10.g City Administrator Report1
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: September 19, 2023, City Council Meeting
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Re: City Administrator Report
______________________________________________________________________________
Parks Plan Update
The Plan was presented to the Council at their July 5 Work Session. The Planning Commission
will hold a public hearing for the Plan at their October meeting. The Adjacent and Affected
Jurisdiction Review Form went out on Monday, July 31, 2023. I have received two responses at
this time.
Gateway Trail Project
City Engineer Ryan Goodman and I met with Nathan Moe and Kent Skaar from the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Monday, July 10, 2023. We discussed the next
steps in the work plan, including the environmental review, soil borings, and topographical
survey. Ryan and the DNR are working to complete these items before the end of the year. This
group plans to meet monthly to ensure the project stays on schedule.
Kent explained that the LCCMR funding has a hard deadline of June 30, 2027. All spending
must be completed before that date. The City would need to plan for 2026 construction to
complete the project before the grant funding disappears. Our DNR Grant Administrator has
also contacted me. LCCMR administers the project. The funding comes from the DNR.
I spoke with Washington County Public Works Director Wayne Sandberg on Thursday. He and
his department will work with County Administration to navigate the City’s request for County
support through the Board process. City Engineer Ryan Goodman and I met with representatives
from Washington County to discuss the project and the fiscal agent relationship. I am working
with Washington County engineers and the DMR on a revised Fiscal Agent Agreement after
Washington County proposed changes to the DNR-provided form. The Agreement will be
presented for review and approval at our October 4 Work Session.
2
Water Tower Barn Project
The Scandia Heritage Alliance is working to construct part of the old water tower barn to apply
for historic tax credits and a place on the national register of historic places. Additionally, they
will need to create a for-profit entity to allow for qualification for historic tax credits. Council
approved the construction of the east side of the barn and the formation of a “for-profit” entity at
their Work Session on September 6. There are no additional updates at this time.
192nd St Landing
Below is an update from Tom Langer with the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed regarding
the 192nd St N. landing project.
“Quick update: I stopped by the site this week with Mike (CMSCWD) and Lori (WCD) to
familiarize them with the discussion we had and the steps to begin developing the site
plan. Mike noted that the Bliss Stormwater project is utilizing space on this parcel that
needs to be considered. Additionally, it became very clear that there is a very robust
emergent vegetation community (photo below) that DNR approval/permits will be
required.”
“To ensure we are providing the City with a comprehensive understanding of the
implications of altering the shoreline on this parcel, our next steps are to survey the
parcel and contact the MnDNR pertaining to regulations and permitting process around
the ice heave and vegetation removal. From there, we will better understand how to
proceed with pulling together a site plan that incorporates the feedback from our group
discussion, doesn’t conflict with the other project, and meets DNR plant management
regulations. Realistically, these efforts, along with pulling together an initial site plan are
going to take at least the next couple of months. “
When the plan has been put together, it will be presented to Council for review.
Scandia City Center Study
The County received 10 RFPs for the City Center Study. I, along with the representatives from
the County, reviewed the proposals and narrowed them down to the top three. The County is
checking references and will prepare a Cooperative Agreement for the Council to review and
approve at the October 4 Work Session. Once the City approves, the Agreement will be sent to
the County Board for approval on October 17.