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HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly notes 4-6-23 th CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS – WEEKLY NOTES for: April 6, 2023 TO: City Council Members& Staff FROM: Eric Johnson, City Administrator CITY MEETING SCHEDULE – Through May 2023 Zoning & Development Items: 1.No new applications have been received for the April Planning Commission. 2.The City has responded to the Wash. County Community Development Agency – seeking clarification on a zoning/land use for a multi-family th street. site on 57 Other Items: City Staff participated in a briefing from Washington County Emerg. Management about local debris management. At this time, they are attempting to establish a drop site – for both public and private parties for branches, limbs, etc from the storm. This isexpected to be in West Lakeland, but we will not know more until next week. Andy Kegley, DPW reports that right of way clean-up will continue but was not excessive compared to major wind-storms – this may be partially due to the CIty regular tree trimmingeffort. Once we know the site location, we will push that data out to residents. On a related note, the County has begun to explore if this event – Last Friday - may be eligible for State Disater Assistance related to the clean-up. AT THIS TIME we are not telling residents anything new – but to just process and dispose of their own debris as best they can – we will see what happens next week with this dump site…overall except for perhaps a few exceptions..most limbs and branches down were minor across the City. The City has sent the open invitation to our EMS Partners to participate in the STUDY / Partnership disucssions. I have asked for a response by th . See enclosed. May 10 The Coalition of Utility Cities has supplied a Legislative Update for their efforts thus far as of 4/3/23—See Enclosed. The City has received is 2023 Hazzardous Waste License (enclosed) and has received its 2023-2034 Recycling Grant applocation from the the County - $14,514. st -23 in Duluth. We are informed that hotel availability may be limited – The League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conferenceis being held June 21 please register early and secure hotel room if you planned to attend. https://www.lmc.org/learning-events/events/league-events/2023-lmc-annual-conference/ Mayor McComber Provided: 1.NLC Update for 4/4 and 4/5 th 2.Conversations in the Valley – April 12, 2023 3.EMWREP Update for April 2023 4.Information about the County’s Compost – Food Waste Pilot Program 1 of 40 CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL & COMMISSIONS MEETINGS & WORKSESSIONS All meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise noted Tuesday, April 11 5:00 p.m. City Council Worksession 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting Thursday, April 13 6:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting Monday, April 175:30 p.m. Parks and Trails Commission Meeting Tuesday, April 25 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 96:00 p.m. City Council Meeting Thursday, May 11 6:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting Monday, May 15 5:30 p.m. Parks and Trails Commission Meeting Tuesday, May 236:00 p.m. City Council Meeting POLICY NOTE: Items in red are expected to be SOCIAL EVENTS in nature and not an official City Council meeting. No official action or discussion may be undertaken by City Council Members who may attend such events. The City is listing such events so as the public is generally aware that there may be occasions when City Council members may desire to attend functions that are purely social-events. 2 of 40 City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd. N Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 Phone (651) 439-4439 Fax (651) 439-0574 4-4-23 TO:Ms. Melissa Taphorn, Executive Director Washington County Community Development Agency Via email only th RE: Inquiry – 14870 57Street – Zoning - Land Use Dear Melissa: th Thank you for allowing our City to comment on the proposed ownership/use of lands at 14870 57Street N. for supporting housing – specifically unit 3E. So long as the property underlying use is consistent with the ZONING – being R2- Low & Medium Family Residential , the City has no opposition to the proposed acquisitionper se – being that ownership and/or how or who pays what rent is not germane to the City’s code. We do appreciate the work of theWCCDA. Please let me know if you have any other needs Thank You Eric Johnson City Administrator Cc:Weekly Notes 3 of 40 4 of 40 5 of 40 6 of 40 City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Blvd. N Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 Phone (651) 439-4439 Fax (651) 439-0574 th April 6, 2023 Mr. Matt Kline, City Administrator City of Bayport Via email only: mkline@ci.bayport.mn.us Mr. John Hall, Chair Mr. Jon Muller, EMS Director Baytown Township Lakeview Hospital Via – email only: john.hall@baytownmn.org Via email only: jon.t.muller@lakeview.org Mr. David Schultz, Chair Mr. Joe Kohlmann, City Administrator West Lakeland Township City of Stillwater Via email only: dschultz6816@comcast.net