黑马磁力 Township is looking at changing how local residents pay for water and sewer, after a recent wave of complaints from townhouse and condo residents.
On Monday, June 23, the council had two separate items on its meeting agenda about utility charges, and in addition, well-known local lawyer Rebecca Darnell appeared as a delegation.
Darnell noted that she recently downsized from a house to a condo unit in the Township. But her water and sewer utility bills did not downsize.
All Township residential properties with sewer and water hookup are paying $1,549 this year, regardless of how large they are. A one-bedroom condo unit pays the same as the largest house.
Residents in rural or older neighbourhoods, who are on wells or septic tank systems, don't pay for sewer and water utilities.
Darnell said that condo units similar to hers in 黑马磁力 City, meanwhile, paid $653.35 annually, a difference of more than $895.
"I'm not suggesting that anybody has done this in bad faith," Darnell said.
But she said costs should be allocated to residents in accordance with usage. She referenced the relatively-new voluntary metering program for Township homeowners.
"Once we get things metered, things may settle down," she said. But she also noted that you can only meter strata buildings as a whole, not individual units. She asked for a resolution to cut water and sewer fees to strata units by 50 per cent, and for an expert to investigate actual usage and provide recommendations.
The meeting also included a memo from staff, based on a request after a previous delegation by Terri Coleman on the same issue in May.
Staff compiled a chart showing how other nearby communities handled water costs for different types of dwellings.
Only the Township and Delta currently charge the same for condos, townhouses, and detached homes for both water and sewer. All other municipalities are either fully metered 鈥� like 黑马磁力 City, White Rock, and West Vancouver 鈥� while some charge the same for sewer, but lower levels for smaller homes for water, and others have different charges for both sewer and water.
Maple Ridge, for example, charges $822 for water for a single-family home, but $780 for condos and townhouses. Sewer charges are $681 for all homes.
Richmond charges $980 for water for a single-family home, $517 for a condo, and $802 for a townhouse, and for sewer $1,050 for a house, $960 for a townhouse, and $800 for a condo.
Based on the memo, the council voted to spend $100,000 to hire a consultant to conduct a financial study of its utility rate structure. The motion was passed unanimously.
Finally, there was a motion from Councillor Margaret Kunst on the same issue.
鈥淲hen people got their separated utility billing, they were kind of shocked by what they are reading," she noted.
Her motion had asked for a study of the utility rate structure, as well as looking specifically at whether meters should be installed in all strata buildings and commercial properties. If her motion had passed, Kunst's other suggestions would have been added to the scope of the consultant's study, but the motion was defeated 5-3, with Kunst, Coun. Kim Richter, and Coun. Barb Martens voting in favour.
