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City Council Minutes Page 9 <br />May 15, 2017 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />Council recessed at 7:43 p.m and reconvened at 7:49 p.m. <br /> <br />9.1 Policy for Over/Under-Billed Utility Accounts <br /> <br /> Mr. Portner presented the staff report. <br /> <br /> Council discussed various options and policy standards of other cities and utilities. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ovall discussed the standards for how a homeowner’s association <br />governs itself. He expressed concerns with a look-back for adjustments in under- <br />billing. He suggested it may be prudent to do audit's on a regular schedule. He stated <br />a core value of the city is to be welcoming and suggested a six year look back for <br />over billing and one year for under billing. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz disagreed. He stated he would like the look back for number of years <br />for both over and under billing to be the same. He further noted the rest of the rate <br />payers would have to make up the costs for under billing. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ovall agreed regarding fairness across the board for everyone. <br /> <br />Council consensus was to collect one year of past under billing and remit three years <br />of payment for over billing in order to maintain consistency with the electric utility <br />policy and there be a provision audits are completed on a periodic basis. <br /> <br />Staff was directed to compile data on how Elk River Municipal Utilities does their <br />audits. <br /> <br />9.2 Concept Review: Downtown Sign Ordinance <br /> <br />Mr. Carlton presented the staff report. He stated the reason for the language is <br />because at one time it was felt signage was meant to be for pedestrian use and not to <br />attract highway traffic. He noted there is a number of legal non-conforming signage <br />in the downtown. He discussed signage in other areas of the city and how they are <br />percentage based on wall size. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard questioned if the business community was surveyed. <br /> <br />Council consensus was to draft an ordinance to remove the stringcourse definition <br />and base signage on wall size. <br /> <br />9.3 Vision and Beautification: Highway 10 Corridor <br /> <br />Mr. Carlton presented the staff report. He discussed highest and best uses of <br />property. He noted staff gets many requests for mini-storage businesses. <br /> <br />