Agenda Packets - 1991/11/12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council Page Eight Regular Meeting November 12, 1991 Wuori stated this is a specific tax for a specific use on a local level and that is why she is in support of the street light utility. Councilmember Rickaby stated she will vote against the utility. Rickaby stated that there are really a number of reasons why she is against the utility. Rickaby stated that the first time the Council talked about the utility was when they talked about the budget. At the end of the meeting the Council had settled on cuts that had been talked about and the depletion in money coming out of the reserves. The next time the Council met they talked about a lot of people being uncomfortable about the cuts . At that time, the subject of utility came up again, perhaps as a meanstoput back the cuts . Rickaby stated that was the part that she was uncomfortable about. Rickaby agreed with the statement that Bill made that the City Council needs to bite the bullet and make the cuts and not back off. Rickaby further stated that if the Council were to do the utility so the reserve wouldn't be so depleted, she might be in favor of that, but as soon as the subject of utility comes up it starts backsliding. The subject of increasing then number of lights comes up and Rickaby stated she doesn't think that's appropriate. The Council shouldn't be talking about adding things, but taking care of the crisis here. Rickaby stated perhaps reserves should be used to take care ,of crisis situations. Rickaby stated that there is talk in the future of the legislature lifting the City's levy limits . Rickaby stated that at that time if the people still want more services, then raise the taxes . Rickaby further stated that cutting Northwest Youth and Family Services still will allow some people to get service on a sliding fee scale, however, those same people will be paying a raise in fee plus a fee on their utility bill for a street light utility. This choice is being made for them. They are being told this is a service you will have. The City is taking money out of their other pocket. Rickaby cited a neighbor of hers that had previously used the services of the Northwest Youth and Family Services but has had her water shut off and has no garbage pickup because she can't afford it. Rickaby stated that very few persons would say, "I 'll do without water so I can pay my counselor. " Rickaby stated that if a family crisis would arise people would have to decide that perhaps a more frivolous thing would have to be to cut, possibly a family vacation. Rickaby further stated that this fee really affects the elderly and less wen-to-do people without giving them a choice. P1nkaby stated-that-she• favors--neither ofthetwo utilities, but the lesser of two evils would be the utility franchise fee, because the resident has a little more control over how much electricity is used. People have no control over street lights . Rickaby stated that essentially what is being done is moving what • already is being paid in taxes to the general fund and on to the