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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 <br />Page 2 <br />last meeting it was discussed that the committee make a motion encouraging the <br />franchise fees and having a letter drawn up, which the Chair would sign, to show the <br /> support of the fees. <br /> <br />Committee Member Michaelson asked if there was any other type of funding available as <br />an alternative to franchise fees. City Administrator Klaers indicated one source of <br />funding would be taxes and another would be by a bond referendum. He stated that one <br />reason the Council has asked to evaluate the pros and cons of franchise fees is because it <br />is a new Ms. Holmes indicated that <br />45 percent of the City is tax exempt and do not pay property taxes. Staff is trying to get <br />information on what the revenue would be from the 45 percent that currently do not pay <br />taxes, if franchise fees are implemented, as Xcel charges the fees per meter. Ms. Holmes <br />informed that City Administrator Klaers has also put together a list of all the cities that <br />have a franchise fee and that there are quite a few. City Administrator Klaers indicated <br />the one thing they can determine is the amount of money they would get from the <br />residential properties since it is a flat fee in the amount of $57 a year. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Maurer indicated that Council has set two Public Hearings in <br />thth <br />February, one on the 10 and the other on the 24, and feels it is important for the <br />committee to attend and show their support and for the committee to encourage friends or <br />neighbors of like mind to support it also. City Administrator Klaers advised that there <br />will be opposition and that it is important for the Council to hear a wider perspective then <br />just the negatives so they can consider all points of view before making a decision. <br /> <br />Council Liaison McClung pointed out there were several forms of communication <br />regarding the franchise fees and Public Hearings including the newsletter, the <br />newspapers, the Arden Hills website, and an insert in the quarterly utility billings. Also <br />an e-mail was sent to anyone that had given Community Development their e-mail for <br />TCAAP updates. Ms. Olson indicated she will also send the PTRC an e-mail reminder <br />about the Public Hearings on February 10 & February 24. <br /> <br />MOTION: <br /> Committee Member Van Valkenburg moved that the PTRC support the <br /> <br />franchise fees with a certain percentage of the fees dedicated to parks and <br /> <br /> motion carried (6-1). <br /> <br />B. 2014 Work Plan <br />Ms. Olson recapped that the PTRC will be submitting their work plan to Council at a <br />joint work session on February 18th. She indicated she will use the community survey <br />results as part of the PowerPoint presentation. An item that was discussed previously <br />was creating a trail subcommittee. She along with Public Works Director Maurer met <br />with Committee Members Kramlinger and Van Valkenburg to work on how the <br />subcommittee wants to move forward. The present proposal and findings of the <br />subcommittee can also be presented to Council as part of the work plan. Other work plan <br />items that had been discussed previously was to research buckthorn eradication <br />methods, a prairie restoration conversion for Lindeys park, to review the commnity <br />