“The minimum usage charge will not be changing this year,” he said. “So those who use the minimum, and that’s over half of our residents, there will be no rate increase. For all the other rates, we’re looking at a 7 percent increase. So if you use more water, you’re going to pay a little more.”

Resident Crystal Lake said she believes that the rates could price out residents “who are not wealthy over time.” “The increments are somewhat high,” she said. “Unfortunately, for the most part salaries do not increase. But 7 percent here, 25 percent here, it’s a hit overall.”

Residential parking permits are also increasing by $40, from $10 per year — a rate that has not changed since 2007 — to $50 at the three leased overnight lots, which cost the city — and taxpayers — $150,000 annually in rent and maintenance costs. The city currently generates only $17,000 per year in parking fees, officials said. Some said that the current parking fees are too low and do not generate enough revenue. The new fees would still be significantly lower than those in other nearby municipalities, most notably Rockville Centre, where residents pay $225, officials said.

Resident Eileen Hession, however, said that it was wrong to increase the fees, especially for West End residents. “For every West End resident to have to go up … [to] $50 for the abomination of what is called parking in the West End, I just think it’s wrong to do that,” she said. “It’s just really wrong, the way people are suffering down there still from the storm.”

Rick Hoffman, a former Zoning Board of Appeals trustee and a former West End Neighbors Civic Association president, asked if the council had considered implementing metered parking in the city to generate revenue, “Rather than hammer the resident with that … $40 increase. Metered parking throughout the city that would offset and make a lot more money than what you’re looking to do.”

Council President Scott Mandel said that the issue had been discussed in the past, but added that metered parking would change the “entire tenor of the city.”

“It’s always something that is looming, but at this juncture, we’re only looking at the [residential parking] fees in front of us,” Mandel said.