City Council Minutes 1993 12 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Davidson closed the public hearing and called for Council comments or questions. Howard reviewed some tables he had staff prepare to illustrate why it would be imprudent, at this time, for the City of Louisville to impose an increased fee on commercial taps (above 3/4"). He felt that the combination of the kind of commercial retail the city is trying to attract, coupled with the fact that Louisville's use tax is going up by 3% on the retail side, which is not comparable with what is going on the residential side, and the fact that the net effect of getting this commercial retail, puts the City of Louisville in a position of becoming a truly independent and self- funding community. He urged Council to consider not imposing the increase in fees on the taps of above 3/4". Lathrop stated that he would not support this increase and he didn't support the increase last year in the Service Expansion Fee and the Water Tap Fee. He felt it put Louisville in a very detrimental position to compete in the commercial and the home building market, which he stated was proving true. Mayer stated that last year was the second or third highest year in residential construction that Louisville has had. He urged Council to support the motion. Tom Phare, Public Works Director, explained that it's possible that a larger single family residential unit could require a tap over 3/4". Any motion should be clear and reference non-residential, rather than just by tap size. Sisk could not support an increase for commercial tap fees. He felt the residential fees needed to be adjusted and needed to be on a continual basis. Mayer stated that there will be items coming up over time that Council is not budgeting for. Also, the risk the city is assuming in terms of how much growth the city has to have. He suggested that Sisk make a motion amending the ordinance to eliminate greater than 3/4", if that's Council's desire and then continue with the balance of the ordinance. Lathrop felt that the raise could not be justified. Davidson wanted growth to pay its own way without being subsidized. He felt the commercial fees should remain where they are with some increase in the residential around 3%. Davidson called for further Council comments or motions. Sisk moved that Council approve Ordinance No. 1133, Series 1993 at 2nd reading with the following amendments: On Page 2, he would delete any increases in tap sizes 1" through and including 8" as it 8