HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-2021 Council Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
j 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE : February 22, 2021
5 TIME STARTED : 6 :00 p.m.
j 6 TIME ENDED : 6:30 p.m .
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland,
8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty
9 MEMBERS ABSENT None
10 Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Director of Public Safety John
11 Swenson; Finance Director Hannah Lynch; City Clerk Julie Bartell
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13 1 . Review Regular Agenda of February 22, 2021
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I 15 Item 2A — Preparation of Utility Rate Study — Finance Officer Lynch recalled July of
16 2020 when the council reviewed a water treatment feasibility study and directed staff to
I 17 explore funding sources. Staff received eight proposals for a utility rate study and is
18 recommending that the council authorize Baker Tilly to prepare said study. She noted
19 that the Baker Tilly organization prepared that last two rate studies for the City.
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21 Councilmember Stoesz expressed interest in including study of a flat utility rate and Ms .
22 Lynch responded that options to be studied beyond the two indicated would result in
23 additional costs so would be done only based on direction from council . Councilmember
24 Stoesz added that he sees that customers in a quarterly billing system don 't get quick
25 feedback on their use (such as for consideration of conservation) so a flat rate may be
26 more appropriate.
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28 Administrator Cotton noted that the matter of reading meters more frequently is currently
29 being planned.
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31 Mayor Rafferty remarked that utility billing postage isn' t cheap so he would be concerned
32 about any inclination to not continue quarterly billing.
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34 Administrator Cotton explained further details about technology in the area of meter
35 reading and billing that is available. That' s not to say that quarterly billing doesn' t
36 continues to be the best practice for the City .
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38 Councilmember Ruhland asked about the possibility of charging for those that choose not
39 to go paperless. Ms. Cotton added that as new residents move in, the City is seeing
40 more automatic billing and payment as their choice.
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42 Staff added, regarding the discussion about flat rates, that the vast majority (98%) of
43 residents fit into the same lower tier. Staff can have Baker Tilly look at a uniform
44 system (non-tiered) if the council wishes.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
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46 Ms. Lynch indicated that she is comfortable with study for a two tiered system but she
47 understands that there could be value in looking outside of that.
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49 Councilmember Cavegn asked if there is a cost to adding more options. Ms. Lynch
50 estimated that it could be $2,000 to $5 ,000 per additional view.
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52 Councilmember Ruhland said he agrees that it' s difficult to see conservation seriously
53 when there isn't a smart meter; a paperless billing done more frequently could address
54 that concern. Ms. Cotton remarked that, as she' s noted, it would concern her to look at
55 monthly billing due to the additional resources required.
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57 EXPENDITURES — Mayor Rafferty asked how the car wash contract is working for the
58 City fleet. Director Swenson indicated it works fine as long as facilities are available; he
59 has directed his staff to utilize the car wash contract as they believe is needed.
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61 The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
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63 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
64 March 8, 2021 ,
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69 Ju a Bartell, City Jerk Rafferty, Mayor
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