If this works. Yep. Mr. Steinberg >> here. >> Mrs. Rooric >> here. >> Mr. White >> here. >> Mr. Lewis >> here. >> Mayor Whittington >> here. All right. Um, open public comments.
Anyone here to have any discussion that's not on the the agenda? All right. We'll move along. So, everybody has their agenda. I'll look for a motion to approve the agenda. >> Um, mayor uh and city council, would it
be possible to add an item to the agenda? I just received notice today of a request. um is for Chad Reagan 804 um Parkway uh septic system um matter. Thank you.
>> Perfect. >> Look for a motion to approve the amended agenda. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second. >> We have a first and second. All in favor? >> All opposed? All right. Consent agenda. Anybody would like to pull anything out
of the consent agenda? All right, I'd look for a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll make that motion. I'll second. >> First and second. Any other discussion? All All in favor?
>> I. >> All opposed. Oh, man. All right. Schedule presentations. Before we do the presentations, um would it be possible to do an approval of the minutes from October 6th?
>> That's not on the consent agenda. >> No. >> Oh, walked right over that. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Look for a motion to approve the minutes. >> Motion second. >> All right. Any other discussion? >> All in favor?
>> All opposed? >> Always skip at least one. So just to keep it interesting >> now. Can we do that? >> Yes. Now we can do that. Um in front of you tonight you should find um
an email, excuse me, from Amanda Rutder. Um she was uh not able to attend tonight's meeting. Uh so she sent an email for me to read instead. Um, she was going to be here to talk about an AD donation for the park pavilion from
Lasting Imprint. Um, so I'll just go ahead and read it to you. Lasting Imprint, Eagle Lake Fire Department, a AE Donation. Lasting Imprint is a local nonprofit dedicated to spreading awareness about congenital heart disease and helping families cope with the diagnosis.
Congenital heart disease is a problem with the structure of the heart or its blood vessels that is present at birth. Lasting imprint exists to create a support supportive community that will inspire people to join in the fight against CHD through education, research, and assistance to heart families. CHD
affects one in a 100 babies born and kills more children than all forms of childhood cancer combined. 40,000 children in the US are born with a CHD each year. One of the ways we like to give back and spread awareness is by donating AEDs. That's the automatic um
how do you say it? Automatic external defibrillator. Thank you. Um to communities and facilities that need them. This summer, the Eagle Lake Fire Department was asked to join forces with lasting imprint by making a contribution to their fundraising efforts with the understanding that an AED along with a weatherproof box would
be purchased and placed at Lake Eagle Park Pavilion. Um the location will be in the pavilion in a spot where the security camera can see it. Once the AED is delivered installed, uh they are asking the city to maintain the the device and follow regular schedule
checks to make sure it's functioning properly. Um we'll find out more information uh from the AED distributor coming shortly. Um and then she closes lasting imprint is thrilled to partner with the city of Eagle Lake and getting this device installed. Uh we hope no one will ever need to use it, but knowing
there are people in the community with CHD and other heart rellated issues along with the frequent use of the park, we think it will be of great value to all community members. And she said, uh, thank you for your support of lasting imprint and our mission. I just want to mention I've been working with Amanda um
last couple months and um we actually had another group that wanted to put an AED at the park and was going to try to find a way to fundra for that. Um, so it was really great timing that they were coming in. They're not asking the city for anything just to um do regular maintenance just like the one we have here at city hall. Uh, we did do some
research and and um decided that absolutely a weatherproof box has to be attached to it. Um, and I don't know if you guys have noticed, but if you go around to different communities, they're becoming more and more popular outside at parks and with all the activity with the um the baseball field, it's be a
good addition. So, uh, with that, we would just need, um, we'll get to that in our new business, but there's, um, an agenda item just for the city council to allow staff to sign the agreement on behalf of the city accepting the donation. So, we can get to that later,
but um, so that's what we have. And one thing I talked with Amanda about was when it is installed, I think it'd be good to raise awareness in the community and if they can have somebody come in and do like um a demonstration, even though it's pretty common sense because it walks you right through it, but you know, just to have people come and hear
how it works and just raising awareness that it's at the park. Um we'll try to do some sort of a community event and give them some recognition, too. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we'll just move on to the next uh schedule presentation. Mary will
>> All right. Looks like Mary was not able to make it and that is just fine. I told her that um we could do it without her or with her. So, um I will just go ahead and give you a little background. Um I was talking with Mary Wlette. She's a Eagle
Lake resident and also a special education transition work experience teacher with um ISD77. Um, and she had just asked, "Does the city ever need any help on, you know, any any projects like newspaper fold or newsletter folding, um, light clean at
city hall?" I said, "Absolutely. This be a great partnership." So, um, I just said, "Send me what you need. I'll get it to the city council." And, um, so, uh, basically it wouldn't result in any cost. Um, the city wouldn't have to pay this person or persons that come to city
hall, but we would just, you know, ask them to maybe do some light cleaning. in the council chambers. Um could always wash there's always fingerprints on the front glass on the doors. Um newsletter folding would be a tremendous help. Um so I think there's different and there might be other things that come up that
we could have them do but I I think it'd be a a great thing to be able to engage them and um they'll have a staff person or support person with them. So um they won't be alone and you know unsupervised that we would have to provide supervision. So, um, with that, uh, when
we get to the new business item, there's, uh, an agreement on there. We just have to get approval, be able to enter into that agreement with ISD77. But I know from another experience working another city, it wasn't with youth um, students, but a similar type of a situation. We had help with
stuffing newslet or sorry, utility bills, and it was really a a good it worked out great. So, >> Oh, that's great. >> Yeah. So that's all I've got for that. >> All right, look for a presentation. >> Ryan and Alejandra.
