You want the hammer? >> No, I'm not. That would be John would have to let us know. >> Yeah, that's the planning commission. Planning commission. >> Chris, I've been substituting down at
Wava for Sundays. One more to go. So, I'm a little bit fried right now. >> I hear excuses. >> Well, you were in the lava shop. >> Hey, >> how was it? Did you recognize anybody Pledge 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. >> Okay. Okay. Can I get an approval of the agenda, please? >> So, move. >> Second.
>> Uh, I had two items I wanted to bring down on there. >> The consent agenda. Yeah, >> we'll do that when we get to consent. >> Okay. >> Pull those down. >> Okay. You got that, Sarah? Okay. So, all in favor?
>> I. >> Motion passes. All right. Public input. Public input is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the city council. The public input will be no longer than 30 minutes in total length and each speaker will have no more than three minutes to
speak. Speakers may address topics relevant to governance of the city. Speakers must sign up in advance and must provide their name, address, and topic they intend to address. Comments must be on topic, respectful, and pertinent to city business and adhere to the applicable data privacy rules. Any
speaker that violates these rules will be asked to sit down and if the speaker refuses to comply, they may be removed from the meeting. Speakers shall have shall not address topics that are subject to a public hearing. All such comments shall be made at the public hearing. The city council will not
generally act on issues raised by public input, but may choose to schedule consideration of the item on a future agenda. Um, first up we have I'm not gonna say it right. Jeff Kelchic.
>> Good evening. Uh I will apologize upfront for not being part of the potential data center discussions and I should have been as a little bit of background. Uh I have been in IT now for on the order of
40 years. most of those in an infrastructure capacity and I have concerns about what is coming forward for this proposed data center. Uh what I can speak to with a fair degree of
confidence is that in specific reference to the jobs prediction uh I do not expect any of those jobs to come through except for a few facilities maintenance type of jobs.
In short, the high quality jobs that are being referred to network administrators, system administrators, once the load in is complete, those jobs will not be here. Beyond that, uh I'll leave it to the experts to talk
about the water issues, although obviously that's a major concern. I don't think power or telecom is as big of an issue, but I do have significant questions about the way that this has been
approached. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um Tim Tamer last. >> Sure. Um, Bruce
>> Tquist, >> Telaquist. >> Well, this is about the data circuit or data data center and I'm not sure too much. I haven't heard too much about it or anything, but uh Farmington was uh
they purchased the Farmington golf course and it's been standing empty for a couple years, so nothing's happening there. And I'm kind of concerned about that the tax
revenue off of this. Um, nothing's going to be taken or uh received for the Canon Falls High School since it's over in Dakota County. And just a suggestion maybe that before you
vote on annexing it, asking Dakota County if they would give up their land from 86 going south to 88 and from house auction thing over to
Highway 52. um you know then it would be out of Dakota County and Randolph would be getting all the tax money and and then I don't know we're going to talk about the water situation and I
guess there's supposed to be a lot of noise and they want to build a lot of houses out there but I don't know if a lot of people are going to like to live next to all that noise. So that's that's my problem or complaint.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Tim. >> Tim Demer Falls. Um, I'm I'm a little reluctant and
I don't know what the apprehensive about speaking on certain issues that have that that I've had to I don't know what endure put up with through
um a few staff members at our Canifos library. I went to their board meeting last Monday. Um spoke briefly on it just to my issue and I'm I'm we'll be submitting a letter
very soon about a incident that happened earlier in July like a month ago less than a month ago. And um in terms of how I was spoken to by
the director there, by Nicole Miller and and things that have happened there years ago, even three, four years ago, and following their um their library
policy manual and how just just things in there that don't didn't um they didn't adhere to or or follow. And so I'm also not as big of a deal, but I'm I'm
wondering if there to bring up um if they have a dress code. And I know you I have to go to them, I believe, in order to for something to before the library board trustees to and um
for for it to go through that um address them first. I believe um you guys are kind of outside of that whatever they they got the the say in it. So
hopefully I'll get an answer and after I before the end of the week I'll I'll give them a written grievance uh about this issue. But it It just it needs to be addressed and I'm hoping the director
will have enough sense and just tell she she basically told me I was abusing the library that I had to leave. So pretty much I couldn't say anything to her. So from her telling me it'd be a good idea if you left right
now. It's kind of like telling me to shut up. And then she started out by saying that Tim tim you know everything. And I don't know who if any of us know everything, but that's where her exact words, Tim, you
know everything. And so I'm hoping this will be dealt with cordially and professionally. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, next item we have is a public
hearing. Uh, resolution 2817 certifying unpaid utility charges to be collected with taxes. Do do I do you want me just to open it or do you need to say anything? Just open it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, this will open a public
hearing if anybody would like to come forward and speak regarding the unpaid utility charges being collected with taxes. The time is 6:41. Okay, second call if anybody would like to come forward.
Okay, that closes that. Do we need to approve that or is it just a public hearing? Okay. So, I'll take a motion to adopt the resolution number 2817 certifying unpaid utility.
>> Make a motion. >> Thank you. >> Second. First and second. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. >> Okay. So, uh Chad Johnson on the motion and Novak on the second.
>> Yep. >> Okay. And then that brings us to the Can Falls Area Historical Society presentation. Amy Mic. Oh, very good. Okay. Um good evening. I'm Amy Donbeck. I'm a lifelong resident and longtime Canon Falls
Schools educator. Two of my students in front of me and for the past uh two years the president of the Cannon Falls Area Historical Society and Museum. And on behalf of the historical society, I want to thank the city of Canon Falls for the life uh longtime support and partnership which actually goes back to
the 1980s when the historical society was founded. Um the last two years have been very interesting for us because we made some key transitions. Steve Dabau was a longtime board president and promoted our local history with our story videos and collected those
interviews um and also did a variety um of work on a various amount of work on the mural project which was amazing. Uh Zach Worm was our longtime director. He was there for 13 years I believe and was an amazing steward. He preserved and
shared our history as well with history minutes on YouTube directing small and large group tours and he was a guardian and a maven for all that we have in our collection. Um, and he's very a big asset in helping us understand what was actually in that museum. Uh, as brand
new people to the board, we're still uncovering and discovering. Um, but I want to take a minute and also give you a little history lesson. And I want to thank five specific teachers um, who you may have seen on the post office wall, but without their foresight and dedication, our local history and
community library may not exist. They are Nelly Olsen, Agnes Swanson, Maud Harter, Louise Mlan, and Mary McKinley. And in 1903, they started the Tuesday club, which was a literary and a current event club for adults to continue their learning. Most people at that time went to school through maybe fourth grade,
but they started this as a quote means of mutual improvement for adults in the community and were what what I would call a live version of the Discovery Channel or the History Channels. Uh they chose a theme to follow each year and they would if you went to meetings you would learn about a different culture, the geography of a world region, current
issues and you would even explore current and classic literature. The Tuesday Club became a force uh for the change as as the town grew through the century, as they grew through the century. And they went on to found our first public library um with no government support at all at first and eventually took over the 1888 fireh hall
that we currently occupy in the museum. And they made that the first public library. And when the library moved um or under the umbrella of the city and uh under the city government, they actually moved into the city hall building which is currently was a former grocery store but currently in the location where the
current library is. Um, in the 80s when that fireh hall became vacant again, they decided that we needed a history uh society and so they actually founded the Can Falls Historical Society and we have been for some what one people some people would call um the community's
attic and we have a lot of local history artifacts that make our museum significant and important in preserving and sharing our heritage. So, we have bylaws and we've had a great relationship with the city over the years in supporting our goals uh and initiatives, but what we haven't had is
a strategic plan and that is the document that you have in front of you for what we are, why we are, and what we hope endures through our organization. uh with the changes in city leadership with the administration and even the board uh the council and with the hiring of Jody Scholam our director uh and our
new board which includes Al Bruin, Bill Ericson, Ray Rap, Matthew Stelter, Joe Twiliger, myself and along with the previous board member and previous vice president Keith Holt. We have created a strategic plan and uh we basically have
defined what we need and what we want for the organization over the next five years. Um, we've also asked for clarification about the administrative offices. There's very little documentation that we had about that, which is also known as the White House,
lowercase W, lowercase H. And we need to define what its original purpose was and what the parameters of the purchase was. So, this has been a very busy year for us and a productive one. And what you see in uh that strategic plan has been a very mindful process in which I kind of
used my teacher skills and gave my uh board members some homework. I cried collaborative conversations and this is what we came up with which uh is our needs, our wants and our dreams for the organization. And we also did what we do a lot in strategic planning which is a
SWAT analysis and defined what we thought are our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. our organization. As I said, with Neil Johnson's retirement and John Rodomarker coming on as city administrator, we really felt it was important to kind of really clarify what is our relationship
and that is why we've asked for a cooperative agreement and some real clear um parameters of what the administrative office, the White House looks like. So, so in our plan, you'll see a mission, vision, a description of our why. You'll see our core values. Um we want to be stewards of our collection
in the buildings. We want to communicate local history. Um, if you don't know, um, a lot of what we're doing is we're trying to get that local history out again. So, if you read the Beacon, you've probably seen those history stories. The other one is, uh, we've been grant agents and we have a history of min mineral springs book coming out.
Um, if you don't know about that, uh, Canon Falls was actually a really pivotal player in curing tub tuberculosis for the first time and actually finding a way to kind of treat that. Um and the guy that went from here, Mineral Springs, went to Chicago and that's kind of spread around the
world. Uh we believe that education and cooperation is also important and that's why we want to collaborate more with local organizations like the chamber, the library and the schools to create more interest in local history. One of the things I'm really proud of is that our local um student newspaper at the high school is actually doing a
chronicles of Canon Falls history on a regular basis. So that's been kind of a good thing. Um, but I'd also like to take the time um right now and just thank our city administrator, Mr. Rodermacher. Uh, your knowledge and understanding of the role that historic buildings, historic organizations, and
the importance of nonprofits that they play in framing a community's culture um and um story has been pivotal in our process. And uh we actually asked John to meet with us very early on when he
was hired. And he uh made a made made a plan for a date when he could after taking in everything else. Came in and listened to our um guided us kind of in our our process of this cooperative agreement what that might look like. But even listened in even when we weren't
done with the strategic plan um just kind of gave us some ideas or whatever. and the cooperative agreement that you see with uh the between the city and our nonprofit along with that uh parameter for what the white house building looks like that all came about because of the
the work that that John did. I we'll take credit for the strategic plan but John was really piv pivotal in that and I want to thank him for that that has been really a great asset to us. So, we have ratified both documents, but one of the things that you should know is we
have an old building that has not been taken care of. And uh it was in fair condition in the 80s when it was taken on as the historical soci society. Um it has been duct taped, glued uh together,
patched about as much as it can be patched. And we are taking on some projects ourselves. We replaced a furnace. We are um in the process of looking at like our window situation. Uh we've had public works come, Jed's come, knows that the roof is uh barely holding
it together along with we know we have some outside work to do. Um this process has helped us kind of really define that role, but we know that we are actually in the city's building. We just want some guidance moving forward about what
we can do together, what we're responsible for. Um, and uh, yeah, that's kind of why I'm here tonight. And again, I just want to thank John and my board or whatever for helping to kind of through this process. So, I'll take any
questions or any comments or >> um, I guess the you want to keep that building and >> Right. And so, yeah. >> Is there any plans in the future to ever expand onto it because I know you have a lot of stuff in storage and stuff too. >> Correct. So, one of the things that
happened was the White House, which is to the west of the building was purchased uh with the help and support of the city of Canon Falls to be administrative office. Uh we have artifacts and things over there. There's also a very big garage in the back that
right now is helping us out. This is one of the things that we're actually looking at is the actual museum property itself. Um I don't know if we can add on. The problem is it's a historic building. and it's on the national register. >> Okay? >> So, you almost have to give up, you
know, your kidney in order to be able to do just about anything, right? So, so the reality is is that we need help. We need some guidance. We're going to do what we can. We have some urgent things that need to be taken care of. Um that we know that we're going to need some
help from the city with. But absolutely, our fireh hall is a treasure. Um, it's one of the things, um, uh, that I think draws a lot of people in is that it is unique space. It's 1888 fireall, which is kind of pretty crazy that it's still standing. So, yeah.
>> Good. Thank you for the question. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> I'll just state like uh what we what's addressed tonight is on the agenda uh later in the meeting. So, we do um what
we're what Amy spoke to was the management agreement that we have on there and then the resolution afterwards is kind of our our path for what we could do with the house if it were no longer to be deemed needed or necessary.
Um and how if it were sold, we honor the donations that were made for for the purchase. So just want to add a little context that did a lot of research on um what happened at the time of that decision. So that was back in 2018.
Um Steve Davo at the time uh came to the city requested the city to uh actually buy the house. Um the intent at the time was that the city would buy it, the city would still own it uh and the museum would be able to use it or the historical society would be able to use it for for their administrative offices
and storage. Um, so in part of that conversation, it was Steve did say that if the need for that building, uh, you know, ceased and they didn't need it anymore after 10 years, the city could sell it. So, I just, that was a big part
in in addressing this is we didn't want to then, you know, move on to doing something that would um, you know, fly in the face or contradict the intent of those people that did donate. I mean, and and the donations were pretty
significant. Um, we did we the city to date has received $160,000 for that for that um purchase. The total purchase was $186,000. Um, so they haven't yet fully s met their their pledges for all of that, but we talk about if if the building were to
be utilized, you know, how we would distribute that if we did sell above the 160. Now, there was a a council member that that asked a question. I think it's a very valid one. We haven't we didn't discuss it because it wasn't really didn't really cross my mind that that would be possible. But what if it does
sell for under 160? You know, how would the how would we utilize the proceeds? But that can be discussed later on, too. >> Yeah. And I just want to also clarify, we're not opposed to fundraising. We just know there's some things we have to take care of this year. That's in our
2025 plan. And fundraising and and exploring those kind of options are things that we're looking at for the future or whatever. So, um, thank you though for your ongoing support. Um, because that really helps us survive and hopefully, uh, in the next couple years
we'll have a better handle on where we're at and we'll know that the building is going to keep standing. Um, and yeah, so thank you all. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Okay, that brings us to the consent agenda. Consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion as presented or
may be removed uh for discussion and resolution is council business. A just in correct claims accounting period ending July 31st, 2025. B meeting minutes for July 15, 2025 city council meeting. C meeting minutes for
July 2125 city council planning commission work session. D. Approve replacement of raw wastewater pump. E. Approve active transportation planning demonstration project. F. Approve
purchase of 2026 plow truck. G. Approve disposal of e-waste. H. Approve professional services agreement with WHKS for the headworks engineers report. I. Approve final
report of alternative urban areawide review. J. Introduction and first reading of ordinance 409 in ordinance amending city code chapter 15258 related to parking stall aisle and
driveway design and design standards. K. Introduction and first reading of ordinance 410 an ordinance amending city code chapter 152 related to zoning. L. approve engagement letter with Fryburgger Law. Um, resolution 2819
accepting a $1,500 donation from 10K for the fire department. And resolution 2820 approving final plat and final PUD plan for Hardwood Estates third division subdivision. And O, resolution 28-21 approving plans and
specifications and ordering advertisement for bids. Is there any that anyone would like to pull down? >> Uh G the e-waste and E for the active transportation thing. Just got a questions.
>> Okay. >> And I will pull down item I and item K. Okay. So G will become B. council business. E will become C, council
business. I will come D, council business, and K will be E, council business. Okay, with pulling those down, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Second.
>> So first by Johnson and second by Johnson. >> Johnson. >> Okay. All in favor? I >> motion passes. Okay. Council business a
the Canon Area Historical Society one and two, John. >> All right. Uh thank you. Um, so as we heard from Amy and we have before us tonight, uh, is a a management agreement
between the city of, uh, Canon Falls and the Canon Falls Area Historical Society. Uh, in my previous cities, we had uh, a number of different city-owned buildings that had uh, community nonprofits that were operating out of them. Um, examples
being like, uh, we had a zoo in Little Falls that was operated by the friends of the Pine of Pine Grove Zoo. We had historic mansions that were used as, uh, lodging and retreat spaces as well as, uh, event event sites and different things that were managed and run by the
uh, Friends of the of Lynen Hill. Um, so within those uh, spaces, we generally had management agreements similar to this. So, so think of a management agreement similar to a lease. uh in which we are uh entrusting in the
nonprofit to maintain this the space for us of which then they can utilize in the and the lease payment is essentially them utilizing the space to generate revenue either through you know fees or donations. Um but in that regard we try
to spell out and and list uh the services that um and things that we expect for them to provide. and then um understanding like what the responsibility is and commitment of the of the city will be for for those items.
So that was the the nature of why we created this. Um prior to that the the arrangement it is nothing to do with the arrangement not working or the arrangement having any issues. But, uh, in light of some major capital improvements and responsibilities that
we have for the for the site, um, that we're that Amy alluded to, uh, it is something that we really wanted to I felt was important um, in my conversation with them and their board as well felt important to, you know, put this into an agreement. um con
contingent or well I guess in addition to that and when I met with their board uh we discussed the um the use of the white house and the donations for for that and it was uh a concern of theirs that they wanted to ensure the donations
of that went for that the purchase of that property while you know to date um they they have I think the initial intent was they had 20 years to to to pay that. So they they still have time. Uh there was no, you know, loan or
mandate that they had to have it paid off by a certain time other than by 20 years. So no specific dollar amounts per year, but they didn't want if if the city were to take that and then sell the property or deem it not needed anymore for their use, um they wanted to make
sure that the the contributions that were made to that would would be reinvested in a way into the into the site. So that's that's the importance of the the second item with the um resolution that uh will kind of spell
out the plan for how the the city would use the property and uh in light of what I what I mentioned before. Um we talked about it talks about what it would be for the sale up to 160 and then things beyond um you know so that 160 would go
back if it didn't sell for for the 160. I guess the question would become, do we still kind of hold the pledges of the historical society to their 2018 um agreement? Do we still hold them to to account for that or um utilize the all
the proceeds that we would generate from the sale of that house back into the into the site? um in our conversations uh and and then I want to echo what Amy said. They have they're very much in support of of donating, making
contributions, paying for for various things even beyond like the minimum maintenance items. This isn't a question of they want to, you know, they want to forgo this obligation and not have to make any more contributions to the facilities. That's not true. They they they definitely do. They just want to
make sure that um these past donations are are still utilized for, you know, something in close to what the intent was as well as, you know, spelling out the way for, you know, the city to be able to to then utilize anything that
would be above and beyond that. So, I did have it was mentioned to me by a realer in town and they believed the property could sell for, you know, this was a few months ago and markets very um can vary, but they did believe that that property would sell for over 200,000.
So, it's, you know, that was why I guess it never really occurred to me to to think about what it would sell if it sold for less than that. >> They would be selling it through uh normal means of selling, not just like a private party sale. It'd be listed and >> Yeah. I that would be up to the city to
to determine on how to uh engage on that work. If we if we did want to >> uh engage with a realer to to do that sale, you know, knowing that then, you know, net proceeds of the sale definitely are diminished, but they are marketing to >> I don't see any problem with it being if
we if it was listed. I houses in town just don't go that cheap. Lots are going for 50,000. So, but I can see private sale like Oh, okay. >> Yeah. And I just want to emphasize like right now that's not what we're asking. The resolution isn't saying like today or tomorrow or this month or this year
we're putting the house on the market. It's just saying that if we ever chose to, it would be because it was determined between both the historical society board that they don't didn't need it anymore and that the city in terms of the best use of the property.
We don't need it as as uh for anything other else and therefore selling it is in the best interest in using the proceeds from the sale to um reinvest up to a certain level for the um museum uh and historical society you know managed
facilities you know in case say 10 years from now there's another building that that they're you know helping us to manage we could still use it for that like as an example. So, um, each item should receive, uh, an approval, uh, separate from one another. Um, but know
that in our conversations, the expectation with the board was we would have we would have this resolution on there so that they would know the city is committed to to preserving the donations that were made back in from 2018 until recently.
>> Okay. It's really just formalizing what we all kind of understood. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. I will take a motion to approve the management agreement. >> So move. >> Second.
>> Um motion by Jeepson, second by Johnson. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. And then item two. I will take a motion to approve resolution 2818. >> Motion
>> motion by Johnson, second by >> Jeepson. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. All right.
Item B, approve disposal of e-waste. >> All right. So, I know this is usually common practice with the e-waste. I just have a question for do we take the hard drives out of the computer before we give it to them and
destroy them or do we give it to them, they destroy it and then give us like a documentation of destruction? >> Yeah, they would provide a documentation of destruction. However, any hard drive that leaves the police department, uh, we actually pull and, uh, drill them out.
>> Good. That's I just wanted to check on that. That was >> So I've got a box with uh I don't know 30 or 40 hard drives in it. >> Great. >> I burned up a bunch of drill bits. They didn't weren't yours, Jed. I went out and bought them. >> Right. >> Um but yes, we we destroy all of our hard
drives just because of the data um to ensure that uh there is no possibility of it going out any of the e-waste. Otherwise, if uh onsite or our IT vendor um takes a unit, they do the destruction on it and then um certify that pack. Okay, >> this is just we've got so much stuff
from many many years of just being in storage. Uh this opportunity came along and it was just a good way to get rid of that stuff. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> Mhm. >> All right. Um council business C,
>> we need to approve that. >> We got a vote on that. >> Oh. Oh, sorry. Um um can I get a motion to approve? >> I'll motion it. I brought it down. So yeah. >> All in favor?
>> I >> Okay, motion passes. >> Yes. Right. Okay. Um, council business C >> approve approve active transportation planning demonstration project. >> Um, yeah. So, my question with this one,
it said it was temporary temporary structures or I I just don't understand how that >> So, what they're going to do is they're essentially going to put down tape for the lines. We'll tape over the lines. We may have to paint over some of the lines. And then uh there will be this
glue on what they call delineators, the the poles to for the the barrier in the middle, but it is all temporary. It is it is it'll be taken out this fall or late this fall before we plow. >> So it is the only thing that MDOT would approve. >> I I was just wondering if we're going to
have cones. >> No, no, no. These would be glued down to the to the road. >> All right. Well, that's like I said, just questions. So >> Okay. I'll motion to approve that. I brought it down. >> Second. >> All right. So, a motion by Chad and a
second by Ryan. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Motion passes. Council business D is approve final report of alternative urban areawide review.
Um, and I, you know, and just obviously we've been doing that for a very long time and I understand that. Um, and reading through some of the comments and everything and and realizing so much of it is like, well, we'll determine that in the future. We'll determine that in
the future. I guess I wish we had actually taken the time to do that more intensive study with the environmental impact statement, which I know it's too late to do, but um, I just wanted it to be known that I'm a little bit
I'm not completely satisfied with the in-depthness of the alternate one. >> There anything in particular you wish there would have been studied? >> I it's a 400 and some page document. So,
I mean, I it looks like, you know, on that other one, we might have been able to actually, you know, say you've got to have green roofs or you got to do this to mitigate the heat that's going to be generated or potentially generated from such a project. Okay.
>> So, I I think council member Johnson it as we get into uh the next level of conversations with with tracked and um and the data centers, so the land use plans, the development agreement, you
know, and where we, you know, the process that will will be playing out with that. I think there's opportunities for those conversations to have to you know to ask for and try to incorporate uh you know strategies that will help
you know mitigate impacts in their in their design and operations. So I you know notably yes it's it's not specified specifically in the AU that this is exactly how the building is going to be constructed. um just as you know kind of
a guidance the AU isn't specifically you know it's it's looking at options multiple options of of the project and it's kind of saying are these feasible or not um with and I guess the results of it are they are feasible and there are mitigation factors or things that
need to be further studied so you know as we then progress to ultimately getting to the point of approving something then you know we can take those things into consideration and incorporate them into the into the final approvals. So, I think there is room for
that um that we have we have coming up. Um maybe not in the very immediate time uh just due to the the way the developer plan is for that uh for some things, but there certainly is for the long long
term. when we get to the point where an enduser is talking about, you know, building design and all those final approvals, um, then I think there's there's very much room for that. >> Good. Diane, >> I I I just said what I needed to say.
That was it. >> Okay. Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the final report of alternative urban area review? >> So moved. Second. >> A motion by Ryan, second by Novach. All in favor?
>> I. >> Motion passes. >> Opposed. >> Oh, I'll vote no. >> Sorry. Okay. >> I'd like to be a pain. So, four nays and or sorry, four
approves, one nay by Diane Johnson. Okay. Um and then council business E, introduction and first reading of ordinance 410 and ordinance amending city code chapter 152 related to zoning.
And I I think it's hard to look at that from the agenda, but that is relating to changing our zoning, a text amendment to allow data centers within our I2 zoning. Um, and first thing I will say is, uh,
our staff has done an incredible job. Tons and tons of hard work, um, going through all of this stuff and doing research and everything else and and my hats off to them. data centers beginning to remind me of of the Asian
karp. Big, ugly, powerful, and basically if left unchecked, they devour anything and everything in their path. And yeah, it would be great, and I've talked to a lot of folks in, you know, it'd be great to have the extra
tax dollars. I certainly am not denying that money is money, and it's always wonderful. Um, I know Bruce said it it won't go to our high school, the Canon Falls or to our schools and and that's and we have looked at everything and
there's nothing to be done about that. It's in Randolph school district and that's where it stays. If we make this an accept conditional use within our city code, um, yes, that means it opens the door to
have the a particular data center. It doesn't really give us the option to say one data center is not two we don't want it if if you you can't say well we'll have two beauty parlors but we're not going to allow a third once it's allowed
as a conditional use it it can't be limited to the number. um we can't or it appeared that we can't put a restriction to say if there is a code thing to say we allow data centers
we can't limit it to say but no crypto mining from what I understand correct or that appears to be a limitation >> that yeah >> yeah that you know we don't know that for sure it's both ways but you know there's very good possibility we can't
say no to it uh and I think somebody else brought up uh you So, there are going to be some new jobs. As we know, there's probably not going to be house for them to live in if they are here in the community. And if they're not living here, they're probably not going to support our businesses and the local
shops downtown. Um, our town, and we keep publicizing this in all of our brochures, you know, Cannon Falls, come all this recreational stuff. It's got the small town charm. We've got incredible places to eat.
We're a food hub. Do we really want to impose upon that series of 80 foot tall warehouse looking buildings, maybe up to 10 of them, uh that look like overgrown shoe boxes? Do
we want to become Canf. Yeah. Don't they have all those big data centers hanging out there? You know, it's not like your ideal technology park that you see out in San Francisco where you've got little trees growing in little buildings. You know, these are big basic warehouses
housing computer type stuff and generating tons and tons of heat. Um, we also, and it took me a while to figure it out, but you know, we're working with the potential uh the the developer on this proposed project. This is not the
end user. So, we can talk about all of like, oh yeah, we can do this, we can do that. We don't know because we don't know uh who is going to be the actual user down the road. And so I guess um as I say again my appreciation to everybody
who has done so much work on this project uh and I'm only one voice but bottom line is I'm not going to sell my soul to the uh agent Karp in turn for some tax money. So that's
all. Can I ask a question quick or just a clarification? The way that we developed that language for zoning, did it not state in there about, you know, we need the resources available to allow
conditional use of a new applicant? So, in a sense, right now, we we do have the available water for what's being proposed, and we found that out through our water study. It would appear to me that that would be
a limitation of another one coming down the pike, I guess. Um, >> if if they can get permission to drill a new well and have more water and if the electric company says they've got I mean, you know, they've got to go through that. But if they do it the right way, it doesn't mean we couldn't
have a second one or a third one or a fourth. >> Yeah. >> I mean, there's nothing that in our code that would allow us to stop that. I I would say that the the intent and what we drafted for this ordinance
change is to ensure that the city has as much control as possible on the very forefront of of an application for a data center as as we can and noting you know the need for resources, the use of
utilities, the availability for water, the ability for the city to support those that use would have to be available or considered in terms of that first blush of an approval for a conditional use permit for them to be able to do this. And the city at that
time, if it has factual evidence to not support that use, then it could, you know, the determination could be made to deny it. uh you know in terms of there's I I think a lot of other provisions and
things that uh limit their ability. So they would not without permission from the city be able to drill their own well if they're in within the city limits and in a service area of which um we have available. That would you know be a limiting factor. So adding to their
their water supply and use is not something that unless we also authorize that to happen and have good reason and justification for doing so um we wouldn't be able to do. I know that this is um a conversation
and this ordinance is, you know, relatively independent of what we've been discussing in the AU that was just approved um for tracked. Um but there is a lot of elements of this that we, you know, we are anticipating based on what
they've sent us in terms of of information and what they're they've, you know, indicated that they're they're going to be asking for. Um, so we use that as to help us and and guide us in making sure that we had the proper provisions in place um to
make sure that if this one were to be approved that we would still have a lot of things in place to to justify the next one and have to come through, you know, very rigorous process to make sure that that was in the council's opinion, the
decision-making opinion, something that was going to serve the best best needs of the I don't think this ordinance in my opinion um opens the door floodgates for any and all data centers forever and always without you know the authority
approval of the council. I believe very strongly that this supports the city's authority to regulate this um and its use. I won't take two more comments of the uh you know the the crypto mining piece that is you know certainly
something and we talked about um you know the utilization of of something that eventually if if permitted and they meet all of the other regulations um whether or not they're they're doing crypto mining is something that we would have a hard time uh in terms of
regulatory enforcement but that I would you know assure that I heard today in a conversation with track that they're discussing of ways that they could put that into their PUB plan as a not, you know, not allow not a primary use of of
their facility. Um, so, you know, that said, they still, you know, it's it's making sure they meet all the other criterias of which would be set in order to gain approval. And if those things are met and and that isn't a primary use somewhere somebody
is doing a secondary use of it, it might be hard to to regulate, but it isn't it isn't going to change the external dynamic of of how that building is operated. So the noise it's generating, the heat it's generating, the the design and use of that facility all would still
have to meet our um the whatever it is that would come to the final approval. Uh you commented uh briefly on housing. Um you know we housing has been a very an issue of of
importance for this community for a very long time and and that not a lot of houses were built and we are in a current situation in which I'm not saying that this project is necessary to to keep this trend going but we approved tonight the final plat for hardwood
estates. So I do think it is worth noting that a lot of things are being done on housing to you know create opportunities for housing um and that you know hopefully future development things can continue to support that. We also have Timber Ridge another development with a lot of uh available
lots for housing. So I I think it I don't want to um make it seem that we don't have available housing to be constructed. um that that I think is is something that we do have in this community. It is is available. The the
affordability of that, the construction of of housing costs, all of those things, various different factors, lots of other things in play for it, but specifically there are lots to be able to build houses on. And I want to just thank you for um you know bringing this down because I would have asked you to
do so anyways because in that uh I want to address to the council that in our conversation there was uh with tracked because as I said they are providing guidance with this. This is still our city. I want to emphasize we have been
very much on the forefront of these are the things we want to make sure are included. So, we want to um just provide uh a a light request for an amendment that that changes or actually not changes, adds forwards. And at this
point, it's the opinion of the city attorney and myself that this doesn't materially change the ordinance. Um just provides more clarity. So, uh we aren't recommending that it be sent back to the uh planning commission for another public hearing. So if you may I want to
provide uh the the two ch small changes. So under M number one the sentence starts public sanitary sewer there would be the insertion of public or >> could you tell me where you are again?
>> Yep. Sorry. Uh item M or uh section M section excuse me section two item M number one public sanitary sewer comma water comma and storm sewer services to
add public or private sanitary sewer comma water and storm water services. there uh in the in the building design and plans it is possible that there may be private um service infrastructures that that would be allowable.
uh then on the you know much further down under the uh N statement so data center substation provided that number two the sentence starts all data center substations are located on the same uh
site as the data center that it serves. The insertion would be all data center substations are located on the same or contiguous site as the data center that it serves. The purpose for that was uh in an instance in which the substation
which is very likely to be the case is going to be on a separate parcel and we don't want to designate or we don't want to have the intent of a parcel being a separate deemed as a separate site that um all of it would be in a contiguous
site but the parcel might be controlled by Dakota Electric for you know the major sub substation. That's that's actually pretty common. um you know the substations are generally owned by the power companies. So those are the only two amendments that we um you were we're
suggesting to be considered for um change to this ordinance. So are you saying this should go back to planning commission or >> saying it should we it is our opinion that it does not we we don't feel it needs to go back to planning commission
for these changes as they do not create a material change to the uh intent of the ordinance. They merely provide clarity. >> Any other questions? >> Well, I know it's been brought up in the
past, but um the fines and I think Diane called it the teeth. What if they do go over the water usage and how do we regulate that versus like mine where you know my tap water >> the horse stories that you read on the internet that's >> we we revoke their conditional use
permit and and sever their ability to use the property for a data center. >> Okay. >> And just uh in in saying public or private uh who regulates private? Is that the state >> there? Yeah. So, this was mainly in
regard to uh storm sewer uh and a lot of the campus potentially could be under you know not not have public infrastructure within it. Um so we still are we still are obligated through our MS4 permits um you know any any sort of
water use. So DNR you know so those those various authorities still apply there. We still review them. Um, but it is it makes them allowable. So, you could have a storm water retention pond on on site. It's not city-owned. It's
not city operated. It's not serving, you know, those those pipes aren't coming back into um, you know, the city's storm water collection system, but there's an infiltration pond on site that's doing its storm water management purpose. It's private. it but it serves the purpose
and it you know in this instance will likely be a requirement because they're going to be disturbing more than an acre of land you know taking it from pvious to impervious. So >> that's including those tanks that we're talking that they would have for the storage of their on-site where they've
used that's in access to that. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. So it's that's in in theory. So say these things exist on the property they would they could be allowable. They would still need to meet all of our other conditions as we do final approvals to things so that they
function. But there isn't all wholly it has to be public infrastructure for water, sewer, storm storm water. >> Probably not a question for you, but I mean I I I the water that they use usually comes out pretty clean. And I
reason I understand they don't put it back in is the back bacteria could be in the water and then that could do something with their systems. But is there a reason that internally the use data centers don't just have a way to recycle that water themselves back in like uh when I make a PC at home like
water cooling like it goes through a pump it gets cleaned it >> and and yeah I've heard that and I believe that there are you know the potential for recirculating recycling systems to be installed to to this as as well. I mean, in terms of what we're
talking about with the ordinance, it's it might not necessarily be the >> piece that we reflect today, but >> yeah, it's on everyone's mind. And I know it's the probably the worst it's ever ever will be is right now. They're using more than they ever will. I mean,
the technology is very new >> for how they do these things and it's changing all the time. So, >> I just want to add um back to council member Johnson's questions um the the if
they choose to do private storm sewer for example, they're still regulated by their permitting process. And then we've worked in our condition number three um that allows the city control through
the conditional use permit to make sure that they're complying with all of those state agency requirements. So, we've butressed um they do have to comply, but we have that additional ability to impact the
cup if the city council were to determine they aren't complying in some respects. We've bolstered your enforcement um with respect to that. Okay. Any other questions, comments? Um,
with that I will take a motion to approve. >> Yep. >> You need to amend it first or >> I was going to say it as I say it. Um so a motion to approve the active
transportation planning demonstration project with the M1 amended >> the no the data center or ordinance active transportation project. >> Why did I go there? Sorry
>> I went to the E in the consent agenda not E in the business council business I vote. Sorry. Okay. So, council business E, introduction and first reading of ordinance 410, an ordinance amending city code chapter 152 related to zoning.
I'll take a motion to approve with the amended section M1 and N2. >> So moved. >> Motion by Ryan. >> Second. >> Second. Second by Novach. All in favor? >> I >> I. Any opposed?
>> No. Motion passes. Okay. And that moves us to reports. I don't see Maggie here. Does anybody else have an update? Did she share an update by chance?
Um, planning commission. >> Um, pretty much it was what was on the agenda. >> Yeah. Add a center and gravel driveways. >> Okay. Yeah. And public works was
everything was on the agenda too. Consent agenda. Uh library board. Um it was an interesting meeting. Um Mr. Tim was there. Um but the what they dealt with is as uh their assistant
librarian uh did submit his resignation and so they're in the process of hiring a new assistant librarian. All right. And joint power. I believe that's >> Lisa, right? >> All right.
