2019.11.16 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Worksession November 12, 2019 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson Councilmember Graeme Allen Councilmember Mary Burg Councilmember Emily Dunsworth Councilmember Paul Jacobsen Absent: Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Craig Schlichting, Brenda Davitt, Sarah Sonsalla Guests in Attendance: 2020 Utility Rates Presentation Davitt provided the Council with a presentation on the proposed 2020 Utility Rates. She discussed the City’s average water usage for 2019. She reported a 6% increase was being proposed. She stated after 2025 the utility rates increases will slow down. She explained stormwater rates were proposed to increase by 7% or $1.34 per quarter. She commented on proposed internal loans and how the utility rates would impact the City’s utility funds. She described how the 2020 utility rates compared to surrounding cities. Schlichting commented on the life cycles of the City’s water towers and water meters. He explained the City’s utility rates included upcoming street and utility improvements, along with sanitary sewer lining and infiltration projects. He commented on the City street light replacement plan for 2020. He stated he has received a lot of positive comments on the new LED lights. He noted the City would be working with SEH on the light replacement plans. Councilmember Burg questioned how the County would be billed for their water usage while creating the ice castle. Schlichting reported the County requested a water meter and would be billed after the project was completed. Davitt explained there were 434 residential accounts and 4 commercial accounts that were in “shut off” status. She reported the City has worked to schedule a time to replace meters with these accounts to no avail. She stated the problem with this situation was that the City no longer had the technology to read the water usage from these meters. She indicated staff would like the Council to support a one-time refundable $125 no-read fee which would be placed on January utility bills. It was her hope this would encourage the 434 residents and four commercial properties to have their meters changed prior to the next utility bill. Mayor Johnson feared the City could not take this action. Councilmember Burg supported the City putting “Shut Off Notice” on the outside of the envelopes. Sonsalla explained the City could put this language on the outside of the envelopes noting utility bills were public information.