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Regular City Council Minutes — 1 1/18/02 <br />DRAFT 1�Iinutes - Page 4 <br />The analysis entailed a review of the Water, Sanitary <br />Sewer, Storm Water Drainage, and Recycling operations. <br />Mr. Miller specifically reviewed each enterprise operation <br />and included fixed city costs (i.e., personnel, supplies and <br />maintenance, and depreciation); variable costs (i.e., the <br />purchase of water from the City of St. Paul, water <br />treatment costs from the Metropolitan Council,, and <br />Recycling Contractor costs); capital replacement costs; <br />and current customer base, rates and rate structure. <br />Mr. Miller clarified that the staff report recycling rates <br />should reflect a single family rate, as well as a multi- <br />family rate, in keeping with Council action regarding <br />inclusion of curbside service for multi-family units. <br />Mr. Miller provided specific overall impacts to single <br />family, single family homes with senior discount, and <br />commercial properties of less than two percent (2%) to <br />property owners. <br />Mr. Miller stated that he had received residential <br />comments for the City to consider implementing a means <br />test for senior discount qualifications (i.e., disability, <br />pension, or social security). <br />Discussion included the history of the senior discount and <br />comparison with other cities regarding any discounts <br />available; support of a need-based study to see if it is <br />administratively cost-effective; an explanation by Mr. <br />Miller of the city's flat fee/usage fee (differing for <br />residential and commercial); provision for outdoor water <br />usage adjustments; the accommodation for proportioning <br />fixed fees for infrastructure installation, maintenance and <br />replacement; potential future water rates reflecting <br />negotiations with St. Paul Water after the existing contract <br />expires at the end of 2004; other options for water <br />purchases; 2400 single family homes (20% of all <br />customers) receiving senior discounts on an "honor <br />system;" estimate of $120/year discount for each of those <br />residents for a total of $300,000; and whether the city <br />should be raising some water bills in order to give others a <br />