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8.g Administrators report Staff Report Date of Meeting: December19, 2017 To: City Council From: Neil Soltis, Administrator Re: Administrator’s report Building permit activity – Through 11/30/17 a total of 712 permits have been issued with a combined value of $27,283,646. This compares to 222 permits with a value of $8,692,769 for the same period in 2016. The 2017 permits include 20 new houses with a combined value of $6,155,000 and 3 community solar gardens with a combined value of $10,359,000. The number of new house permit compares favorably with the whole year totals for 2016 – 16 permits, 2015 – 14 permits, and 2014 – 7 permits. Another new home permit was received in December. Committee applications – Notice of the expiring terms on the Planning Commission (Travis Loeffler) and Wastewater Advisory Committee (Brad Bergo) are been posted on the City website, Facebook page and in the Country Messenger. Application are due by December 28 for review at the January 3 work session. Comprehensive Planning – Bolton & Menk is working on drafting sections of the plan. The Planning Commission will begin review of the drafts at the January meeting. Drafts of the Introduction/History, Land Use, and Parks and Trails chapters are scheduled for review by the Planning Commission at the January meeting. Review of the drafts for the Housing, Transportation, and Water Resources chapters will be on the February meeting. Property Insurance Dividend – The City has received a $4,090 dividend from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. The Trust determined that $6,000,000 could be returned to its members. Fire Contract with May Township – May Township has been informed of the City’s position that the contract amount be increased by 3% for 2018. The contract which expires on 12/31/2017 provides that, if the contract is not replaced by a new contract by December 31, 2017, the contract shall continue in force month to month at the then current yearly rate plus 5% prorated to a monthly payment basis until such time as a replacement contract is executed or until either party terminates in writing. The contract can be terminated by eithe r party during the extended period at any time with or without cause by providing 30 days written notice to the other party of its intent to terminate. The contract was on the agenda for discussion by the Town Board at their December meeting. Lilleskogen Park – The Veterans Committee has installed the information stand at the park. Solar projects Berkshire Hathaway Energies (Zavoral) Solar Project – Xcel Energy has not yet provided information as to the cost to relocate the interconnect poles. New Energy Equity (Oldfield) – The berms have been installed and the landscape plan submitted by Abrahamsons for spring installation has been approved. Xcel will be replacing the existing single phase lines along Oldfield and Oren with three phase line to accommodate the project. Gateway Trail – Based on the meetings that Mayor Maefsky, John Herman, and I had with Representative Detmer and Senator Housley regarding the 2018 State Capital request to provide the DNR with funding for pre-development work on the section of the Gateway Trail from William O’Brien to the former fire station on Oakhill. John Herman has drafted a bill to submit to that would appropriate funds for the pre -development costs and would add a provision that would allow for the agricultural preserve designation to automatically be removed from lands acquired by fee simple or easement for state trails. Broadband Access – Frontier has begun to call in utility locates and apply for utility permits for the installation of telecommunication lines. I’ve also initiated contacts to assess the extent to which white space technology can address the broadband availability. Funding for Aquatic Invasive Species grants – MnDNR has announced that it will no longer provide funding for AIS control grants. While the amount of funding for control projects provided by the DNR was fairly small, the County is aware that even small reductions from the DNR will impact those lake associations that are undertaking control projects. The County staff recommendation to the county board is to continue to award grants for a variety of AIS prevention projects in 2018 for those project requests for the control of existing infestations. The County is committed to passing-through the aid it receives in a responsible fashion, focusing on projects that are proven to slow or prevent the spread of AIS, and innovative projects that hold promise for making a positive, lasting difference in tackling this challenging issue. With limited funding, The County will not be able to fill the gap created by the DNR’s decision but it certainly will be another consideration during the grant process. Safety Training – The city has contracted with SafeAssure for employee safety training. They have announced that they are updating their training to utilize interactive power point in combination with “hands on” and are moving to a software program and format that is smoother and more user-friendly to provide better access to who has completed the training and is mobile friendly. Audit of the 2017 Financial Statements – Schlenner, Wenner & Co. is scheduled to be on site to perform their field work on March 5 and 6, 2018 2018 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization/Open Book Meetings – Scandia’s Board of Appeals is scheduled to meet on Monday, April 9, 2018. There is a requirement that at least 1 of the Council have training in the past 3 years. Currently Christine & Steve taken the training course and their training expires on July 1, 2020. Other Council members are encouraged to take the on-line course. The County will also be holding regional open book meeting in Cottage Grove on April 5, Oakdale on April 11, Woodbury on April 19, and Stillwater on April 25. Code Compliance Wetland fill –A notice of the decision by the Technical Evaluation Panel to deny the request to purchase mitigation credits for a portion of the fill was sent to the property owner on November 20 and provided 30 days to appeal the decision. The City Council, as the Board of Adjustments and Appeals would hear that appeal if it is filed. Any appeal of the Council decision would go to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Board of Appeals. Manning driveway – Based on review of a new driveway off of Manning by the Washington Conservation District, Watershed District and City, the quantity of fill exceeds the amount triggering the need for a grading permit and a significant portion of the fill has been placed adjacent to a wetland and within the wetland setback. Compliance action are in the process of being initiated.