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Mr. Schwartz reiterated that the information exists, but may be buried depending <br /> on the age of the system, type of materials, but not immediately available for a <br /> city-wide analysis in an efficient manner. <br /> Member Cihacek opined that the question was whether as a utility <br /> customer/homeowner, would they prefer to pay incrementally for a commodity <br /> that they may never realize any benefit and to support a long-term program with a <br /> sinking fund. Member Cihacek noted that, without the benefit of records and <br /> permit, and code applicability, and only less than 1% of the City's properties <br /> pulling permits now for this work, it appeared not to be an issue at this time, but <br /> was foreseen to be in the future, even though that remained an unknown. Member <br /> Cihacek expressed appreciation for the information from the Finance Department, <br /> but in order for him to support the City taking on this liability and increasing <br /> water and sewer base rates to fund that liability, he would need information on the <br /> structure and disclosure versus that projected rate increase. Member Cihacek <br /> stated that personally he would accept a rate increase without that information <br /> being available, with the monies raised to be used to consolidate the current City <br /> recordkeeping data. <br /> Member Seigler opined there were too many scenarios where a homeowner could <br /> get the short end of the stick depending on the location of the main, opining that <br /> he therefore preferred the City assuming liability of the laterals from the property <br /> line to the main. <br /> Member Cihacek asked Member Seigler if he was willing to accept an additional <br /> $20 per month fee for that change in policy. <br /> Member Seigler responded that he would support building a fund via fees to cover <br /> long-term over the next year, unless the City performed clean-outs on a wholesale <br /> level, otherwise he would support fees increasing sufficiently to cover costs over <br /> the next year and over time grow that fund, with a line item on utility bills <br /> defining that fee to cover the City assuming liability for lateral lines. <br /> Mr. Schwartz responded that, if that were to occur, the City would need to further <br /> determine its risk in terms of damage, since this would put the onus on the City <br /> for future failures and sewer backups and other issues if proven negligent in <br /> keeping mains cleaned out. Mr. Schwartz clarified that currently the City is not <br /> typically liable for a lateral line failure provided it had documented maintenance <br /> of the main and the problem was in the lateral and not the main. <br /> Chair Stenlund noted that televising the lines can be accomplished, but usually <br /> not all the way into the home due to difficult turns in the lines. <br /> Mr. Culver noted that it was often difficult to make a determination where the <br /> blockage was at when property damage occurred, making it difficult to prove <br /> where responsibility laid. Mr. Culver questioned the shift for that responsibility <br /> Page 13 of 17 <br />