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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.15.26 Work Session CITY OF ST. JOSEPH www.stjosephmn.gov “A safe and welcoming community valuing open communication and civic trust while maintaining the enduring spirit of small-town life.” 75 Callaway Street East | Saint Joseph, Minnesota 56374 Email: cityoffices@stjosephmn.gov | Phone: 320.363.7201 | Fax 320.363.0342 St. Joseph City Council Work Session June 15, 2026 5:00 PM 1. Rural Residential Zoning Ordinance 2. Draft 2027 Budget – Memberships, Staffing, Council Initiatives STAFF MEMO Prepared by: Community Development Meeting Date: 06/15/26 ☒ Work Session Agenda Agenda Item # 1 Reviewed by: Legal has reviewed the draft Item: Rural Residential Zoning Ordinance Council Priority: ☐ Dispensary ☐ Industrial Park Expansion ☒ Housing ☐ Public Safety Facility/Safe Crossing of CSAH 75 ☐ N/A ACTION REQUESTED Discussion and direction from the Council. BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION After approximately six months of discussion and review, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed Rural Residential (RR) 1.5-acre lot zoning district at its June 8 meeting. Following the hearing, the Commission unanimously recommended approval (5–0) of the ordinance. No public comments were received, and staff had mailed notices to the six properties identified as potentially eligible for rezoning under the new district (staff did not hear back from any of the property owners). PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION Council directed staff to pursue options to support single-family housing growth including rural development (development without full city services). REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND As drafted, the RR 1.5 acre Zoning ordinance would make six properties within the city eligible for rezoning to the new Rural Residential (RR) district should the property owner initiate a rezone request. Rezoning would require extension of municipal water service but not sanitary sewer service. The property owner would be responsible for demonstrating compliance with all ordinance criteria and findings required for rezoning at the time of the request. All six of these properties are at the very edge of the current and future boundaries of the community. The purpose of this discussion is to: • Provide the Council with an opportunity to review the draft ordinance prior to formal consideration and receive Council feedback and identify any revisions Council would like to see. • Position the ordinance for formal Council action in July. Staff are seeking specific Council input on the following items: • Requirement to extend water service, but not sewer service. • Minimum lot size of 1.5 acres and maximum buildable lot size of 9.9 acres. • Accessory structure standards. • Any other provisions of the draft ordinance the Council wishes to discuss. BUDGET IMPACT None STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION Staff would like discussion and direction from Council on the drafted ordinance. SUPPORTING DATA/ATTACHMENT Rural Residential 1.5 acre Zoning Ordinance draft ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 1 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE RR-1.5 RURAL RESIDENTIAL ONE AND ONE-HALF ACRE ZONING DISTRICT AND REQUIRING MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICE Section 502.28. RR-1.5 – Rural Residential One and One-Half Acre District Subd. 1. Intent and Authority. The RR-1.5 Rural Residential One and One-Half Acre District is established to allow limited rural residential subdivision development at reduced lot sizes, with a minimum lot area of one and one-half (1.5) acres, in specific areas approved by the City Council. This district applies only to lands depicted on Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference. Properties within the RR-1.5 District are intended to remain outside the City’s long-term urban growth area due to natural constraints, infrastructure limitations, or legally binding restrictions on municipal sanitary sewer extension. All properties shall be served by municipal water. Individual Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS) are permitted in accordance with Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080, as amended. While the RR-1.5 District allows higher residential density than traditional Rural Residential zoning, development shall remain limited in scale and intensity and shall be consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, infrastructure capacity, and applicable state and local regulations. Subd. 2. Purpose. The RR-1.5 District is established to achieve the following purposes: a. To facilitate smaller-acreage residential subdivisions in limited areas of the City that abut Rural Residential zoning districts or are located at or near the City’s corporate boundaries, as identified on Exhibit A. b. To expand housing opportunities in areas that are serviceable by municipal water but it is not reasonably feasible to extend municipal sanitary sewer service. c. To provide a transitional land use pattern that maintains rural character while allowing compatibility with future urban development. Subd. 3(C). Rezoning Limitations and Threshold Criteria. 