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<br />Regular City Council Minutes - 1/27/03 <br />Page 11 <br /> <br />Dr. Richard Verhagen, 176 South Owasso <br />Dr. Verhagen spoke in opposition to the project, based on <br />interpretation on what a seemingly minimal cost means to <br />someone on a fixed income; and suggested that Xcel <br />Energy consider paying for the undergrounding as a "pro <br />bono" situation. <br /> <br />Ms. Jurich responded that it was the decision of the Public <br />Utilities Commission that as only those residents within a <br />jurisdiction benefited from undergrounding, it would be <br />unfair for all Xcel customers to pay for that specific <br />undergrounding, thus the creation of the CRFS. <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn further clarified with staff on Mr. <br />Sand's comments regarding the original County Road C <br />Streetscape plans presented, with three original options, <br />with the City choosing the mid-priced plan, and any <br />additional federal funding was not available as a funding <br />source for this phase of the project, but would be applied <br />to Phase II (Snelling to Lexington Avenues). <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn closed the Public Hearing at 8:28 p.m. <br /> <br />Councilmembers Schroeder and Kough again spoke of <br />their opposition to undergrounding. <br /> <br />Councilmember Maschka spoke in favor of the project, <br />with his preference that the tax could have been done <br />upfront on the levy. <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn spoke in favor of the project, given <br />that the CRFS fee, once paid off, would drop offutility <br />bills and not be permanent. <br /> <br />Discussion included the franchise fee as a potential <br />funding source; recent 2003 budget reductions; finding <br />additional areas in the budget that could be reallocated as a <br />funding source; and a desire for more public input. <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn and Councilmen1ber Maschka <br />