BELLINGHAM - The Bellingham City Council will accept public comment about proposed water, sewer and stormwater rate increases at a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, in City Council chambers at City Hall.

Residents also can submit written comments vial mail to Bellingham City Council, 210 Lottie St., Bellingham, WA 98225, or by email to ccmail@cob.org.

The proposal before the council calls for a 6.1 percent increase in the combined city utility bill in 2013, followed by increases of 5.1 percent, 6.3 percent and 6.4 percent in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Those increases were recommended by the Public Works Department after an extensive study of what it will cost to operate the city's water, sewer and stormwater utilities in the years ahead.

The council could vote on the rates Dec. 3.

Reach JOHN STARK at john.stark@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2274.