement that ornamental fountains be turned off.