CC PACKET 05242005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 10, 2005 Page 7 He said he talked to Met Council and they didn't feel that the City's goal was exceeded enough to be fined. 4 Councilmember Thu esen inquired whether there are any figures of illegal hookups or of those 5 that had the buried program discovered at the Point -of -Sale. Mr. Hubiner said that it was thought 6 that 70 percent of homes in 1997 had the driveway drains, and it was required that sump pumps 7 be put in. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 COUllCllmember Thuesen asked if the Met Council acknowledged communities that attempt to deal with the problem and if thcy are granted a little slack. Mr. Hubmer answered that St. Anthony was ahead of the curve. He added that the Met Council may have some grant monies available. Mayor Faust commented that the City is waiting for the Met Council flow rate so the City can determine where it is. He reiterated that there is an Ordinance that states hook ups are illegal. He noted that there are residents that cannot afford to unhook at the cost of $2,000 to $5,000 and there are any figures of how many illegal hookups there are. 5. Automatic Water Meter Readiiu�_ Mr. Hubmer stated the City is currently evaluating various remote water meter readers. Mayor Faust said explained that the system currently is that residents fill out a card and mail it into City Hall and a City bill is generated. There is the potential for error on both ends. Automatic water meter reading will preclude the potential for error. Mr. Hubmer explained there arc four steps in the process of generating a water bill. In the automatic system, a device is in the car and the Village could be covered in a few hours. This information is downloaded into a computer system and a bill is automatically generated. The City is evaluating the various wireless water meter readers. He indicated his office has estimated the cost to install a wireless system for 2155 meters. He reviewed the potential benefits of a wireless system, including the improvement in the accuracy of readings. There are fewer employee hours, and lost water will be recovered. The meters are 20 years old and getting toward the end of their life cycle. He said his department is discussing the option of viewing the process in a city that has already been through the conversion. Councilmember Thuesen asked if the quality or the technology of meters has improved in recent years. Mr. Hubmer responded that they work very well. They have not changed very much. The wireless technology is the cutting edge and does save effort. There is the technology that this could be used on existing meters. Cities that have tried it, suggested replacing all meters in the city. 6. St. Anthony Fire Station Flashing Beacon Justification. Mr. Hubmer stated that ways to improve the visibility of the Fire Station have been discussed. He said his department looked at installing remote -operated warning lights. The signs are being considered for the Silver Lake Road site. He proposed that a remote such as a garage door opener inside the trucks would be more feasible. He said they looked at a wired system, and this would require tunneling under the road and would be more expensive. He said the anticipated