Agenda - Council - 02/25/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Councilmember Backous noted every decision the Council makes impacts a future Council's decisions. Councilmember Riley stated next year this Council can decide to change something as can a future Council but if within the Charter, it cannot be changed. Councilmember Kuzma stated he finds their proposal to be too restrictive. Councilmember Johns stated she agreed with that sentiment, noting the Council found themselves in a situation to reluctantly move to franchise fees with sideboards to assure it was done in a responsible manner so there is no reason to project that someone elected in the future would not be equally responsible. She stated franchise fees would allow a temporary bridge for funding and she finds the Charter Commission's proposal to be too restrictive. Councilmember LeTourneau stated he would like the opportunity to use franchise fees for five years with a strong commitment to find a replacement for funding during that time period. He stated that is what can be accomplished with Alternative 2 but he does not support the hard line of the sunset. He stated he thinks the Council would focus on alternative funding during that five year term. Mayor Strommen agreed the Council's goal is for a five-year sunset but her issue is that the Council is declaring there is a crisis so this Council wants to use the option of franchise fees but it cannot be used by a future Council. She supported sticking to the commitment to find another revenue sources within that timeframe but she does not support putting that into the Charter. Councilmember Riley stated if the Council is committed to this and the Charter Commission does not support it, he would ask whether the Council can consider enacting a franchise fee ordinance only through a super majority (5 of 7 affirmative votes). City Attorney Langel stated that is an option since it would be more restrictive than State law. Councilmember Tossey stated he agreed with Mayor Strommen's comments relating to restricting only this Council to use this funding option and about placing that restriction within the Charter. He noted the Council could also offer counter language to the Charter Commission. Mayor Strommen stated she likes the idea of proposing a super majority, as suggested by Councilmember Riley, to the Charter Commission. City Administrator Ulrich explained that the City sets fees annually so the Council would have to annually adopt a franchise fee ordinance that would require a super majority. Councilmember Riley stated he was not thinking about an annual requirement but that after a five-year sunset, it would require a super majority vote to renew the franchise fee. City Council Work Session / February 11, 2014 Page 7 of 9