The Kalispell City Council tonight will continue discussions about water and sewer rate increases during its work session tonight.

The council and the Kalispell Public Works Department previously considered increasing the city’s sewer and water rates at two earlier work sessions. The council will hold a town hall meeting on the proposed changes Feb. 18 and a public hearing on March 3. They expect to adopt the new rate structure in March.

The goals of the rate updates are to “maintain the same quality of service; fund capital projects—rehab, replacement and new growth projects; fund an equipment replacement plan; [and] maintain target reserve balances.”

At the work session, during which no formal votes can be taken, the council will look at three proposed scenarios for updated utility fees through 2025. In general, the proposals would increase sewer fees by about $13 a month throughout 2021 and by about $3 per month every subsequent year until 2025. Water fees would increase about $3 per month every year until 2025.

The three proposed scenarios would break down the monthly increases differently each year for each utility. For instance, Scenario A would increase sewer fees $13.60 per month in 2021, while Scenario C would only raise the sewer fee $11.94 per month during the same year.

The updates also include a proposal for a new cellular meter system and the elimination of the option for utility users to skip fees in the winter or when they are out of town.

A full breakdown of the three options is available in the work session agenda here: https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272020-386

In other business, the council will look at a proposed 2 to 4% increase in city parks and recreation fees.

“We did a market analysis of fees of other programs that are similar, while looking at the overall program costs and benefits to those we serve,” Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher wrote in the work session agenda. “This approach helps us determine if our cost-saving measures are working, our prices are in line with what the market shows and if we are meeting needs of our community.”

The increases reportedly would cover the growing popularity of the Afterschool Program and Partners Program, free community events such as the outdoor movie series, rising fees from the Flathead County Solid Waste District, higher wages and additional weekend staff to clean up the parks during peak times.

The Parks and Recreation Department is not looking to increase swimming pool fees, but swim lessons and swim classes would go up $1 for in-city residents. Out-of-city residents would continue to pay a 25% difference for these programs.

The full proposed fee schedule is available here: https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272020-386

The work session starts at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.