>> All right, so we have Ryan VC, economic development director with Greater Mano Growth and Alejandra Beharano with E. She's an economic recovery planner with region 9. You guys remember Alejandra, we've worked with her on our strategic economic development plan. They did a great job on that. And you guys know
Ryan BC with um Grey Man growth. um Rita, he's an amazing expert and resource for all things economic development related. So, I'm going to pull up a PowerPoint they have um I asked them to attend tonight's meeting
um because due to recent um you know, agenda items, we had the reasoning request. I just reached out to get some um guidance on housing and recent housing studies done in the area. And so, we thought this would be a good time even though that resoning matter was
withdrawn. It's still a good time to kind of look at regional housing and get an update on that. So, I'll turn it over to Ryan and Alejandra. >> Awesome. Thank you. Uh, let the record show that Jennifer Bran spoke too highly of this. So, >> no, you're too humble.
>> Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council and staff. Uh, thank you for giving us an opportunity to come here and talk about housing both regionally and in the city of Eagle Lake. Uh, so, as Jennifer mentioned, I'm Ryan VC. I'm the economic development director with
Greater Mano Grove. Uh we serve all of Blue Earth and Dick County through the public private partnership that Eagle Lake is in the regional economic development alliance. So uh six cities are part of that alliance that is the cities of Mano, North Mano, St. Peter,
Eagle Lake, Lake Crystal, Madison Lake and then we also have both of the two counties participating themselves. uh and we come together and we talk about what are our core strategies for the region uh that we're going to work on together and housing is one of those
that we discuss every single year. Um and then I have Alejandra here with me. I'll let Alejandra introduce ourselves as we get to her first slide. Um Jennifer, if you want to go forward two slides actually. Um so to start with some background for why we're here
talking about housing. people really want to live here. So, Eagle Lake has grown by 61% since uh 2006 and that makes it the 31st fastest growing community in all of Minnesota with more than 500 people. If
we look a little smaller than that, you add five people and it grew by 200%. So, we had to get that out of the the list. Um but then right next to it is Mano and Mano uh since 2020 is the fastest growing city outside of the seven county
metro area. So between two of these uh communities that are growing quickly, we're seeing more and more of a demand for housing. And so housing de investment was highlighted in the regional strategic plan transforming tomorrow together. and it's the number one goal identified in the regional
economic or the comprehensive economic development strategy for the region as well as the city of Mano's five-year plan. >> Um good good evening everyone. Thank you again for having us. Alejandro Veharano, you may remember me from our strategic economic development plan. I've been
with region 9 for the past five years and a half leading and working in economic development for the region 9 area. And as Ryan mentioned, we do a lot of regional planning. One of the big plans that we do is our comprehensive economic development strategy that we do every five years. Every year in between,
we go out to communities and ask what are the main issues, what are the main priorities for the region. And consistently, as you can see on our slideshow, housing has been identified as the number one priority, number one issue that residents see as the most important area of progress and that we
need to focus on in the community. Specifically within housing, we get a lot of feedback from business, from residents, industry, public officials like yourselves. And oftentimes here we hear concerns around cost, how increasingly the cost of housing has
become a barrier for people within the region and wages. So wages as we're seeing are are not keeping up with the cost of housing in our communities. Housing supply as well is a big concern for a lot of residents within the region 9 area. And I'm sure you all get to hear
this as well when you're out in communities and talking to residents. Uh there's also a shortage as we're seeing throughout the nine county area for workforce housing, started homes, and just homes in general for new and young families. Um we also get to hear a lot
of feedback around the cost of construction and how it has gone up over the past couple of years, just increasing the cost overall of housing and new construction as well as permitting for new housing. Um, if we can go to our next slide.
