Draft Minutes - 10-29-12 Regular

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—OCTOBER 29, 2012 2 reconstructing the intersection and installing the necessary underground electrical utilities for a new signal system to be installed next spring. Public Works Director Maurer noted that the Snelling Avenue to Hamline Avenue bridge will be open by December, as will the loop from northbound Snelling Avenue to westbound 1-694. The loop to westbound Highway 10, however, will not be open until late 2013. Public Works Director Maurer explained that the ramp from westbound I-694 to westbound Highway 10 will close in mid-November when traffic is switched to the new interstate lanes and will remain closed through the fall of 2013. Traffic will detour on westbound I-694 to northbound I-35W. Eastbound Highway 10 (Highway 96 to 1-694) is scheduled to be open by December. Public Works Director Maurer stated that the eastbound I-694 exit to Lexington Avenue closed on October 15 for one month. It is scheduled to reopen mid-November. Public Works Director Maurer indicated that there will be various overnight lane restrictions on 1-694. Public Works Director Maurer stated that the Highway 10 and County Road 10 ramps opened late on Friday, October 26. However, the ramps were closed this week from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily as grading work was finished. B. Water Billing Update Public Works Director Maurer explained that the City has received a lot of calls about the most recent water bills. Most of the callers were concerned that their bills were much higher than the ones that they received in the past. He stated that there were multiple reasons why customers' water billing was higher. First, the months of July, August, and September were the driest summer months since 2008. Second, new water rates were adopted in 2009. When water usage is in the 10,001 — 35,000 gallon range, the charge is $3.28 per 1,000 gallons. The highest tier is when usage exceeds 35,000 gallons and the charge is then $5.75 per 1,000 gallons. He noted that many customers had gone into that highest (and most expensive) usage rate level due to the dry summer conditions. Public Works Director Maurer stated that the third reason for higher water bills was due to the conversion of all residential customers to one billing cycle. Many had not experienced being billed in July, August, and September, which are traditionally higher water usage months. The fourth reason was because the billing quarter was slightly longer than usual. Due to failing water meter reader equipment, the City had to borrow equipment from a neighboring City. Since that City needed its equipment for its own water meter readings, Arden Hills was required to do its readings a week earlier than usual. Public Works Director Maurer noted that another reason for the higher water usage was due to the fact that some of the old equipment was failing to read low-volume usage. Turbo meters replaced compound meters and the new meters are now catching the low-volume usage during off-hours. He stated that in general, many residents are realizing just how much water they use. In some cases, customers simply had not been getting charged for the actual amount of water they