09.g City Administrator Report1
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: August 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, and the funding comes from the DNR.
I have submitted our first required update to LCCMR. I will have to file a budget amendment to
redistribute the funds we received from construction to engineering, as the money allotted for
engineering will not cover the projected cost. The City’s first reimbursement request has been processed
and received by the County and will be forwarded to the City.
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.
2
The City’s LCCMR proposal was selected to move forward in the review process. I presented it to the
LCCMR committee on June 28. The Committee met on July 31 to determine funding amounts for all
projects. The City received $907,000 of the $998,000 it requested.
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.
The Consultant has finished gathering initial feedback from the public and all involved entities. They
have put together Concept Boards that they will share at two upcoming community events. The first is
on August 17 at the Spelmannstammen Festival at Gammelgarden. The second is at the Farmers Market
on August 21.
Bliss Stormwater Project
Tree removal has been completed. The remaining project work will be completed in September.
Cannabis Legislation Update
The City Attorney, City Planner and I are working on model language for you review and consideration
at the September work session.