502.27-1 ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 2 Rezoning to the RR-1.5 Rural Residential One and One-Half Acre District is intended to be exceptional and severely limited in application and shall not be construed as a zoning district of general applicability. The burden of demonstrating compliance with the criteria below shall rest with the applicant. A. Mapped Areas. Only properties identified on Exhibit A shall be eligible for rezoning to the RR-1.5 District provided all of the criteria below are satisfied. No property shall be rezoned to the RR-1.5 District unless the City Council makes written findings that all of the following criteria are satisfied: 1. Comprehensive Plan Consistency. The proposed rezoning is consistent with the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan, including land use designations, growth policies, and infrastructure planning, and would not undermine planned urban development or future orderly annexation objectives. 2. Infrastructure Limitation Finding. It is not reasonably feasible to serve the property with municipal sanitary sewer service within the foreseeable planning horizon, due to physical, environmental, or unusual cost constraints. 3. No Premature Urbanization. The rezoning will not result in premature or inefficient urban development, nor create expectations for future extension of municipal sanitary sewer service. 4. Edge Condition Requirement. The property is located at the edge of the City boundaries or is physically constrained by permanent features such as public parkland, water bodies, wetlands, transportation corridors, or other barriers that reasonably limit future municipal expansion. 5. Compatibility with Adjacent Land Uses and Development. The proposed development pattern is compatible with surrounding land uses and zoning districts and provides a logical transition between rural and urban development forms. If rezoned to RR 1.5 the property shall not be located adjacent to R-1 zoned districts where full sewer and water service is available and can be readily extended to service the property. The Council may also consider whether future development on adjacent property or properties would make it feasible to extend full sewer and water service to the subject property. 502.27-2 ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 3 6. Developer-Initiated Rezoning Limitation. Rezoning to the RR-1.5 District shall not be approved solely for the purpose of increasing development yield, lot density, or marketability of land or to avoid extending required city services like sewer absent the public purpose findings required by this Section. 7. Subdivision Control. The rezoning shall not result in subdivision patterns that would impede future orderly redevelopment, infrastructure extension, or annexation should municipal sewer service become available. 8. Public Interest Determination. The rezoning serves a demonstrable public interest and does not primarily benefit a single property owner or development proposal at the expense of the City’s long-term planning objectives. 9. Density Limitation. Rezoning and subsequent subdivision shall not result in the creation of more than forty (40) single-family residential lots. This maximum density requirement shall include all phases of the subdivision including outlots. 10. Septic suitability. The property shall be evaluated by Stearns County Environmental Services in regards to septic design, location, soils, and other factors to determine if the proposed subdivision is compatible for septic systems at the time of Preliminary Plat. Subd. 4. Permitted Principal Uses. The following principal uses are permitted within the RR-1.5 District: a. Single-family detached dwelling units. b. Public parks, recreational areas, environmental preserves, and wildlife or game refuges. Subd. 5. Conditional Uses. The following uses are permitted only upon issuance of a Conditional Use Permit in accordance with this Ordinance: a. Short-term rentals, subject to the requirements of Section 505.13 of this Code Subd. 6. Accessory Uses and Structures. The following accessory uses and structures are permitted within the RR-1.5 District: 502.27-3 ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 4 a. Detached Accessory Buildings, subject to the following standards: 1. Accessory buildings in this district shall be exempt from the Accessory Buildings Ordinance in 502.12 Subd. 1 2. Detached accessory buildings shall comply with all applicable building and zoning codes, except as modified herein. 3. Exterior building materials, including siding and roofing, shall be as similar in color appearance to the principal dwelling as possible. 4. No detached accessory building shall be constructed prior to the construction of the principal dwelling to which it is accessory. Detached accessory buildings shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in height or the height of the principal structure (house) whichever is larger. 5. Detached accessory buildings shall not be located over primary or secondary septic system locations. 6. Detached accessory buildings are allowed in the side or rear yards. 