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09.e Memo December 2021 Administrator UpdatePage 1 of 3 City of Scandia 14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073 Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com DATE: Tuesday, December 21, 2021 FROM: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members RE: December 2021 Administration Report Zoning and Development Code Updates Swanson Haskamp Consulting, L.L.C. (SHC) has reported that it is about 95% complete with the drafting process of the Development Code, and that we can expect one last workshop. We are nearing the limits of the expense that was authorized for this project, so we will need to consider next steps as to proceed if we desire continued assistance with project. City Council and Planning Commission Members can expect that that meeting will likely be scheduled next January. The public is encouraged to attend all of these meetings to learn about potential changes and share their thoughts and concerns as the project advances. Building Permits Staff and the Building Department have been approached to attempt to find a way to issue a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for a house that was constructed approximately 15 years ago. The request is complicated, to say the least, but we are working on finding a way in which issuance can be made while addressing any liability issues to our City, the City of Hugo, and the Building Official. I will provide an update as to the progress of this request at a future meeting. Bliss WWTP Nitrate Treatment Upgrade Project Staff has finished the submission of an application to get on the Project Priority List (PPL) for the Bliss Waste Water Treatment Plant. We hope that placement on the list will provide the justification needed to obtain a grant through the State Bonding process. If we receive the award, the grant could help write-off half of the cost of the upgrade and the rehabilitation of the system’s primary lift station that feeds the collector site, Lift Station #2. I have prepared materials to assist with advocacy efforts with state legislators. With Sewer Committee members and some City Council volunteers, we hope that, together, we should be able to assemble a capable group to help convey the value of funding this project. We will be utilizing resources to help identify the best ways and the key individuals to get our message to, including advice from League of Minnesota Cities staff. I will also be seeking letters of support from other public entities including Washington County and the local watershed to help better convey broad support. Page 2 of 3 City of Scandia 14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073 Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com Bliss Stormwater Project Awarding Requested Funding for Phase I I am pleased to report that the first phase of the stormwater improvements project that we partnered with the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District on for improvements to stormwater infrastructure in the Bliss Addition and Holiday Beach Neighborhood. $272,400 was granted through the Minnesota Clean Water Fund for 2022. This project proposes to treat 7.3 acres of stormwater flowing directly into Big Marine Lake with water quality best management practices that increase small storm retention by 6,111 cubic feet and reduce annual total phosphorus discharges by 9.9 pounds per year and sediment by 1,531 pounds per year. Big Marine Lake is a high quality recreational lake with three public accesses and is nearly impaired for aquatic life. This proposal is the first phase of projects identified in the Big Marine Subwatershed Analysis and treats the largest source of urban stormwater discharging to the lake. Residents of the neighborhood are expected to see significant benefit to this project both in terms of improved lake quality and in terms of volume and velocity of water flows, which will be more dispersed between different outlet points in the neighborhood. The project will be carried out by contractors hired by Watershed through a bidding process as the Watershed was the direct grant recipient. The Watershed will continue to closely collaborate with City Staff during the construction process. Property, Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance Renewals This week, our staff is completing the necessary filings for renewing City insurance policies and updating necessary information. The process usually takes a few days and should be completed in time for approval of our new policies on the first. Human Resources Housekeeping Staff is preparing a number of significant updates to the City’s Personnel Manual and its Alcohol and Drug Use Policy to assure compliance with regulatory changes. We plan on having these materials available by March or April City Council workshop meetings for review. Some materials may come forward to the City Council at a sooner depending on the status of completion. Coordination of Code Enforcement Civil and Criminal Responses on Outstanding Compliance Issues Staff is preparing to coordinate a meeting to develop more efficient and productive approaches to code enforcement activities. The meeting, which will include City staff and Sheriff’s Office representatives, the City Attorney, and the City Prosecutor to review and recommend procedure changes to will be focused on procedures to help enhance enforcement outcomes. We also working on improvements to what City Code is available in the State’s citation system, and we will continue to identify different ways to improve code requirements. More updates can be expected to come following this meeting and the transition of the Sheriff’s Deputy assignment to Scandia. Page 3 of 3 City of Scandia 14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073 Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com A Send Off to Deputy Dave On behalf of the City of Scandia, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Deputy Peters for all of his work here in our community over the last 3 years. Deputy Dave is leaving us to advance to a new K9 assignment. We wish him and his soon to be K9 partner the best. It is my hope that, at this coming meeting, you will have the opportunity to meet our new assigned Deputy, Zach Boesel and our new Sergeant, Kevin Jadwinski. We are looking forward to working with them going forward! Please let me know if you have any questions.