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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA <br />NOVEMBER 8, 2023 <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, <br />Minnesota was convened on the 8th day of November, 2023 in the Council Chambers of the City <br />Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. <br />Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the <br />City Council were present at roll call: <br />ROLL CALL: In attendance were Mayor Fischer, City Council Members T. Miller, Gutierrez, <br />Kwapick and D. Miller. Absent: None. <br />ALSO PRESENT: Public Works Director Bill Dircks, Finance Director Sam Magureanu, <br />Community Relations Manager Laura Linehan, City Engineer Eric Seaburg, City Clerk/HR <br />Manager Heidi Heller and Beth Engum, Engineer with Bolton & Menk. <br />REVIEW 2024 WATER, SEWER AND STORMWATER RATES <br />The Finance Director stated that current utility rates are evaluated annually to ensure sufficient <br />revenues are generated to meet both operating and capital expenditures associated with the utility <br />funds. He reviewed the three enterprise funds: water fund, sewer fund and the new stormwater <br />fund. He explained that the city purchases water from St. Paul Regional Water Services and they <br />have scheduled cost increases between 4.87% and 7.21% over the next several years. He noted <br />these increases are due to the new McCarrons Treatment Plant under construction. The Finance <br />Director explained that the goal for these funds is to keep them at a break-even point as much as <br />possible. <br />D. Miller asked if the water and sewer funds would have less expenses once the stormwater fund <br />starts. The Finance Director stated that the relief will go to the general fund and capital <br />improvement fund more than the water and sewer funds. He noted that in 2024 the sewer rates <br />will increase by 6.5% and the water rates will increase by 7.5% due to the cost increases from St. <br />Paul Regional Water. <br />I35E-LITTLE CANADA ROAD -COUNTRY DRIVE INTERCHANGE PROJECT <br />UPDATE <br />The City Engineer explained that city staff have been working for several years to develop <br />possible improvement projects to address safety and congestion along Little Canada Road <br />between Lakeshore Avenue and I-35E. He.stated this work has been done in coordination with <br />Ramsey County, MnDOT and FHWA staff, all of which have jurisdictional authority on adjacent <br />roadways. He stated that there are three projects now programmed for construction hopefully in <br />2026. He noted that in addition to the three projects, project staff have been working to identify <br />a project to address safety issues and congestion at the Country Drive and Little Canada Road <br />intersection. Beth Engum, Bolton & Menk, explained that many ideas were looked at before <br />landing at an option where the Country Drive intersection with Little Canada Road is moved <br />west to separate it completely from the interstate exit ramps. She reviewed the various options <br />and explained why one was chosen as the best option to consider. The City Engineer asked if <br />this project is still a priority for the Council since there are five grants that they would need to <br />