Council OKs fee increases

SANDPOINT — Residents arrived in droves for the November City Council meeting — most to voice disapproval of the fee increases initially proposed last month.

By the time the council initiated the meeting, almost every available seat in the chamber was occupied. The council devoted a specific period during the meeting for public discussion of the fee increases, which included Community Hall rental, moorage slips, parking citations, impound fees,  planning and zoning services, hydrant permits, water new user facility fees, wastewater new user facility fees, street lights and water and sewer rates.

Aside from one comment in favor of the rate hikes, the rest were in adamantly opposition, particularly in regards to the water, sewer and moorage fee increases.

“We’re in difficult times, and with these fee increases, people are going to be afraid to water their lawns and plant flowers. That’s just sad,” Sandpoint resident Steven Carter said. “I think the council should put this off until the economy improves.”

However, the council noted that they had a financial obligation to increase city revenue. Because of a past water bond purchased in connection to the city’s plans for a $12 million water treatment plant expansion and upgrade, rate increases are needed for repayment to begin. Councilmen Stephen Snedden reassured residents that the council wasn’t shooting from the hip with these increases.

“This isn’t a haphazard approach that we’re taking with these increases,” he said, citing the five workshops that the council undertook in preparing the water treatment plant expansion.

The council passed all the rate increases except for moorage and sewer fees, which were tabled for discussion in next month’s meeting. The rate increases that did pass will go into effect Jan. 1.

Afterwards, the council moved onto the approving contract awards for a variety of city improvements including the planned sidewalk network and the design and construction of the new water treatment plant.

Before the council invoked executive session, they also gave the thumbs up to dog-friendly parks. Lakeview Park’s test run at allowing leashed dogs is now permanent, and a trial dog-friendly period will occur at Hickory Park.

Councilwoman Carrie Logan wasn’t a fan of the idea, pointing out potential health and enforcement problems. But Council President John Reuter didn’t see an issue with dog-friendly parks.

“There are literally thousands of cities that have dogs in parks without any serious problems,” he said.