HomeMy WebLinkAbout20191010 Special Work Session ProceedingsROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 10, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a special work session of the Rosemount City Council was
held on Thursday, October 10, at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 2875 145th Street
West, Rosemount.
Mayor Droste called the meeting to order with Council Member Essler, Block, Weisensel and
Freske. Staff present included the following:
• City Administrator Martin
• Public Works Director/City Engineer Erickson
• Public Works Coordinator Watson
• Director of Finance May
2.a. Utility Bill Process
Staff and council members discussed the recent feedback staff has been receiving regarding the
City’s sewer usage calculation procedures. The 2019 Fee Schedule reflected a change that began to
phase out some of the fixed rates on resident’s utility bill to shift more of the billing towards usage
billing.
Residents Linda Stoner (13974 Ashford Path), Lisa Handley (13309 Bronze Pkwy), and Miguel
Guadalajara (14004 Ashford Path) voiced concerns over high utility bills and the City’s practice of
billing sewer usage based on water usage. The group requested more accuracy in utility billing and a
change to the system.
Higher utility bills from the summer quarter led to numerous requests that the Council reconsider its
current method for billing sewer usage, which bases sewer fees on a residence’s water usage.
Alternatively, residents are given an opportunity to purchase a 2nd water meter, which is used to
accurately track water used for exterior usage and is thus not be billed for sewer.
Staff and council members discussed property owner’s concerns and all options on how to move
forward, including the City purchasing 2nd meters for all customers going forward. Ultimately, the
Council directed staff to investigate the elimination of second meters going forward and to pursue
the establishment of a “winter rate” billing for sewer.
Under that system, the winter usage for sewer will be locked in and used for charging on all quarters
of a property’s utility bills. This is a common practice among neighboring Dakota County cities, and
Council felt most comfortable with adopting this more commonly used method for billing sewer
usage. This item will come before Council for final adoption at a future meeting, in accordance with
the adoption of the 2020 Fee Schedule.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council and upon a motion by Block,
second by Freske, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 6:51 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Logan Martin, City Administrator