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09g. City Administrator Report1 Staff Report Date of Meeting: September 17, 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 positively interacted 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, and the second is at the Farmers Market on August 21. Both events were successful and well attended. Public comment is still being taken through the end of September on the project website: https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/ScandiaCityCenterStudy . The Consultant presented to the Parks and Recreation Committee at their September meeting and will also present to the Tourism Committee at their meeting on the 24 th. A final presentation to the City Council will occur later this fall. 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 developing model language for you to review and consider at the October work session. We plan to meet with a representative from Libby Law to discuss comments they have raised on the model language presented at the September 4 Work Session.