Title
Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Proposed Rate Increase Outreach Plan
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee with an update on the Water Services Department (WSD) and the Office of Environmental Program's (OEP) community outreach plan pertaining to the proposed water, wastewater and stormwater proposed rate increase recommendation.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
As requested at the Feb. 15, 2023, Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning subcommittee meeting WSD, in collaboration with the Office of Environmental Programs, is planning the following public outreach.
- 2 virtual public meeting (1 in English and 1 in Spanish);
- 5 in-person bilingual public meetings
- 15 Village Planning Committee Meetings to date;
- 11 Budget Hearings to answer questions and provide information;
- Staff is also working with individual City Council offices to coordinate attending community meetings within their districts;
- Messaging will be added to all City Services bills for April, May, June;
- Messaging sent on a postcard to all accounts;
- Update social media and marketing campaigns;
- Posted news release and information to the phoenix.gov, Water Services and OEP websites the week of March 13.
An email address (watersmart@phoenix.gov) is being publicized to the public for comments and questions. An educational proposed water rate video is being created in conjunction with PHXTV in English and Spanish and will air on social media and PHXTV. Educational information on the proposed water revenue increase was also posted on Water Services Department and City of Phoenix social media accounts including Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; Twitter; and Nextdoor.
A Newsroom story was posted on phoenix.gov the week of March 6, 2023 and WSD anticipates other articles and interviews with various media outlets, including: Prensa Arizona; Enlace Noticias; Dialogo Comunitario; Telemundo Arizona and AZCentral/The Arizona Republic and other broadcast, digital, and print outlets. The Notice of Intention to raise Water Rates and/or Rate Components will be published in the Arizona Republic (English) and Prensa Arizona (Spanish).
The WSD website’s dedicated page (phoenix.gov/proposedrates) has resources and information, including current water rates; information about the recommendation and virtual public meetings; a one-page fact sheet in English and Spanish. In April, there will also be an online water rate estimator calculator tool for residents and businesses that provides a sample of what their future bill could be if the increase is approved.
Messaging will also be shared with City of Phoenix employees through PHXConnect, elevators screens and other messaging platforms.
The Customer Service division will have on-hold messaging on its Interactive Voice Recognition system and customer service representatives will have talking points to answers customers’ questions.
Paid advertising is also under consideration to use digital, print, broadcast, and outdoor to increase awareness about the proposed rate increase.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On Jan. 26, 2023, the Citizens' Water/Wastewater Rate Advisory Committee (WWRAC) recommended:
- Water rate revenue increases of 6.5 percent effective October 2023, 6.5 percent effective March 2024, and 13 percent effective March 2025; by a vote of 9-0.
- Wastewater rate revenue increases of 6.5 percent effective October 2023, 6.5 percent effective March 2024, and 7 percent effective March 2025, by a vote of 9-0.
- Decrease the current water allowance from 600 cubic feet (6 units) per month to 500 (5 units) from October to May and from 1000 (10 units) to 800 (8 units) from June to September, by a vote of 9-0.
On Feb. 15, 2023, the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee:
- Heard information on the proposed revenue increase that included updates on the financial plans, inflationary pressures, and advanced water purification.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Ginger Spencer and Alan Stephenson and the Water Services Department and the Office of Environmental Programs.