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8.g Administrators report Staff Report Date of Meeting: March 20, 2018 To: City Council From: Neil Soltis, Administrator Re: Administrator’s report Fire Contract with May Township – The planner for May Township analyzed the listing of a listing of May township addresses that are served by the Scandia Fire Department to determine the valuation of structures and the number of households in May Township that are served by the Scandia Fire Department. That information is being reviewed by the May Township Board. Lake Keewhahtin - On February 8, 2018 U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the proposal to change the name of Halfbreed Lake in Washington County to Lake Keewahtin. Audit – Schlenner Wenner completed the field work on the audit on March 6. No significant changes to the financials were proposed. In the compliance portion of the audit it was noted that a 2017 change to Minnesota Statutes request the Council to annually designate a person who is authorized to make electronic fund transfers. A resolution making that designation will be on a future Council agenda. Bond issuance – The 30-day petition period for the Resolution approving the issuance of bonds ends on March 22nd. The engagement letter with S&P Global Ratings has been signed and the rating calls have been scheduled for Monday, March 26 th. The next steps will be the adoption of a Financing Plan and Trigger Resolution and the Construction Bid award at the April Council meeting followed by the Resolution ratifying the bond sale at the May Council. Assessment report – Washington County release the 2018 report on assessments. Residential assessments in Scandia increased from 529,235,600 to $574,413,700 or by 7.2%. The value of new construction added $7,136,400 to the total assessed value. Of the 2,238 residential and seasonal recreational properties in Scandia, 1,914 had no change or a decrease in the assessed value. The assessed value of the 322 agricultural parcels in Scandia decreased by 1.1%. The assessed value of the 76 commercial and industrial properties increased by 5.9% From 10/1/2016 to 9/30/2017 there were 38 residential sales in Scandia with an average sales price of $354,600 Assessor proposals – Besides the proposal from the current assessor and Washington County, we have received an additional proposal. The deadline for requests for proposals for services to Hugo, Lake Elmo, and Scandia are due by March 30. Review of these proposal will be on the April work session agenda. Reinhardt appeal – The deadline to appeal of the Board of Adjustment and Appeals to the BWSR Board was March 1. The Reinhardts requested the City extend the deadline. The deadline was extended until April 30, 2018 with will provide sufficient time for any needed surveys to be completed, the appeal to be heard, and time for any restoration to take place during the growing season. Forest Lake Cable Commission - The City’s withdrawal from Cable Commission is effective at the end of June. The Commission has requested that the City continue to provide accounting services and would like an agreement to formally approve. We’re working on a draft of the agreement that will be on the agenda for the Council for review at the work session on 4/4 and then to the Cable Board in April. Legislative Session  Gateway Trail bill – In the House the Mayor and I testified before Agriculture Policy Committee on the bill. The Committee adopted the bill as amended to remove the funding portion of the bill and referred the bill to the Taxes Committee. The bill has subsequently be re-referred to Property Tax and Local Government Finance. In the Senate a companion will was referred to Local Government and re-referred to Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy. That Committee has not scheduled a hearing on the bill, but is scheduled to meet on March 21 and March22. Based on the action by the House Committee the House and Senate bills have been split to separate the Metropolitan Agriculture Preserve issue and the bonding for the project.  Retainage on public contracts – SF 2783 requires release within 30 days of substantial completion of a project. This bill was passed by State Government Finance and Policy. There has been no action on a companion bill in the House  Wireless Application fees – HF 3497 limits the application fee for wireless facilities to the actual cost incurred, including the cost of any third-party consultant used to assist with the application review, to $3,000. This bill has been referred to Government Operations and Elections Policy. SF 3166, the companion bill, has been referred to Energy Utilities Finance and Policy