10-14-2020 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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WORKSHOP MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 14, 2020 The Finance Director explained that the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Guidance dated September 9, 2020, indicates that local governments "may presume that payroll costs for the public health and public safety employees are payments for services substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency." She stated that on September 21, the Department of the Treasury, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released new guidance regarding documentation required for using CARES Act Funds to cover payroll costs for public health and safety employees. Per the new OIG guidance, governments can presume that all payroll costs for public health and public safety employees are payments for services sustainably dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Finance Director noted that the other Ramsey County contract cities intend to move ahead with reimbursement for public safety services, along with most of the contract cities in Washington County. The City Administrator stated that a significant number of cities throughout the United States are also claiming public safety costs. Fischer stated that if we do this, he would prefer that amount be held until things settle down. The City Administrator reviewed potential grant program criteria. There was Council support to offer a grant program for businesses, using up to $100,000 of the CARES Act funds that the City received. There was consensus that home -based businesses could be eligible, but would need to have specific documentation on their expenses. DISCUSS 2021-2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) The Finance Director explained that the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a planning document that is used to identify projects and how to fiend those projects over the next five years. She stated that there are nine different categories of projects and reviewed the various revenues that fund the CIP. Staff reviewed the specific capital improvement projects identified for the years 2021 to 2025, and the Finance Director stated that the final document would be brought back to Council for approval in December. DISCUSS STORMWATER UTILITY INFORMATION The Public Works Director explained that stormwater management has long been a major component of municipal operations, and the cost to maintain stormwater infrastructure is continually increasing. He noted that the city has over 100 raingardens now and they require some maintenance. He reported that in the past two years, the City has dealt with Twin Lake flooding, new ponds appearing where no ponds used to be, a hillside washout due to a storm pipe separating, and numerous small maintenance projects. He noted that the annual cost for the City's MS4 permit through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is also expected to increase dramatically starting in 2021. He stated that the City was fortunate to get federal aid for Twin Lake and the stormwater washout on County Road 132, but the other items along with numerous deferred maintenance projects add up to significant expenditures and the City has limited funds available in our operating and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) fund. Numerous other cities are facing the same reality and many have established stormwater utility funds as a funding source to stay on top of stormwater maintenance and related projects. The Public Works Director stated that typically a study is done to look at impervious surfaces amounts and other things to help 2