Council to Consider Fee Increases

The Temple Terrace City Council is expected to consider three different fee increases that would affect residents and business owners.

According to the Tuesday meeting agenda, the council is scheduled to consider a resolution that would increase water rates by 3.4 percent based on a 2009 water and wastewater rate study. At that time, the council decided to increase water rates over time instead of all at once, said Michael Dunn, the city’s public information officer.

If approved, the rate would go up from $1.78 to $1.84 per 1,000 gallons up to 8,000 gallons. The average resident’s water bill is currently $38.47 per month. With the increase, the average bill would go up to $39.17 per month, Dunn explained.

Comparatively, average residents in Plant City pay $39.88 per month; Hillsborough County, $47.01 per month; Safety Harbor, $46.02 per month; and City of Tampa, $30.90 per month, Dunn said.

“Ours is still the cheapest except for the City of Tampa,” he said.

The new water rate increase would go into effect Oct. 1.

The council is also expected to consider a resolution to implement a 10 percent membership fee increase at the . The increase is in accordance with the rec center’s expansion project and would also take effect Oct. 1. Current membership fees range from $64-$265 for Temple Terrace residents and $128-$530 for non-residents.

Additionally, the council is expected to take public comment and a final vote on an ordinance that would increase local business taxes by 5 percent.

According to the agenda, the council is also scheduled to:

• take public comment and a final vote to not provide early voting in the event of a municipal run-off election;
• learn more about the city manager recruitment process;
• hear a presentation from Chief Kenneth Albano on the ;
• hear a presentation from Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy, executive director of the ;
• make an appointment to the Board; and
• consider a lien reduction.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at . It will be  live on Verizon Channel 39 and Bright House Channel 950 and rebroadcast on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the council will meet in the conference room behind the Council Chambers for a Historic Preservation workshop.