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CITY ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA
2015 WINTER BUSINESS MEETING
2014 PRESIDENT& COMMITTEE REPORTS
January 30, 2015
This report summarizes the various activities of the CEAM Executive Committee, Standing
Committees, and other Committees / Appointments during the 2014 calendar year. For more detail
on the activities, please contact the appropriate committee chair.
1. Executive Committee – In the past year, the Executive Committee met eight times to coordinate
and administer CEAM business and activities. The Committee also participated in joint meetings
with MnDOT leadership staff, the Executive Board of the Minnesota County Engineers
Association, and other Committee chairs. Minutes for the aforementioned meetings can be found
on the CEAM website (www.ceam.org). Administrative activities included development of the
2014 calendar, monitoring of annual budget and financial obligations, creation of agendas for the
summer and winter business meetings, provision of website updates, communication of
Municipal Screening Board actions, approval of annual scholarship awards, selection of
Engineer of the Year and Project of the Year awards, and designation of 2015 Executive
Committee candidates.
On behalf of CEAM, in addition to our 17,000 in Scholarships (6 Eng @$2,500 and 2 Tech@
$1,000) the Executive Committee again made an annual sponsorship contribution of $2500 to the
Future Cities Competition. We also approved another $500 donation to MN 2050 to get CEAM
up to the Silver Donation Level with Mn 2050.
2014 was a big year of transition for State Aid which the Executive Committee worked closely
with as we helped select new State Aid Engineer Mitch Rasmussen and new Deputy State Aid
Engineer Ted Schoenecker to replace Julie Skallman and Rick Kjonaas who retired and will be
greatly missed. Both Mitch and Ted bring a wealth of local experience and knowledge to State
Aid that will be critical as they continue to help both CEAM and MnDOT with local
transportation issues, including funding. Please join me in thanking and recognizing Julie and
Rick for their great service to our Cities over the years and welcome Mitch and Ted into these
critical positions. In addition, we assisted with and welcome new District State Aid Engineers in
both District 8 and District 1.
The highlight of the past year was full approval and implementation in 2015 of the new MSA
needs program. The Executive Committee has been working closely with MnDOT, the
Screening Board, and the Needs Study Task Force for a number of years to make this happen. I
fell proud to be a part of such a great group that was able to look out for the greater good of our
MSA system state wide to find a way to do what makes sense for our state municipal system and
not get bogged down with individual short term winner and loser issues.
2. Municipal State Aid Screening Board – The Screening Board met 2 times in 2014 and worked
closely with MnDOT State Aid to fully adopt and implement the new ADT based methodology
to calculate construction needs on the municipal state aid street system starting in 2015 as
recommended by the Needs Study Task Force Chaired by Lee Gustafson!
3. Winter Conference Planning Committee (Co-chairs Klayton Eckles and Joe Rhein) – The
Committee met 4 times in 2014
4. Summer Business Meeting Committee (Co-chairs Dan Coyle and Jay Kennedy)
We are changing venues to The Links at Northfork in Ramsey, and that we already have a date
of Friday, July 31 set for the meeting and event. By moving the meeting and networking event
to a nicer location closer to the twin cities, we are hopeful to get even more in attendance this
next year.
5. Communications / Website Committee (Chair Mike Turner) – We have met briefly this year
to discuss whether to pursue a separate CEAM salary survey. It was recommended by the
committee that since the information is so varied across our industry and the information is
generally available from the League of Minnesota Cities, that we not continue to pursue that
survey. The executive committee agreed. At the summer business meeting attendees were asked
to provide additional feedback on pursuing a survey if they disagreed. No feedback was
received.
6. Water Resources Committee (Chair Dan Edgerton) - - The CEAM Water Resources
Committee met or communicated via email several times this year. The committee was tasked
with researching the water supply reports coming out of the Met Council. The committee
worked closely with the CEAM Executive Committee as well as APWA to establish clear
communication and outcome goals for meetings with Met Council which are ongoing. The
committee will continue to work with incoming CEAM President Klayton Eckles on this issue
going forward in 2015 as well as well as to keep on top of ever changing water resources issues
and regulations.
7. Traffic Safety Committee (Mark Ray, Kevin Kielb) – See attached memo regarding 2014
review and 2015 outlook.
8. Standards and Specifications Committee (Chair John Gorder) – the CEAM Specifications
update is fully completed and implemented. The committee continues to work on minor
specification and standards issues as they arise.
9. Legislative Committee (Chair Dave Sonnenberg) – A verbal update will be provided at the
winter business meeting but the following items will be discussed.
