Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, February 12,2007 <br />Page 21 of 30 <br /> <br />of the leaf collection program in the overall cost analysis of the program and <br />benefits to the City. Mr. Schwartz provided the approximate city subsidy <br />costs per user as part of his analysis. <br /> <br />Councilmember Pust thanked staff for providing the cost comparison figures. <br />Councilmember Pust opined that this was a huge, valuable program for the City, <br />but questioned if there were ways to better cover administrative costs and registra- <br />tion enforcement concerns. <br /> <br />Discussion included accuracy of comparison costs; administrative procedures and <br />costs; voluntary payment for participating in the program and collection rate analy- <br />sis; program enforcement and abuses; perceptions of residents that the program <br />was "free," and the need to lnake the adlninistrative costs as revenue-neutral as <br />possible; and the positive comments and apparent value to residents of continuing <br />the program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kough spoke in support of continuing the program, and the bene- <br />fits to the City for alleviating leaves in the sewer system. <br /> <br />Public Comment <br />John Kysylyczyn, 3083 N Victoria Street <br />Mr. Kysylyczyn noted the pluses and minuses he perceived in the leaf collection <br />program. He opined that, in many ways, it highlighted wasteful and misdirected <br />spending of local government while increasing taxes. Mr. Kysylyczyn calculated <br />that only 11 % of city residents were using the program, but that the City was <br />spending $11,000 to subsidize the program with 100% taxpayer monies, and it was <br />only benefiting single-family residential property owners, not the entire tax base, <br />including multi-family and commercial properties. Mr. Kysylyczyn questioned the <br />equipment costs, questioned if this was money best spent at a local level, and ques- <br />tioned the wisdom of municipal decision makers. <br /> <br />Further City Council and staff discussion ensued. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan questioned if a storm water user fee were established for all <br />commercial and residential property owners, and the City provided the service to <br />anyone, how much of an operating fee would be required to support the program. <br /> <br />Mr. Schwartz noted that it would be difficult to determine; and reviewed the pro- <br />gram the City had previously used by not charging a fee and advertising dates for <br />