Laserfiche WebLink
Regular Council Meeting <br />December 8, 2014 <br />Page 10 <br />positive and Council Member Lancaster requested that Tasers be added to the policy on <br />weapons. Mr. Godwin said he would make the two additions. <br />Subject to the additions requested by Council Member Hashmi and Council Member <br />Lancaster, a Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pickle and seconded by <br />Council Member Hashmi. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. <br />24. Discuss storm water utility and provide direction to staff. <br />Mr. Godwin said one of the biggest infrastructure deficits the City had was storm water <br />facilities. He also said two studies had been conducted that identified several million dollars in <br />needed drainage infrastructure improvements that have not been addressed. Mr. Godwin <br />informed Council that State law allows the creation of a storm water utility, but a study and plan <br />would need to be completed, a public hearing would be required and then they could adopt an <br />ordinance creating a utility if they chose to do so. He explained that a fee would be charged on <br />the water bill and revenues would be kept in a separate fund and could only be used for drainage <br />purposes. Council Member Hashmi said he agreed with Mr. Banks, in that it was not fair for an <br />elderly lady in a small house to pay the same amount as someone with a higher income residing <br />in a larger house. Mr. Godwin said they could look at how to structure the fee among residences. <br />Council Member Pickle said he had a problem because he was not seeing any work in his district <br />and expressed concern that this new fee would not be used in his neighborhood. Mr. Godwin <br />further explained that the benefit would not always be the same in each district because not all <br />districts have the same need. Mr. Godwin said a district could petition the municipality for a <br />public improvement district for an assessment in their area. Once that improvement is <br />accomplished there would no longer be a fee. Council Member Hashmi said the goal was to <br />improve the City as a whole. Mayor Frierson inquired of Council if they wanted Mr. Godwin to <br />come back with additional options. Council Member Grossnickle said he would like to see the <br />revenue amounts from the different fee structures. Council Member Plata favored reviewing and <br />studying the public improvement district. It was a consensus that Mr. Godwin bring additional <br />information back to Council at a future meeting. <br />25. Discuss a 2015 bond program and provide direction to staff. <br />Mr. Godwin said due to a reduction in current debt service, about $5 million in capital <br />improvements could be paid for through bond sale proceeds. He explained bonds could be <br />general obligation or certificates of obligation. Mr. Godwin also explained that certificates of <br />obligation could be issued by a simple vote of the City Council following required public <br />hearings and that a general obligation sale would require an election which the Council could <br />call for in May or November 2015. Council Member Hashmi said he thought they should give <br />thought to the options prior to making a decision. He also said if they decide to move forward, <br />they should be precise as to what projects were going to be done and know the exact cost. <br />Council Member Plata suggested they discuss this item when there was not such a long agenda <br />and Council Member Hashmi agreed. It was a consensus to discuss this item on a future agenda. <br />