Via email only: jkohlmann@ci.stillwater.mn.us RE: 2023 – Study – EMS/Fire Services Dear EMS Partners: While I have discussed this concept with each of you personally, our City does now extend that formal invitation to participate in a “STUDY” . Please review the following concepts: A Really Short Background In early 2022, the Members of Bayport - Fire Services Agreement received information from the City of Bayport that it has concerns regarding various elements of the current Agreement and that it was seeking to discuss possible amendments including financial adjustments. The City of Oak Park Heights Council – like your community - was not wholly adverse to discussions about amendments. However, our particular City’s desire has been that these be facilitated by a third-party and that such discussion should be inclusive of many options and alternatives. Our ultimate goal, like yours - is to ensure certain emergency services remain viable and fiscally possible for all partners. Proposal Accordingly, as I have shared with you verbally, the City of Oak Park Heights proposes that our joint- Members and integral partners of Lakeview Ambulance and the City of Stillwater engage in such an exploration via a STUDY of alternatives, services and options about these matters. To move this forward, our City plans to issue an Request for Proposals to various firms that are capable to facilitate these discussions and implement such a study to helping to define concerns, evaluate options for long term financial stability and enabling the provision of services for our communities. From our perspective, such as study/effort is not meant to be an directed analysis of the current BFD – rather how do the parties carry forward, what services are needed both individually and collectively, who can deliver them, what partnerships are viable? All that said, such as study is only viable if all there is committed participation in the process by all of us. Costs and Timing To facilitate that participation, as this Study which will carry a financial burden, the City of Oak Park Heights is willing to financially cover such costs and we expected to be in the $30,000 range; however what we seek or can offer at this time: 7 of 40 1.That your City/Town or Entity earnestly participate in the expected discussions and the we kindly request providing a short letter committing to participate – please send to my attention not later than th May 10. 2.We too are unsure what that participation exactly means – but likelywill include workshops, interviews, and some assembling of data for any selected firm. th 3.The above mentioned RFP is hoped to be issued on or about May 19, 2023. The City would ask that you provide any specific criteria you wish to have included in the RFP; And, as the document evolves prior to issuance – we will seek additional input and feedback. We do not have all the answers as to what should or should not be in the RFP, but one key element may be , “… if we were all starting over today.. what would be those needed services, who can provide them and what might those partnerships look like”? 4.We understand that there may be a desire to financially participateso as to more proactively demonstrate some direct inputover the scope and process – versus it being “controlled” by Oak Park Heights. Oak Park Heights would offer that your community is welcome to offer a figure that it may deem reasonable. Our City’s position is that it would not change the elements of the study. A caveat… I can think of…. is that if a Member’s ask for a specific element to be added in the RFPthat would not be reasonably expected that it be prepared to cover such costs. 5.We expect the study to take 4-6 months - give ortake. What would happen at the conclusion of the process? I am not sure... but we all know that when these types of studies are completed they can sit on shelf, they can be fully or partially implement or entirely tossed. I guess we will not know until we are all done and some recommendations or action plan is defined where the parties may some find balance. I would reasonably expect however that choices in the end may not necessarily be comfortable. The process too.. may not be comfortable for any of us, but let’s be positive on the front end and see what happens! What if we all do nothing? Well, weall know the current agreement rolls on through December 2029 and each party will jockey between now and then to have a plan in place for their community come that deadline. What would that look like? I am not sure… but each of us can envision a few scenarios. Please let me know if you have any questions andagain,if your entity can provide a short letter affirming participation it would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely Eric Johnson City Administrator 8 of 40 Becker Cohasset Granite Falls Hoyt Lakes Monticello Oak Park HeightsRed Wing Subject: Legislative update – April 3, 2023 CUC Members: With the legislature set to take a short break before returning to act on its omnibus bills, this update is meant to inform CUC members on the status of key legislation. Please feel free to share these updates with your city councils and to contact me at (651) 295-1123 