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Chairperson Voorde asked for input from Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand. <br />Council Attorney explained that under Home Rule, Council had the authority to review the <br />schedule and determine whether it was fair and reasonable. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked why the Board of Public Works sent the bill to Council for <br />approval if the authority to approve Code fees lies with them. <br />City Attorney Aladean DeRose offered to share the legal department's opinion. She cited that <br />the state law intended for Council to delegate the specific details of creating fee schedules to <br />those specific departments. The Council has a limited role which is to provide oversight to the <br />Board of Works and to determine that the rates are not in excess of the actual costs to perform <br />the service. If there is evidence that the rates are unreasonable, then the Council has a <br />responsibility to ensure that the rates do not exceed the costs. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked what information the Council has been provided to <br />determine the fairness of rates by the Board of Public Works. <br />Ms. DeRose discussed that Council should've received a schedule detailing departmental costs <br />versus fees and sometimes what other cities charge as a check to establish what's reasonable. <br />Councilmember Tim Scott raised a concern regarding why the ordinance came to Council and <br />his concern that administration is sending controversial bills to Council that can be approved <br />through other bodies. He suggested that other bodies hold their meetings during a time that <br />allow for the public to participate and understand the process. <br />Councilmember Broden expressed a concern and expectation for a process that engages the <br />public in more meaningful ways. She discussed a couple of practical solutions like later <br />meetings and more accessible locations to improve the transparency of City processes across the <br />board. She believes the City has to get to the point of having a process that is more accessible <br />and sensitive to public input. <br />Councilmember Karen White expressed concern that Council needs to reassess its approach to <br />fees and fines based legislation. How much is enough? We need to strike a balance between the <br />cost of business and over - fining the public. How can we look at alternate ways of delivering the <br />services without overburdening the public and passing on the costs? Are fines and fees an <br />effective method of deterring negative behavior? What are other communities doing to address <br />behavior outside of increasing fines and fees? <br />Councilmember Williams- Preston spoke to the costs for illegal dumping. She echoed <br />Councilmember's White concern about excessive fees and fines and misdirected policies that <br />miss the root of the problem. The City has to look at ways to address problems from a lens of <br />addressing the real problem rather than reactive, punitive legislation. <br />3 <br />