Geneva City Council will consider proposed water and sewer rates, a property tax cap override and a lower South Main Street speed limit tonight, with several measures carrying potential consequences for household bills and city finances.
The Oct. 7 meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the second-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 47 Castle St. An executive session is scheduled for 6 p.m. to discuss collective negotiations and a proposed real estate sale.
Mayor Jim Cecere’s government modernization proposal is also scheduled for introduction, with no vote planned tonight. We covered that proposal over the weekend.
The rest of tonight’s agenda includes two public hearings, proposed utility billing changes and a tentative contract for public works foremen.
Water and sewer proposals would take effect in January
Council will discuss revised water and sewer rate structures developed following a comprehensive rate study examining service costs, long-term infrastructure needs and how expenses are distributed among customers.
The proposals establish usage tiers, minimum quarterly charges and separate capital investment charges. If adopted, the new schedules would apply to service billed on and after Jan. 1, 2027.
For customers inside the city, proposed water charges would be $7 per 1,000 gallons for the first 12,000 gallons, $8.40 per 1,000 gallons in the next tier and $10.08 per 1,000 gallons above 24,000 gallons.
Proposed sewer charges for city customers would be $10.15, $12.18 and $14.62 per 1,000 gallons across those same usage tiers.
For an inside-city account with a five-eighths-inch meter, the proposed minimum quarterly charges would be $42 for water and $60.90 for sewer, each with a 6,000-gallon allowance. Separate quarterly capital charges would add $3 for water and $12 for sewer.
Together, those minimum charges and capital fees would total $117.90 per quarter for that meter size. Actual bills would depend on consumption and the applicable account classification.
Separate schedules cover customers outside the city and wholesale water customers. Minimum charges and capital fees also vary by meter size.
Tonight’s agenda calls for a first reading of the water ordinance, consideration of the sewer proposal and votes to schedule public hearings on both measures for Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. The draft legislation anticipates adoption Nov. 4.
Tax cap and short-term rental hearings scheduled
Residents will have an opportunity to comment tonight on a proposed local law allowing Geneva to exceed its state-calculated property tax levy limit for the 2027 budget.
The packet says the city manager’s proposed budget forecasts a need to exceed that limit. The override would authorize council to adopt a budget above the cap; it would not itself establish the final levy or individual tax bills.
The proposal is also listed under unfinished business for council consideration. Its text specifies that approval requires support from 60% of council.
A second public hearing concerns a proposed amendment to impose a room occupancy tax on short-term rentals.
That hearing would give residents, property owners and rental operators an opportunity to address the proposed tax. Tonight’s agenda does not separately list final adoption of that measure.
South Main speed limit could receive final approval
Council is scheduled to give a second reading to an ordinance establishing a 25 mph maximum speed limit on part of South Main Street, also known as Route 14.
The ordinance itself identifies the affected stretch as running from the south curb line of Seneca Street to the south curb line of Kings Lane.
An accompanying staff briefing contains inconsistent endpoint descriptions, including a reference to Houghton House Drive. The ordinance text before council specifies Kings Lane.
Staff says the measure is intended to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and nearby residents. Implementation would require new signs, with staff hoping installation costs could qualify for state transportation funding.
If approved, the ordinance would take effect upon filing with the city clerk.
Foremen’s contract also up for ratification
Council will consider a three-year tentative agreement with the Geneva Public Works Foremen’s Unit covering Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.
The proposed salary increases are 3.75% effective in 2025, 3.5% in 2026 and 3.5% in 2027. Changes also concern health insurance provisions, including buyouts, switching coverage, shared savings and health reimbursement arrangements.
Ratification requires a majority vote of council. Approval would authorize Acting City Manager Taylor Youngs to execute the agreement.
The meeting includes public comment and will be available through the city’s YouTube channel, @CityofGenevaNY.
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