The Rio Dell City Council acknowledged the citys comprehensive rate-setting methodology for water and sewer service and accepted a staff briefing that described how rates are structured, the basis of sewer strength classifications and ongoing infrastructure projects.

Finance Director Charles Sam told the council that the city completed a five-year rate study in 2022 that met Proposition 218 notice and protest requirements and that the city adopted separate resolutions for water and sewer rates. Sam said the city is implementing an over $12,000,000 water infrastructure project currently in construction and is conducting a $1,600,000 sanitary sewer evaluation study.

Why it matters: the briefing explained the formula used to charge customers and the rationale for business strength categories, which determines sewer volume and strength charges. Those charges fund operations, debt service, reserves and capital projects and help ensure customers pay for wastewater-treatment costs that their discharges impose.

Sam described the rate structure: water rates combine a fixed base charge and a consumption charge; sewer rates combine a fixed charge with a volume charge that varies by strength classification and is calculated using a December–February winter average to exclude summer irrigation. Sam also said the city has leak-adjustment provisions to protect customers and that the utility finances are reviewed annually before scheduled increases.

Public comment included questions and observations about how winter averaging affects new customers and whether the citys bills still rank high compared with nearby jurisdictions; one citizen observed that neighboring cities are implementing larger increases than Rio Dells recent multi-year adjustments.

Council action: a motion to accept the staff report and reaffirm the cost-of-service methodology carried 3-0.