02-08-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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C%9 e ` / GLI.I.G CVa% ada MAYOR milt mtesener COUNCIL Rick Montour John Kels Michael McGraw Shelly Boss 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 ADMINISTRATOR (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 (1001R. Ranson www.alithe-canada.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council FROM: 13i11 Dircks, Public Works Superintendent DATE: February 3, 2012 RE: Alternate Water Meter Policy At the November 17, 2011 City Council meeting an alternate meter policy was adopted by the Council for those who chose not to have a fixed- network radio in their homes. The policy stated that residents could choose to either have the radio mounted on the outside of' their homes at no additional charge or the City could put a touchpad on the home and continue to read it manually for a $12 per quarter charge. The policy is the exact same policy adopted by the City of St. Paul for its water meter project. To date we have had three customers officially opt out of the fixed- network radio and choose a touchpad instead. We have also had another recent request due to health reasons (see attached letter from Ms. Sabrina Dowla). This week the City Council also received an e- mail from Ms. Cathy Lathrop (attached) opposing the entire decision to use a fixed - network meter reading system. Ms. Dowla feels that she should not have to pay for us to read a touchpad on her home since she is opting out for health - related reasons. She is a cancer patient and would like to avoid radio frequency in her home. Ms. Lathrop feels that the fixed - network meters are dangerous and the City has opted to use them to increase profits and is not concerned with the safety of the citizens. It should be noted that the City actually paid more for the fixed- network system than the touchpad system and the drive -by system would have been slightly cheaper as well. Staff felt the fixed - network system offered more customer service and transmitted less than the drive -by system. The City will not profit from the fixed - network system. There may be a spike in water billing due to old meters that weren't properly registering being replaced by new, well - functioning meters. Extensive studies have been commissioned on the effects of radio frequencies on humans and those studies have all shown no direct links between radio waves and human health effects. St. Paul did extensive research on the matter and I have included the main pages 1