02-01-2021 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 134 so they can make the settings as they chose and wouldn ' t need to remove the equipment 135 for a change in preferences . 136 137 Councilmember Ruhland asked how long the City of Hugo has had the program and Mr. 138 Nelson said it' s been two years (they' ve sold approximately 100 units and have 150 left) . 139 Councilmember Ruhland also asked what' s to stop a person from buying the units at this 140 discount and selling them for a profit; Mr. Nelson said the program allows for the City to 141 check and ensure equipment is being used. 142 143 Councilmember Stoesz expressed concern that the City may be competing with private 144 retailers who would be selling this equipment. 145 146 Councilmember Lyden remarked that he has questions about the program . He sees it 147 differently than as used for City property . 148 149 City Administrator Cotton remarked that, from a utility billing perspective, she has seen 15o bills that indicate people have programs that run the same amount of water year after 151 year, never taking into consideration the type of control offered by this program 152 equipment that would save water and costs . 153 154 Mr. Nelson noted that the number one water usage in the city is irrigation and 155 communicating to the residents on the matter can be very effective . This program would 156 be an additional tool . He noted that if every household in the City were hooked up, the 157 water savings could be 20 percent across the board . Although technology changes , this 158 is the best equipment available now . 159 160 Councilmember Cavegn said he ' s in support of the program and he ' s aware that the 161 technology has been around for a while and is tested . He likes the long term benefits . 162 163 Councilmember Ruhland said he agrees with much of what Councilmember Cavegn has 164 said; he is in favor of the program . 165 166 Councilmember Stoesz remarked that infrastructure requires internet connection and that 167 could be an issue for some people . He is opposed to the program ; he will probably be 168 purchasing a system on his own and thinks that communication is the best way to handle 169 conservation . 170 171 Mayor Rafferty remarked that he understands remarks heard on both sides of the matter. 172 But he knows that water conservation is an important issue to the City. If this starts to 173 spread the word, all the better. There is subsidy of the City involved so there will be 174 scrutiny but you still have to solve problems . 175 176 Councilmember Lyden asked if the City could provide the equipment paid through utility 177 billing. 178 4