8.g Administrator's report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: April 17, 2018
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Administrator’s report
Building Inspection – Through the end of March permits totaling $12,953,198 have been
issued. The number is impacts by the permits for the elementary School improvements that
total $11,996,000. To date permits have been issued for 3 new homes totaling $831,000. The
new permit fees went into effect on March 28th and forms for the flat fees for mechanical and
plumbing permits were made available on the City’s website.
Bond rating – On April 3rd we had the rating call with S&P Global on the City’s upcoming bond
issuance. S&P has issued a AA rating on the bond issue which is an outstanding rating for a
community without a commercial or industrial base. Issues in the report that were referenced
are areas where the City is lacking were in the area of long-term financial projections, a formal
investment policy, and a comprehensive debt management policy. The long-term financial
project can be incorporated into the budget review process. Policies will be drafted for
discussion at a future work session.
Legislative Session – Gateway Trail bill - The original bills have been split with the funding
portion now being included in separate House and Senate Bills. The bills addressing the
metropolitan agricultural preserve restrictions are HF 3127 and SF 2661. On March 22nd the
Mayor & I attended the League Legislative Conference after which we met with Representative
Detmer regarding the Gateway Trail bill. On March 27 th we testified before the Senate
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy Committee. That Committee p assed the
bill and re-referred it to the Taxes Committee. Committee. That day we also met with Senator
Chamberlain the Chair of the Taxes Committee regarding the bill. No hearing date has been set
at that Committee. On April 17 we will be testifying before the House Property Tax and Local
Government. The bills addressing the funding for the predesign of the trail are SF 3538 and HF
4173. HF 4173 has been introduced and referred to the Environment and Natural Resources
Policy and finance Committee and SF 3538 has been referred to the Capital Investment
Committee.
LED lighting conversion – Chief Hinz is working with Graybar Electric to determine the cost and
payback for converting the lighting at the Fire / Public Works building from fluorescent to LED. I
am also working with Graybar on a similar conversion for the decorating street lights on Oakhill
and Olinda.
Lake Associations - On March 23rd the Mayor & I met with representatives of the Big Marine
and Bone Lake Associations. They are seeking funding for aquatic invasive species control and
for AIS boat inspections. The Mayor has asked that this be discussed at the May work session.
Clean Water Funds, Watershed-Based Funding Pilot Program – The Board of Water and Soil
Resources (BWSR) has created a Watershed-Based Funding Pilot Program. At a meeting on
March 7, 2018 the Washington County Water Consortium recommended that the funding
allocation under this pilot program of $787,600 be equally distributed among the 10 water
planning entities within Washington County. Cities and townships are also eligible entities, but
only for projects that are also in a watershed organization’s management plan. The goal for use
of these funds is to have funding come through the watershed organizations to partner with
cities on eligible and timely projects/efforts.
Watershed District channel maintenance – The Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District
will no longer be funding the dredging of the inlet to the pond located on the west side of Big
Marin Lake in the Bliss Additions. The District is setting up a meeting with the property owner
on that pond. The City owns 5 lots on that pond. A map of the parcels follows this report.
Washington County Public Works 2019 - 2023 Capital Improvement Plan - Ryan Goodman and
I will be attending the workshop on the County Plan. A similar workshop was held in 2017 and
provided important input for the 2018 - 2022 CIP. The intent is to listen to attendee’s
perspective on the CIP and discuss potential ideas for future CIP projects.
BoldPlanning - The County is in the process of scheduling the training for cities and townships
who will be utilizing the BoldPlanning software. The format of the training has not yet been
determined but the training will occur on the week of June 18th.
Code compliance – I am working with Deputy Yetter to address 3 complaints regarding 5
properties filed the City. The complaints primarily relate to exterior storage
Veterans Memorial – The Veterans Memorial Committee has postponed the dedication
ceremony for the memorial to a time to be determined later in the summer.
2019 Budget – A draft budget calendar for the review and approval of the 2019 budget follows
this report.
