2016-01-26_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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491 several years before offering that option, initiated last year, and representing their 492 newest offering by their firm after the point of entry of the laterals. 493 494 Ms. Shiwarski noted this could provide another small revenue stream, as their firm 495 provided a 50 center/month revenue sharing plan to the municipality for each 496 contract they received from individual homeowners as a form of royalty allotted to 497 the city every January. Ms. Shiwarski advised that cities did a variety of things 498 with that revenue, with the most common thing to develop a fund to assist low- 499 income families with their utility bills or for those experiencing a high water bill 500 due to a leak, and used to offset some of the cost for that resident. Ms. Shiwarski 501 noted other municipalities chose to put tha revenue back into the public 502 infrastructure program. 503 504 Specific to marketing their warranty program, Ms. Shiwarski reported that they do 505 not do any door-to-door solicitation, but plan three separate campaigns in the 506 spring, fall and winter to market each of their three products separately to limit 507 confusion for residents. Ms. Shiwarski advised that residents could choose all three 508 warranty programs, or any combination of the three. s. Shiwarski further reported 509 that their firm did not send out any mailing to residents in a community without 510 prior city review and approval of the marketing letter itself and envelope in which 511 it will be sent. Ms. Shiwarski advised that this procedure was followed for each 512 and every campaign, even if previously mailing ad been approved by the 513 municipality, allowing the city to have input on the ' ailing itself and the exact 514 mailing dates. Ms. Shiwarski advised that their firm worked with each municipality 515 on tools to limit calls to the city for the initial campign, and to customize press 516 releases for the media of the city's choice. Ms. Shiwarski advised that this typically 517 involved a letter offering the city partnership and their firm's contact information, 518 a customized web banner for the city website featuring a live chat for residents to 519 visit with a customer service agent at their preference. 520 521 Once their firm partners with a municipality, Ms. Shiwarski reported that each city 522 partner had access to their firm's online partner portal for city access and up-to- 523 date resident enrollment for each product and a list of the number of claims and 524 accruing royalty for the municipality. Ms. Shiwarski noted that each resident was 525 surveyed,,,, etermine their satisfaction and to immediately address any problem 526 areas. 527 528 Of their 290 mu ipal partners across the United States, Ms. Shiwarski noted there 529 were seven in the State of MN as listed in the information provided to the PWETC 530 tonight, including the City of St. Louis Park. 531 532 At the request of Member Cihacek, Ms. Shiwarski reviewed standard pricing for 533 water, sewer and in-home plumbing averaging $6.765, $7.75 and $6.99 534 respectively. Ms. Shiwarski noted that a resident could cancel at any time, and 535 receive a refund of remaining premiums submitted. 536 Page 12 of 18