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4. Communication Items <br />Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer Jennifer Lowry provided a brief <br />review and update on projects and maintenance activities listed in the staff report <br />dated January 19, 2024. <br />Public Works Director Freihammer explained the City Council has authorized the <br />new lead Fire Engine be an electric engine and delivered in 2025. He noted the <br />Commission could view the City Council discussion online. <br />Member Hodder noted the community solar garden is a matter before the PUC to <br />discuss rates and the City will need to figure out what impact that might have on <br />the community solar garden efforts. <br />Mr. Freihammer explained staff has already looked into that and it does not affect <br />the City's solar garden because the program is new enough and is for the programs <br />that subscribed before the City entered into an agreement. This does not directly <br />affect the City, but the City is a part of the Suburban Rate Authority and there are <br />other cities that are a part of that. He knew the Suburban Rate Authority, which sort <br />of represents the City, will be sending a letter opposing some of the changes. <br />Ms. Lowry updated the Commission on sustainability items happening in the City. <br />Mr. Freihammer noted ethics training will be sometime in early April. He noted the <br />City did get awarded a bike plan grant. This Commission will be a very active part <br />of that. <br />Chair Ficek asked regarding the referendum on the maintenance facility, will the <br />City still be going after bonding for that as well. <br />Mr. Freihammer explained bonding has never been on the list. This is sales tax <br />based. <br />Chair Ficek asked for the January 7a' event he wondered how attendance was. <br />Ms. Lowry indicated she was not sure. <br />Chair Ficek asked regarding the Snelling and County Road B, pedestrian study, is <br />there a schedule coming forward. <br />Ms. Lowry explained the City extended that to June. They are at an alternative <br />analysis and stepped back from the group meetings last month. She believed this is <br />intended to be wrapped up by June and planning a public meeting because MNDot <br />is having their next round of meetings for the trunk highway 36 which is February <br />into the first week of March. <br />Page 2 of 7 <br />