7. Maximum square footage for detached accessory buildings shall adhere to the maximum lot coverage percentage of this district and adhere to the following: Size of Lot Maximum allowable square footage (floor area) 1.5 acres – 5 acres 3,500 square feet 5.1 – 9.9 acres No max size limits b. Home occupations, subject to Section 502.16 of this Code. c. Private swimming pools, subject to Section 502.12, Subdivision 4. In-ground pools may utilize an automatic pool cover in lieu of fencing where certified to comply with ASTM F1346-91, or successor standards. Pools shall not be located over primary or secondary septic system locations. d. Private sports courts, including but not limited to tennis or basketball courts, provided such courts are not located over primary or secondary septic system locations and at least (10) feet off adjacent lot lines. e. Personal amateur radio, television, and satellite dish antennas. 502.27-4 ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 502.27-5 35 Subd. 7. Minimum Lot Area. The minimum lot area within the RR-1.5 District shall be one and one-half (1.5) acres, or 65,340 square feet. Subd. 8. Maximum Lot Area The maximum size for a buildable lot shall not be greater than 9.9 acres. Subd. 9. Yard and Setback Requirements for Principal structure. a. Front Yard. Minimum front yard setback shall be thirty (30) feet, except where existing development on the same side of the street establishes a different prevailing setback, in which case the setback shall be consistent with the established building line. b. Side Yard. Minimum side yard setback shall be fifteen (15) feet. On corner lots, the side yard abutting a public street shall be not less than thirty (30) feet. c. Rear Yard. Minimum rear yard setback shall be thirty (30) feet. Decks and patios attached to the principal structure shall be at least twenty (20) feet setback. d. Accessory Structures. Detached accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from side and rear lot lines. On corner lots, accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of twenty (20) feet from the side lot line abutting a public street. Subd. 9. Height Limitations. Principal buildings shall not exceed forty (40) feet in height. Subd. 10. Lot Coverage. No structure or combination of structures shall occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of the total lot area. ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 502.27-6 36 EXHIBIT A (RR-1.5 District Map – Incorporated by Reference) ORDINANCE 502 – ZONING ORDINANCE 502.27-7 36 502.27-7 STAFF MEMO Prepared by: Lori Bartlett, Finance Meeting Date: 6/15/26 ܈܈ Work Session Agenda Agenda Item # 2 Reviewed by: David Murphy, Admin. Item: Draft 2027 Budget: Memberships, Staffing, Council Initiatives Council Priority: ܆܆ Dispensary ܆܆ Industrial Park Expansion ܆܆ Housing ܆܆ Public Safety Facility/Safe Crossing of CSAH 75 ܆܆ N/A ACTION REQUESTED Discussion BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION Council opted to not fund RSVP in the 2026 budget. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND Membership and Dues As part of the annual budget process, staff presents the memberships and organizational contributions in which the City participates. A summary and description of each membership is attached for discussion. The following organizations have been identified for further council consideration. 1. RSVP – During the 2026 budget process, the City Council elected not to fund a contribution to RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program). The organization remains listed in the membership summary for reference; however, no funding is included in the draft 2027 budget. 2. Initiative Foundation – The Initiative Foundation provides resources and support that may benefit the St. Joseph area; however, the direct benefit to the broader community and taxpayers may be limited. Staff is requesting Council discussion regarding funding for both the 2026 and 2027 contributions. The draft 2027 budget currently reflects no funding for this membership. 3. Whitney Senior Center Contribution – Staff has received requests from both residents and representatives of the Whitney Senior Center to increase the number of membership buy-downs supported by the City due to growing interest and participation among senior residents. Additional information regarding the request is attached. The draft 2027 budget includes funding for 30 senior membership buy-downs. Staffing Staff will present departmental staffing requests during the budget workshop. Staffing levels are evaluated based on current service demands, anticipated future needs, and the City's commitment to providing high-quality services to the community. For 2027, staff is recommending maintaining the current overall staffing levels. The existing vacancy within the Police Department is currently under review to determine the best approach for meeting operational needs. While a full-time replacement may be recommended, the position's classification and responsibilities may be adjusted based on the outcome of that analysis. The draft 2027 budget currently assumes a higher-paid position for planning purposes. As the evaluation