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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 25, 2023 Page 3 Mayor Stille opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. City Attorney Jay Lindgren reviewed the City currently has a franchise ordinance allowing CenterPoint Energy a nonexclusive right to use public grounds and rights of way to distribute natural gas to customers within the City. The current ordinance expires soon and requires consideration of a new ordinance for a 20 year period. 8 The proposed franchise ordinance is similar to the current ordinance in that it requires (1) 9 agreement with the City about location of gas utilities, (2) allows the City to charge a franchise 10 fee to be established as part of your annual fee schedule (as long as consistent with Minnesota 11 Public Utilities Commission), (3) allows the City to charge permit fees consistent with an annual 12 schedule, and (4) allows the City to require escrow deposits, prior to disturbing any public 13 ground. 14 15 Based on this, there should be no substantial changes to the way the franchise operates over the 16 next 20 years. 17 18 Mayor Stille asked if this would address should a utility fee be charged in the future. Mr. 19 Lindgren stated that would be a separate action but this would allow you to charge a permit fee 20 to CenterPoint. Mayor Stille noted the City does not do that. Mayor Stille asked about the 21 potential for escrows. There needs to be escrows before they dig. Mr. Lindgren stated that is true. 22 23 Mayor Stille closed the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. 24 25 Motion by Councilmember Walker, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve First 26 Reading of Ordinance 2023-04 — Granting CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. D/B/A 27 CenterPoint Energy Minnesota Gas ("CenterPoint Energy"), Its Successors and Assigns, a 28 Nonexclusive Franchise ("Franchise") to Construct, Operate, Repair and Maintain Facilities and 29 Equipment for the Transportation, Distribution, Manufacture and Sale of Gas Energy for the 30 Public and Private Use and to Use the Public Ways and Grounds of the City of St. Anthony, 31 Minnesota, for such Purposes and, Prescribing Certain Terms and Conditions Thereof. 32 33 Motion carried 4-0. 34 35 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF — NONE. 36 37 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 38 39 A. Resolution 23-039 — Approving the Use of Central Park for a Special Event on August 4 40 & 5, 2023. 41 42 City Manager Charlie Yunker reviewed Council is requested to approve the Use of Central Park 43 for a Special Event — VillageFest on August 4-5, 2023. 44 45 Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Walker, to approve Resolution 46 23-039 — Approving the Use of Central Park for a Special Event on August 4-5, 2023.