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<br /> <br /> Staff Report <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />From: Eric Seaburg, City Engineer <br /> <br />Date: March 25, 2026 <br /> <br />Re: 2026 Little Canada Road Improvements – MSAS Advance Request <br /> <br />Action To Be Considered: <br />Motion to approve, table, or deny the following: <br />• Resolution authorizing request for advanced Municipal State Aid Construction Funding <br /> <br />Background: <br />The upcoming Little Canada Road and Country Drive Improvement Projects are eligible for <br />reimbursement using the City’s Municipal State Aid (MSA) Construction Funds. The City receives an <br />annual MSA construction allocation of approximately $500,000, funded through the Highway User <br />Tax Distribution Fund (state gas tax, vehicle registration tax, and motor vehicle sales tax revenues). <br /> <br />The City’s current MSA fund balance is approximately $1.01 million. The two projects will generate <br />$3.36 million in eligible MSA expenses. If the City seeks reimbursement for all eligible costs, the <br />account will temporarily go negative by about $2.35 million, requiring the use of advance MSA <br />funding. The balance would recover over the next five years through annual allocations. <br /> <br />The projects also include $7 million in federal grant funding, which is reimbursable, meaning the City <br />must incur costs first, then request reimbursement from MnDOT. Advancing MSA funds will help <br />maintain a positive balance in Fund 450 while the City cash‑flows construction and awaits federal <br />reimbursement. <br /> <br />Strategic Priority: <br />N/A <br /> <br />Source Of Funds: <br />The Little Canada Road Project (PW 67) and the Country Drive Improvement Project (PW 40) are <br />already included in the 2026–2035 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP revenue projections <br />assume the City will advance a portion of MSA funds to maintain a positive fund balance throughout <br />the 10‑year planning period. <br /> <br />Staff Recommendations: <br />Staff recommends that the City Council pass a resolution authorizing a request for advanced Municipal <br />State Aid Construction Funding. <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />• Resolution