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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 2A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Al Rolek MEETING DATE: August 12, 2013 TOPIC: Consideration of Ordinance No. 06 -13 Amending Ordinance No. 12 -12, The 2013 City Of Lino Lakes Fee Schedule, By Providing For Utility Fees For Vacant Buildings Connected To City Utilities VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 INTRODUCTION The City Council is requested to consider Ordinance No. 06 -13, which amends Ordinance No. 12 -12 by providing for utility fees for vacant buildings connected to City utilities BACKGROUND At the July work session the Council reviewed a letter from Robert Williams, representing the former Bobby & Steve's Autoworld, requesting relief from the utility fees being charged to the property. The business closed in October, 2012 and the buildings are currently vacant. Staff was directed to prepare an ordinance amending the current utility rate structure as it applies to vacant buildings. A draft of Ordinance No. 06 -13 is included for Council review. The ordinance amends Ordinance No. 12 -12 which set the utility fees for 2013 and would allow the owner of a vacant building to apply to reduce the number of residential equivalent units ( REU's) to one (1) unit for as long as the building is vacant. When the building again becomes occupied the owner must inform the City of such occupation, at which time the number of REU's will be determined and utility fees assessed according to the current fee structure. This ordinance would effectively reduce the REU's for the Bobby & Steve's Autoworld building from the current 6 REU for the convenience store /filling station and 19 REU for the car wash to 1 REU each, and result in reductions of $320 and $1,116 per quarter, respectively, for as long as the buildings remain vacant. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of Ordinance No. 06 -13. ATTACHMENTS Draft Ordinance 06 -13