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Mounds View City Council' Page Six <br /> Regular Meeting August 9, 1993 <br /> D. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 93-541/ <br /> regarding the Introduction of Ordinance No. 529 Establishing a Surface <br /> Water Management Utility and Amending Mounds View Municipal Code by <br /> Adding Chapter 73 . Orduno stated that the Surface Water Management <br /> Utility had been discussed for a number of years and that on June 21, <br /> 1993 the City Council conducted an informational meeting on the <br /> proposed Surface Water Management Utility. The informational meeting <br /> was preceded by four Council meetings in which the utility concept had <br /> been discussed with other financing options. The City Council <br /> conducted an official public hearing on the proposed Surface Water <br /> Management Utility on July 28 , 1993 . <br /> Orduno stated that the reason for this utility is that the City can no <br /> longer fund all basic system services based exclusively on the dollar <br /> value of property. Orduno explained that the old concepts that were <br /> once so much a part of funding municipal operations and based on <br /> property taxes have given way, out of financial necessity and social <br /> demands, to more equitable "user" fee concepts that place <br /> responsibility and payment for services onto the users of a system, not <br /> just the taxable property owners. Orduno stated that this a fair and <br /> equitable means of funding the kinds of projects that. need top priority <br /> attention. <br /> Orduno stated that Rocky Keene, Short-Elliott-Hendrickson, was present <br /> at tonight's meeting to answer any questions that the residents might <br /> have. • <br /> Orduno also reported that during the FOCUS 2000 meetings some of the <br /> items brought forth were to maintain a quality water system, to <br /> maintain wetlands and provide services in a fair and equitable manner. <br /> Orduno also reported that this item will be put on the August 23 , 1993 <br /> agenda for consideration. <br /> Mayor Linke stated that there had been one informational meeting and <br /> one public hearing on this item already. This item was discussed at <br /> four work sessions and at many meetings last year. <br /> Orduno added that the ordinance establishing the utility would be <br /> considered at this time and at a future Council Meeting a resolution <br /> utility would be considered to establish the fees for the utility. <br /> This ordinance would be very similar to the water and sewer utility. <br /> This source of funding is becoming a national trend. <br /> Mayor Linke stated that in the past he had been opposed to a utility, <br /> however, after looking at the costs for property taxes to residents and <br /> small business, i.e. , the cost of ad valorem taxes would be twice the <br /> amount as the utility fee. The utility is set up so that those that <br /> provide the most runoff to the system will be the ones that will be <br /> paying the higher fees. The utility is the best way to collect funds <br /> and put them into a fund that would be used to solve some of the <br /> problems with the surface water runoff. 111 <br />