06-28-10 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 28, 2010 BILL NO. 26-10 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE 2, OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADJUST SEWER RATES AND CHARGES INCREMENTALLY THROUGH 2013 Councilmember Rouse made a motion to hear the substitute version of this bill. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. Councilmember Oliver Davis, Chairperson, Utilities Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill this afternoon and voted to send it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand read into the record the rules and procedures for the Public Hearing: Members of the public may speak for 5 minutes in favor, or in opposition; The total time for remonstrators shall be equal to the time of the public portion of those speaking in favor or 30 minutes, whichever is greater. A 5 minute rebuttal period then follows. th Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mayor Luecke advised that in order to comply with the Clean Water Act, the City of South Bend must implement a 20-year, $400 million plan for the long-term control of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Since 2006, the City has invested $43 million to reduce CSOs and the problems associated with them. Work has included expansion of the 54 year old Wastewater Treatment Plant and extensive efforts to separate combined sewers and build capacity for additional storage. Between 2010 and 2013, the City must spend another $54 million to make continued progress on the long-term control plan. Projects will include additional separation of storm and sanitary sewers, expanded capacity to retain storm water and a greater emphasis on green solutions, which address storm drainage through natural alternatives on site. Where sewer rates increased in stages by a cumulative 79 percent between 2006 and 2009, proposed rate increases over the next four years will be about half as much. The Council is considering increases of 8 percent in 2010 (beginning July 1) and 9 percent annually in 2011-13. For the average homeowner, it will mean an increase of about a dime a day. Other rates on the monthly South Bend utilities bill are expected to hold steady or decrease over the same period. That would result in less than a 3 percent increase in residents’ total municipal utility bill. Even after four years of the proposed increases, South Bend sewer rates will still be lower than current rates in Mishawaka and other Indiana cities. Mayor Luecke stated that they need to meet both federal targets and the citizen’s expectations to address public health concerns and preserve the beauty of the river. He stated that during the consent decree negotiations, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice have been clear: Regardless of the economic hardship in the community, they must make substantial progress toward the goal or face the threat of legal action and daily noncompliance fines. Progress in the first four years has been significant. The number of basement backups declined by 20 percent in 2009 when compared with 2005. The city also reduced overflow to the river 60 million gallons fewer in 2009 than in 2005. th Gary Gilot, Public Works Director, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., advised that this is a 20 year solution. These types of problems can’t be solved in four years. He stated that this is about getting sewage out of basements, reducing combined storm-sanitary sewer overflows into the St. Joseph River and enhancing the st quality of life in the process. He explained in three segments: 1 review what they have accomplished on the CSO Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) the last 4 years with the prior nd 4 step rate increase 2 review the larger CSO LTCP and explain what comes next 2010- rd 2013 for rates and capital that will produce and how it is prioritized. 3 Explain the 8