Brainerd City Council members identified local government aid, fire safety funds and public right of way control as priority issues the city would support, should they come up as bills during the current legislative session.
Because bills can often move quickly during a legislative session, City Administrator Cassandra Torstenson wrote in a memo to the council, a response of support or opposition may be needed before there is time to present an issue to the council. Therefore, during the city council's meeting Tuesday, Feb. 19, staff and council members agreed to certain topics the city would support or oppose if they come up.
Issues identified as city priorities are:
• Increased local government aid, including the restoration of the annual inflation adjustment and ongoing appropriation increases to the LGA formula to move toward funding cities' total unmet needs. The city also supports the acceleration of annual LGA distribution to assist cities with short-term cash flow needs.
• The fire safety account. The city strongly requests the fire safety account remain intact and fully funded, as the fund supports the State Fire Marshal Division, all state response teams and reimbursement for firefighter training.
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• Public right of way control. The city supports upholding local authority to manage and protect public rights of way, including reasonable zoning and subdivision regulations, the exercising of local police powers, and recognition that cities have a paramount role in developing and enforcing utility construction and safety standards within city-owned rights of way and property.
• Bonding/funding for the construction of the riverfront trail and trailhead along the Mississippi River, which will connect to the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail.
• Preserving funding for Department of Employment and Economic Development Small Cities programs and restoring funding to the DEED Redevelopment Grant program used to address blighted and polluted sites.
The council agreed to oppose any limitations to local control for city-owned public rights of way, including any attempt by utility companies or wireless providers to gain control or management of such infrastructure.
With dozens of other issues included in Torstenson's proposal, Council President Gabe Johnson suggested giving council members more time to look them over and come up with any opposition they have.
In other business Tuesday, the council:
Authorized an internal job posting for the building official position. Chuck Arvidson was appointed interim building official in November.
Approved a tentative agreement with the police supervisors union for 2019-21. The contract includes an eight-step pay grid, ranging in salary from $31.41 to $42.71 per hour for a sergeant and $33.10 to $44.68 for a lieutenant. Rates for 2021 range from $33.40 to $45.09 for a sergeant and $34.94 to $47.17 for a lieutenant. Steps seven and eight of the pay scale are reserved for merit- and performance-based pay.
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Approved a cost share agreement with Crow Wing County for proposed improvements to Northwest Fourth Street, including a roundabout at Jackson Street, a median through James Street and a separated paved trail on the east side of Fourth Street. With the agreement, the city would pay roughly $154,130, and the county's share would be about $276,720. The city also received $800,000 in local road improvement funds for the project.
The council also agreed to a geotechnical evaluation at the project site, meant to gather information for the road's design and construction. The cost is $3,965 and is part of the total $245,850 engineering cost proposed by Bolton and Menk.
Approved a cost share agreement with Crow Wing County for street striping services at a cost of $15,520.17. By joining the county in a street striping contract, Brainerd saves money because of an increased quantity of striping the county performs on city highways.
Approved a $278,600 proposal for engineering services from Short Elliott Hendrickson for the Brainerd segment of the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail. The trail consists of an existing 4,400-foot segment from Fifth Avenue to Lum Park Road, which will be resurfaced and brought up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and the construction of two new segments. The first segment will run along the south side of Washington Street between South Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue Northeast for 4,200 feet, while the second segment will run along the south side of Norwood Street between South Eighth and South 11th streets for 1,000 feet.
The city received $1.1 million from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for engineering and construction costs of the trail. The cost of the new trail segments is estimated at $960,000, with the updates on the existing segment estimated at $265,000. All projects are scheduled to be done in 2020.
Scheduled a public hearing on the city's stormwater pollution prevention plan for 7:30 p.m. March 18, during a regular council meeting. City statutes require a hearing each year for members of the public to give feedback on the plan.
