POST FALLS - The Post Falls City Council on Tuesday night unanimously passed multiple fee increases.

With little discussion, the fees were passed 4-0. Council members Ron Jacobson and Kerri Thoreson were not present.

Barry Rubin was the lone resident to speak during the public hearing. He was in support of the increases, saying that it's fair to pass along the cost to the people who use the services and to pay for the increase in costs to provide the services.

Post Falls water and sewer rates will increase 2.5 percent and the street light fee 25 percent.

For an average residential user with 5,000 gallons of water use, the water fee will increase from $4.70 per month to $4.85, sewer $28.09 to $28.79 and street lights $3 to $3.75.

The garbage fee will increase 4 percent, per the city's contract with Post Falls Sanitation, raising the rate from $9.61 to $10.

The water connection fee for coming online with the city's system is proposed to rise from $8.85 to $9.07.

The total increase of all the utility and garbage fees mentioned will be $2.21 ($54.25 to $56.46) for the average homeowner.

The new street light fee would be effective Aug. 1, all others Oct. 1.

Water and sewer capitalization fees will increase 3.92 percent.

Community development has new tree installation fee of $200 for developers or builders.

The fee offers an alternative in which the city would take the fee in lieu of the tree planting and at the opportune time, the city would plant all of the street trees in a given area. The tree installation program was adopted by the planning commission and council in response to concerns raised by builders during a contractor and developer forum.

The vacation rate that snowbirds and second homeowners use while on vacation to suspend water and wastewater service is proposed to increase 2.5 percent.