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11/13/2000 CONF MTG - 4701� a CffY OF FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING November 13, 2000 — 7:00 p.m. Fridlep Municipal Center Conference Room A (Upper Level) 1. Automated Meter Reading Devices. 2. Replacement of Watermains and Services in Conjunction with 2001 Street Improvement Project. 3. Complaint Tracking Software. 4. Other Business. Adjourn. TO: WILLIAM W. BURNS, CITYMANAGER �,ji� A�- FROM: RICHARD D. PRIBYL, FINANCE DIRECTOR SUBJECT: AUTOMATED METER READING DEVICES DATE: January 27, 2000 Since our last meeting with the City Council on the topic of automated meter reading devices, we have had an opportunity to discuss this topic in greater detail with Public Works and with a number of other cities. After reviewing this topic with Jim Saeflce and Paul Lawrence we found that the past number of ineters that were removed, have not correlated with meter studies done by consultants in published articles. They were very concerned about the studies and the level of under reading on the meters per the studies, and the corresponding revenue that might be gained by meter change outs. Since the new revenue gained by meter change outs would be the funding source for the automated meter reading system, our group felt that a plan to go to an automated system should proceed slowly, if at all, since the new revenue is uncertain from new meters. We also evaluated whether converting to a monthly billing would provide an additional revenue source to assist in funding the AMR. The current billing process bills one district each month so that by the end of the year each district has been billed four times. When we did proforma's on the two methods and added the additional postage and labor for the monthly billing, the result showed that the monthly bill scenario added little interest income. After adding the additional postage and labor to the monthly billing scenario, it had a net cost compared to the current process. With our current rate setting philosophy, we do not generate additional net income on either a monthly or annual basis. Our utilities have been budgeted with our rates to break even as much as possible. Since we net to zero, we have no additional monthly income to invest at month end for additional interest income to utilize to finance the AMR system. The group's first recommendation was that we should establish a formal meter replacement plan and then continue to replace meters in accordance with the plan. Second, to the extent possible, after a full twelve-month cycle in which every district has had a full fiscal year under new meters, attempt to make a comparison of revenues before and after the change outs. City of Fridley � TO: William W. Burns, City Manager �� ��'.. FROM: Jon H. Haukaas, Acting Public Works Director DATE: November 9, 2000 PW00-139 SUBJECT: Replacement of Watermains and Services in Conjuncrion with 2001 Street Improvement Project The watermains in the Moore Lake Hills neighborhood scheduled for street reconstruction in 2001 are 38 to 42 years old and constructed of cast iron. We have records of approximately 20 watermain breaks in the proposed project area since we began keeping records in 1972. I'he cost to replace the water lines and services is estimated at $200,000. The funcling source is from previously, fully depreciated assets. This money is currently sitting as cash in the water enterprise fund. As a means to alleviate future problems in the area, we recommend including the replacement of these watermains in next year's project. JHH:cz � � CRY 4F FRIDLEY TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: AGENDA ITEM CONFERENCE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2000 WILLIAM W. BURNS, CITY MANAGER��,V BILL CHAMPA, MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT COMPLAINT TRACKING SOFTWARE NOVEMBER 9, 2000 At the November 13 Conference Meeting, staff will be prepared to demonstrate our complaint tracking software. The presentation will be in two parts. After a brief introduction, we will show what is done by staff when handling a typical complaint - from entering data to producing a code enforcement letter to attaching a photograph. This should provide excellent background information when talking on the telephone with residents. We will also show how to enter a complaint, how to check on the status of a complaint (and see attachments such as pictures or letters), and how to access certain reports.