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Truth-in-Taxation Hearing and Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 03, 2007 Page 16 Councilmember Pust questioned staffl s rationale in capping the soil contamina- tion fee at $300 (page 3 of the chart), with Mr. Schwartz and Mr. Miller advising that they would review and report back to the City Council. Roe moved, Kough seconded, adopted Resolution No. 10574 entitled, "Resolu- tion Establishing the Revised 2008 Fee Schedule;" effective January 1, 2008; as amended to reflect current dog and cat license fees as recently adopted by ordi- nance; and directing staff to formulate a policy for future Council consideration and action in seeking restitution only from insured individuals for Fire rescue and extrication fees. Roll Call Ayes: Kough; Roe; Ihlan; Pust; and Klausing. Nays: None. d. Consider Adopting a Resolution Establishing the 2008 Utility Rate Adjust- ments Finance Director Chris Miller summarized staff's recommendations following analysis of the City's utility operations to determine rate adjustments for 2008. Mr. Miller advised that for each operation (water, sanitary sewer, storm water drainage, and recycling), consideration was given to fixed City costs, including personnel, supplies, maintenance, and depreciation; variable costs including the purchase of water from the City of St. Paul, water treatment costs paid to the Met- ropolitan Council, and recycling contractor costs; capital replacement costs; and current customer base, rates and rate structures. Councilmember Kough questioned his personal water fees; with Mr. Schwartz advising he would review the situation with Councilmember Kough outside the meeting. Mr. Schwartz noted actual usage, and potential problems between the meter and the outside remote reader. Councilmember Roe clarified, for public information, that if the meter inside the house and the outside remote reader showed different readings, there was a prob- lem, and needed rectifying. Councilmember Roe further clarified that staff would work with property owners to ensure that the differential would be billed over time rather than as a one-time hit. Mr. Schwartz verified that this had been past practice. City Manager Malinen noted that, his past experience, was that in general, water meters had a tendency to lose 1 % of their accuracy per year; and with older me- ters, the City was losing based on charges that could be applied based on reported usage. Mr. Malinen opined that this begged for the City to have a program in place to recalibrate meters, especially large commercial meters, on a scheduled basis to avoid such losses.