LIVE BLOGGING: Water Rate Hike Meeting In Flushing

8:27 p.m.: And that's a wrap in Flushing. For more on the proposed water rate increase, check back with Patch for a full wrap-up of tonight's developments tomorrow morning. 

8:20 p.m.: Community activist Corey Bearak read a statement on behalf of the Queens Chamber of Commerce on the proposed rate hike:

"The Chamber opposes water rate hikes as disguised tax hikes," Bearak said. "Water rates effect everyone... High rates contribute to New York City's image as an affordable place to live and do business."

8:01 p.m.: The night's first speaker during the public portion of the meeting, Stephen DeDalto of Flushing, advocated a one-year delay for the proposed 7.5 percent increase in consideration of the down economy. DeDalto also called on city DEP to tighten its belt even more than planned in the coming year (the agency plans 108 staff reductions in FY2012). 

"We have all had to make due with less," said DeDalto, a former IT technician who has been unemployed since January 2009. "How about you guys make due with less?"

7:53 p.m.: Holloway ends his presentation by noting that the deadline for written testimony on rate increases for FY2012 will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. Responses can be mailed c/o Kevin Kunkle, NYC Water Board, 59-17 Junction Blvd., 8th Floor, Flushing, N.Y. 11373.

7:46 p.m.: "Any rate increase — especially in these tough economic times — is not a good thing," Holloway told the audience here in Flushing tonight. "But it's the first single digit increase in five years."

7:40 p.m.: With capital projects involving the city's water and sewer system making up a big share of the city's water budget, Holloway acknowledged that some of those efforts were not needed.

"Some of these projects are not necessary," he said. 

However, Holloway said the projects were mandated by the federal government, "which dictates when and where we build."

7:36 p.m.: Overheard in the auditorium as the meeting began here in Flushing, from one retired Queens resident: "My income is fixed... I'm on a pension. But they keep raising the rates year after year. It's outrageous."

According to Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, if the proposed 7.5 percent hike goes through for fiscal year 2012, it would be the 15th straight water increase approved by the city Water Board. 

7:31 p.m.: Fun fact — the largest share of every water dollar spent (46 cents) by city DEP is to service its debt, according to Holloway. 

7:25 p.m.: And we're off. DEP commissioner Cas Holloway is starting off tonight's meeting.

"No rate increase would be a great thing," Holloway said. "However, the 7. 5 percent proposed increase is 30 percent less than what we were anticipating last year."

7:20 p.m.: Chatting with a spokesman for city DEP on tonight's agenda, it seems unlikely that on overcharging due to newly-installed electronic water meters will addressed at this meeting. 

Welcome to Little Neck Patch's live coverage of a meeting called by the city Department of Environmental Protection at P.S. 499 in Flushing.

Tops on the agenda tonight is a proposal to — likely an unwelcome topic for many northeast Queens residents already dealing with hikes in the price of everything from , sewer use and . 

Perhaps due to the beautiful weather this late afternoon into evening, attendance is sparse so far at the school's fourth floor auditorium. However, we'll still keep you informed on developments here as the meeting gets ready to begin.