The city's utility funds work like a business, said Mary Bradley, director of finance, which means that the cost to provide those services must be recovered from utility fees. And the cost of water and other utility services has gone up. That's why the city council voted on April 22 to increase utility rates.

But the council also voted to reduce service levels, which could shift sewer expenses to homeowners.

The demand management coordinator position will be eliminated, and that position's responsibilities, which include managing water consumption in the city, will shift to other employees. The position has been vacant for severalp months. But Tim Kirby, the city's revenue systems supervisor, said the removal of the position does

not directly affect customers because it is a management position.

What does affect customers is the elimination of sewer lateral repairs. The city will continue to service sewers up to the property line, but the customer will now be responsible for sewer damage on their own property. Prior to the change, the city did repair sewers on private property.

The council vote passed the motion, though council member Fred Fowler voted against it because of the service level changes.

"There will be no assistance from the city," said Kirby. However, he did outline options that could include servicing the sewers on residential property but billing customers for the work. "We think we can do it more cost effectively than a plumber can," he said. The cost to customers could run from $1,000 to $3,000 at the maximum, according Kirby.

"This forces our customers into a game of Russian roulette," said Fowler. "They will have to choose between living with the problem or paying the expenses."

Kirby said in response, "It's not a life-threatening type service. This is just leaky sewer pipes. It would be an expense just like any other someone might experience. It's a repair to your home."

Karl Kulpa, a public works leader, said 40 percent of customers in the city would be affected by the removal of sewer lateral repairs. "In Lakewood Village, every household would be impacted by this," Kulpa said. The housing in Lakewood Village is one of the older areas in Sunnyvale.

Sunnyvale resident Werner Gans said, "There is a large unemployed population here [in Sunnyvale], and the retired population has to live on shrinking incomes." Gans also said the higher rates could discourage businesses from moving into Sunnyvale.

But according to Kirby, Sunnyvale's utility rates are some of the lowest in the valley. "I believe the rate changes are affordable," Kirby said.