City hears landlord water-sewer woes
• Council says ‘no’ to purchasing a land parcel, introduces land-use changes for East End Mixing Zone, passes resolutions
By Naomi Klouda
Homer Tribune
The city has heard from landlords unhappy with the new cost for non-metered water-sewer service on their multi-unit properties. The new $45 per unit fee goes into effect this month.
At Monday night’s meeting, the council heard from three owners protesting that the new fees add thousands of dollars to the bill. Barbara Smith and her husband recently purchased the Dolphin Villa apartments. They said the 10 residents of her building had already signed leases that did not build in the additional costs.
“We found our water-sewer bills will be doubled because of the additional $45 water and sewer (per unit) charge that will be assessed this month. That amounts to $4,500 a year,” Smith said. “I wanted to express my disappointment this is going to hit us so hard, so quickly.”
Earlier, Walt Suomela, owner of another apartment building, said he doesn’t see justification for the new fees. In the past, units could operate on one water meter and were charged a one-time fee for it. “Now we are being charged for multiple units even though there’s only one meter,” he said.
The problem with the new fees for renters is that many are on a fixed income, such as those at Dolphin Villa, but landlords must pass the costs on to them or pay it themselves. Eventually, the Villa is being planned as dorms for Youth with a Mission: Arctic Mercy. But for now, it is still housing renters, Smith said.
Councilman Kevin Hogan said he has been getting a lot of comments on what was known as Ordinance 11-94S that brought about “onerous changes.”
“I didn’t notice the changes in the substitution – how it changed the flavor of what the council was doing (in a way) that is unfair to the public. I would like to revisit it,” Hogan said. “I feel embarrassed that I let it slip by without changes.”
Councilman David Lewis said the idea had been to avoid raising water-sewer rates overall. This adds 400 new users onto the system, equalizing a service charge between owners and renters. “I can’t say we won’t revisit this, but if we change it, we would have to revisit water and sewer rates overall. We’re a small service area, with higher costs, we have to do something.”
City declines purchase of land
A parcel offered to the City of Homer for $260,000 was more than the Homer City Council was willing to pay, though the actual reasons are likely to remain a mystery.
During the Monday night meeting, the council went into executive session to discuss the offer, which was up for a vote on the agenda. Ordinance 12-05 called for taking from general funds to purchase an acre known as Lot 2, Glacier View Subdivision. It is next to the present public works lot, bounded on the Sterling Highway side, adjacent to the Homer Animal Shelter.
City Councilman Bryan Zak questioned the asking price on the land during the council work session.
“I would feel more comfortable offering a lower price,” he said. He also felt the timing to the purchase wasn’t that critical to the city.
The council was told the $260,000 selling price is non-negotiable, and the public discussion ended. In a vote of 5-0, behind closed doors in the executive session, the council made a unanimous decision to turn down the purchase.
The public works complex is on the Capital Improvement List as No. 2 for an expansion, noted City Manager Walt Wrede. For a variety of reasons, it’s difficult to move public works to another location. “The current site is extremely crowded, and there is little room for expansion or new activities,” he wrote in a memo. “Expanding the footprint of the existing complex is cheaper than acquiring enough land to relocate the entire complex.”
• Introduced: Ordinance 12-10 amends city code to rezone for an East End Mixed Use District. The goal is update the zoning map to support a desired pattern of growth. It calls for accommodating a wide variety of commercial and industrial uses with access to the marina and airport. It also “introduces new commercial districts to better encourage and accommodate commercial land uses in appropriate locations, and allows new types of commercial activities to take place.”
The area encompasses Alder Lane to Kachemak Drive on East End. Testimony will be taken at the next meeting Feb. 27 prior to the vote.
• Snagged fish tax bill: The council passed a resolution in support of House Bill 184, sponsored by Rep. Peggy Wilson, D-Wrangell. This is a fisheries business tax change that would redistribute proceeds of the tax as 75 percent to the municipality and 25 percent to the state.
But HB 184 has lost some of his momentum due to two fronts of opposition, said Homer’s Special Projects Coordinator Katie Koester. There are still municipalities that would have been losers who are afraid of changes. “Even though its a win-win, communities are afraid the split will not stay the same,” Koester said.
At this point the votes aren’t sufficient to move it out of its first committee.
• Introduced: The council introduced a measure to appropriate $27,275 for a used skid-mounted steamer used to thaw culverts and drains. During a particularly icy winter, Councilmember Francie Roberts said she has received several calls from people wanting to know what is going on. “We’re thankful it’s coming soon,” she said.
• Introduced: The City asked for an appropriation of $81,000 for new furniture for City Hall. Since the furniture wasn’t purchased in time to take it from 2011 budget, that portion is being carried over to 2012. It is not a new funding allocation.
• Passed: The council passed a resolution to support holding the Kenai Peninsula Economic Forum in Homer next year. This brings 180-200 participants and 25 speakers.
Posted by Newsroom on Feb 15th, 2012 and filed under Headline News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8 Responses for “City hears landlord water-sewer woes”
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$81,000 for new furniture for city hall, meanwhile jack renters on sewer rates because of the outrageously bad deal you all chose for the sewer system…nice…
“I didn’t notice the changes in the substitution – how it changed the flavor of what the council was doing (in a way) that is unfair to the public. I would like to revisit it,” Hogan said. “I feel embarrassed that I let it slip by without changes.”
