03-22-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 6 Clearwater Creek Park – Director DeGardner showed concept plans for park structure. 223 224 Councilmember Stoesz noted that there is a park/playground at the former YMCA 225 facility. Could that be opened up to the public or could the play structure could be used 226 at another City park. Director DeGardner said he would take a look; more study of the 227 former YMCA facility is really needed. 228 229 Councilmember Lyden remarked that the YMCA facility is really a big discussion point 230 as far as recreation in the community. 231 232 Mayor Rafferty said this is information at this point. He is in full support of the direction 233 he has seen for the two parks. 234 235 Director DeGardner said he will bring plans for the park structures to the council for 236 approval; the park shelter question will wait. 237 238 7. Utility Rate Overview – Finance Director Lynch noted that the purpose of her 239 report is to provide additional information to the council on utility billing as staff moves 240 forward with the utility rate study. She reviewed the information included in her written 241 report. On the question of adding a rate structure to the study, staff is providing the cost. 242 243 Councilmember Stoesz said he is still a supporter of a fixed rate option. In looking at the 244 data provided, he also has questions about how the 90% user tier pans out. If the 245 additional rate was requested, could the cost go to both non-residential and residential 246 users? 247 248 Councilmember Stoesz asked if an annual accumulator could be added to avoid rate 249 studies so often and larger increases could be avoided. Ms. Lynch explained that is what 250 staff expects of information coming through a study and recommendations. 251 252 Mayor Rafferty says he hears staff saying let the report come forward and then the council 253 can look at how to appropriately move forward. Administrator Cotton suggested study 254 information should be useful for a ten year period but a new study would be needed after 255 that time. When a councilmember suggested looking at increases through the annual fee 256 schedule relating to anticipated operating costs for the coming year, staff explained that 257 the biggest portion of cost for utilities is planning for future improvements. 258 259 Councilmember Cavegn asked why the previous study in 2013 included information on a 260 treatment facility (if it wasn’t the manganese question that arose just recently). 261 Community Development Director Grochala explained. 262 263 Councilmember Stoesz noted that natural gas providers offer budget planning for bills to 264 standardize costs throughout the year; could the City offer that at some time? Staff said 265 that is not a software capability. 266 267