02/26/2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 26, 2001 • Water User Fee: $10.00 per quarter per REU • • The average household uses approximately 30,000 gallons of water per quarter. Based on this information, the average increase per household for sanitary sewer and water per quarter will be from $109.00 in 2000 to $123.10 in 2001. City Engineer Powell noted a history of the water rates was included in the Friday update. He reviewed the rates from 1993 to the proposed rates in 2003. The Metropolitan Council was contacted about their charges and they indicated they have scheduled increases for 2003 — 2005. Acting Mayor Dahl opened the public hearing at 6:38 p.m. Ms. Bev Sellers, 7144 Ivy Ridge Court, came forward and stated she moved to Lino Lakes last November from Circle Pines. She stated she was shocked with the sewer bill. She stated the rates in Circle Pines were based on usage. She stated there are a lot of single . •le and it is unfair that they pay the same rate as families. She asked how the fee structure c City Administrator Waite Smith advised she is not clear on rates. City Engineer Powell advised he was not with the Ci he can research the matter if the City Council de City Administrator Waite Smith advised st fee was adopted many years ago. Ms. Sellers stated the fee needs to for water and sewer. She note Mr. Tom Johnson, 7140 Rid rates are fair. He stated h rates need to be researched iginally determined the e at rate was adopted. He indicated h the matter for Ms. Sellers. She stated the The City should also research how other cities bill es give senior citizens a discount due to low usage. urt, came forward and stated he does not believe the proposed ow usage and is not even here 60% of the time. He stated the Ms. Gloria Gooden, 1477 Snow Goose Trail, came forward and stated she called many other suburbs regarding water and sewer rates. She stated Lino Lakes is very high. She indicated she moved here in 1992 and was warned about the high rates. She stated she does not understand what is causing such high rates within the City. She stated Eden Prairie charges $1.25 per 1,000 gallons with a $12.00 quarterly fee. The City of Eden Prairie has had the same growing pains as Lino Lakes and is still lower. City Engineer Powell stated the City's water system is very spread out. He stated he does not disagree that the rates are high. The development in Eden Prairie is very compact and has a lot of commercial/industrial use to offset costs. The money from the utility fees is not used for other expenditures. Depreciation is a large factor relating to the costs. Staff did contact other cities such as 3