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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, February 26, 2024 <br /> Page 4 <br /> Mayor Roe indicated the title of the Ordinance title still shows "Require Water <br /> Meter Security Deposit" and he wondered if it should read "Require Water Meter <br /> Fee". <br /> Mr. Freihammer agreed it should probably be changed. He noted at the next <br /> Council meeting,staff will bring forward a fee schedule update to reflect the change <br /> from security deposit to a fee. <br /> Mr. Trudgeon noted, regarding the water meter deposit, the staff report mentions <br /> that the deposits will be returned over a period of forty to fifty years as people sell <br /> their home. After conversations with a couple of Councilmembers, there is interest <br /> in returning the water meter deposits to the homeowners on a more accelerated <br /> schedule. He noted as a reminder,most of the City's funds are tied up in non-liquid <br /> assets so it will take some time to return all of the deposits.He suggested staff bring <br /> forward a plan to look at proactively refunding these amounts over a period of <br /> years. However,nothing needs to be done in regard to that because it is not written <br /> in the Code to be paid back in a certain way. <br /> Mayor Roe thanked Mr. Trudgeon for bringing that up because it could be on the <br /> public's mind that if the City does not need the deposits and still have some of the <br /> residents' money,why it is not being refunded to them. <br /> Councilmember Groff asked how it is handled if a meter breaks. <br /> Mr. Freihammer explained if it breaks due to the resident, the City Code stipulates <br /> the homeowner will pay for the new meter and if the meter were to just stop <br /> working, the City would replace the meter at the City's cost. <br /> Public Comment <br /> Mayor Roe offered an opportunity for public comment. <br /> Mr. Roger Hess,Wagener Place <br /> Mr. Hess asked what costs is the City trying to recover with the new fee. He also <br /> asked how many meters disappear each year where a security deposit was added. <br /> He agreed the money should be refunded as soon as possible but he was not sure if <br /> the Council should postpone the vote on this because when the email was sent out <br /> about the proposed ordinance, the page in the packet was completely opposite of <br /> what is being proposed tonight.He was not sure if the information should be revised <br /> and notification resent so people know what is being voted on tonight because a lot <br /> of people might have looked at the proposed ordinance page and thought it was <br /> okay but had not looked at the packet page, which is correct. <br />