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Member Cihacek opined that he found the proposed ordinance revisions fine, but <br /> questioned long-term impacts, and suggested that as staff moved forward from <br /> initial inspections, they consider future impacts and schedule future discussion of <br /> those potential impacts moving forward. <br /> Ms. Giga noted that many cities, as part of their annual pavement management <br /> program (PMP), have televised sewer inspections as part of their process to <br /> determine if a significant amount of clear water is coming into the system, and at <br /> that point send written notice to property owners in that area that inspections <br /> would be performed. <br /> In Section 802.11, Ms. Giga noted additional language, modeled from ordinance <br /> in three other communities (St. Anthony, Arden Hills and Golden Valley), with <br /> language suggested not as stringent or aggressive as those communities, nor with <br /> the stiff fine for those found not in compliance. Ms. Giga advised that the Arden <br /> Hills model was found to be more general and less detailed, especially the portion <br /> addressing surcharges for those found not in compliance at the determination of <br /> the City Council, with that fee included in the annual fee schedule and <br /> periodically updated to avoid seeming arbitrary or capricious. <br /> Chair Stenlund concurred with the language; but opined it was unfair for the City <br /> Council to penalize property owners, preferring to set a fee to avoid being <br /> arbitrary and capricious. <br /> Ms. Giga referenced language of the St. Anthony model(Section G) regarding the <br /> City not issuing permits for any property found not in compliance and required <br /> inspections at the time any other permits are being pulled, noting that this <br /> language could be incorporated for future inspections. Regarding rates and <br /> charges, Ms. Giga provided a table showing other city fees for surcharges and <br /> non-compliance continuing after re-inspection, with that research based on a <br /> survey of the Cities of Eden Prairie, Fridley, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, <br /> Minnetonka, Mounds View, New Hope, Plymouth, Shoreview, St. Anthony and <br /> West St. Paul. <br /> At the request of Member Cihacek, Mr. Culver noted the intent of a community <br /> was to provide the appropriate fee for non-compliance that would provide <br /> sufficient financial incentive to become compliant in a timely manner. Mr. <br /> Culver estimated the cost for sump pump connections could vary from several <br /> hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the amount of piping required <br /> to reroute discharges to the exterior of a home. <br /> Member Seigler expressed concern that elderly residents may not have money to <br /> pay the surcharge, nor to pay for work needing done to reroute connections. <br /> Mr. Schwartz noted that concern for future reference, while reiterating that the <br /> initial issue is gathering data, with proposed ordinance language to address that <br /> Page 6 of 14 <br />