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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, November 09, 2009 Page 18 City), since fees should cover costs; and opined that it may be more ap- propriate for a fee versus a property tax. Councilmember Pust noted a continual complaint she heard was a lack of street lighting and if this fee could be used for additional lights; as well as applied to requests by the public for sidewalk installation. Mr. Miller responded affirmatively, allowing for an increased presence of street lighting on certain streets or system-wide. Mr. Miller noted that the City of St. Paul charges fees for sidewalk installation as requested by the public, and that it could be researched further. Councilmember Pust sought additional information on how the public would benefit (i.e., commercial police patrol) and fiscal implications. Councilmember Pust sought how much anticipated income would be real- ized from fees for any of the options. Mr. Miller advised that additional staff time could be allotted to provide additional information depending on the direction of the City Council and their interest in pursuing these options. Mr. Miller estimated potential fees at between $25,000 - $50,000 annually for any of the options. Discussion included potential and specific areas that maybe interested in a higher level of service; previous discussion for a street light fee; limita- tions on use of revenues specific to those items identified and depreciation costs, but providing relief to the General Fund. Councilmember Ihlan expressed interest in looking at the Commercial po- lice patrol fee, opining that a large amount of the Police budget was ex- pended in the commercial area; and could potentially provide significant help to the Police Department budget. Councilmember Ihlan noted that the City missed an opportunity in applying a student enrollment fee when Northwestern College applied for the expansion of their college campus, and a brief discussion was held related to Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PI- LOT), without any resolution. Councilmember Ihlan spoke in opposition of a student enrollment fee falling on students; however, spoke in support of the City leveraging fees from a college, given the amount of City ser- vices they utilized. Councilmember Roe noted that the City did look into PILOT; and sug- gested that additional information be provided by staff, similar to that of the Commercial patrol fee, on tying real costs to the fees, rather than mak- ing presumptions that most of the Police Department costs are related to commercial activities. Councilmember Roe opined that, while such pre- sumptions maybe valid, they needed to be substantiated by actual costs.