09.g City Administrator Report1
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: February 20, 2024, City Council Meeting
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Re: City Administrator Report
______________________________________________________________________________
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 plans 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.
The Fiscal Agent Agreement has been approved and signed by all parties involved. The City has a
grant for funding through the DNR for this project. There is approximately $25,000 left on the
grant, which will cover the cost of upcoming soil borings. Our next update meeting is scheduled for
March 19.
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. At our December meeting, the Alliance received Council approval to aid
the City in applying for an LCCMR grant to help fund their project's parks and trails plan. The plan
includes connecting trails from the Water Tower Barn parcel to the Community Center along
Olinda Trail and through the City-owned wetland to connect to the Gateway Trail. They are
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gathering information and estimates and should have information to update the Council in February.
Contact has been made with the owners of Parcel 23.032.20.12.0008 about a possible easement.
LMMCR grant application is due at the end of March. I will work with the SHA to have a draft of
the grant application for the Council to review at their March 19 meeting. LCCMR grants are
reimbursable, meaning the City has to spend the funds before it can seek reimbursement from the
State. This is why the City needed the County to act as the Fiscal Agent for the Gateway Trail grant.
I believe LCCMR will allow the City to issue short-term financing to complete the project before
requesting reimbursement, but I will verify this before we submit our application. If not, then the
City will have to issue bonds or pay for the project with cash.
192nd St Landing
Below is an update from Tom Langer with the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed regarding the
192nd St N. landing project.
After an initial site inspection with Lori and Mike, we determined a need for an
updated site survey of the area. We worked with EOR to extend their surveying
effort for the Bliss addition project to include the 192nd road/ launch area. Once this
is completed, Lori, Mike, and I will begin to outline a shoreline alteration site plan
and share it with you when ready. I anticipate this work to be completed over the
next few months.
The Washington Conservation District is working on a plan for the area. This will incorporate
drainage basins for stormwater runoff as part of the Bliss Stormwater Project. The Council should
see the plan by Spring 2024.
Scandia City Center Study
The Consultant presented the Community Involvement Plan to the Council at their December Work
Session. Staff updated contact information for the local businesses listed in the Plan. The County
and the Consultant attended Vinterfest and had many positive interactions with the community. The
comments left on the project website have also been very insightful. These comments will be
gathered, analyzed, and used to determine areas that need further review in the coming months.
Bliss Stormwater Project
This is a Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed project to which the City partners. The project aims
to improve stormwater collection within the Bliss neighborhood. The project will be bid out this
winter for construction next summer. The City has pledged $160,000 towards this project. That
money can be found in the 401 CIP fund. It was initially scheduled for 2023 construction but was
delayed due to unlocated Xcel Energy lines in the project area. The project will be approved for
bidding at their December 13 Board Meeting. The City Engineer has received, reviewed, and
commented on the project’s 90% plans.
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Washington County Long Range Transportation Plan
Washington County is embarking on its first-ever Long-Range Transportation Planning. They are
inviting other agencies to participate in an elected official work session to provide initial input to
help set the framework for the plan moving forward. Council received staff’s report from the
February 7 pubic meeting at our February Work Session. I have no further information to report at
this time.
Graffiti Ordinance Language
I was talking with Deputy Booth about signs in the City. He mentioned an ordinance his old agency
had that made graffiti and other defacement of public and private property a public nuisance
affecting safety. The ordinance section is copied below.
Currently, we do not have language like this in our City Code. Is this language something the
Council wants added to the city’s nuisance code?