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CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES • November 23, 2005 Mayor Gehrz convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 PM. PRESENT: Mayor Sue Gehrz, Councilmembers Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb, Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot. Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington, and Deputy Clerk Stacey Kreuser. Mayor Gehrz introduced councilmember-elect Pam Harris. COMMUNITY FORUM: None. PRESENTATIONS: Mayor Gehrz recognized Nicholas Allen, recipient of the Eagle Scout Award in 2005. Allen was congratulated and thanked by the council. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes dated 11/23/05 were approved as corrected by councilmember Kuettel. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None scheduled. CONSENT AGENDA: Kuettel moved to approve the following items on the consent agenda, and the motion was unanimously approved: 1. General Disbursements through 11/17/05: $ 60,651.56 Payroll 11/O1/OS -11/15/OS $ 14,414.26 2. Approval of renewal city licenses for 2006 to date. Businesses were read off by the councilmembers. 3. Schedule changes for year-end meetings were made by canceling the Dec. 7~' workshop in lieu of the Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 5`"° and canceling the meeting on Dec. 28a'. The regular meeting is scheduled for the 14t" POLICY AGENDA: 1. 2006 Utility Fee Structure Administrator Worthington gave a brief overview of the two funds in the enterprise category -storm drainage and sanitary sewer. Worthington stated that the fee structure compared to other cities is very low, and while costs increase, fees have remained static. She explained the recommended fee increase to the storm drainage fee would be $6.00 per quarter, up from $3.47 per quarter for residential and $56.00, up from $32.50 for commercial. Worthington then explained the sanitary sewer fund has not increased fees in at least 10 years. She explained the recommended fee increase to the sanitary sewer fee would be 11.4% for commercial and residential accounts. Mayor Gehrz stated that at the work session the council discussed the amount of the increase and the implications if the fees are continued without an adjustment. The outcome with no increase would be of concern. councilmember Lamb then explained the difference between a tax and a fee. He stated taxes apply to things that generally are used by the population as a whole, while fees apply to those items that are used with • discretion. He stated through fees, those entities that use city systems (examples of the U of M, State Fair, and TIES) do not pay taxes to the City but pay fees for services. He stated the general belief that shared 2 ~CHG02:40069922.v1 ~9/28/OS 11:33 AM