And as you know, we conducted a strategic economic development plan for Eagle Lake two years ago and wanted to reiterate some of the comments, some of the feedback that we got from residents on the ground. 40% of residents in Eagle Lake expressed that housing stock is not
as diverse as they would like to. They also share, as we've heard from other folks throughout the region, that availability and affordability of housing is a key concern for community members as well as senior transitional housing. So, as you'll see, a lot of
what we're hearing in the region, we also hear from Eagle Lake residents. And one comment or feedback that we got is that residents want to keep that small town feel. They want to make sure that risk that Eagle Lake keeps that small town feel that they have when they chose to live here and express some concerns
as well around multifamily housing and the impact it might have on single family home prices. Some data points that we wanted we shared with you tonight is around housing cost and affordability. As you can see on screen, we pulled data around
median rent and median mortgage cost for Eagle Lake Domo area. the county, the state, and the nation. So, as you can see, very surprisingly, Eagle Lake has very high rent costs compared to the county, the Mano area, and the state and
nation as a whole. And as you can see on mortgage prices, they're still high, but not as high compared to the county or what we see nationwide. Uh we also look at how much cost burden renters are owners are throughout the region. And
basically what that means are can are people affording can you afford your rent cost can you afford your mortgage cost and the metric that the state uses is 30%. So if you're using more than 30% of your household income towards housing
you are considered costburdened. In Eagle Lake 18% of homeowners are considered costburden and 28% of renters are. So, one in three renters in Eagle Lake struggle to afford their rent cost.
Go to our next slide. So, does that mean that we possibly have more younger professionals or people that are living in our multifamily housing that are able to pay these rents or I mean I don't know if that's a accurate assessment possibly. Um, can
you clarify that >> with the the median gross rent is higher in Eagle Lake and I'm just wondering with some of our newer developments and kind of wondering what types of folks are coming to Eagle Lake. I'm wondering if maybe we are becoming someplace where younger professionals are wanting to
live that don't maybe want to buy a home yet or have to deal with the maintenance and >> Yep. Uh so I'll just uh talk about that by comparing the um renter cost burden share between Eagle Lake and Mano as you
look at the different prices. Uh so there is actually um while Eagle Lake is at uh 28% of renters being cost burdened. Uh Mano despite having lower rents has a higher share of renters that are costburdened. uh which does indicate
that renters living in Eagle Lake have a higher median income than the renters living in Mano. >> Yeah, I I could probably speak to that too. I mean, a lot of Mano is student, too. So, I mean, um your student rent is going to be much lower. I think in Eagle
Lake, it's more of single family, twin home, town home type of rent, which is going to be higher, where when you're, you know, downtown Mano, your rent is a thousand bucks for five people, you know. and here it's you're renting for your whole family and it's going to be
higher. So, >> we also wanted to share some key insights around housing and just medium price cost. What we're seeing out there and this is as of last month in Eagle Lake. The median listing home price for a home right now is over 314,000.
The median listing price per square feet is at 158 and the median sold home price is 289,000 roughly. Right now, the average day that a home will be on the market is 25 days and on average homes are selling at 3.82
above asking price as of last month. So I wanted to talk a little bit about what are we seeing as the uh housing needs regionally. Uh so the first thing to realize is when it comes to multifamily housing uh we are vastly
underbuilt um regionwide. So a healthy vacancy rate on the multifamily rental market is considered to be 5%. uh for affordable housing within the region. And affordable here is defined as projects that were subsidized in their
construction through a couple of different affordable housing programs, not uh based on the actual cost of the units themselves. Uh so that's at 1.7% vacancy. And then when we look at market rate, uh which is going to be all of the unsubsidized multif family housing that
goes up, we're at 2.6% 6% which is still less than half of what is considered a healthy rate for a community to be able to grow in size. So what that means in order to meet the demand so this information comes from the city of Mano's most recent uh draft housing
study. Um so there outside of the city of Mano looking at the rest of Blue and Nicollet County there are 5,769 housing units that are needed. Of those 2700, so about half of them are rentals
and then 1,800 are single family detached and,00 are single family attached. uh which suggests that for a healthy uh housing mix to be developed in the region over time, we would like to see roughly one one of total number
of owner occupied units and rental units being built and roughly 2 to one of multifamily whether owner or renter and single family detached because some of those owner occupied units are in that twin home uh multiple owner occupied
unit type Can you go to the next one? >> Sorry, how recent was this? The information was it like the past year? >> Um, this is the uh draft housing study for the city of Mano that came out this
year. So, um, I want to use just as a case study looking at the city of Mano and what they've seen from a multifamily and single family housing perspective. So, uh, their most recent housing study
before this one was conducted in 2020. And when we looked at what the city of what that housing study said the city needed by way of multifamily units, uh the city looking at the town homes and multif family together there overbuilt
