08-26-13 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 2A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Al Rolek MEETING DATE: August 26 , 2013 TOPIC: Consideration Second Reading 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 and Ordering Publication VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 INTRODUCTION The City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 06 -13 p roviding f or u tility f ees f or v acant b uildings c onnected t o City u tilities on August 12. The Council is requested to consider a second reading of the ordinance. BACKGROUND The requested action is in response to a request for relief from normal utility rates by the owner of a commercial property that has been vacant since Octo ber, 2012. Upon investigating the matter and surveying other cities staff found that Lino L akes has been charging vacant properties differently than surrounding communities. To be more consistent with neighboring cities an amendment to the current fee st ructure is being proposed. 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 commercial/industrial building to apply to reduce the number of residential equivalent units (REU’s) to one (1) unit for billing purposes 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 w ill be determined and utility fees assessed according to the current fee structure. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the second reading of Ordinance No. 06 -13 and, thereafter, the execution and publication of the ordinance . ATTACHMENTS Dra ft Ordinance No. 06 -13