04-30-2020-SWS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION _ APRIL 3O,2O2O City Administrator Perrault clarified that the consideration was to waive just the late charge, which is a fee that is 8o/o of the total amount due. He stated the bills were due on May I and a more accurate projected dollar figure could be calculated after the due date. Mayor Grant asked if the dollar figure in question is $5,000. Finance Director Bauman stated the $5,000 estimate was based on the same period in a normal year and that it was unknown what the total would be this year. She suggested the option of postponing billing of the late fees until the end of May, prior to starting the assessment process for delinquents. She said this would give customers another three to four weeks to pay the bill. Councilmember Scott stated he would like to proceed with waiving the late fee. Councilmembers Holden, McClung and Holmes indicated they agreed with Finance Director Bauman's approach of waiting until the end of the month before making a decision. Mayor Grant stated he too was in favor of deferring a decision until the end of May. City Administrator Perrault apologized, noting the Zoom meeting experienced a 20 second technical difficulty. Mayor Grant asked if City Administrator Perrault had received clear direction. City Administrator Perrault confirmed the Council's direction to revisit waiving utility bill late fees until the end of May. The discussion turned to Parks and Recreation programs. Mayor Grant asked what could be done to accommodate social distancing and what other cities were considering. City Administrator Perrault said that offering activities such as playground activities, basketball, softball and baseball were difficult. He stated there were programs that better allow social distancing such as tennis, pickle ball and golf, but these activities had been placed on hold per previous Council direction. He said the City could consider hosting art camps in the parks if adequate social distancing could be achieved. He stated that most cities have not made a decision regarding cancelling or postponing summer programming yet, so there was not sufficient background for a comparison. Pubtic Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom stated that staff polled the cities of Roseville, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Mounds View and New Brighton, and that these cities have not yet made a clear long-term decision in terms of what they can and cannot do. Mayor Grant stated that due to the pandemic, the City Council shut down the parks and recreation programs, and he was interested in learning what potential programs could be offered. He said that if there are no programs that can be offered, then there may be other decisions that Council must make. J