Council Approves Fee Increases

The Temple Terrace City Council approved Tuesday that will affect residents and business owners.

Effective Oct. 1, water rates will increase by 3.4 percent and membership at the will increase by 10 percent. The council also approved an ordinance to increase business taxes by 5 percent.

In regard to water rates, Councilwoman Alison Fernandez pointed out that the water/sewer fund is an enterprise fund and water rate increases do not go toward covering shortfalls in the general fund. The increase is based on a 2009 water and wastewater rate study, and at that time, the water/sewer fund didn’t have the money to cover possible repairs or replacements. Instead of implementing an increase to water rates all at once, the council decided to do it over time.

Based on the 3.4 percent increase, the rate will 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 will go up to $39.17 per month.

The 10 percent membership fee increase at the rec center is in accordance with the its expansion project’s cost of maintenance and staffing. Current membership fees range from $64-$265 for Temple Terrace residents and $128-$530 for non-residents. Director James Chambers said even with the increase, membership at the complex will not be more expensive than fees at similar recreation centers.

“We’re much cheaper than the YMCA, and we’re comparable to other cities that have facilities like ours,” he said.

Also during the meeting:

-- The council authorized an agreement between the city and the Hillsborough County Civil Service Board to find a replacement for , who is retiring later this year.

-- Chief Kenneth Albano introduced the four founding members of the new : Dan Rosenthal, Pedro Miranda, Autumn Balthazor and Bruce Pla. He said there are still eight spots available for volunteers who would like to participate.

-- Barabara Sparks-McGlinchy, executive director of the , told the council about the ways the chamber promotes the city, including: serving as a visitors center; providing updated maps and business directories; providing relocation packets upon request; and hosting presidents of local organizations for a meeting once a year, among many others. She invited the , as well as Public Information Officer Michael Dunn to this year’s meeting on Sept. 18.

-- Tim Lancaster, president of the Temple Terrace Preservation Society, and Grant Rimbey, the society’s third vice president, encouraged the City of Temple Terrace to become a Certified Local Government, which would promote historic preservation within the community.

-- Fernandez announced that the community is invited to attend ’s 50th anniversary celebration on Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

-- The council approved two appointments to the Board.

If you missed the meeting but would like to see it for yourself, it will be on Verizon Channel 39 and Bright House Channel 950 on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m.