5.b) Administrator's ReportSCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: April 1, 2019
To: Parks & Recreation Committee
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Administrator's report
Gateway Trail — Bolton & Menk and MN DNR held a public open house on the preliminary design is
scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 19th. Both parties are working with Washington County Public
Works on a modification to the plans that were presented that would provide for a realignment of Oakhill
Rd. to provide more room for the trail segment that runs along the north side of Oakhill
On the legislative front bills have been introduced to provide funding for the Gateway Trail extension
(HF0311 and SF0579) and the modification to the metropolitan agricultural preserve language that would
potentially accelerate the timeline for using the portion of the trail from the tunnel to William O'Brien
State Park (HF0484 and SF1368)
Below is an update on the status of those bills:
Metropolitan Agricultural preserves - eliminate the 8 -year expiration period when acquired for
parks or trails
HF 484
Referred to Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division, hearing held on 3/19/19,
referred to Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division for hearing on
3/27/19
SF 1368
Agricultural, Rural Development, and Housing Policy Committee hearing 3/5/19,
referred to Taxes Committee
Gateway Trail
bond issue and appropriation - appropriate funds for the development of the
Gateway Trail
segment.
HF 311
first reading & referred to Ways & Means, referred to Environment and Natural
Resources Finance Division, hearing by Capital Investment held on 3/21/19
SF 579
Referred to Capital Investment Committee
Living Healthy in Washington County On behalf of Cycling Scandia the City submitted an application for a
2019 Active Living Equipment Partner Project through the Statewide Healthy Improvement Partnership
(SHIP). Selection notification for the grant is scheduled for April 12. The equipment proposed to be
purchased for this project and budget for each item: bike racks ($1092), fixit station ($1543), and printed
maps/suggestion box ($342) to be made available at the Gathering Place and near local merchants, as well as
timed door locks ($1000) for the warming house. To date there has not been discussion at the Council on the
proposal to utilize the interior warming house as a gathering place and the impacts on the Parks budget.