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city management and staff representatives available at the meeting where this item is scheduled <br /> for consideration in order to address questions from the Board. <br /> Negative Customer Reactions -Another concern voiced by EWEB staff (and mirrored by the <br /> Board) was that another charge on the EWEB bill would be viewed as "an increase in the EWEB <br /> bill," resulting in potential negative public relations for the Board. For this reason, we would <br /> need to be very clear in our public outreach and customer communications whose charge this <br /> was and the background/justification for it. <br /> Fee Creep -.Yet another concern we have heard is that the TSMF is further evidence of "fee <br /> creep"-where every few years the City would add a new fee and expect EWEB to bill it. We <br /> have assured staff that, to the best of our knowledge, there are no other city fees envisioned by <br /> the current administration which would anticipate collection by EWEB. <br /> Cost and Disruption to EWEB Business -Staff has expressed concern that the labor hours. <br /> associated with the cost of modifying the EWEB billing system to accommodate the new fee <br /> would require additional EWEB staff resource and potential deferral of EWEB work priorities. <br /> We have assured EWEB staff that the City is willing to pay for all initial costs of system <br /> .modification and implementation for the TSMF and also that the City is willing to consider all <br /> reasonable proposals for a TSMF implementation schedule that accommodates EWEB's business <br /> priorities. <br /> Impact on EWEB Customer Service Staff -Another concern we have heard from EWEB staff is <br /> related. to the impact of adding one more city charge on their Customer Service Representatives <br /> (CSR). EWEB already receives calls about city service charges and vice versa. City Utility <br /> Billing staff would be very enthusiastic about exploring with EWEB CSR staff ways to reduce <br /> confusion for customers and get more customer calls directed to the correct entity the first time. <br /> <br /> .Next Steps (include dates if available) -Negotiating Strategies: <br /> Dennis could either submit the letter of request to Randy on July 21 (post-dated to July 25?) or <br /> he could .let Randy know it is coming after the council has provided direction in their TSMF <br /> works.ession. We would hope to have an opportunity within the next 2-3 months (by late <br /> September) to bring this request to the Board for a formal decision. <br /> <br />