Lake Elmo City Council — Transcript
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Discussion
Future Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA) Expansion Discussion
Votes (2)
CIP Discussion
The workshop commenced with a detailed review of the 2026-2035 Capital Improvement Plan. Discussion centered on the $133 million total, with public works infrastructure (streets, parks, water, sewer, storm) constituting the majority. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the Fire Department's request to accelerate the ladder truck replacement from 2034 to 2029 due to current operational limitations with taller buildings and residential setbacks, necessitating over $2 million and interfund loans. Public works projects, including building maintenance, playground replacements, and street infrastructure funding (levy increases, MSA funds, general fund transfers), were also scrutinized. The potential for a new street light utility fund was introduced as Excel Energy will cease servicing developer-installed lights after 25 years. Financing strategies, including debt service, infrastructure levies, and utility rates, were discussed in light of long-term sustainability and projected growth.
Future MUSA Expansion Discussion
The second agenda item addressed the upcoming 'Imagine 2050' comprehensive plan, specifically the Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA) boundary. Staff sought council feedback on expanding the MUSA to include undeveloped lands south of Stillwater Boulevard and the Tri Lakes area. The Met Council's new policy makes MUSA expansions more challenging, and local population projections show a slight decrease. Council expressed reservations about broad expansion, favoring a strategic, study-based approach that considers infrastructure efficiency (e.g., contiguous gravity sewer lines) and the specific needs of areas with failing septic systems (Tri Lakes). The concept of 'sewered open space development districts' (OPLDDR) was brought up as a potential fit for certain parcels. The importance of proactive planning for Met Council capacity was highlighted.
Notable Quotes (9)
CIP is a multi-year capital expenditure plan uh for the city's infrastructure uh vehicles, equipment, and public buildings.
operationally um we're kind of already behind the eightball um with the not having a a 100 plus foot um ladder apparatus in our in our fleet and our capabilities.
I guess along that line I just I'd prefer not to have to do as many of the um the inner loan or the inner sorry what was it the inter fund loans. I think this might be where we have to prioritize certain vehicle that need to be replaced over the next five years as we look through these.
I just bring up what the numbers are and for everyone to think a little bit about that because I know that we've a lot of information thrown at us tonight, but being the nerd that I am, I took a look at all that and said it's a lot of money that we're going to be levying for for taxes to cover the debt service and the infrastructure.
I'm concerned, you know, that the next 10 years might might look tough, but if we don't do some fairly aggressive planning right now, 50 years from now, people are going to be cursing my name. They're going to be cursing your name. So we we just want to make sure that that we're looking very long term here.
the Met Council has in its land use policy plan that it adopted earlier this year basically uh created some new criteria for review of Musa expansions. Basically, the Met Council feels that there is enough land across the urban the the Twin Cities metro area within the Musa to accommodate future development.
the comp plan is the opportunity to look seriously at your Musa boundary so that the infrastructure can be planned efficiently to support that.
We know that the city has uh four remote 2011 systems that need to get replaced and are failing. Um, and I'm and we know of a couple we get reports with those small lots that people are calling and trying to even put septic systems in our rightway because they don't have land to put replacement systems and things like that.
it's an opportunity to be proactive and the community has had to be very reactive in the last decade with some of the failures and this is really an a a this planning process can serve as an opportunity to be very proactive in in trying to avoid some of the future issues.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
A multi-year capital expenditure plan for the city's infrastructure, vehicles, equipment, and public buildings. Moved to a 10-year cycle in 2024. Projects must cost at least $25,000 and have a useful life of at least five years.
Requires an implementation plan portion of the comprehensive plan, including the CIP for major infrastructure needs for at least a 5-year period.
The city's long-term planning document, currently undergoing an update process ('Imagine 2050').
Adopted this spring, includes core strategies like 'vibrant community' and 'resilient infrastructure' that the CIP is designed to support.
Guides street projects and helps prioritize maintenance and reconstruction efforts.
The upcoming comprehensive plan update process, with a final draft due in December 2028.
Adopted new criteria making MUSA expansions harder, as it believes there is sufficient land within the existing MUSA across the metro area.
Guides recommendations for amenities and projects in city parks.