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<br />Regular City Council Minutes - 2/3/03 <br />Page 6 <br /> <br />provided options to revise the discount program if directed <br />by the Council to do so. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller estimated approximately 11,800 single-family <br />households in the City, with approximately 2,500, or 21 %, <br />currently receiving the discount. Mr. Miller further <br />estimated that each of the participating households <br />received a $33.40 annual discount, at a total annual cost of <br />$83,500 per year to the city's other water and sewer <br />customers to provide this subsidy; with total annual water <br />and sewer revenues from customers at approximately $6 <br />million. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller advised Councilnlenlbers that staff had been <br />unable, in researching City records and files, to determine <br />the origins of the Senior Discount Program; and expressed <br />concern that the current program lacked accountability. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller provided several potential options the Council <br />could consider in revising their Discount Program, <br />including but not limited to: <br />1) Make no changes to the Program; <br />2) Establish new eligibility requirements to require <br />fixed income status AND demonstrated financial <br />need; <br />3) Establish new eligibility requirements based solely <br />on financial need, regardless of fixed income status; <br />4) Increase the discount to provide greater assistance; <br />5) Eliminate the City's Program and not replace it with <br />anything; <br />6) Eliminate the City's Program and institute a <br />voluntary customer contribution progranl to help <br />needy persons pay their utility bills. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller advised that Options 2, 3, and 6 would entail <br />substantial increases in City administrative costs and <br />oversight duties. <br /> <br />Mr. Miller asked for additional Council comment and <br />guidance to staff at this point. <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn expressed disappointment that records <br />