what was projected as the need each one of those years. And then single family was under constructed compared to what that study said was needed. Uh and the main factors at play there were just market forces. it was much more economical to build multif family
housing uh meet a larger portion of the need more quickly. Now what we've seen in 2025 is the number of single family homes being constructed in the city of Mano have multiplied by 5x compared to what was done in 2024. Um both the
single family um detached and then the duplexes as well combined that multiplied by 5x. Uh so my suggestion there is if the city hadn't fostered the quote unquote overp
production of the multifamily units over those prior four years, this influx of single family construction that the city is seeing this year wouldn't have happened. Sorry, now you can go Jennifer. Um and so then as we take a look uh at
one of the concerns that Eagle Lake residents have shared is will the construction of multifamily units uh negatively impact the price of my home? Uh in our research and uh in working I worked with Christian Breen. He's economic development director at region
9 uh to find some of this data and per this research it shows that that is not an impact that we're likely to see. Uh so in fact communities that have a higher percentage of multifamily homes have higher overall values of their single family home prices. Um and
looking at this uh 2015 study, it showed that mixed income multifamily developments didn't have any negative impact on surrounding home prices. And then this 2021 study actually found that when high quality uh multifamily
construction is developed, single family homes within a half mile radius of that site actually increase in their value 2% more than those that are located farther away. Uh so it shows that there's a really healthy mix to having that diverse stock. Jennifer, you can go to
the next. So with all of this in mind um and considering the overall uh demand for additional growth in this region plus the desires of the communities, Alejandra and I had a couple of recommendations for the council to
consider. First, we would encourage the city of Eagle Lake to consider its own housing study or research report uh so that there can be some customized recommendations. Uh Jennifer called me an expert. I'm very I know economic development well, but there are housing
experts that know way more than me. Uh, and I'd encourage them to support Eagle Lake with a fully developed plan. Um, perhaps since Maxfield has already analyzed the twocount area, uh, they could be worth approaching and seeing if it's more viable to get an update or
aside to that original study. Um, we also would encourage the city to consider promoting a regular mix uh and not focusing on any housing type. We need housing at every level and housing of every type and trying to make it a goal
that every year we see some of every type of housing constructed. Um, encourage the development of high quality multifamily housing units by designating specific areas as uh B3 multifamily residential. and then
encourage mixeduse multif family development along Parkway Avenue. And with that, are there any other questions for either of us? It might come down to the study and I think the one thing that we are just
coming out of is where it's at. So, making sure that we get into a some type of strategic planning and and take a look at our land use again, making sure we don't have these little pockets that could be not fit in within the neighborhood. You
know, I found it interesting that, you know, I've always been told if if you get a, you know, aplex in your backyard, you know, your your housing, you know, you're going to have a trouble selling your house or having some, you know, just some issues with, you know, the valuation of your property. Um but it
looks you know we have been having you know each three of categories we've been having some some progress you know how how do we encourage um more of the R1 you know it looks like what I saw a little bit earlier you mentioned that it's almost like you had
to build the capacity in the R3 R4 space before it spilled out into the R1. Is that kind of what you you know that's probably part of a study that would come out like that >> in so for the private sector to develop R1 at
the levels desired they need to see that the R3 is you know at its optimal point right otherwise if you're going to look at a site um multifamily is just going to be
more uh beneficial for any given site. Um if the city subsidized the development by doing its own development of R1 single family detached housing, uh that's the other option and from what
I've seen communities do. Um just to note on so we didn't address the uh specific complex that had been on the agenda earlier. Uh but my own recommendations just having looked at
that map um forgive me if I'm wrong but I believe the two streets concerned are Agency Street and Linda Street. Correct. Okay. So, if it were me, and again, I'm not a housing expert, but if it were me,
I would consider um an R3 type uh building on Agency Street. But then on the portion of the parcel that is adjacent to Linda Street, um that has more of the residential feel than the
larger federal pair. Uh and I'd consider restricting that to R1. Um but again, someone coming in like Maxfield or another housing uh researcher might come in with better recommendations than me there. >> Could I ask a question? One thing that I
hear um frequently from um just when different housing projects come up in the community is that Eagle Lake is saturated with multif family housing. But basically from the information that you've gathered from the study for the Mano area is that we are not saturated with multif family housing. I mean just
on very simple terms people say that I think that's something that we hear and I correct me if I'm wrong I think the council probably hears has heard that too over the years but I think it's important and I think doing a housing stud would be good to get a deeper to dig deeper into this issue and really find out what we need in our community.
Awesome. >> Yeah, I think Eagle Lake has taken big steps on at the very beginning, Alejandra highlighted two key points from residents, concerns about affordability and um availability for
senior transitional housing. And I know that the city of Eagle Lake has permitted new slab on grade uh moveover housing that's sometimes referred to uh that serves that market. Um it's the matter of having the housing available
for the uh folks that are working professionals, families that are having kids, uh where it's difficult to acquire a house at this point just based on the total shortage in the housing market, but who want to live in Eagle Lake, go to the schools here. Um, Alejandra, you
I feel like you had some research that was specific to Eagle Lake on multifamily where my data showed that the entire region is uh underserved by multif family. And didn't you show that Eagle Lake had less multif family than the rest of
>> Yeah, I we can share that via email as well. So, we can share those data points. Some of the census data websites are down right now, but we can try to share those via email. I'll say too based on the Mano study that they just updated last year, it shows that
although they've been working on building multifamily, the projected need for multif family in the community won't be met in the Mano area. So just some things to keep in mind as well of how the regional housing trends will be impacting Eagle Lake because the need
for multifamily that Mano will see will likely impact or Eagle Lake might have to absorb some of that. So why that's why partly why we recommend that Eagle Lake is proactive in doing some of that research so as you're making decisions you know where the city is heading but
also where the MSA is heading as well. I'll say I did hear that too and I've heard it often um and can't disagree. It's gone through my mind of what's that tipping point of you have too much now. We we're going the the other direction
where um we we've surpassed that small town feel and we're now um just a out outskirts of Mano and stuff. I've had people say, "Well, why can't they just keep building it in Mano and and get the housing, you know, the single families here?" And um there's no
great answer to that, but it is that piece of growing up here in Eagle Lake. Same thing, Garrett, growing up here. Um, back then there wasn't multif family besides the few duplexes here and there. Um, and you had that small town feel. Um, so I know what it felt like and I
know where it's feeling at times with my kids and it is worrisome a little bit of not going too far the wrong direction and and tipping it. But I I can't say that I feel we are or aren't that way. It's just that um being conscious of
where where that feeling sits and then I think more so is where they're placed in within Eagle Lake. Um having them closer depending on where they're built than having specific roads that are more in and outs versus having to go through um inner communities to go
through um to get in and out for those that don't want to have that inner community feel, their kids interacting with other kids and just want to live here and leave. Um, so I think there's there's kind of multiple pieces to it and I I feel that this um Bower property
should kind of set us back of do we need the professional to come in and say it so we get it right being that it is time to update the land use and not just go off of what we feel but um partially what we feel because I mean if we don't want tons of multif family don't force it but having that good balance. Well, I
think we need to kind of be careful with the increase. you know the data data shows that houses around multifamily increase say 2% I think is what it was um you know in my experience
could that 2% be more you know so what I'm saying is is um having a multifamily near single family um it's no secret that the county assessments have gone up every year for a long time um but maybe
that 2% would be more if there wasn't multif family because in my experience when you do show a house next to a multifamily um there are questions and there is kind of hesitance of do I want to live by multifamily now the county
the county is going to show that houses are increasing yes um but I I would kind of say that um that number could be larger increase without multif family near single family
I would uh I would note two things there. Um one with that study uh it did designate or from what was transferred to me it did designate high quality multif family. Uh and I think that's something that the city has the ability to do is you know anything that comes in
is going to uh be a new development and make sure that it fits the needs and goals of the city. Um it did that 2% increase was 2% more than the other houses around it that were further than that. So, it was a
comparison one, not just looking at where the housing houses would have been in absence of the multif family development. Um, I would I would note one other thing in terms of the tipping point, you know, because there's there's really there's two key tipping points.
One is if that multif family housing vacancy rate gets over 5%, that's a tipping point. You don't want to, you know, 5% is healthy. More than 5% then is unhealthy. Uh but that just mentions the tipping point to the
housing value. Uh the community sentiment that would be something that I would recommend be presented to any potential housing study developer. There's other communities that are similar to Eagle Lake. um what are their
best recommendations for housing mixes for those communities and get specific recommendation requests uh that are tied to that community sentiment. And I think if that gets included in any sort of study that will help with that.
>> And I think I think markets play a huge part of it too. Um you know when you're in a market that have more houses than buyers, you know, it's going to look different. Um we've been in a market now that we've been short for a very very long time. Um and I think that skews the numbers maybe a little bit as well. So
um I think the market value um and what the market is is telling us has a huge impact in that as well. >> Also was curious too how recent this information was because Fox Metals is a huge development and that's what a year or two old and we're still building on
to it. Is that included in the stats? That might change the numbers and all that as well. I I would need to go to the uh specific page in the um housing study to find
out. Um they did include planned developments. So when they talked about the demand between now and 2035, the number of new developments that need to be constructed, uh that does not include anything that's already through the
permitting and planning. But as for whether what portion of Fox Meadows is included, I'm less aware. >> Those parts would have been pulled um let's see, I'm trying to think 20 years fly by 23 maybe. So yeah, I don't So
then it probably wouldn't have or it it >> would >> most of it already would have been constructed and through the permitting process before they this data came up then >> and uh I'm I'm sure it can be received
from the uh city of Mano, but also uh we do have the city of Mano's draft housing study on the transforming tomorrow together website. Um so if you go to uh transforms southern Minnesota202040.com uh much easier to get by going to
greater mano.com and clicking the link to the transform tomorrow together website under infrastructure. It has the entire uh city of mano draft housing study and then the city of St. Peter housing study if you'd like to research any of these further.
>> So seeing the price difference like stand. Yeah. Um but from a rese Well, again, um, >> or is it mainly because of all the >> apartments?
>> Well, I would say the single family rent is dang near the same here as it is in Mano, but what you have in Mano is more student rent. That's going to be less in my experience. >> Yeah, when I rented up towards campus in
a new place, it was like 1,500 a month and it was a new building. So, I would say that that'd be similar to what is on Linda Path or at Fox Meadows. Um, so I think that the Mano rent encompasses what Anthony is saying. You know, you're
talking about houses down on Warren Street that are renting out for two rooms for >> 700 bucks. Um the other question that I have and this is this is a little bit more of a far out question is is that so we've
been dealing with the Regency in Eagle Lake you know like so what is like the f you know the future trends of like okay so these new built all buildings get built new but like what's going to be the what have you guys seen like as far
as like older facilities you know as they start to age out. Okay. So, now we have ABC complex that has 65 units in it uh and now is being sold to some investment group that's in Idaho and
they don't care about this building anymore. So that that's kind of the big picture kind of that I'm worried about is like what we're seeing with like in the Regency you know the more we have these multifamily uh facilities which are good and I
understand what you're saying on the um you know the aspect of needing housing and stuff but what what do you guys see you know like okay for example look at some of the apartments in Mano that were built in the 80s now you know some of them are burned out windows are boarded.
So that's going to I would assume that that would probably happen here in 50 years if that's happening at like the the Regency. So, >> so the push for I'm a little wary about the push for multif family all the time um with the sense that these buildings
do get so decayed after time and like will they have the same uh again the small town feel you know of like will these buildings be pleasant you know will they be maintained you know stuff like that and >> you know what I know that that's a kind
of a loaded question because you don't know what none of us are going to know what it's going to be in 50 years But um I think that might be some of the people's hesitancy, you know, to why that could be a projected hesitancy of
why the multif family might be a problem in certain areas where there's like zoning, you know. >> I I think you're you're right on and Ryan, you can jump in if you want. Um yeah, what's it going to be like in this amount of time? I think it's pushing us.
one is, you know, we're not pushing, you know, as a city, we're not pushing multif family. That's just what's being brought to us. You know, we got to figure out a way to kind of bring in those single family, you know, builders and developers and, you know, how's that, >> you know, >> so
yeah, there's all kinds of questions, right? >> Well, bottom line, there's more money for developers multif family. I mean, that's just >> that's just >> it is what it is. So, um, a developer is going to come with multif family idea because that's where they make their money. >> Yeah.
>> Um and that's just I don't know if that's ever going to change. >> No. And I think that's why, you know, I'm hearing it more and more that we need to work with somebody to come in and let's get get it right. Our our land use plan, our strategic plan, you know, where we want to put these things. You
know, we've we're talk a little later about some annexation. You know, what should that happen out there in that annexation world? you know what should happen in you know out here by Casey's. So having that plan so we don't get this problem of that crops up that we've got
a B1 right in the middle of you know could have been right in the middle of million-dollar homes then that would have been you know probably a whole different >> well like just let's just take agency Fox Meadows for example the reason why it was good for him is because we
allowed multif family along with the single family he can hang on to those single family lots. Y >> no problem when you have eight plexes and 12 plexes that are paying the bills. >> Yeah. >> So um I I think some of those questions
especially aging housing stock um or aging multif family housing stock which I think uh probably impact some of the median and housing uh price differences between Mano and Eagle Lake as much as anything else. I think a
new development would likely have similar whether it was built in Eagle Lake or in um health in KO, but the professional housing study firm could probably help answer some of those more.
What I would also note though is I'm also not uh I don't want to be seen as pushing multifamily on its own. I think it's important that the city development
uh a development mix over time uh because any type of focus solely on one housing type I think could challenge the city. So to the question earlier of well what if all of this multif family happening in Adel versus happening in
Adel lake another thing that residents regularly share is the desire to uh get certain types of amenities um whether it's a coffee shop or new restaurant things like that. without more
the time to get to the point where some of those amenities come in will be extended. Uh because I think getting that core a decently sized core density of multifamily units um would result in
the metric for those uh restaurant tours or um whether it's a franchise or a single developer of a coffee shop to say that it makes sense to have a site in Eagle Lake. >> To that too, just wanted to add a quick
note that we're both economic developer experts. So, we're coming at it from the economic development standpoint. We're not housing experts. We're not doing housing development. So, we're coming from the trying to figure out how do we keep our local economics economies vital long term. So, we're really looking at
it from a business perspective. To Ryan's point, how are we supporting small town small businesses, main street downtown and housing plays a key role in that. As you just saw, as when we go out to local communities, the number one issue and priority that residents,
business talk about is business is housing. So, I wanted to highlight that and Beth brought up a good point. Are we maybe pricing out residents are kids, grandchildren going to be able to afford living within Eagle Lake? And having a diverse housing stock will play a big a
big role in that. I think as we look at our land use too and and look at updating that, we think of where we where we were at, where we've become, and where we want to go to make sure that we're placing it and adjusting this to where we want those
R2s, R3s, R, you know, business, all of that. And then once they're I don't want to say once they're full, but not always on, oh, you want to be an R4 and an R1. Okay, we'll just reszone and just continually reszone. I think it has to be that no, we're we're full on the R4s or you go to
this property that we've already designated for R4 or you can build some R1's, you know, instead of because I I look at again because it's right in our mind at the Bower development. Yes, some of those bought when it was empty lot. Um, but buying on an empty lot and
seeing the land use as it is now as a potential R1 is totally different than buying a lot and now it's converted to an R4 a couple years down the road or 10 20 years down the road. That that's something different where if we're selling lots and we know that um that could be an R4
if they did their homework too. Um it's always been on the plan. You know, it's hard to to argue that then. But when we have it being R1 R1 next to each other, um I can't I can't blame the residents when they spend a significant amount of money building an R1 home and
then we years later say, "Nope, go ahead, do an R4 and multif family high density is going right up in your backyard." Um they have something to complain about. >> Well, I totally agree. So I think the land use plan is, you know, we can be
restrictive as we want to be and and make sure it's placed in, you know, making sure our, you know, our residents are satisfied with where things are going, right? So there's some outskirts and some main roads that would make sense that might be a little higher density versus, you know, other, you
know, things like that. So >> can I say one thing though? I just um this was excellent information by the way. Thank you very much. and we absolutely need to look at pursuing a housing study and we're trying to get a land use some funding for the land use um plan update. Um but one thing I do
want to note, I know there's been a lot of discussion about multif family and I feel like we want to be a very welcoming community and I feel like we there are so many um young professionals that have that live in Eagle Lake that live in multifamily that contribute a lot to our community especially in Fox Meadows. I
think one of our employees lives out there. uh we've had people serving on um different committees and so I just think that we have to be careful when we talk about multifamily and not referring to as those people because those there's a lot of young professionals um that are contributing and not just professionals
but people are contributing a lot to our community and so um I think that that has to be factored into our mix and um we need to get more enrollments in the school and I think it might be a feeder to get some younger families that maybe aren't in a financial position to buy a new home and I know we want a lot of R1
one, but there has to be a market to for a developer to put up R1 because the city doesn't have any land. So, just some things to also consider and just um you know, we talk about these topics and just appreciating the people we do have in our community. I think we've got
we've grown a lot and um you know, just some good people. I don't think from law enforcement perspective we've had any issues with multifamily housing either. I just I just want to put that out there because sometimes I feel like multif family gets a bad rap. And um >> I think where it feels like it gets it
is there's just a lot more people in a smaller area. Um you know, I talked to my seven-year-old niece who uh has been at my kids's dad's house who lives in Fox Meadows and she just says I said, "What would you want different?" She goes, "Well, more houses with more." I said, "Why more houses versus that?" And
she said, "There's nowhere to play. There's not a lot of space. The the parks are too far away. we need more parks so we can go play more because the yards aren't big, you know. So, some of those comments coming from the kids who are in those areas and I think that's where it feels off is just that in a
house you have green space in the lots more so than you have in a lot of those high density multifamilies. So then when we're putting those in, being more strategic instead of saying no, just give us the money because there's not an open lot, we have to say, "No, put a park in there." And we need to figure out how to
maintain it. And that's part of the issue. But as we grow, those parks are extremely important in the kids' eyes and parents at that point and ease of them. So I think there's kind of a lot around it all. >> Yeah. No, I think multif family is very important. Um, but to Ryan's point, um,
to have a mixture like Fox Meadows is perfect. you know, you have your multif family, you have your patio homes, you have your, you know, instead of just all multifamily or all one thing. I think Ryan has a great point of it needs to be a mix of everything.