Okay. So, then we'll go around the room. Laura, do you have anything for us this evening? >> Um, I just uh thank you for approving the final plat. That's exciting. So, we'll um tomorrow we'll get the bids online or actually Darren and his team
will get the bids online and um anyway, so that'll be exciting that we'll get Hardwood Estates hopefully digging in uh September, October. Uh the other thing is that I did send out an email to all of you about um uh next week there will
be um a meeting here uh in the council chambers. Um I believe it's on Wednesday and it's for uh the results from a survey that maybe some of you even participated in for southeast uh Minnesota for the assets and infrastructure. Um my one of my
colleagues from CEDA will be um releasing those results and if you're able to join there is a link that I sent in a follow-up email if you could RSVP for that. But it might um really be interesting to hear kind of like what the status is for it's for communities
with five uh populations of 500 to um I believe 3,000 um or maybe it's 5,000 I think actually um and anyway just to kind of hear like what us and our neighbors in our region um kind of how we compare and uh what the status of
that is. So Jed, I also sent it out to the public works team as well. So anyway, um if you're able to join, that would be really great. Otherwise, the survey results will also be released after the presentations have been made. So, thank you. >> Thanks, Laura. Izzy,
>> nothing for engineering >> dead. >> Um you guys see the sign out on a 20 out right out here. They are going to start August 11th milling and overlaying 20 from River Road here going out of town. just that's going to cause a lot of
disruptions. So just plan accordingly. >> Then it's a August 11th to >> about 10 days. >> All right. >> All right. Thank you, Chief McCormack. >> So tonight was a national night out
night to unite. Uh we had seven parties. Uh so officers and lieutenant are out attending them as well as the fire department and our ambulance service. Um and I haven't gotten feedback yet because I've been in here. But uh I am
assuming that it will be very similar to uh years in the past where uh the residents uh have a very good time interacting with uh the city staff. >> That's all I have. >> Thank you, Sarah. Shel. Nothing from legal.
>> John, >> I have some things. Uh, I just wanna I wanted to uh share an update with the council on the annexation process. Um, we were hoping that initially that that would be an item that we could have on
the agenda tonight. Uh however uh we had a meeting today with the township and uh that went really well and I believe we have a tenative agreement on all of the terms within that that annexation agreement. So an orderly annexation
agreement for for the parcel that will include 250 acres. So they're um final, you know, we'll finalize those terms, but as those come in, we'll have that available and that will go into the next council packet with uh you know,
explanation of of what that means for for the city. But I think for where we we stand, it um it is uh serves effectively works really well for for everybody involved. Uh this morning, I was actually able to to go on a tour um
for the Canon Valley Trail. uh noted we have a joint powers agreement that is almost 40 years in existence uh for the trail um and that it is between us the city of Redwing and Goodyu County. Um so we had the Goodyu County administrator and our uh county commissioner Brad
Anderson were a part of that as well as the new city administrator uh in Redwing Chris Heinman. Um, we got to uh ride along actually rode the entire length of the of the trail uh with Scott Repkkey, the trail manager to to kind of see everything and get a little bit more uh
experience for the things that are going on and and just really really cool uh very scenic um tour. So, that's the first time that I've been able to see the see the whole thing. So, really really great opportunity to to do that. Uh last week I was able to attend um a
southeast uh league municipalities meeting. Uh we talked a lot about safety issues uh for for city staff and elected officials. Um have some you know certainly have some recommendations for for things that we can we can do in that regard. U but um just in you know in
light of a lot of things that have happened in recent years that is definitely much more prevalent on our on our minds. Uh and they also was able to go to Winona last week for the CEDA annual meeting. Uh I got to see Laura speak on our our housing projects here
in town. Uh was just very impressed and and thoroughly excited about um all the things that that organization is doing and the capacity that they're they're adding uh with that organization. Um doing a lot of growth and I think it is
going to do really well to serve our community. um not just with the work that that Laura does, but the work that their team is able to do. And I think there's some some great opportunities uh available to us moving forward. Um so I
just am excited to to have heard um you know what they have coming and um what they've been doing and um I think we're we're in a really good hands in that relationship. So I just wanted to to echo that sentiment. Um and with that I
am finished. Okay, Diane, >> I just have to say uh Friday night highlight of the week was the the kids summer camp theater thing and and uh Chris is famous. His nephew was Romeo
and the kids and the staff did an incredible job. So, hats off to him. >> I thought you were going to talk about the Canon Cruise, the car cruise. Well, after we got out of the play, we ended up there in the parking lot and then down, of course, at Mil Street. So, it
was a marvelous evening all around. >> Yeah, I heard there were 177 cars. >> Chad, >> uh, I guess I'll talk about the the car cruise. I didn't get to attend it, but they did a good job putting it on video, and they've got music, and you can find
it on the the website on YouTube. So, if you're watching on YouTube, it's on there. It's about 20 minutes. It's worth it. So that's all I got. >> All right, Ryan. >> Nothing. >> Nothing. No, nothing. >> Yeah, uncle. Uncle. Yeah, I was not in
the play. No. All good. >> All right. All right. Well, with that, I'll take a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Motion by Diane, second by Ryan. All in favor? All right. >> All right.