5.5 ERMUSR 05-10-2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO: FROM: ERMU Commission Theresa Slominski –General Manager MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: May 10, 2022 5.5 SUBJECT: Downtown Streetlights ACTION REQUESTED: Approve the Street Light Installation and Maintenance Agreement Between Elk River Municipal Utilities and The City of Elk River, Minnesota. BACKGROUND: Last fall theDowntown Elk River Business Association (DERBA) approached ERMUrequesting wreaths tobe hung on the streetlightsduring the Christmas season. ERMUagreed to workwith the DERBA to see if they could find decorations that would work with the streetlights and sent a memo summarizing all decorations attached to the streetlights noting that ERMU would bill the DERBA for the labor involved with hanging and removing the decorations. At the February 8 commission meeting, Chair John Dietz brought forward a request from Council Member Jennifer Wagner to have the Utility donate the labor to hang and remove the wreath decorations rather than invoice the DERBA. This was discussed at the March 8 Commission meeting and ERMU was tasked with providing an updated understanding of the streetlight agreement with the City, either through policy or the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). We have decided to move forward with an Agreement rather than an MOU. DISCUSSION: Attached is Streetlight Installation and Maintenance Agreement Between Elk River Municipal Utilities and The City of Elk River, Minnesota. This agreementclarifies the understanding that ERMU will maintain the streetlights downtown, hang banners as needed (but not annually), install and remove wreaths annually, and install and remove flags on specified poles Memorial Day through Labor Day. It also adds that the trail lights along Highway 10 are owned by the City and ERMU will provide the labor for maintenance. Trail light maintenance will be provided as contributions to the City, in line with our Payment in Lieu of Taxes and Other Donations to the City policy, and proper accounting treatment. Please note there are Appendices noted in the Agreement with maps identifying the specific streetlights, trail lights, and poles. However, these maps are not available yet and ERMU and the City will need to work together to create them. We can provide them to the Commission when available, or if needed to approve the Agreement we would need to defer action to June. Page 1 of 2 109