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Orono City Council <br /> Work Session Minutes <br /> Monday, October 28,2019 <br /> Council Chambers 5:00 p.m. <br /> Staff could search the City's permit data for each lift station and use the addresses <br /> associated with it to find which addresses have pulled a permit in the last twenty years. <br /> Walsh mentioned we know it needs to be done, now we need to possibly put it in the <br /> budget now, and incrementally take care of it. There is a lot of things that we need to <br /> consider. He added staff may need to do some further research. <br /> There was discussion about various aspects that Council would like to be considered <br /> before developing this type of policy or ordinance. Aspects discussed were: how and <br /> when to require inspections; when and how to determine prioritization of areas in need; <br /> education to the public; possibilities of assessing for it; and responsibilities of the City and <br /> residents. <br /> Printup mentioned the City should be sure to provide communications to residents in the <br /> newsletters and possibly look at beginning Point of Sale in 2021. Printup added it is <br /> important that residents know that the city has actively been addressing I&I. <br /> Walsh mentioned that this is part of best practices from the City's standpoint it is going to <br /> cost money and it's going to maintain infrastructure. He added that guidance to staff <br /> would be to develop the Point of Sale ordinance and bring it back to Council for further <br /> discussion. <br /> Johnson indicated the he was in favor of having inspections required for every house and <br /> certificates of compliance for every house that would come directly from the City. <br /> 2. 2020 Utility Billing and Rates <br /> a. Utility Rates <br /> b. Monthly vs. Quarterly Billing <br /> c. Water Utility Shut-Off Policy <br /> Finance Director Ron Olson presented the 2020 Utility Billing and Rates item. Olson <br /> added that staff is recommending significant increases for next year. The reason for this is <br /> due to the level of expected capital expenditures over the near term. Higher increases next <br /> year allow the City to meet funding goals while keeping rates lower in future years. Olson <br /> noted that some of these rates particularly water, sewer, recycling are significant but if we <br /> wait it could be worse off. <br /> Walsh asked that staff work on making sure these increases are communicated to residents <br /> and make sure to share the reasons for the increases. <br /> Printup added that it needs to be communicated that this is and has been ongoing. <br /> Walsh added the goal of approaching this in this way is so the City doesn't have to assess. <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />