I will call a meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Good evening all. Tom, take the roll call, please. Mayor King, present. Council member at large Austin present. Council member Fischer present. Waller present. Baskin present. Posa present. Hely present. We have a quorum, your honor. Thank you, Thomas. Item number one is the motion for the adoption of
the agenda. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number two is a motion approving our minutes from April 21, 2025. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number three under recognitions and awards. We have the
senior center proclamation which I'll read and I'll present to Joan. And if you want to say some words, too, that'd be great. So the proclamation reads, "Whereas the Mora County Senior Center is a community facility that serves Mora County by organizing and delivering a wide range of services. And whereas the
senior cent's comprehensive programs and services are designed to maximize and the integration of older adults into the community. And whereas the senior center is steadfast in its mission to promote independence, enhance dignity, affirm self-worth, and provide opportunities
for personal growth, enjoyment, and contributions to society. And whereas the senior center initiates, develops, and coordinates programs and services that promote the social, psychological, physical, educational, nutritional, and economic well-being of older
individuals. And whereas the goal is to serve all seniors, including those who are less fortunate, by providing companionship, entertainment, information, and opportunities for both physical and mental activities. And whereas the Mor County Senior Center, a beacon of support, is proud to have
served individuals for the last 50 years. And now, therefore, I, Stephen M. King, mayor of the city of Austin, Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 16th, 2025 as Moore County Senior Incorporated Day. Joan, you like say a few words? And I I can't help but note
when I read older individuals that I qualify for that. You do? I am a qualifying member of the senior center. I know I am. Yeah. You don't come visit. I know. I got to get on. That's my to-do list. Thank you for the proclamation, Mayor King. It really sets the tone to commemorate this momentous
milestone. Uh, and I want to thank the city of Austin for their strong support over the past 50 years. If we didn't have you, we couldn't do what we do every day. We have a big big event coming up May 16th. Uh, I'd like to invite all of you to come join us. It's
our 50th anniversary celebration at this Mor County Senior Center. The program begins at 1 and there'll be all kinds of festivities and activities to follow. Hope to see you there. Awesome. Thank you, John. You you've really driven that uh place forward. So, I appreciate your
efforts there. And here's a proclamation for you. Oh, thank you again. Uh moving on to the consent agenda. Looking for a motion. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Under bid openings and
awards, we have item number five is a resolution receiving bids for wastewater treatment plant levy. Stephen. Yes. Last week we opened up bids for this project down at the wastewater treatment plant. This is phase one of a two-phase project for protecting the wastewater treatment
plant from flooding. Um, all the current levies located at the treatment plant were built kind of during those emergency times during a flood. So, they're they were built with whatever material was available. And and now that we're making such a large investment in our wastewater treatment plant, we want
to make sure that it's protected to a level um as as other areas are in the community. So, this project um will involve some earth and levy. It'll involve some sheet pile wall. Uh a new sanitary sewer force main crossing of
the Cedar River. Um our our trunk main, our gravity trunk main, one of one of three sewers that enter the wastewater treatment plant is a 42 in. It's a brick structure constructed one of the constructed probably 100 years ago at
about 1925. So, we'll be replacing a section of that that goes underneath the levey cuz we don't want that to collapse on us sometime down the road. And then there'll be a couple outfall structures and some pump replacement as well. Um, so with that, Yulen Brothers was the low
bidder. Their base bid was 7,378,129.60. Alternates one and two dealt with that river crossing. Um, alternate one was to open cut the river. Kind of dig half of divert the river to one half, dig one side, move the river back to the other side, dig the other
half. That's alternate one. And alternate two was to use a a similar type of acriman uh type tunnel boarding equipment that we used on the um the siphon project here last year. You can see alternate 2 came in considerably higher. So, our recommendation is to
award the base bid and alternate number one to Yulan Brothers in a total amount 7,885,56823. We'll use uh state grant dollars for a portion of the cost, local options sales tax, and also uh industrial sewer user fee. And I have
that broken down in the table there at the bottom of the memo. So, with that, um turn it over to council if you have any questions. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Lang. Council, any questions on this item? How long a project is this at $7 million?
