Bulletin file photoBend firefighters spray trees as part of a training exercise. In a discussion about how the city of Bend will be linking water and sewer bills more closely to usage, city Councilor Casey Roats observed that the city’s greatest expense in terms of the water system is maintaining service to fire hydrants. “It’s not about filling Nalgenes, if so we could have much smaller, cheaper infrastructure. But because our system is made so that every fire hydrant can work, the costs should be shared.,” Roats said.

What was intended to be a humdrum presentation Wednesday night about water and other utility fees became more dramatic as Bend city councilors debated reworking a rate structure that has yet to be implemented.

City of Bend residents are likely to face a 3 percent increase in water rates and a 4 percent hike in sewer rates, proposed to cover increased operation and maintenance costs.

At an earlier budget retreat, the City Council expressed support for the changes. However, what derailed the presentation was a debate about how well a new rate structure that will change how the city calculates fees will work.

Under the new structure, city water customers will now be charged for every drop they use, instead of starting with an allowance.

That change, which was approved before the new year and before three new city councilors joined the body, was intended to reward conservation.

In terms of achieving that end, Mayor Jim Clinton declared Wednesday the rate structure is “defective,” saying “it is not going to send a strong enough price signal.”

Councilor Casey Roats, who operates a private water utility, said the city shouldn’t “open a can of worms” by scrapping the rate structure, which takes effect in July. Roats argued fees shouldn’t be even more closely tied to use because the city’s greatest expense in terms of the water system is maintaining service to fire hydrants.

“Our system is a fire-suppressant system,” he said. “It’s not about filling Nalgenes; if so we could have much smaller, cheaper infrastructure. But because our system is made so that every fire hydrant can work, the costs should be shared.”

Clinton said he “totally disagreed,” noting Bend’s high summertime water use forces the city to draw on groundwater pumps, which is much more expensive than using the city’s surface water supply, which it relies on for most of the year and is pulled into the city by gravity.

No decision to revisit the structure was made, as City Manager Eric King hurried the conversation along to accommodate the night’s agenda. However, King noted that if a majority of the council chooses, it could revisit the rate structure.

The council did, however, direct the city to implement the rate increases on July 1. Councilor Doug Knight was the lone dissenter, saying pushing the increase to the fall could save residents money. City staffers have noted such a move would mean future rate hikes could be greater, as the system may not collect enough revenue to support its costs.

New fees have not yet been formally adopted, though they are likely to be voted on later this month. In addition to water rates, the City Council will consider increasing a number of other fees, including for liquor licenses and private development engineering fees, which cover the work the city does to review private development plans.

In other business, the City Council approved up to $720,178.50 to be spent on engineering, designing and early-stage construction of a helicopter operation area at the Bend Airport. The Federal Aviation Authority is providing 90 percent of the costs, which total approximately $7.2 million.

The Bend Airport already serves helicopters, but this project is meant to increase its capacity and safety.

During the visitors section, four people criticized a proposed expansion of the city’s civil exclusion zone. In May, the City Council approved a first reading of the expansion, which will cover all of downtown Bend.

Within the zone, if individuals are accused of committing a crime, including assault or drinking in public, police can ban them from those areas for 90 days.

Critics, including recent City Council candidate Ron Boozell, complained the law unfairly targets the homeless.

During the meeting, the council gave the ordinance another first reading, as changes were made to reduce the chance of a successful constitutional challenge, according to Assistant City Attorney Gary Firestone.

One of the changes allows an excluded individual to seek a waiver to enter the zone to conduct activities including visiting a family member’s residence, consulting an attorney or attending a religious service.

Bend Police Chief Jim Porter emphasized that no one will be excluded for loitering or panhandling. Additionally, public drinking or having a dog off of a leash will only lead to exclusion if it is a repeat violation. Any exclusion, Porter added, will have to be administered by a supervisor.

— Reporter: 541-633-2160, tleeds@bendbulletin.com