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Utility Rate Increase/Impact Fee Public Comment from Randy & Joyce BrodehlKalispell City Council 201 First Ave E Kalispell, MT 59901 Re: Notice of Proposed Water and Sewer Rate Increase Council Members, The recent letter from the City explaining proposed water and sewer rate increases includes a couple of areas that concern us. As city residents who are on Evergreen water and Kalispell sewer, there is an increase in the sewer rate and the rate adjustment for timed underground yard sprinklers in the summer months is being eliminated. This has a double hit for those of us who have underground sprinklers on timers who use limited water for our yards, because we don't increase the use of our sewer by having sprinklers, but the letter says that the sewer rate reduction in the summer is being eliminated; in addition to the monthly rate increase. That means that folks that hand water or use hose mounted sprinklers will pay the same rate as those of us who limit our water usage with timed, underground sprinklers. We are asking that the rate reduction for those of us using timed underground sprinklers be maintained. Our second concern is that citizens have no adequate way to confirm that a doubling of the rates over a seven-year period makes sense, and that charging a new growth impact fee for existing is not fiscally responsible or fair. While that number may seem justified to staff; from a comment in the notice, it is very apparent that this rate increase includes an impact fee for new growth. Already, new residences are subject to an impact fee of $5,757.00 to help the city keep up with infrastructure needs. Now, the city is demanding payment for new growth and infrastructure from residents who are not adding to the new growth and infrastructure. An impact fee increase to new development to cover the infrastructure needs of new growth is fair. Asking existing residents to pay for new growth is not. Please consider dropping any impact fees from this increase, and bring this back to a reasonable rate that doesn't double in seven years. Please let us know if yo have any questions. an y and Joyce Brodehl 16 White Bark Kalispell, MT 59901 randybrodehl57@gmail.com joycebrodehl@gmail.com Randy: 406.751.1612 Joyce: 406.257.9895