Uh, good question. So, because of the other work going on at the treatment plant, we are we're going to start a portion of this in the fall, uh, likely early August and carry through October and then it will start up again in the
summer of 2026 and a bulk of the work will occur in the summer of 26. uh we may see some work happening through the winter like that river crossing contractor may choose to do that when river levels are low. So again, fall, some work maybe carrying into winter, but then a big chunk of it in the summer
of 26. And local option sales tax sunsets and somewhere in 2027. March 31st. March 31st of 2027 is the last collection we can make. We got a reserve. We got we stock spend if it's we don't cut it off early that stays in
the fund until the projects are complete. Excellent. Thank you, council. Any other questions for this? Otherwise, I entertain a resolution. Move to approve. Second. Tom. Council member Fischer. I. Waller. I.
Baskin. I. Bosma. I. Heli. I. Council member at large. Austin. I. Resolution passes. 70 6. Your honor. Thank you. Under petitions and requests. We have item number six. The resolution approving funding request for the right here right now podcast. Craig. U. Thank you, mayor, members. Uh, this came
forward. uh mayor requested it take a look at it to increase our communications a little bit. Um John Wright has a podcast. Uh he's proposing to provide 26 different alternatives over the uh on a weekly basis, one a
week at a cost of $60 a piece. Price is $1,560. Um there was some request about how much utilization it gets. Um I provided that to council. Um otherwise be happy to answer any other questions. Very good. Thank you, Craig. Council,
any questions for item number six? No, I I enjoy listening to it. I've heard Joan on it. Um I think it's a good idea. Motion to approve. Second. Very good. I'm glad it's endorsed by Joan. Thank you. Um we got a motion, a second. Uh Tom. Council member
Fischer. I. Waller. I. Baskin. I. Postma. I. Ellie. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Your honor. Thank you. Item number seven is a resolution approving an offsale liquor license application to Austin Highway Liquor LLC doing business as
Austin Highway Liquor. Tom, as a note, the clerk's office has received an application for that offsale hard liquor license at 3011 West Oakland Avenue. It's a new license request. City does have a 10 limit on offsale liquor license, seven of which are currently
issued. So, this fits within that. And again, the clerk said they've received all the documents they need for issuing the approval. So they'd request approval by council. Very good. Thank you, Tom and Council. Any questions? Looking for resolution? So move. Second. Tom.
Council member Fischer. Hi. Waller. I. Baskin. I. Hosma. I. Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Your honor. Thank you. Have number eight's resolution approving an off-site gambling application for the American Legion Post 91. Tom. American
Legion would like to sell or have a gambling license for the Mor County Fair from August 5th to the 10th of 2025 and we'd request council approval for such. Very good. Thanks, Tom. Any questions on this council? Otherwise, look for resolution. So moved. Second.
Council member Fischer. Hi. Waller. Hi. Baskin. I. Pos. I. Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6. Your honor. Thank you. Number nine is resolution affirming participation in the office of the state
auditor's voluntary 2025 performance measurements program. Tom, this is an annual item the state has funded for several years where if we do a performance or evaluation or survey, um we are eligible for around $4,000 of additional local government aid. We
usually only get a couple hundred respondents to the survey, but again, um it's worth our time to get the extra $4,000 of state aid to put into the general fund operations. With that, we'd request council approval to do that again this year. So moved. Second, Tom.
Council member Fischer. Hi. Waller. I. Baskin. I. OMA. I. Heli. I. Council member Large Austin. I. Resolution passes 6, your honor. Thank you. Item number 10, uh, we are accepting a gift from the mayor for life, Bonnie Reitz,
$100 on behalf of Gretchen Bolt for the 2025 flower program. It's all moved. Second. Uh, Tom, Council Member Fischer, I. Waller, I. Baskin. Hi, Posa. I, Hely, I.
Council member Large Austin, I. Resolution passes 6, your honor. Thank you. Item number 11 is a motion granting the planning and zoning department the power to contract for the removal of junk and/or legally stored vehicles at the following location. Uh 11 A, the address 503 8th Avenue Southeast, the Wakefield property. Need a motion. So
moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number 12, uh a summary of our closed meeting. I will read that up. Well, I had it here. There we go.
I got it. So much for a quick meeting. I know. I just had it on my phone. I guess my phone's in my truck and I had it up here. I'll get it. Here it is. All right. Summary of closed meeting held
April 21, 2025. The city council held a closed meeting on April 21, 2025 for the purpose of evaluating the performance of city administrator Craig Clark. All members of the council and I were present. Craig Clark was present at the start of the closed meeting to provide him an opportunity to update the council on his work and efforts and answer
questions if any. Other than that, only the city attorney, Craig Byron, was present. The council expressed a generalized appreciation and recognition of Mr. Clark's skill and knowledge in the area in the many areas including economic development, housing, and working with federal, state, and local agencies and partners to achieve
outcomes that benefit the people of Austin. The council expressed a generalized recognition of the efforts Mr. Clark has made over the past year to improve areas identified in his last employee evaluation and his clear commitment to the employ employee engagement process and unquestioned
dedication to the people of the city of Austin. The council also provided constructive feedback and continued improvement in Mr. Clark's uh communication is necessary in the city's effort to create alignment of all department heads in a culture of trust and shared vision. On this point, it was
noted that there was a stark division between those department heads who experience a positive working relationship and those who experience a difficult working relationship with Mr. Clark. The council hopes that with continued efforts to improve communication, all department leaders will be aligned with a common vision.
The mayor, council member Hely, and council member Baskin have met with Mr. Clark and have discussed with Mr. Clark, the council's suggestions in this regard, including efforts to improve uh active listening and building or repairing relationships with all members of a leadership team in order to make a
council in order to make council feedback less ad hoc and to better align council strategy with best practices of regular, proactive, appreciative, and constructive feedback. This same group intends to meet with Mr. Clark in July 2025 to share bilateral feedback on
efforts to improve this alignment. The council intends to review the matter on or about October 20th, 2025. Uh with that, we are on to citizens addressing council. Is anyone in the audience wishing to speak to the council of items that were on the
agenda hearing? None. Uh Craig, city administrator report. Uh thank you, mayor, members. Uh the third ward council uh vacancy applications are uh due by May 13th at
5:00 p.m. Uh as far as the uh special meeting that we're we've talked about on the week of May 26th. You should expect a doodle poll to be sent out and uh please respond to that so that we can get that scheduled. Um otherwise uh
Stephen Lang has an item. Stephen, just wanted to provide an update regarding the Oakland Avenue 1 Avenue project. So, we got approval last week from the state to go ahead and start advertising our project. Our bid opening
for the to solicit bids is on May 29th. And then we will review those bids, submit our low bidder information back up to the state again for another review to make sure that all the paperwork is in place before we are authorized to
award the project. So our hope is that we are awarding it at the second council meeting in June if we can get it turned around by Mindot within a couple weeks and then um hopefully a quick turnaround for an early July start date. Um, this
is about a month and a half or so behind our original planned start date. Um, any normal year I'd be freaking out about it. But because it's a three-year project, what we'll do is we'll just adjust year two and year three. We'll
likely get maybe five. We had it's a 25 block project, so about it was planned for about eight blocks a year. We'll likely shorten up year one to maybe five blocks like from the Fourth Street back to Maine or the fire station and then
pick up those extra blocks in year two and year three when we're not restricted from a start date and we'll be able to start in early May on those second and third years. So, um I feel comfortable with where we're at based on the three-year schedule. it does impact kind
