09.g City Administrator Staff Report1
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: June 20, 2023, City Council Meeting
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Re: City Administrator Report
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Parks Plan Update
MSA made the changes the Park and Rec Committee suggested at their May 1 meeting. The
Plan will be presented to Council at their July 5 Work Session, and the Planning Commission
will hold a public hearing for the Plan at their July 11 meeting.
Washington County Scandia City Center Study
Washington County Public Works will launch a project identified in their 2023 County CIP - a
"Scandia City Center Study.” This study is meant to bring together three agencies - the County,
Scandia, and MnDOT to explore options and recommend improvements related to bicycle,
pedestrian, and vehicle traffic in the city (see the attached excerpt from the County CIP).
Staff met with Washington County on April 24. The project requires a local contribution of
$50,000, which was included in the 2023 CIP. Council discussed the City Center Study on June
7, raising questions about the scope of the study and how much input the City would have in the
areas of the City being studied. I have emailed back and forth with Sara Allen from Washington
County regarding Council’s concerns.
Trash and Recycling Services
At the June 7 work session meeting, the Council extended the 60-day exclusive negotiation
period with Waste Management (WM) by 30 days (to July 8, 2023.) The City has an Agreement
with Waste Management on an Organized Collection contract. On Wednesday, June 14, I meet
with Washington County to discuss updating Chapter 52—Garbage of the City Code. The
County and its consultant will work to provide the City with a draft ordinance modeled on the
County Solid Waste and Recycling ordinance. The plan is still to have the revised ordinance
language before Council for approval in September.
2
Pedestrian Easement to Goose Lake
Council approved Resolution 05-03-23-01, setting the public hearing date for this Easement
petition as July 18, 2023. Brenda sent the notice to the DNR on Thursday, May 4, and they have
until July 3 to reply with a comment.
Laurel Ridge Development
Mitchell Johnson has hired Continuum Development Group to plan a residential development of
his 40-acre parcel that is bisected by 205th St. N. east of Novak Ave N. A Concept Plan was
submitted for review last week. The Plan calls for 13 lots within the 40-acre parcel, five lots
north of 205th St N. and eight lots south of 205th St. N. The property would need to be rezoned to
Village Neighborhood to accommodate the planned density. Council will discuss the density
levels in this location during the City Planner Report section of the June 20 meeting agenda.
The Concept Plan will go before the Planning Commission for a Public Hearing on July 11 and
to the City Council on July 18. Because the application was a Concept Plan, no formal comment
or approval will be granted at either meeting.