Bruce Baker
Westminster City Council
Thanks to the Voters of Westminster for my election in 2021.
In the election campaign of 2021, I was the most specific, succinct, direct, insistent voice for lower residential water rates. Our new Council, in a 5 to 2 vote meaningfully lowered the water rates.
In my view this was first step in empowering our residents to be able to afford the green landscapes to return ALL of Westminster a beautiful, inviting, safe-looking, personally satisfying city.
However Westminster government is far more than water rates.
1. We must set a firm plan for the design, cost and methods for a new water treatment plant.
2. Regardless that the decision for city government to design and build a New Downtown was a catastrophic error, Council must take a firm hand to find a solution out of the mess that is there. Today it is give-away program of tax money to connected developers that is tens of millions of dollars underwater.
3. Westminster has a wasteful, bloated city government. Compared to ourselves, Full Time Equivalent Employees (FTEs) have increased from 904 in 2014 to an authorized 1100 for 2023 while the population has increased from 110,000 in 2014 to approximately 118,00 today. Compared to other cities our same size (Arvada, Greeley, Pueblo,) serve their populations with 150 to 250 fewer FTEs.
4. Westminster government has strayed too far from the requirements and desire that our first job is providing essential, government services (police, fire, water/sewer, rods and parks). Westminster government has become enamored with forcing high-density housing projects on the city, designing new cities of the Future, forcing people out of our cars, winning National honors by our staff members, excessive/wasteful use of consultants and launching social services programs that should been done by Adams and Jefferson Counties.
In my view this was first step in empowering our residents to be able to afford the green landscapes to return ALL of Westminster a beautiful, inviting, safe-looking, personally satisfying city.
However Westminster government is far more than water rates.
1. We must set a firm plan for the design, cost and methods for a new water treatment plant.
2. Regardless that the decision for city government to design and build a New Downtown was a catastrophic error, Council must take a firm hand to find a solution out of the mess that is there. Today it is give-away program of tax money to connected developers that is tens of millions of dollars underwater.
3. Westminster has a wasteful, bloated city government. Compared to ourselves, Full Time Equivalent Employees (FTEs) have increased from 904 in 2014 to an authorized 1100 for 2023 while the population has increased from 110,000 in 2014 to approximately 118,00 today. Compared to other cities our same size (Arvada, Greeley, Pueblo,) serve their populations with 150 to 250 fewer FTEs.
4. Westminster government has strayed too far from the requirements and desire that our first job is providing essential, government services (police, fire, water/sewer, rods and parks). Westminster government has become enamored with forcing high-density housing projects on the city, designing new cities of the Future, forcing people out of our cars, winning National honors by our staff members, excessive/wasteful use of consultants and launching social services programs that should been done by Adams and Jefferson Counties.
How far has Westminster comes on in setting proper water rates?
While we took a giant step in early 2022, Council just raised rates for 2023. I was the lone dissenting vote.
Was: 0 to 6,000 gallons $3.96 Now: 0-8,000 gallons $3.57 Oct 24, 2022 - 0-8,000 gallons $3.71
7,000 to 20,000 $8.15 9,000 to 40,000 $6.52 9,000 to 40,000 gallons $6.88
over 21,000 $12.88 over 41,000 $8.15 over 40,000 $8.48
When Council lowered the water in early 2022, we knew we did not have the actual cost basis to set exact prices. We made the reductions based on an overview to what other cities charged. There are no unique circumstances that would force Westminster to charge prices that far different than our neighboring cities. Westminster's water rates are still not a cost based rate.
I am insisting for water rates based on true costs. Getting that information has been far more of challenge than I had ever thought it would be. Today, a year after taking office, our new City Council has only been given estimates and projections by staff. I find this situation unacceptable. Unfortunately when the new Council took office in November 2021 there was no cost for the water treatment plant. And this was with the new plant being almost 30% designed. I still do not know how this was possible. This was the complete failure of The Westminster water department.
There is a milestone accomplishment the new Council has made. Westminster has new City Manager.
Our current rates water will go very far towards returning Westminster to the Tree City USA that we had been for decades. Our current rates mean less than 1,000 of our 31,000 homeowners are being economically punished because their house lots are larger than average. Westminster endured for 3 years, from 2019 to 2021, unnecessary, hurtful and mean-spirited water rates but we are now moving towards cost based, reasonable water rates.
Was: 0 to 6,000 gallons $3.96 Now: 0-8,000 gallons $3.57 Oct 24, 2022 - 0-8,000 gallons $3.71
7,000 to 20,000 $8.15 9,000 to 40,000 $6.52 9,000 to 40,000 gallons $6.88
over 21,000 $12.88 over 41,000 $8.15 over 40,000 $8.48
When Council lowered the water in early 2022, we knew we did not have the actual cost basis to set exact prices. We made the reductions based on an overview to what other cities charged. There are no unique circumstances that would force Westminster to charge prices that far different than our neighboring cities. Westminster's water rates are still not a cost based rate.
I am insisting for water rates based on true costs. Getting that information has been far more of challenge than I had ever thought it would be. Today, a year after taking office, our new City Council has only been given estimates and projections by staff. I find this situation unacceptable. Unfortunately when the new Council took office in November 2021 there was no cost for the water treatment plant. And this was with the new plant being almost 30% designed. I still do not know how this was possible. This was the complete failure of The Westminster water department.
There is a milestone accomplishment the new Council has made. Westminster has new City Manager.
Our current rates water will go very far towards returning Westminster to the Tree City USA that we had been for decades. Our current rates mean less than 1,000 of our 31,000 homeowners are being economically punished because their house lots are larger than average. Westminster endured for 3 years, from 2019 to 2021, unnecessary, hurtful and mean-spirited water rates but we are now moving towards cost based, reasonable water rates.
We are not there yet.
But I have the tenacity, determination and passion to get there.
We must have the same commitment in all Westminster City Council members.
But I have the tenacity, determination and passion to get there.
We must have the same commitment in all Westminster City Council members.
