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Councilmember Riley stated the franchise fee option is the only complete funding source. He <br />added franchise fees put the onus on the Charter Commission to remove Charter language <br />pertaining to assessments. <br />Councilmember Kuzma disagreed, adding elected officials would not get re-elected. <br />Chairperson Field stated if the City is not required to utilize franchise fees as a funding source, <br />then the Charter Commission has the authority to not involve the City in franchise fees. <br />Mayor Strommen stated there would have to be a vote. <br />Chairperson Field agreed, but reiterated that it is an option. <br />Councilmember Riley stated he would support a levy but not franchise fees. <br />Mayor Strommen stated the meeting is intended as a discussion of possible solutions, but not a <br />vote. She added additional research is necessary for some funding options so the City Council <br />can address these concerns and move forward with budget decisions. <br />Chairperson Field asked how roads maintenance funding would be handled after the 5-year <br />sunset ends. <br />Mayor Strommen stated that will be up to a future City Council. She added it's necessary to <br />have a protection that would not be a perpetual fee. <br />Commissioner Deemer stated the Charter Commission was considering a Charter amendment <br />pertaining to franchise fees. He asked whether the City Council would consider an alternative <br />solution and restrict assessments in the Charter. <br />Commissioner Sivertson asked whether assessments would be null and void if franchise fees are <br />instituted. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated there would be no assessments during the implementation of <br />franchise fees. <br />Councilmember Backous stated he would like to see everything in the budget, and sunset the <br />figures with decrements, so that any future Council would be forced to ensure that the declining <br />revenue stream will be addressed in one way or another. <br />A resident present thanked the meeting attendees for putting in the time and effort to discuss the <br />various funding options. He added the City has to provide funding for these core services, and <br />these are Charter issues that require a solution. <br />Mayor Strommen stated the City Council and Charter Commission hoped to find common <br />understanding of a potential way forward for funding the street maintenance program. <br />City Council Work Session / November 19, 2013 <br />Page 12 of 15 <br />