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Minnetrista council holds stormwater rate steady, weighs recycling fee bump and shrinking cable revenue
Summary
At its Nov. 3, 2025 work session, Minnetrista City Council agreed to keep the stormwater charge at $29 per quarter, discussed a proposed $2 increase in the recycling fee to cover 2026 contract costs, and reviewed the shrinking cable franchise revenue and whether the cable fund should remain separate.
Minnetrista City Council kept its stormwater utility rate at $29 per quarter at a Nov. 3, 2025 work session and discussed budgetary moves for the recycling and cable funds.
Staff recommended maintaining the current stormwater rate, saying the fund balance stands in the "$800,000 to $900,000" range and that projected annual revenues are roughly $435,000. "We recommend that we keep the rate per quarter at the $29 a quarter," a staff member said. Council members debated how aggressive capital spending would draw down the balance; staff noted that occasional $100,000 projects and larger pond-cleaning efforts could reduce reserves.
The council discussed responsibility for several stormwater ponds, including ponds located in homeowners associations that may lack organized boards. Staff noted the city’s obligations under the municipality’s MS4 permit and said the pond-cleanout question will return for a future policy decision.
On recycling, staff said the fund balance has fallen from around $200,000 in 2019–20 to an estimated $30,000–$60,000 and proposed raising the recycling fee from $16 to $18 per quarter to more closely cover an estimated $579 charge from Waste Management for 2026 and other operational costs. Council members noted that combined utility bills (sewer, storm and recycling) would rise modestly and that local participation in organics collection is low, limiting grant benefits tied to organics diversion.
The cable fund drew a separate discussion. Staff reported franchise-fee revenue has declined from annual receipts of about $60,000–$70,000 in earlier years to roughly $30,000–$40,000 today as customers move from traditional video service to streaming over the internet. "Our annual revenue used to be 60, 70,000. Now we're lucky if it's 30, 40 or so," a staff member said. Council discussed whether communications and small local broadcasting expenses should remain tied to a separate cable fund or be absorbed into the general fund if franchise receipts continue to shrink.
No formal ordinance or rate change was adopted during the work session; staff said they will monitor the funds and return with specifics, including options for addressing pond-cleanout responsibilities and for any needed transfers between funds.
The meeting recessed after a procedural motion passed.