Councilman David Lewis said the idea had been to avoid raising water-sewer rates overall. This adds 400 new users onto the system”
And we are trusting these people to run things in the city?
Their reasoning seems about as valid as Parnell’s logic, giving away 2 billion to oil companies every year meanwhile cutting back on funding for the schools in order to improve teaching.
“Is the Homer City Council is the new “Enron” . In another BLATANT example of Bureaucratic malfeasance, so called “elected” (and I do mean “so called elected” since how is it democracy when someone imposes law upon 10,000 citizens after having recieved only 300-500 votes, another mockery) and other public “officials” grossly overspend the publics funds on a variety of “pet” projects such as the refurbishing of the Homer City “Palace” (oops) I mean “Hall” to the tune of 6.5 “MILLION” dollars,and the hiring of more useless self-serving individuals looking only to enrich themselves whilst lining thier “Golden Parachutes” and sustaining the already “BLOATED BUREAUCRACY” draining the Public coffers then imposing more “unjust” fees upon the unsuspecting People. While we the people labor and toil away at our daily existence “THE FOXES are in the HENHOUSE”
“HIGHEST WATER RATES IN THE NATION”
HHHMMM Which would “WE the PEOPLE” rather have a safe dependable water source or a 7 million dollar redecorated city hall. The absurdities continue.
Ordinance 12-10 says “introduces new commercial districts to better encourage and accommodate commercial land uses in appropriate locations, and allows new types of commercial activities to take place.” WHO the Heck wants to move to Homer and start a business when the City does nothing but impose restrictive measures and rates upon Businesses, Local businesses pay some of the HIGHEST Electrical and Water Rates in America and then are unreasonably taxed and restricted in promoting thier business. The City is Bankrupting Businesses while public officials , politicians and City employees are Padding thier Pockets and squandering the Publics money. That money collected is here to serve the people of Homer ,it is not intended for use by City bureaucrats and employees to enrich and entrench themselves.While hiding under the guise of public service.
Once again the monkies are running the zoo. How about this, there is a company in Anchorage, Honchen & Uhlenkott, Inc. They are experts at projecting correct water/sewer rates, many small governments use them. Yes, it will cost something. However, they will take the city financials, for the past three years, look at projections for the future years and devise a rate system that is fair to consumers and at the same time pay for the water/sewer costs.
The City of Homer does not have anyone who has the ability to do this. The current Finance Director’s idea of creating a new water/sewer model is to take one off of the internet.
One thing that most consumers don’t realize is that many public works employees have part of their salary allocated to the water/sewer fund. Now some, should, as they do both work for PW and the water/sewer departments, but a close look should be taken at all of the employees who are currently allocated, in whole or in part to the WS fund.
The City has, over the past 5 years, hidden from the public and sometimes from council issues that affect the bottom line. Council needs to remember that they run the city and are responsible to the city citizens and that the City Manger works for Council.
I believe that some new furntiure may be in order for the new City Hall. However, care should be taken that good quality (something that will last 20 years) be purchased, not junk, and certianly not high end furniture that might be bought just to satisfy someone’s ego.
I don’t really know what all the rates are but, it seems that the council sould have had all the information needed before passing an increase to the water and sewer rates. And if they didn’ have the figures or all the information needed they shouldn’t have done anything. I went to the city’s web-site and tried to figue out what the rates were. Not knowing exactly were to find the rates I started looking at the budget they have published. WOW, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Take a look at page 48 the totals for the administration salaries, benefits, maintenance and operations don’t add up! And we’re not talking a few dollars. If these people can’t do basic math (addition and subtraction) how can we trust them to come up with correct water and sewer rates. I agree with SallyB, the city needs to hire a professional firm. And council needs to pay more attention to details.
The ongoing fundraiser for the City of Homer… anytime they need more money they just RAISE the water rates… doesn’t matter who is hurt by it or what it does to the community… they need new furniture… new buildings… new land, bike trails.. spend spend spend then RAISE the water rates and screw the working people… We cannot afford it anymore PEOPLE… between Water, fuel and HEA it is becoming impossible to live in Homer Alaska … go ahead hurt the apartment dwellers while you bask in your new digs… RIDICULOUS!
Must be February, got em all riled up
Just take a minute and look around your home,
The table and chairs, the laptop your reading this on, has a value.
The T.V. noise in the background, the files and desk where the bills are paid from, the bench ya sit on to take off your muddy boots, the little table your coffee cup, cell phone, lunch and keys sit while you lace up your boots to go sweep off your car, to go to work.
As many of us have, (or are), started with nothing and eventually one pay check at a time, have a few things.
We built our home and know the value of (and appreciate) a drawer that opens, a door that closes, or a chair that matches the others around the table.
If your sitting on prospective fire wood, on a laptop sitting on osb screwed to a 2×2, screwed to unsheetrocked studs, back to the fire, (Been there…minus the lap top) then I understand the shock of the cost to furnish the “New City Hall”
Just for a good fair argument, spent the night shopping for quality desks, chairs, file cabinets, tables, more chairs, lamps, coat racks, and everything else you might find in a city hall.
Don’t get me wrong, rough cut saw horses, MT kegs for stools, clamp on lights, double decker barrel stove, getting the ice racer ready for Sunday, THAT would be a cool city hall, but somebody would complain about that too.
I started 3rd grade at East Homer in 1978.