LFP Council Raises Surface Water Fee, Votes Down 1 Percent Property Levy

The Lake Forest Park City Council voted Nov. 10 to raise the city’s surface water utility fee by 6 percent but elected not to take a 1 percent property tax increase.

The fee to manage surface water will increase $8.61 per household in 2012, to $152.07 per parcel from $143.46.

Councilmembers Sandy Koppenol, Ed Sterner, Robert Lee and John Wright voted for the increase while Councilmember Catherine Stanford and deputy mayor Dwight Thompson voted against it.  Thompson proposed an amendment not to support the increase.

Koppenol and Lee said they voted for the increase because the city is seeking up to $4 million in federal money to assist with flooding from Lyon and McAleer Creeks that has caused millions in damage. They felt the city needed to send a message that they were doing its part locally to get the money.

“I don’t want to jeopardize that funding by not voting for (the surface water management fee),” he said.

Thompson and Stanford voted against it because during the recent campaign they heard from many constituents that they didn’t want tax and fee increases.

By a 5-1 vote, the Council decided not to approve the 1 percent property tax levy allowed by law. Koppenol was the lone vote in support of taking the one percent.

Koppenol noted that the Council had intended to take the 1 percent when it approved its biennial budget for 2011-2012 last year.
“Sometimes you have to spend a little money to save a little money,” she said.

Thompson proposed the amendment not to support the increase, which would have raised $27,998 for the city.

Councilmember Don Fiene was not present at the meeting because he is in Australia. 

The Council also voted to extend interim finance director Steve Nolen's contract until March 31, 2012 and put him on a salary schedule instead of hourly.