or SAZahrt@flaherty-hood.com with any questions. House File 1398/Senate File 1173 – Community Energy Transition Grants Summary: Bill would provide $10 million for additional grants to host communities, while also making programmatic enhancements. Update: CUC’s full funding request and policy language are included in omnibus bills in both the House and Senate. House: $10 million from the general fund and all policy language from HF 1398 are included in the House Workforce Omnibus bill (CLICK HERE; see lines 4.18 – 4.22; 27.20 – 29.2). Senate: $5 million from the renewable development account in the Senate Energy omnibus bill (CLICK HERE; see lines 16.29 – 17.2); $5 million from the general fund and all policy language from SF 1173 are included in the Senate Jobs and Economic Development omnibus bill (CLICK HERE; see lines 4.8 – 4.12; 95.1 – 96.13). House File 1427/Senate File 1172 – Electric Generation Transition Aid to Local Governments Summary: Bill would create a transition aid program that would provide tax base replacement aid for communities in which an investor-owned power plant retires. Update: The bill has seen positive movement in both bodies. House: The full text of HF 1427 is included in the House Property Tax Division Report (CLICK HERE; see lines 39.1 – 41.11). Senate: SF 1172 was heard by the Senate Taxes Committee; the Senate has not yet released its omnibus tax bill. Extension of the Energy Transition Advisory Committee Also included in the House Workforce omnibus and Senate Jobs and Economic Development omnibus bills is language that would extend the existence of the Energy Transition Advisory Committee (ETAC), which was convened as a result of the 2021 legislation that created the state’s Energy Transition Office. This language was not included in a standalone bill but was brought forward by DEED and the Governor’s Office in March after they determined that legislation would be needed to extend the existence of the stakeholder group. CUC supports the continuation of the ETAC because the advisory committee helped to broaden consensus around host community proposals. 9 of 40 Concerning Legislation: House File 178/Senate File 369 – Property Tax Exemption for Energy Storage Systems Summary: The bill would exempt energy storage systems from personal property taxation. CUC is concerned that the bill could undermine the property tax base in our communities, as we know that the sites of existing generation facilities are likely to be the sites for utility scale battery storage projects. Action: The bill received hearings in the House Property Tax Division and Senate Taxes Committee. CUC submitted comments in both committees and the City of Becker testified with concerns in the Senate. Status: The bill has been laid over for possible inclusion in omnibus tax bills. At this stage, the bill has not been included in the House property tax report, but we have indications it could be added back later— although modified to protect the tax base of host communities. The Senate has not yet released its tax bill. 10 of 40 Washington County Public Health and Environment 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082 T: 651-430-6655 | F: 651-430-6730 www.co.washtington.mn.us/publichealth 2023-2024 Hazardous Waste Generator License Licensee: City of Oak Park Heights Generator Name: City of Oak Park Heights HWID NUMBER: MNS 000 189 290 City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park BLVD N Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 Generator Number: 2062 Generator Size: VSQG WHEREAS, City of Oak Park Heights has paid the license fee to the County of Washington as required by the Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance and has complied with all the requirements of said Ordinance necessary for obtaining this license. NOW, THEREFORE, by order of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, and by virture hereof, City of Oak Park Heights is hereby licensed and authorized to operate as a Hazardous Waste Generator for the period of May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024, and is subject to all provisions of said Ordinance, including those found in MN Rules pt. 7045.0243, subp. 3, and any conditions prescribed in the Hazardous Waste License Attachment. Application to renew this license must be made by January 31, 2024. Dated: March 24, 2023 Gary Bruns Environmental Program Supervisor This License is Conditional by Attached General and Specific Conditions THIS LICENSE MUST BE POSTED and is NON-TRANSFERABLE If you need assistance due to disability or language barrier, please call 651-430-6655 (TTY 651-430-6246) Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action 11 of 40 12 of 40 13 of 40 14 of 40 15 of 40 16 of 40 17 of 40 18 of 40 19 of 40 20 of 40 21 of 40 22 of 40 23 of 40 24 of 40 25 of 40 26 of 40 27 of 40 28 of 40 29 of 40 30 of 40 31 of 40 32 of 40 33 of 40 34 of 40 35 of 40 36 of 40 37 of 40 38 of 40 Qjmpu!Bsfbt Cfhjoojoh!Bqsjm!3134 Sftjefout!jo!uif!bsfbt!opufe!cz!uif!sfe!tubst! dbo!qbsujdjqbuf!jo!uif!gppe!tdsbqt!qjdlvq! qsphsbn!qjmpu/ +Bqqspyjnbuf!mpdbujpot Npsf!jogpsnbujpo!bu GppeTdsbqtQjdlvq/dpn Tdbo!up!tjho!vq 39 of 40 ps!dbmm!762.772.:4:4 40 of 40