In a 7 – 4 vote Lakewood City Council nearly doubled (87%) the storm water fee assessed each year. For homeowners the increase means the annual fee will jump from $23.76 to about $40. For churches, nonprofits, schools, homeowners associations and businesses their current annual fee will be proportionally increased by 87%. The increase will take effective on January 1 and will not have any sunset. In addition the fees will increase every year by the rate of inflation. These fee increases should raise about $2.5 million dollars a year.

            Council also considered several proposals that were rejected. Ward 4 City Council member David Wiechman proposed using some of the over $40 million in city reserves ($30 million in general funds and $10 million in other funds) for flood control. He also proposed shifting nearly a million dollars from the city manager’s budget (for studies relating to the Denver Federal Center) and a million dollars from sidewalk construction to flood control.

       Ward 3 City Councilman Pete Roybal‘s proposal to put the issue to a vote of the people in November was only supported by Wiechman and Ward 1 City Council member Ramey Johnson. Even a proposal by Wiechman to eliminate the annual inflation increase was rejected on a 5-6 vote.