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Regular City Council Minutes - 4/14/03 Page 8 Councilmember Klausing expressed concern that the Commission's minutes did not reflect the rationale in their decision-making; and would be helpful as the Council considered their recommendation. Councilmember Kough opined that senior citizens had earned their discount and spoke in favor of continuing the senior discount program, with no eligibility requirements other than age. Councilmember Klausing questioned shifting a portion of utility costs to other taxpayers to provide a senior discount unless there was a need for that subsidy. Mayor Kysylyczyn concurred with several of Councilmember Klausing's comments regarding the inequities of the discount program, with one set of rules for the senior population, and one set of rules for those under age 65 and the recertification required for just that group. Mayor Kysylyczyn expressed concern that the Public Works and Transportation Commission apparently did not address more global questions or provide an analysis of the initial intent of the program; whether this was the role of City government; was the discount making a difference to those in need; were the right people being targeted, or should more money be targeted to a different group of people; and could the subsidy be used for a better purpose to help more people. Mayor Kysylyczyn recommended that those questions be referred back to the Commission for more study. Mayor Kysylyczyn further questioned whether those people who would be eligible for the program under Federal Poverty guidelines were actually homeowners, or if they were renting and their landlord was responsible for utility billings. Councilmember Schroeder advised that Ramsey Action Program (RAP) through Ramsey County used the Federal Poverty guidelines on which to base their programs and