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<br />S \ \,\,\{:,(\'\.Q \ "~L <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: Samantha Orduno - City Administrator <br />Mayor Linke <br />councilmembers Blanchard, Quick, Rickaby and Wuori <br />FROM: Tim Cruikshank - Management Intern <br />DATE: 8/27/91 <br />RE: Street light utility survey summary <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Because of a soft economy and cuts in state aid, municipalities <br />are faced with a dilemma. They must either reduce existing <br />services or generate additional revenue to balance the budget. <br />In an effort to maintain the current level of services to <br />residents without increasing property taxes, municipalities are <br />looking at other ways to generate additional revenue. Some of <br />these ways have been to implement street light utility programs <br />whereby users are charged a fee. Historically, cities have borne <br />the expense of providing street lights from the general fund. <br />with increasing costs in this area and to stay consistent with <br />the current user fee trend, cities are beginning to implement <br />street light utility programs. For some cities, implementing a <br />street light utility program has proven to be an effective method <br />of generating revenue. <br /> <br />WHO'S DOING IT? <br /> <br />After surveying approximately fifty-five metropolitan cities and <br />consulting with the League of Minnesota cities, I found there are <br />currently ten cities that have implemented a street light utility <br />program. Of these ten cities, nine had implemented it by 1983 or <br />before. They are Eagan (1978), Coon Rapids (1969), Lakeville <br />(1978), Maple Grove (1983), Cottage Grove (1977), crystal (1976), <br />Dayton (1978), Plymouth (1983) and Woodbury (1981). The one city <br />that has done so recently is Apple Valley. They implemented it <br />in 1991. <br /> <br />While only ten cities currently have a street light utility <br />program ~n place, several others are seriously looking into the <br />possibility. The League of Minnesota cities has recently had <br />inquiries from six cities in the metropolitan area and <br />approximately ten additional cities surveyed expressed an <br />interest in the option. <br /> <br />HOW IS IT IMPLEMENTED? <br /> <br />cities that have successfully implemented a street light utility <br />have done so by using an aggressive and thorough advertising <br />