San Antonio Councilmember Ron Nirenberg is calling for a pause at City Hall before two critical votes that will impact water bills in Bexar County.
The District 8 representative speaking on TPR' s The Source said the council and citizens should have an opportunity to read and discuss the controversial report on the city's water future before voting on changing the rate structure and the water rate for the San Antonio Water System.
However, Nirenberg's request is raising alarm at SAWS because it could push back the votes several weeks and that could impact the development of the $3.4 billion Vista Ridge water pipeline.
The water policy study became a sticking point for the city when an early draft of the report was leaked and it became known that the study authors branded the Vista Ridge Water Pipeline as "High-Risk." Officials at SAWS reject that easement and have called for a rewrite of the report.
Meanwhile, the water utility company is asking city council to approve a 15.4 percent rate increase over the next two years. A vote on the increase is scheduled for Oct. 29.
The water study is awaiting a peer review.