process is completed and a staffing recommendation is finalized, the budget will be updated accordingly. As staffing needs continue to be discussed, the estimated annual cost of adding a full-time employee is approximately $200,000 for a department head position and $150,000 for a non-department head position, including wages and benefits. These estimates can be used as a planning tool when evaluating future service levels and staffing requests during the budget process. The Fire Department is requesting an increase to the fire call and drill pay stipend from $20 per call/drill to $22 per call/drill. The most recent adjustment occurred in 2025, when the stipend increased by $3. The Fire Department is also requesting an increase to the annual Captain stipend from $1,000 to $1,200. The Captain stipend has remained unchanged since 2008. During that time, the responsibilities of the department's five Captains have expanded significantly, including increased leadership duties, administrative responsibilities, training requirements, and operational oversight. Council Budget Initiatives Staff would like to open a discussion with the Council regarding additional priorities and initiatives to consider during the development of the 2027 budget. Citywide priorities will be established during the upcoming Visioning Session on June 17. Departments will use the identified priorities to guide budget requests and resource allocations, ensuring that proposed expenditures align with the Council's strategic direction and community goals. The draft 2027 budget is in the early stages of development and will continue to evolve as departmental requests are reviewed and Council priorities are established. To assist with budget discussions, the following preliminary levy projections are provided as a starting point for consideration. These projections are subject to change as additional information becomes available and budget assumptions are refined. The current forecast for increase in taxable market value 6.5% mainly from new construction of multi- family and commercial/industrial properties. A better estimate will be available from Stearns County at the end of August. A couple items in the budget to consider. Debt levy increase $59,640 – Debt study will be presented later this summer by Northland Securities. Staffing budget increase $320,025 based on a 4% general increase plus step changes. Negotiations are on-going with both labor unions. LGA projected to increase $9,445. The final certified amount will be provided by August 1st. 2027 Levy Increase 2026 Urban Tax Rate 2027 Urban Tax Rate Based on 6.5% NTC Inc. 2027 Rural Residential Tax Rate 2027 $ Levy Available To Increase After Debt Levy Inc. 2027 In(De)crease Taxes On $350,000 Home 5% 63.36% 61.89% 23.18% $200,000 ($50)p 7.5% 63.36% 63.33% 23.73% $325,000 ($1)p 10% 63.36% 64.84% 24.29% $455,000 $49Ҋ 15% 63.36% 67.85% 25.42% $715,000 $165Ҋ Please provide input for staff to consider for the 2027 budget. STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION Discuss and Provide Feedback on these budget Items SUPPORTING DATA/ATTACHMENTS Membership Dues Summary Membership Descriptions Whitney Senior Center Buy-Down Request City of St. Joseph Memberships and Dues DRAFT 2027 Budget Actual Budgeted Actual Budgeted Budgeted Actual Budgeted Memberships - Council 2024 2024 2025 2025 2026 YTD 2026 2027 St. Cloud APO 101-41110-433 9,029 10,468 7,588 11,515 9,342 4,600 9,800 League of MN Cities 101-41110-433 11,093 8,306 8,470 8,470 8,894 9,110 9,575 Coalition of Greater MN Cities 101-41110-433 12,970 12,799 12,970 12,970 12,731 12,731 13,000 Initiative Foundation 101-41110-433 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 - - RSVP (City of St. Cloud) 101-41110-433 6,537 6,538 5,000 5,000 - - - Whitney Senior Center dues 101-41110-433 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 St. Joseph Chamber 101-41110-433 150 150 150 150 150 250 250 LMC Mayor's Assn 101-41110-433 - 30 30 30 30 30 30 Greater St. Cloud 250-46500-433 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 47,679 46,191 37,108 46,035 39,047 32,921 38,855 Memberships - Administration League of MN Cities /MMUA- Safety 101-41430-314 599 150 300 600 600 MN Clerks & Finance Officers Assn 101-41430-433 - 50 50 50 50 50 Amazon Prime 101-41430-433 139 139 139 140 140 Resource Training and Solutions 101-41430-433 - - - - - Society for Human Resource Management 101-41430-433 - - 264 - 265 265 American Planning Association/APAMN 101-41910-433 667 400 667 700 700 693 700 American Institution of Certified Planners 101-41910-433 160 470 180 180 180 EDAM 250-46500-433 295 166 320 330 335 340 MN Recreation & Park Association 101-45204-433 310 300 360 310 325 350 350 ENR 101-41530-433 100 60 100 100 100 100 MN Gov't Finance Officer's Assn 101-41530-433 70 70 70 70 70 80 80 National Gov't Finance Officer's Asson 101-41530-433 170 170 170 170 170 170 2,055 1,794 2,317 2,339 2,930 1,458 2,975 Memberships - Police Dept League of MN Cities /MMUA- Safety 101-42120-314 599 150 300 300 300 MN Juvenile Officers Assn 101-42120-433 25 25 25 25 Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center 101-42120-433 - - - - - 150 150 MN Chiefs of Police Assn 