Draft State 404 Program Assumption Legislation is proposed as follows:
$________is appropriated to the Board of Water and Soil Resources and the Department of Natural
Resources to study the feasibility of the state assuming the administration of the Federal Section 404
permit program. The study shall include:
An estimate of the costs to the state and savings to local governments of assuming Section 404
administration, including staffing
Identifying the potential speed and efficiencies to be gained through State 404 assumption as
well as a cost/benefit analysis
Identification of administrative changes that would have to occur to permit the assumption
Identification of the administrative simplification that could be accomplished by unifying
administration of section 404, the Wetlands Conservation Act, and MnDNR Public Water
wetlands
Language to define a “wetland”
Recommendations as to how to meet federal requirements for state 404 permit assumption
A steering committee shall be empanelled to provide oversight of the study. It shall consist of:
one representative to be appointed by the Board of Water and Soil Resources,
one representative to be appointed by the Commissioner of Natural Resources,
one representative to be appointed by the Corp of Engineers,
two representatives to be appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties including one
county engineer and one member of a technical evaluation panel representing a local
government unit,
one representative appointed by the League of MN Cities
one representative to be appointed by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts,
one representative of the Wetland Bank operators
three representatives of environmental organizations to be chosen by consultation of the
Executive Director of the Board of Water and Soil Resources with the organizations.
Two representatives appointed by the State Chamber of Commerce; one from the mining
industry and one from the forestry industry
one representative from the Association of General Contractors
one representative from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
By January 15, 2016 (2017) the Board of Water and Soil Resources must report to the policy and
finance committees with jurisdiction over the agency.
The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) has adopted the following recommendations
for their transportation position in the 2015 session. After many years of universal
transportation avocation with little direct benefit results for Cities, there is direction
this year to only outwardly support bills with financial direct benefit to Cities.
CEAM as an affiliate of LMC can not go against this position but individual Cities
could on their own if felt appropriate. The following summarizes LMC’s position
on this issue:
League Board Directs New Transportation Advocacy Strategy
The League will support only omnibus transportation funding bills that
contain a new state funding source for city streets that is distributed
outside the constitutional formula.
(Published Jan 20, 2015)
After a lengthy discussion, the League of Minnesota Cities Board of Directors
voted Jan. 15 that the League will base its support for a 2015 transportation
funding bill on inclusion of a new state funding stream for city streets. The
directive, which marks a change in the League’s transportation advocacy
strategy, reads as follows:
“The League will support and advocate only for omnibus transportation funding
bills that contain a new funding source for city streets. The League will advocate
for a sustainable funding stream outside the constitutional formula for city
streets. The League may also advocate for street improvement districts, although
it will not condition its support for an omnibus transportation bill on inclusion of a
street improvement district mechanism. The League will testify in support of
omnibus transportation funding bills that contain discretionary funds for cities,
including for city streets. The League would be neutral/silent on bills that do not
contain discretionary funds and tools for cities.”
While some Board members expressed concerns that this directive might put the
League in the position of being neutral on a bill that contains provisions the
League has supported—such as a gas tax increase and street improvement
district authority for cities—all members agreed that city street funding has
remained unaddressed in omnibus transportation funding bills for over a decade.
The revised strategy is intended to convey that adequately funded city streets
are essential to mobility and economic vitality.
Background
Throughout the 2014 campaign season, and more recently in the news media,
Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders made statements indicating that passage of a
substantial transportation funding bill is a priority for the 2015 legislative session.
The League has a long history of supporting increased transportation
investments. The League helped override then-Gov. Pawlenty’s veto to enact a
significant transportation funding bill in 2008. The League has been an active
member of theMinnesota Transportation Alliance and other transportation
stakeholder groups. Every legislative session, the League has provided testimony
at the Legislature in support of increasing transportation investments.
Unfortunately, this support has not helped secure more discretionary
transportation funds for cities and, despite intense efforts over the last two
decades on the part of the League and city officials, the Legislature has not
passed the street improvement district enabling legislation requested by cities.
The counties have secured additional wheelage tax authority as well as local
option sales taxes for transportation. The Legislature has increased the gas tax
and other revenues distributed by a constitutional formula through the Highway
User Tax Distribution Fund (HUTDF), but those revenues provide discretionary
funds to only 147 of Minnesota’s 852 cities (those over 5,000 in population).
State bonding investments have helped, but have very limited applications.
Currently, 84 percent of city streets are funded with property taxes and special
assessments. Further, when state and county highway investments occur, cities
have the added burden of cost participation, which diverts dollars from city
streets.
Looking ahead
This Board directive will guide the League’s strategy on transportation advocacy
during the current legislative session. League staff will be meeting with
transportation committee chairs and stakeholders in the coming days to convey
the new position. We will also be preparing a model resolution for cities that
want to show support for the League’s position. - See more at: http://www.lmc.org/page/1/LMCBoard-
Transportation.jsp?utm_source=Jan.+20+NO+LEG&utm_campaign=Bulletin1%2F20%2F15&utm_medium=email#sthash.l319wodz.dpuf
In conclusion, I want to thank the many members of CEAM who participate in, lead and guide our
Committees. On behalf of the Executive Committee, I want to extend our appreciation to the entire
membership and to other conference attendees for their continued support of CEAM. I am very
proud of our accomplishments over the past year, especially the full adoption and implementation of
the new Municipal State Aid Needs Program and selection of Mitch Rasmussen and Ted
Schoenecker to lead the MnDOT State Aid Division with Julie Skallman and Rick Kjonass retiring.
Serving as your President for the past year has truly been an honor for me and I am deeply grateful
for the opportunity to represent such a tremendous organization.
Sincerely,
Steve Bot
2014 CEAM President