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,.It ,- IQEN HILLS Approved: September 12, 2016 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AUGUST 29,2016 8:30 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council Work Session at 8:32 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and Jonathan Wicklund Absent: None Also present: Interim City Administrator Sue Iverson; Acting Public Works Director John Anderson; Senior Planner Matthew Bachler; Finance Analyst, Dave Perrault; and Deputy Clerk Jolene Trauba 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Utility Billing/Water Shutoff Policy Acting Public Works Director Anderson stated the City Council requested a discussion be held on the policy as it relates to delinquent utility bills and whether the City should shut off water on past due accounts or roll delinquent bills into quarterly assessments to the property. Acting Public Works Director Anderson reported the City Attorney has supplied an email on this topic. This email contains comments from both the City Building Official and the City Attorney both favoring remaining with the current policy to certify delinquent bills instead of disconnecting service. In addition, the Attorney has provided a link to a League of Minnesota Cities memo on the topic and the portion of said memo that pertains to utility billing/water shut offs. Acting Public Works Director Anderson explained from a Public Works standpoint, that if directed in accordance with the City's adopted policy, Public Works can shut off water. He noted that from time to time the shut off valve may not be accessible, may not operate if it has not been turned recently, or may start leaking when operated. If a water shut off valve requires repair, this is a City cost and therefore the City may incur repair costs during a water shut off.