101-42120-433 376 350 375 375 391 400 CJDN BCA Access Fee 101-42120-433 600 150 600 600 600 Background Subscription 101-42120-433 - - 23 - 25 25 Stearns County Chief's Assn 101-42120-433 50 50 50 50 50 50 Assn of MN Emergency Managers 101-42500-433 200 200 200 200 200 1,825 925 23 1,550 1,575 591 1,750 Memberships - Public Works CM Water Ed. Alliance (City of St. Cloud) 651-49900-308 1,779 1,800 1,620 1,800 1,800 1,800 MN Municipal Utilities pk/st/wt/ww-433 547 530 587 550 550 675 700 League of MN Cities /MMUA- Safety pk/st/wt/ww-314 1,061 600 1,336 1,100 1,100 1,100 MN Rural Water Assn 601/602-49440/450-433 1,365 400 1,376 1,400 1,400 1,329 1,400 One Call Concept 601/602-49440/450-433 50 50 50 100 100 50 Rural Water/MMUA Drug/Alcohol Consortium 601/602-49440/450-433 250 420 250 250 450 American Waterworks Assn 601-49440-433 240 235 252 235 235 250 5,042 3,865 5,641 5,435 5,435 2,004 5,750 Memberships -Fire Dept League of MN Cities /MMUA- Safety 210-42240-314 599 150 300 300 300 MN Smoke-Eater 210-42240-433 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 Central MN Fire Aid Assn 210-42240-433 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 Stearns County Fire Chiefs Assn 210-42240-433 15 - 15 15 15 MN State Fire Chiefs Assn 210-42240-433 360 360 360 360 Lake Region Firefighters Assn 210-42240-433 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 MN State Fire Dept Assn 210-42240-433 290 290 290 290 290 290 MSFDA 210-42240-433 7 7 8 7 8 10 Emergency Services IAMRESPONDING 210-42240-433 735 50 735 50 50 872 875 Emergency Services ERRS 210-42240-433 685 685 685 685 Business Radio Licensing 210-42240-433 115 - 115 115 115 MN Fire Service Certification Board 210-42240-433 263 290 730 290 290 290 730 2,139 1,947 1,878 2,227 2,228 1,277 3,495 City of St. Joseph Membership and Dues Proposed - 2027 Memberships proposed to continue in 2027 Purpose General/Council Memberships St. Cloud APO Provides access to Federal Transportation funds. The City received funding for 2 corridor studies from the APO and federal funding for phase 2 of the CR2 Trail. Assists with transportation planning. Future funding awarded to extend trail from Kennedy School to Rivers Bend Park in 2030 TA funding. League of MN Cities Provides training, resource material, lobbying, routine reporting during the legislative session, publish monthly magazine and bi-weekly bulletin. The City also utilizes the insurances for general liability and workers' comp through the League Insurance Trust. Coalition of Greater MN Cities Provides lobbying services, training, resource material, labor data bases to include contract salaries and benefits. Initiative Foundation The Initiative Foundation lists their mission as "to unlock the power of Central MN people to build and sustain healthy communities." The City has utilized IF funding for establishing the Farmer's Market and Healthy Community Partnership. They have also provided a grant for the Rivers Bend Park design. The IF also assists with Economic Development for our businesses. RSVP Retired Senior Volunteer Program - This program is through the City of St. Cloud. RSVP reimburses the volunteers for mileage when they work. Work can include taking residents to appointments, to working at events. Annually the City of St. Cloud sends a request to the City for funding. City Council has opted out of funding in 2026. Whitney Senior Center The City of St. Cloud implemented a $50 annual membership charge for the Whitney Senior Center. For St. Cloud residents, the city is subsidizing $40 of the fee and offered the other cities to participate with their senior citizens. St. Joseph agreed to subsidize up to $1,200 per year for the subsidy (30 residents). The Whitney Senior Center is requesting an increase in the number of residents subsidized due to the number requesting. St. Joseph Chamber Local networking and supporting the efforts of the local businesses. LMC Mayor's Assn Provides training and networking for the Mayor through LMC. Greater St. Cloud The GSC works with area stakeholders to improve job opportunities, quality of life, education, health & wellness, and business development in the Greater St. Cloud area. Memberships proposed to continue in 2027 Administration Memberships Purpose MN Society of HR Management [SHRM] Provides training and networking opportunities for the City Administrator for HR responsibilities. Professional organization. MN Clerks & Finance Officers Assn Provides training and networking opportunities for the City Clerk and finance staff. Professional organization. MN American Planning Assn Provides training and networking opportunities for the planning staff. Professional organization. American Institute of Certified Planners Provides training and networking opportunities for the planning staff. This membership is national where ideas are shared in the profession. Professional organization. Economic Development Assn Minnesota Provides training and networking opportunities for the economic development. Professional organization. MN Recreation & Park Association Provides training and networking opportunities for parks and recreation. Professional organization. Engineer News Record Staff uses this membership to determine cost indexes for deferred assessments. MN Gov't Finance Officer's Assn Provides training and networking opportunities for the finance staff. Professional organization. Government Finance Officers Assn Provides training for the finance staff. Also provides current updates on GASB implementations. Professional organization. Police Memberships Purpose LMC Patrol Subscription Online training portal for patrol officers whose city is a member of LMC. MN Juvenile Officers Assn Provides training and resources for police officers working with youth in the community. Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center Assist local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice partners by providing adaptive solutions and services that facilitate information sharing, support criminal investigations, and promote officer safety and wellness. MN Chiefs of Police Assn The MN Chiefs of Police Association is a nonporfit, professional membership organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of police leadership in MN. The Association is recognized as the voice of police executives in MN and represents its members on legislative, regulator and community issues related to crime, public safety and law enforcement. Stearns County Chief's Assn Representation includes a supervisor level member from the various police departments in Stearns County. Monthly meetings are conducted and include mutual concern discussions. Assn of MN Emergency Managers AMEM is a professional organization of emergency managers dedicated to advocating and advancing effective emergency management capabilities and practices statewide. The AMEM vision is to be one voice advancing individual, family and community preparedness. Memberships proposed to continue in 2027 Public Works Memberships Purpose CM Water Education Alliance Joint City Partnership that provides education on water preservation and storm water management. The funds help pay for marketing and the annual water festival held at Millstream Park. All 6 area Cities belong to this organization and pay the same fee. This membership is paid through the Storm Water utility and is part of our Storm Water permit. MN Municipal Utilities The MMUA mission is to unify and serve as a common voice for municipal utilities and to provide support needed to improve service to their customers and community. This organization provides training and education opportunities to members also. MMUA assists with regulatory implementation/education. LMC/MMUA Safety Through LMCIT, MMUA provides regional safety traning as required by OSHA. The cities of St. Joseph, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park are included in the Central Region Safety Group. MN Rural Water Assn Professional organization that provides technical assistance for water and sewer. In the past they have helped the City with a water leak and their dues covered the fees. They also provide training and newsletters. One Call Concept The City is required to locate all underground utilities when someone digs near the City lines. One Call Concept keeps the database and notifies us when someone calls for a locate to dig. MN Municipal Utilities Drug/Alcohol Consortium The City is required to have a drug testing program for staff that operate heavy equipment. MN Municipal Utilities runs the drug testing program for the City and we do not pay additional costs. The piece we are responsible for is arranging the random drug testing. We are part of their pool and they inform the City who should be tested and when. American Waterworks Assn Professional organization that provides education and license requirements for water operators. Fire Memberships Purpose MN Smoke-Eater Montly firefighter subscription. Originally each firefighter received a subscription and it has since been reduced to one subscription that is received in the fire hall, available to all members. Central MN Fire Aid Assn 14 Neighboring fire departments meet 4 times per year to discuss possible cost sharing opportunities for training and equipment. In this manner, the departments ensure they meet periodically to discuss issues. MN State Fire Chiefs Assn Professional organization that provides for networking and training opportunities for Fire Chiefs and command staff. The dues include memberships for 8 members. Lake Region Firefighters Assn Fire departments in the mutual aid area meet monthly to discuss ideas and training opportunities. The dues also pay for limited training. MN State Fire Dept Assn Professional organization for the fire fighters. The Association provides training opportunities and networking. MSFDA includes publications. Emergency Services ERRS/IAMRESPONDING Fire call reporting system. MN Fire Service Certification Board Professional organization for the fire fighters. The certification board provides recertification of hazmat and firefighter 1 qualifications. Stearns County Fire Chief's Association Mutual Aid between western Stearns County city fire departments that are not part of the Mutual Aid Association. The cities meet 4 times per year to discuss calles, areas of concern, recruiting and retention, equipment purchases and any other issues to bring back to own departments.