The Public Facilities Committee voted to hold all items (see Report and watch the NewTV video):
- Discussion with Public Works about Residential Water Bills discussed with item below.
- Discussion on prematurely failing water meter transponders and billing issues. According to the report, the water meter company was an overseas manufacturer that went bankrupt. Public Works could not replace the failing transponders in units and moved forward with replacing the entire water meter system (meters and transponders). Out of 29,513 water meters citywide, 14,103 are receiving estimated reads. A new US-based vendor, Neptune, is installing about 50 meters a week, and about 30% of the failing meters have been replaced. The City anticipates a September 2025 completion. The project is slowed by a lack of City staff to shut off water at properties. The City has a 12-month interest-free payment plan for past-due bills. The new system allows residents to see their water consumption online and set up an alert system. The project will cost $16 million from the City’s water-sewer budget.
Councilors asked the law department to investigate extra protection warranties so the City does not run into a similar problem again.
Five residents spoke, of which four describing the surprisingly large bills from underestimates dating back years and a lack of communication from the City until they complained. The fifth resident, former Councilor Deb Crossley, said she was pleased with DPW’s response to concerns and expressed appreciation.
The Committee voted to hold the item 8-0.
