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Mounds View City Council May 24, 2021 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br /> <br />Community Development Director Sevald discussed several grant opportunities the City could <br />pursue for the beautification of the Mounds View Boulevard corridor. He indicated the City <br />currently has no funding set aside for this. He questioned what the Council wanted to do long-term <br />with respect to the corridor. <br /> <br />Finance Director Beer reported MSA funds may be a possible funding source to assist with the <br />beautification of the Mounds View Boulevard corridor. City Administrator Zikmund clarified <br />$400,000 in MSA funds would be available in three years. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Sevald commented further on the grant opportunities available <br />to the City Council. It was noted one of the grants has a due date of June 1, 2021. <br /> <br />Council Member Hull asked if staff supported the City spending $2,000 on a grad student at this <br />time. Community Development Director Sevald reported the quality of the work completed by a <br />grad student would not be the same as the services that could be provided by Stantec. <br /> <br />Council Member Cermak indicated she did not support the City spending $2,000 for this work at <br />this time. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause stated the Council may need to readdress the Mounds View <br />Boulevard corridor within the strategic plan at a future workshop meeting. He stated it was <br />important to have the County mowing the medians and picking up trash consistently. <br /> <br />Council Member Hull agreed it would benefit the Council to further discuss this matter prior to <br />spending funds on engineers. <br /> <br />Assistant City Administrator Beeman indicated he spoke with the County on Friday and <br />understood the County wants cities applying for their corridor update planning grants. <br /> <br />City Administrator Zikmund explained the Council could discuss this matter further at the July <br />workshop meeting. He stated there was a communication and safety component for the corridor. <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller agreed it would be prudent for the Council to discuss this matter further at the July <br />workshop meeting. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause stated the plans that were done in 1998 and 2002 were before his <br />time of community involvement. He understood that the project was estimated to cost $25 million <br />back then and would cost a great deal more today. He questioned if MSA funding could be used <br />for semi-four replacement. Finance Director Beer reported this would be allowed. <br /> <br />Finance Director Beer explained MWF was going to abandon the tax credits and was now <br />considering conduit debt for their project. He indicated this matter would be coming before the <br />Council on June 14th. It was noted the conduit debt would not be a responsibility of the City but <br />rather would be MWF’s responsibility. <br />