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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,November 25, 2013 <br /> Page 16 <br /> Laliberte moved, McGehee seconded, adoption of Resolution No. 11109 (At- <br /> tachment C) entitled, "Local Government Resolution Economic Development <br /> Program." <br /> Mayor Roe noted that this would also serve to revitalize a currently vacant build- <br /> ing, while recognizing that it would create another vacancy in the Langton Lake <br /> area, which hopefully would be filled in the near future with recent increased in- <br /> terest in that area. <br /> Roll Call <br /> Ayes: Willmus; Etten; McGehee; Laliberte; and Roe. <br /> Nays: None. <br /> 12. Budget Items <br /> a. 2014 Utility Fees <br /> Finance Director Chris Miller advised that this staff analysis and recommenda- <br /> tions were intended for discussion purposes only tonight, with formal City Coun- <br /> cil action anticipated at a subsequent meeting. Mr. Miller noted that this analysis <br /> was performed by staff on an annual basis to determine if adjustments were indi- <br /> cated for the City's utility rates using a number of external factors to address fixed <br /> costs, variable costs, capital replacement costs, and customer counts and con- <br /> sumptions patterns and rate structures. Mr. Miller advised that staffs recommen- <br /> dation was based on this analysis. <br /> Mr. Miller reviewed comparisons charges (pages 6-8) with peer communities for <br /> its enterprise funds, with those communities representing first-ring suburbs having <br /> their own systems. Mr. Miller referenced the draft resolution (page 9) for adop- <br /> tion tonight or when the City Council was comfortable in doing so by December. <br /> Water Conservation Rates (Attachment B) <br /> Mr. Miler referenced the current water conservation rate structure and policy chal- <br /> lenges with its effectiveness without punishing those already exhibiting conserva- <br /> tion efforts. Mr. Miller also referenced discussions held and recommendations <br /> regarding that issue at the October 2013 PWETC meeting(Attachment D). <br /> Councilmember McGehee expressed her concurrence with the recommendations <br /> of the PWEC; opining that conservation rates have not done much, but haven't <br /> hurt. Councilmember McGehee spoke in support of a larger policy discussion <br /> on the entire topic of business and retail rates and funding infrastructure in <br /> that area. <br /> Utility Bill Senior Discount Program (Attachment C) <br /> Mr. Miller noted that this had been a topic of discussion over the last decade; with <br /> the PWETC also weighing in and making recommendations (Attachment D); and <br />