12/11/2000 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 25, 2000 reconstruction because it turns a drag strip into a raceway. He stated the City is taking advantage of the citizens of the City. Mr. Bill Trudeau, 410 62nd Street, stated the fee is a tax no matter what the City calls it. He stated he is bothered by the way the City is taking his right away to choose which roads will be reconstructed. Citizens should run the roads themselves. Mr. Mark Husnik, 535 77th Street, asked if this type of fee is imposed by other cities. Staff advised Minneapolis and St. Paul have a franchise fee for electric and gas. Mr. Husnik asked how the City normally pays for road improvements. Mayor Bergeson advised the Charter prohibits general fund dollars going to road reconstruction. He stated a referendum is needed for major road reconstruction or the property owners must request the project and be willing to pay 51% of the costs. Mr. Husnik asked how new roads are built. Mayor Bergeson advised developers build new roads. Th i . en es the roads over and maintains them. • Mr. Husnik stated $1.50 per month is not a lot ofenio - y but i adds up to be a lot. Everyone knows 0 the fee is just another tax no matter what it is called. H ' -;stated a fee attached to a meter really bothers him. He stated a few years back the City had pro le 4ith roads aging prematurely because of the number of garbage haulers. He asked if f `' has anything to do with that problem. He noted he does not see a lot of roadways within t eed repair. Mayor Bergeson advised the C. + 't the number of garbage haulers. The roads within the City are in varying shape. Some r s do " eed major repairs. Mr. Husnik stated he reali ` y needs money. He inquired about other ways to obtain money. The City Administrator advied the City is in an unusual position because the Charter prevents the use of general funds for road repair. The City Attorney advised he is aware of one other city that has a Charter. Mr. John Humenanski, 989 Lois Lane, stated he objects to the fee for several reasons. It is the City's responsibility to make a case for road repairs or at least be honest about the fee. It is not fair for the City to single out one utility company for the fee. The fee makes the utility company a tax collector The fee is really of costs of doing business tax. He stated he hopes the fee will not be approved. The City should indicate to the residents that it needs road repairs. The fee takes the decision making process away from the property owners hands. 14 •