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Council orders changes to communications, utility billing and schedules a work session on permit fees
Summary
Council directed staff to develop a business opt-in list and posting guidance for the city's Facebook page, approved switching from postcards to paper utility bills to permit a monthly newsletter (estimated additional cost ~$200/year), and scheduled a work session to finalize a comprehensive fee schedule including building permits and demolition fees.
City staff asked for direction on the municipal Facebook page and how the city should handle requests from private businesses to post. Communications staff reported the page gained eight followers and that the highest post reached 684 people. Council discussed options including a monthly community-events calendar, a rotating business spotlight, and posting only nonprofit events; members generally favored community-wide event posts and a business opt-in list rather than reposting routine business specials.
On utility billing, staff presented a rough cost comparison showing postcard billing costs about $2,110 per year; switching to paper billing with a monthly newsletter printed on the back would add roughly $200 and increase the estimate to about $2,400 per year. Council voted to switch to paper utility bills to permit a monthly newsletter.
Council also reviewed a draft permit-fee schedule with comparative rates from nearby towns and discussed raising several building-permit fees (e.g., new-construction permits suggested to increase from $25 to $100). Members agreed the fee schedule requires more review and scheduled a work session in early December to finalize fees and related code amendments.
