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Home My WebLink About1985/02/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Sessionqv MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA February 11, 1985 1. Call to Order Mayor Hanks called the study session to order at 7:05 p.m. 2. Roll Call The following Council members were present at roll call: Keith Meland Richard Strohl Thomas Duffy Ronald Backes Lyle Hanks Councilmen Larry Mitchell and Jerrold Martin arrived after the beginning of the session. 3. Water & Sewer Rate Study The City Manager provided Council with background information concerning a rate study of the City's water and sewer utilities which had been commissioned by Council in 1984. Ron Hardten and John Scott, representa- tives of the firm of Black and Veatch, were in attendance to explain the information compiled in their initial report and to answer questions from Council. In the water utility section of the report, it was noted that various user groups generate different amounts of revenue when compared to operating costs. Councilman Martin stated it was his feeling that any proposed changes in the water rate structure should reward low users and penalize high users. Mr. Scott responded that the rate changes proposed by his firm would take into account the fact that larger water users generally use the water system more consistently and efficiently and subsequently are responsible for a lower proportion of the system's operating costs. Mayor Hanks asked if it would be possible under the new proposal for a customer to receive a minimum service charge and possibly no additional charge for water. Mr. Hardten responded that that was correct and that it was a variation from the existing policy in which all customers are charged a minimum for water usage. in the waste water utility section of the report, Mr. Hardten explained that residents are currently being charged a minimum of $15.17 per quarter plus S.93j per ccf (hundred cubic feet). Councilman Meland asked if the report suggested that volume charges continue to be based on winter quarterly water usage. Councilman Duffy asked what should be done when people are out of town during the winter quarter and use very little water. Mayor Hanks suggested that the City's accounting department could use a customer's first or last quarterly reading to estimate annual waste water charges. Mr. Hardten explained that part of the Black and Veatch proposal included a recommendation to initiate new charges for a storm sewer utility based on the amount of impervious area associated with different types of properties. Councilman Meland asked if it would be feasible to bill the state and county for their use of the City's storm sewer facilities. Councilman Duffy asked if other communities have come up with storm water drainage rates and if so what kind of feedback they had received. Mr. Hardten responded that he was aware of several cities in Colorado, Florida and the Twin Cities suburbs of White Bear Lake, Roseville and Richfield which were currently charging residents for storm water utility service. The City's Finance Director distributed sample copies of bills for local residents which compared existing rates with those proposed in the Black and Veatch report. The City Manager commented that the new rates would have an effect on the City's existing fund balances in the water and sewer accounts. Councilman Mitchell asked if the consultants were able to provide additional information about utility usage among different residential user groups. Mr. Hardten responded that he would be able to extract that information from the existing data. Mayor Hanks asked to have staff prepare more information for Council's consideration at a study session on Feb. 25. 4. Highway 7 corridor TIF district Administrative Assistant Cris Gears presented Council with information about the status of the proposed Highway 7 corridor tax increment financing district. He also explained the options available to Council concerning their choice to contribute or not contribute to the area -wide fiscal disparities pool. Councilman Backes recommended that staff prepare the necessary resolutions for the formation of a redevelopment project and a tax increment financing district in accordance with the staff report. A majority of the Council concurred and asked staff to prepare the necessary documents for the March 4, 1985 meeting. 5. Water situation The Mayor stated that he felt it was time for Council to develop a plan of attack for construction of the GAC water treatment plant. Several Council members endorsed the concept of increased publicity efforts which would bring the problems out in front of the public. Councilman Mitchell stated that he felt such an effort should involve all players including the PCA, the EPA, elected officials and city residents. He questioned whether the Council should take a positive or negative approach to reach a solution to this problem. Councilman Stroh] indicated a preference for hiring a consultant to coordinate public relations and to create pressure on existing agencies. The City Manager distributed comments from staff which had been compiled earlier in the day and explained to Council that each of these comments had been viewed in terms of advantages and disadvantages which may emerge as a result of action. Councilman Mitchell offered to prepare a preliminary action plan proposal which he will present to Council for their consideration. The Council agreed to accept Councilman Mitchell's offer and to give this issue further consideration at an upcoming study session. 6. Proposed voting change re Comprehensive Plans Mayor Hanks informed Council of a League of Minnesota Cities recommendation 3. that St. Louis Park amend the existing legislation that allows four votes for passage of Comprehensive Plan amendments but requires five votes for zoning changes. Councilman Stroh.l stated his opposition to the proposed change. Councilman Martin concurred stating that the Comprehensive Plan is a long range framework which can be modified and changed at any time, whereas the zoning changes which come before Council have an immediate impact on development within the City. Mayor Hanks stated that the League of Minnesota Cities had made this recommenda- tion so that St. Louis Park would operate in a fashion similar to other cities in the area. Councilman Meland stated that he felt that this request was just one more assault on the City's home rule and that he could not support any such proposal. Mayor Hanks asked staff to prepare a resolution opposing a change to existing legislation which would require five votes for passage of any amendment in the Comprehensive Plan. 1. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. 4- " e� � � Cris Gears Recording Secretary