Request for Committee Action
A briefing memo explaining the purpose, background, and impact of the requested action.
Sanitary sewer service availability charges (RCA-2025-00843)
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Climate & Infrastructure Committee | July 31, 2025 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resolution | Assessment | Setting a public hearing for September 18, 2025, to review the sanitary sewer service availability charges and authorize the collection of unpaid balances as special assessments. |
Previous Actions
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | All Wards |
Background Analysis
The Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) is a fee imposed by Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) to Local Government Units for each new connection or increase in wastewater discharged to the MCES disposal system. The SAC fee is usually assigned when a building/plumbing permit or business license is issued for a new building, a remodeling permit, or an expansion of a business.
This Request for Committee Action is to schedule a public hearing for SAC charges and authorize the collection of unpaid balances as special assessments for properties in the City of Minneapolis. By law, municipalities must levy usage or availability charges on all recipients of waste treatment services to cover not only their share of the current costs determined by the Metropolitan Council, but also the reserve capacity allocation, or SAC. The City pays the SAC to MCES and bills property owners to recoup the upfront SAC payments. Municipalities can recover the service availability charges paid by the City from users of municipal sewer facilities. A list of properties and the charges to be assessed will be provided before the public hearing.