Agenda - Council - 10/22/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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the City can charge a franchise fee to someone who does not live on a City street and asked the Council to reconsider and fund the SMP through real estate tax instead of a franchise fee. Wayne Buchholz, 14621 Neon Street NW, stated he is upset because of the impact to senior citizens, noting that 80% living in the senior apartment building do not even drive and some pay rent with vouchers yet would get charged a franchise fee with an electric bill. He stated next door, in the upscale apartments, it is all electricity so they will each only pay an $8 fee, which he thinks if off base on being fair. Mr. Buchholz felt property tax was the fairest way to go and it is in the City's Charter for a reason. He stated it is harder but that is why the Council was elected. Mr. Buchholz stated past history is no different than Social Security or Medicare and asked how that is working because the federal government has "their hands in everything." Mr. Buchholz stated this is government and this Council may not be here in four years and the next Council may change things and use the money for something else. He stated he also visited another apartment building and they did a petition with 1 person supporting franchise fees out of 28. He submitted the petition to staff. Mr. Buchholz stated past Councils managed to reduce taxes and put money aside for road repairs by not hiring. He stated the members elected supported putting staff back on salary but there are "wants" and "needs" and the Council cannot "have the cake and eat it too." He stated the Council wants to hire an EDA Manager at $70,000 to $80,000 a year, which he does not support and asked what the past EDA Manager brought into the City that is still here today. He felt if taxes are kept down, businesses will come. Eric Zaetsch, 6521 154th Avenue NW, stated he is worried about the "guppy that will swallow the whale." He felt there was incentive to shuffle more to the franchise fee as there are levy limits. He asked the Council to consider safeguards in the Charter, not the ordinance, as it is harder to undue when there is a new Council with new thoughts. He suggested an annual cap with a sunset rule in the Charter. Mr. Zaetsch stated the last Council borrowed from one fund to pay another and if there is a franchise fee, there should be no borrowing to fund something else, which he felt would be another good safeguard to include in the Charter. He stated the Charter Commission is interested in franchise fees and will arrange to have a hearing on it. Mr. Zaetsch stated he also serves on the Charter Commission and asked the Council to think about it. Tanya Hufnagel, 5741 158th Court, stated in these economic times we need to live within our means and as projects come up, the City is talking about additional taxes and franchise fees but she felt the City needed to instead look at cuts. She stated there are "wants" and "needs" and if roads are a need, then it should be looked at instead of charging something else. She felt the City needed to stop doing what is "nice" and "extra" and get back to the basics instead of looking at how to get more money. Ms. Hufnagel stated she does not support increased taxes or franchise fees and supports the Council making cuts instead of burdening residents because of these proj ects. Nancy Bendtsen, 14131 Junkite Street NW, stated the 2014 levy is being increased by almost 10% already and by adding the franchise fee, it is an additional 20%, and residents may not be aware that their taxes will increased 30%. She stated at the last meeting, a motion passed to attach delinquent utility bills to property taxes if the property owner was behind in making utility payments. Ms. Bendtsen stated she had asked what percentage of residents struggle to pay water, sewer, street lighting, and storm drainage. It is 15-17% of residents who are already City Council / October 8, 2013 Page 11 of 24