Agenda - Council - 08/12/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Funding Source: Publication costs will be paid from the PIR fund. Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council provide feedback on the draft ordinances attached to this case to allow Staff sufficient time to revise the ordinances prior to their introduction on September 10, 2019. Staff recommends charging equal monthly fees in the amount of $7 to each utility on each residential property since there are approximately the same number of gas and electric customers across the city and commercial users are proposed to be charged a per meter fee based on meter size the per meter fee Since hundreds of property owners are still paying special assessments on previous pavement management program projects, staff recommends that Council adopt a rebate program where property owners who are currently paying an assessment for such a project, or who paid their assessment off early but would otherwise still be paying their assessment, can request an annual rebate at the end of the year in the amount of the franchise fees paid during that year. This rebate program would only apply to property owners whose assessments for the year are greater than the amount of the franchise fees paid during that year. Rental properties, which would also qualify for rebates, must be in the name of the property owner, not the tenants. To qualify for a rental rebate, the property owner must present copies of their gas and electric bills to be refunded the amount paid toward the franchise fee for that year. If Council desires to move forward with adopting a franchise fee, staff recommends holding the first reading of the ordinances at a public hearing on September 10, 2019, and the second reading of the ordinances on September 24, 2019, after which Council can adopt the ordinances pending no further revisions. Staff recommends continuing communications with the public to ensure that the purpose and expected outcome of the franchise fee is well communicated to the public. This is proposed to be done by posting additional literature on the city's web site, and potentially including literature in utility billings and future editions of the Ramsey Resident. The City Attorney reviewed and approved the draft ordinances. Action: Order a Public Hearing for September 10, 2019, to Introduce Ordinances #19-11 implementing a gas franchise fee on Centerpoint Energy for providing gas service within the City of Ramsey, #19-12 implementing an electric franchise fee on Connexus Energy for providing electric service within the City of Ramsey, and #19-13 implementing an electric franchise fee on the City of Anoka Electric for providing electric service within the City of Ramsey. Attachments Ord 19-11 Proposed Ordinance Franchise Fee on Centerpoint Energy Ord 19-12 Proposed Ordinance Franchise Fee on Connexus Energy Ord 19-13 Proposed Ordinance Franchise Fee on City of Anoka Electric 5-Year CIP PMPprojectsFFmodel FF Rates FF Rebates Letters to Utilities Form Review Inbox Reviewed By Date Bruce Westby Bruce Westby 08/08/2019 09:32 AM Diana Lund (Originator) Diana Lund 08/08/2019 10:05 AM Kurt Ulrich Kurt Ulrich 08/08/2019 11:17 AM