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discuss the storm drainage utility. The thoughts expressed at this meeting related to making it <br />easier for applying and receiving the credits that are available. This issue was discussed at great <br />lengths because of the fact that it cost Diamonds Sports Bar $600.00 to complete the application <br />form. The City was also concerned about that charge for businesses. Prior experience with the <br />same credit application lead staff to believe that it would only amount to approximately $150.00 <br />to $250.00 for a business that had already paid an engineer to prepare their drainage plan. In a <br />memo fi'om Pete Raatikka of Hakanson Anderson Associates, he states that it would cost <br />approximately $200.00 if they had done the original drainage plan, $600.00 if they had the <br />drainage plan and had not completed the design of the storm drainage facility in question, and <br />$1,200.00 if there was no drainage plan and they had to send a survey crew out to complete the <br />site measurements. As the resolution is written, the property owner must apply for the credits <br />available for the storm drainage fee. This relieves the City of the liability created if staff does <br />not apply a credit to a property that would be eligible and requires the property owner sign a <br />document that says that they will maintain the pond as long as they want to receive the credit. <br />Another concern that was expressed at the Public Works Committee meeting held on October 17, <br />2000, was how the City of Ramsey's rates compares to storm drainage utility rates of other <br />communities. Staff presented the Council with a list of some of the utilities in the Twin Cities <br />metropolitan area that also have storm drainage utilities. It is important to consider that every <br />utility is fashioned a bit differently. The need for a maintenance fund is justified as illustrated in <br />the budget for the storm drainage utility. Based on the revenue/expenditure projection along <br />with the need for a dedicated source of revenue for storm sewer projects throughout the City, <br />City staff recommended that the rates remain as previously presented. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman requested that the Council approve the rates and charges and then <br />direct staff'to bring back a recommendation to make the credit process more user friendly. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that he has been told that two properties, VeVe, Inc. and <br />Diamonds Sports Bar have a similar amount of impervious area, but Diamonds pays more <br />because the large amount of grass surface skews the figures and, because they have 17 acres, they <br />don't qualify for the modified method. <br /> <br />City Engineer Olson replied that he was correct. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that 19 percent of the Diamonds property is impervious and <br />the 20-acre minimum requirement for the modified method should be reduced. <br /> <br />City Engineer Olson replied that he could research what the ramifications would be to reduce the <br />minimum acreage requirement under the modified method and bring that information back. <br /> <br />Councilmember Connolly stated that she concurred with Councilmember Hendriksen. <br /> <br />City Engineer Olson inquired as to where the Council would recommend that threshold to be. <br /> <br />City Council/November 14, 2000 <br /> Page 9 of 19 <br /> <br /> <br />