12-04-12 Special-TNT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
RICHFIELD Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Meeting
December 4, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Pat Elliott; Sue Sandahl; and Tom Fitzhenry.
Members Present: Fred Wroge.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director;
John Stark, Community Development Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation
Services Director; Wayne Kewitsch, Fire Services Director/Chief; Bill
Fillmore, Municipal Liquor Operations Director; Todd Sandell, Public Safety
Director/Chief; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant City Manager; Chris Regis,
Finance Manager; Robert Hintgen, Utilities Superintendent; Chris Link,
Operations Superintendent; and Cheryl Krumholz, Executive Coordinator.
Boy Scout Troop 3262 presented the colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item #1 TRUTH IN TAXATION PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING 2013 PROPERTY TAX
LEVY AND 2012 REVISED/2013 PROPOSED BUDGET AND PROPOSED 2013
WATER, WASTEWATER AND STORM SEWER UTILITY RATES (STAFF
REPORT NO. 207)
City Manager Devich explained the purpose of the Truth-in-Taxation public hearing.
Finance Manager Regis gave a PowerPoint presentation as a general overview of the
proposed budget and tax levy.
M/Fitzhenry, S/Sandahl to close the public hearing.
Michele Kisor, 7245-11th Avenue, questioned the utilities rate increase and the billing cycle.
Public Works Director Eastling explained the quarterly billing process.
Motion carried 4-0.
Special Council Meeting Minutes -2- December 4,2012
Item #2 PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING REINITIATION OF STREET LIGHT USER
FEE (STAFF REPORT NO. 208)
Public Works Director Eastling explained the street light user fee purpose and the proposed
fee increase.
City Manager Devich stated that Xcel has a 10% increase pending and the City's proposed
increase is not adequate to cover it.
Council Member Sandahl stated the street light user fee should recover the total cost of the
City's electricity because street lights benefit the community.
Council Member Elliott suggested a sunset date on the street light user fee so it is revisited
and does not become an automatic renewal.
Council Member Sandahl disagreed with a sunset date because there is an opportunity to
review the fee annually.
Mayor Goettel expressed concern over Local Government Aid allocations and that this is
not the time to discontinue the street light user fee. She added the increase should cover the true
electricity cost.
Council Member Fitzhenry stated a sunset date may not be necessary but the fee should
be revisited annually.
City Manager Devich said if the street light user fee is discontinued, the tax levy will
increase to cover the costs.
M/Goettel,•S/Sandahl to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 4-0.
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council meeting was adjourned by unani ou- co at 7:5- •.m. y
Date Approved: December 11, 2012 _ h ;4i'
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Cheryl Kr mholz i - - even . •evich
Executive Coordinator City Manager