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Councilmember Kurak noted that residents may be looking at a $72 a year fee per meter, but the <br />school bond levy will be decreasing and so will property taxes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook stated that he did not. th/nk that any of the Councihnembers were taking <br />the issue lightly. He goes to work everyday and will also have to pay the franchise fee. The <br />Council has spent many hours looking at the budget and they just don't have many options. As a <br />City they can't go out and make more money for the City like you can do as a private entity. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig questioned if they were to make assumptions similar to what he suggested <br />couldn't they proceed with accepting the budget as has been discussed and then if they come up <br />short the Council could look at implementing the franchise fee in April. Tabling action until <br />Apr/1 gives the Council time to see what will happen as far as revenues rather than charging <br />residents a fee which may not be needed and not being able to give it back. <br /> <br />Mayor_Gamec felt that if the Council proceeds with .the current budget not knowing where the <br />revenues will come from they could find themselves in more trouble. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman stated that it was not possible for staff to respond, to the potential <br />revenue sources because they were just presented the information. He noted that he would have <br />some concerns with some of the suggestions made. Mr. Norman was more concerned with <br />attempting to risk a shortfall rather than the risk of charging too much to the citizens. The City <br />has to have a plan in place that they can back off on rather than hoping for something to correct <br />itself. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that they have to look at the conservative side of things and if <br />there are options that allow them to do that they should research those options. If they are at a <br />point where they are at that conservative level then they should move forward with the franchise <br />fee and review it in six months. If in six months they find that they had adequate revenues to <br />cover the budget and no longer need a franchise fee she will not vote in favor of continuing the <br />franchise fee. <br /> <br />Motion by Mayor Gamec, seconded by Councilmember Cook, to adopt Ordinance #03-44 <br />establishing a gas franchise fee on Centerpoint Energy Mirmegasco, a division of Centerpoint <br />Energy Resources Corp., a Delaware Corporation, for providing gas energy service within the <br />City of Ramsey, at the rate of $3.00 per residential meter and $6.00 per commercial meter with a <br />one year sunset clause, a two meter maximum and a quarterly review or as soon as practicable. <br /> <br />A roll call vote was performed by the Recording Secretary: <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook aye <br />Councitmember Zimmerman nay <br />Councilmember Pearson aye <br />Councilmember Elvig nay <br />Councilmember Strommen aye <br />Councilmember Kurak aye <br />Mayor Gamec aye <br /> <br />P26 <br /> <br />City Council/October 28, 2003 <br /> Page 8 of 17 <br /> <br /> <br />