City of Scandia
Proposed 2019 Budget Calendar
Dates Action
June
Departments begin work on 2019 operating budget
Friday, June 29 Draft budget prepared for review by Committees
July EDA, Parks & Recreation Committee, and Wastewater Committee
review Departmental budget request
Wednesday, August 1
City Council budget workshop to review operating budget
overview, long-term forecast and capital improvement plan
updates (regular work session)
Wednesday, September 5
City Council budget workshop to review update based on August
meetings (regular work session)
Tuesday, September 18 Council meeting to adopt proposed budget by resolution and
certify proposed levy to county auditor; set date for public meeting
on levy and budget
Friday, September 28 Last date to certify proposed (maximum) tax levy to county auditor
October 1 (approximate) Include information on proposed budget in City newsletter
Wednesday, October 3 City Council budget workshop (regular work session)
Tuesday, October 23 City Council budget workshop (regular meeting, special meeting
optional)
November Washington County mails property tax statements
Wednesday, December 5 Public meeting on budget and tax levy (regular work session)
Tuesday, December 18
Budget hearing/ adopt final property tax levy and budget
(last regular Council meeting of 2016)
Wednesday, December 26 Last date to certify final tax levy to county auditor
January, 2019 Publish summary budget in legal newspaper
Mike Kinney
Administrator/M.S./CCA 44 Lake Street South Suite A
651.395.5855 Forest Lake, MN 55025
Michael.Kinney@clflwd.org
April 12, 2018
Neil Soltis
Administrator
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. North
Scandia, MN 55073
Re: Clean Water Funds, Watershed-Based Funding Pilot Program
Dear Mr. Soltis,
We’d like to follow up with you regarding the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Watershed-Based
Funding Pilot Program. You received an invitation letter in February 2018 to attend a convening meeting on March
7, 2018 at the Washington County Water Consortium, where information about this funding effort was discussed.
As a reminder, Washington County, the Washington Conservation District (WCD), and the watershed organizations
within Washington County have been meeting as a workgroup to discuss use of this funding among eligible entities.
Cities and townships are also eligible entities, but only for projects that are also in a watershed organization’s
management plan. The goal for use of these funds is to have funding come through the watershed organizations to
partner with cities on eligible and timely projects/efforts.
The recommendation from the workgroup for funding allocation under this pilot program is to equally distribute
the $787,600 among the 10 water planning entities within Washington County. This resulted from 1) the desire
between all entities to get the money out efficiently and equitably with a very short (June 30) timeframe for
discussion, 2) the feedback we heard at the convening meeting discussion, and 3) additional discussion amongst the
workgroup following the March 7th meeting. This recommendation will be brought forth to our respective boards
for discussion and approval this spring.
It should be noted that while funding is provided on a pilot basis, we do expect watershed based funding to
continue into the future in some manner. The workgroup intends to continue to meet and discuss opportunities for
more targeted, prioritized and measurable use of the funds, beyond just an equal split. This discussion will also be
informed by the Lower St Croix One Watershed One Plan process and future funding decisions from BWSR,
related to these two distinct efforts.
Like other activities funded with Clean Water Fund dollars, activities funded through this pilot program must
protect, enhance, and restore surface water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from
degradation; or protect drinking water sources. Projects and programs funded through the program should not
supplant other funding, but rather supplement existing funding.
It is the full intent of the watersheds, as well as the WCD and the County, to work collaboratively with cities and
townships to utilize these funds for cost effective and high impact projects and programs that will protect and
enhance our surface and groundwater resources.
Re: Clean Water Funds, Watershed-Based Funding Pilot Program Page 2 of 2
If you have any concerns with this path forward, please contact me to discuss at 651-395-5850 or
michael.kinney@clflwd.org. If your city or township has a potentially eligible project, please contact me to
coordinate collaboration opportunities. We do expect to submit a workplan with projects to BWSR by July 2, 2018.
Sincerely,
Mike Kinney Jim Shaver
Administrator Administrator
Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed
District
Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed
District