San Diego

A proposal to increase San Diego sewer rates by an average of 60% stalled Monday when City Council members questioned whether owners of single-family homes were getting a fair shake.

After nearly two hours of questioning by council members, city utilities officials agreed to study the proposed rate-increase structure again with an eye to shifting more of the increase onto new construction and away from established residences and businesses. The proposed increases will be brought back for council action June 29.

At issue is revising the 30-year-old practice of charging a set sewer fee for single-family residences. Utilities officials have proposed changing the single-family homes to a fee based on individual water usage, which is the method used in setting sewer fees for multiple-family residential buildings, commercial and industrial users.

Representatives from the Sierra Club and Citizens Coordinate for Century III spoke in favor of the water-usage fee schedule, pointing out that residents would have the ability to lower their sewer bills by conserving water.

All sewer users will get a rate increase under the proposed sewer schedule, which is designed to increase revenues to meet higher maintenance costs.

Utilities department spokesmen said that emergency repairs and cleanup from the failure of Pump Station 64 in Sorrento Valley has put the department $9 million in the red.