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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 05, 2011 Page 3 Anderson expressed her disappointment in this shortfall not having been addressed in previous budgets. Regarding the proposed utility rate base fee, Ms. Anderson opined that this would have the most impact on those of a lower socio-economic status and those on fixed incomes; and questioned if the City Council investigate all other sources of alternative income to offset the utility rate base fee prior to its implementation; further opining that it seemed to represent a disproportionate increase for some in the community. Tom Stratton,3000 Sandy Hook Drive Opining that the City of Roseville had a great water system, Mr. Stratton encouraged the City Council to consider, as part of the long-range CIP system, plans for a gray water system included with other upgrades to the City's water system over the next 40-50 years. Karen Schaffer,2100 Fairview Avenue Ms. Schaffer referenced a recent article in the New York Times and a study done by a University of MN professor addressing "The New Face of Poverty," providing an analy- sis of data from the Department of Agriculture on the trends in students qualifying and receiving free or reduced cost lunches as schools across the United States. Ms. Schaffer cited statistics from that data of fourth graders and the significant increase in students qualifying up to 52%. Ms. Schaffer noted that the City of Roseville, MN was included in the statistics, indicating an increase in qualifying school children from 29% in 2006/2007 to a current 42%. In the context of the City's annual budget, and proposed increases to property taxes of 4%, increases in utility charges and other impacts to households, Ms. Schaffer noted that the parents of these hungry children as taxpayers were also being asked to pay for park amenities and carrying charges to borrow funds for those amenities. While noting that it had been demonstrated that it was cheaper to borrow sooner than later, Ms. Schaffer opined that it had not been demonstrated that it was not preferable for the City of Rose- ville to pay-as-you-go for the proposed bonding for improvements. Ms. Schaffer further opined that the City's approach for multiple increases in light of"The New Face of Pov- erty," was discordant and flat-out wrong from both a moral and ethical sense. While per- haps not reasonable or possible to reduce the City's tax burden, Ms. Schaffer opined that it was possible to avoid saddling property owners with any additional major debt service. Joe Wozniak, 718 Sextant Avenue Mr. Wozniak encouraged the City Council, in their upgrading of the City's water and sewer systems, consider implementing grey water systems, and encouraged a stronger look at water conservation measures to reduce future costs for future uses. On a personal note, Mr. Wozniak, as a homeowner required to run a siphon to avoid pipes from freezing in his home in the winter months, asked that as part of future up- grades, that the City consider some way to address these incorrect installations. While