of what we've told everyone. But as we when we get the contractor um under contract, we'll we'll work with them on what is a realistic schedule for 2025 and then we'll revisit that with all the impacted properties and we'll adjust everything accordingly. So that's the
update for now. We'll know more once it's bid and we have that contractor under contract. Very good. Thank you, Stephen. Appreciate the update. Anyone else? On to the city council. Paul, anything? I've got nothing. Your honor, I think Mr. Danker. Oh. Oh, dangerous
dog. Uh, special March 12th. May I'm sorry. May 12th. May 12th, 3:30 to 4:30. Just a few months shy. May 12th. May 12th, 3:30. Put that in your calendar if you haven't already done. So, that was due to poll as well. Uh, thank you, Tom. Paul. Nothing, your honor. Laura, uh,
it's that time of year where lots of events are coming up and we're doing them outdoors because we can. So, there will be an Arbor Day celebration at the Nature Center uh this coming Saturday, May 10th, from 10:00 to 1:00 p.m. I want to especially highlight that the Austin
High School Go Green Club has elected to fund a tree giveaway at that event. um like lots of folks around Austin, they're seeing ash trees coming down and they want to be part of the solution to get us back um with tons of trees in our
city and hopefully a little bit more genetic variety uh instead of all the same um species. Secondly, Taste of Nations will take place on Saturday, May 17th at the Banshell Park. Um the parenting resource center puts that on every year and you can find out more on
their website. Uh I um of note this will be the first year that the band shell stage is accessible to all kinds of people uh who might move in wheelchairs or in other ways. So it had been a stair access only and um we were able to
complete ADA uh improvements at that park last summer. So I'm excited to go see um that in action. And then uh 4th Avenue Fest will be at Horus Austin Park between the library and the pool on Wednesday, June 4th. So put that on your
calendar as well. Thank you. Very good. Thank you, Jeff. Uh nothing, your honor. Well, Steve, uh Discover Austin has got a cool program right now where they have some local playing cards. Every single card in the deck is a different Austin landmark. Um those are for sale for $10.
you can swing into discover Austin and check those out. Um, also been working on a special project for our flower baskets downtown, uh, the big pots, and so you'll see some, uh, cool designs that kind of lean toward our food city heritage real soon. So, keep an eye out
for flowers and decorations downtown. Awesome. Thanks, Posty Jason. Building on that, Port Authority met last week. Um, so John Gary from Impact Austin came and presented work that's being done on the comp plan. Obviously that impacts the city, it impacts the county, also
impacts the port authorities. We talk about, you know, continued opportunities to, you know, enhance downtown and really, you know, economically develop Austin. So exciting to see kind of the vision for where we're going with that. Um, and a lot of enthusiastic support. Um, and then we're continuing to make progress against our strategic roadmap
to enhance economic development and expand our tax base. So, a lot of good work by Craig and the team. And finally, um, we're going to talk audit report in our work session here in a second, but Port Authority audit report came back clean. So, Tom, thank you very much to you and your staff for the outstanding work. And Craig, you and your staff from
CLA to keep us honest. So, excellent. Thanks, Jason Becky. Nothing, your honor. I'd just like to add that I want to share my appreciation with uh departments uh Steven Lang and and Jason Sehon with that wall that the combination of your departments did a
beautiful job. If you haven't seen it, it's got the printed concrete and the I think the sidewalk's going in tomorrow, I believe. But did amazing work and I'm sure that saved the city a ton of money and it just looks awesome. So, thank you to the cooperative effort there. Oh, thanks, Trish. Also, timing is
important. Thank you, Trish. The May anniversaries uh for the city staff, Jeff McCormack has like a 100 years with the PD. Uh he was hired on May 6, 96, actually has 29 years. Marie Ree with the fire department, 23 years. Tim Olsen, fire, 18 years. Neil Gurgen, 13
years with the street and central garage. And Patty Hamilton, park wreck and forestry, 12 years. Aaron Yanger, police, 10 years. Kurt Schmidt, sewer maintenance, eight years. And Dan Buukich, Bukach, I think, wastewater treatment plant, six years. Thank you to
those folks. We always appreciate the longevity and the work that these city uh employees do. And again, I just highlighted one uh one project that they collaborated on. So we we love that too. So with that, I'll take a motion to adjurnn into a 5minute break for a work session. So moved. Second. All in favor?
I posted. We are adjourned.