8.g Administrator's Report February 2016i
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SCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: March 15, 2016
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, City Administrator
Re: Administrator's Report
Broadband access — Based on the support and commitments from the residents of Wyldewood
Acres, Midco will be extending cable into the subdivision this fall. The extension did not meet
the criteria of the franchise agreement for an extension without cost sharing, but with the
commitments from the residents the extension will occur at no cost. The franchise agreement
requires Midco to extend at no cost if there are a minimum of 6 connections within % of a node.
This is a limiting factor in the further extensions of Midco services. Currently Midco provides
digital services to 262 residences in Scandia.
Frontier Communications will also be upgrading their internet speeds this year through a
Connect America grant they received. Details on the timing of the system upgrades and the
performance expectations are forthcoming.
Data security — The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust representatives visited the City
to conduct a data security survey. They are conducting these surveys based on the number of
claims they are receiving. Some of the issues discussed were: protection from physical threats,
protection of data integrity, access, social media, board, committee, and employee training,
and electronic transactions. A full report with recommendation will be sent and a discussion on
the report will be on a work session agenda. The representative also provided 2015 loss
information and updated the average experience modification that will be applied to renewal
rates. The City's average experience rating for premise / operation coverage is 0.90 (90& factor
applied to the base rate) and 1.046 for worksers compensation coverage.
Crystal Springs SNA — The DNR is working on a plan to provide public access to the Crystal
Springs SNA. They will be posting the property boundaries and establishing a parking area;
however, that work is not expected to be completed until mid -to -late summer.
Downtown street lights — Xcel Energy has corrected the billing code for the downtown street
light and has issued a credit of $3,473 based on retroactively applying the rates for 3 years.
Big Marine Lake Association - The Association sent an email thanking the City for its letter of
support to Washington County for a grant to continue their efforts to reduce the Eurasian
water milfoil population. The Association was awarded a $14,400 grant to provide for per and
post treatment surveys, mapping, and herbicide treatment costs.
Log House Landing — The agreement with the DNR for the concrete planks and been signed and
the City will take delivery of the planks in advance of construction. The agreement with the
National Park Service is in process and once the preliminary plans and costs have been
determined, the items that will be funded through the Park Service will be identified. Ryan is
working on the plans and a meeting will be scheduled with the Watershed District to review the
plans once they are available.
Tourism - The 2016 St. Croix Valley guides are available at City Hall and the Gammelgarden.
The City has a presence in this guidebook to help draw tourists to the area. The St. Croix Valley
Regional Tourism Alliance focuses on promoting communities within the St. Croix River Valley
and increasing visitors to these communities. The guidebook is also on their website
http://saintcroixriver.com/
Audit and year end — Schlenner Wenner & Co. completed fieldwork on the 2015 audit. The
available balance in the General Fund increased by $189,782 to $1,746,294 which is 83% of the
2016 budgeted expenditures. A more detailed review will be provided when the audit report is
released.