>> So, to the park point, um, I don't know the exact structure of this, uh, but in Mano when a new subdivision is done, and I assume this then applies to multif family, but I could be wrong. uh the
developer is either required to build a park or to contribute funds to the park funds uh for the city. Um so just something for consideration when looking at how this uh future development >> we have that we probably need to look at
updating our numbers. Um but we do have a percentage and like Beth said, you know, to put in a park costs a lot of money and our percentages Yes. Yep. And so unfortunately um you know in some developments it's like oh the city can barely maintain what it has. So but no
and I just want to clarify too I'm for all forms of housing and not saturating saturating one way or the other. I just know that in my experience at city hall getting to meet some of the new people that have moved into town. I just want to say a good word for them because I they've contributed they're contributing to our community and they're good people and I sometimes worry when there's a big
splash about multif family housing that we might come across as not being welcoming and so I just wanted to throw that out there. So, but thank you again you guys. Excellent information. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thanks, guys.
All right. New business. >> Jennifer, do you want to kind of start with number one there? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So, um I'm just going to get to my page here. Okay. So, um, we received, um, on, um, I believe it was Thursday
afternoon, um, received a withdrawal from, um, Justin Bower, the property owner of the parcel, um, along Agency Street and Linda. Um, the parcels are 121018180022. um that uh resoning application had been
submitted, went to the planning commission, planning commission reviewed that request. Um we had a full house um ran out of chairs. So unfortunat we felt um bad for the people at stand had to stand the whole time, but um you know,
everybody was um very patient and I think there was about an hour and 15 minutes of public comment. So overwhelmingly um you know in opposition to what was proposed for that parcel, the planning commission ultimately uh denied the
request and so the next step is come to the city council and um the property withdrew the application and so I just wanted to put it on tonight's agenda for formal recognition that it's been withdrawn. Um, so, uh, I guess no formal
actions required, but just wanted it to be reflected in the minutes that the application has been withdrawn. >> All right. Uh, number two, application form. >> All right. Uh, so, mayor and city council, we just need this uh, item is
related to the AED donation. Just need a motion to authorize city staff to enter into the agreement on behalf of the city of Eagle Lake for an AED to install at the park pavilion. >> I'll make the motion. >> We have a first. Do we have a second? >> I'll second that motion. >> Have a first and second. Any other
discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. All right. The next one is uh the same type of thing. We need a motion to is it are we entering into something or we're just agreeing to something?
>> Basically just uh acknowledging an agreement that we're allowing them to come on site and then they have um it's just a short-term um learning opportunity and we'll provide them with a you know project to work on and um >> we sign it they sign it.
>> That's a heck of a motion. Um I guess uh look for a motion to enter into this program with uh the school district. >> I'll motion. >> I'll second. >> First and second. Any other discussion? >> All in favor? >> I >> I.
>> All opposed. All right. The carbon reduction program. >> All right. Uh mayor and city council, we have uh received funding from the carbon reduction grant program um to purchase an electric utility vehicle. Our project
uh was is estimated about 39,666 $6 6676 cents. Oh boy, it's a mouthful. Um and so basically it's anticipated that 80% of the costs up to a maximum of $28,424 will be paid for from federal funds
available through the U federal highway administration program with the remaining 20% to be paid by the city as a local cost share. Um and then if we were above and beyond that amount any of those additional costs um would be borne by the city. So,
due to the nature of the project being uh federal, um the Blue Earth County serves as our project sponsor. Um so, what we'll basically do is we'll purchase the vehicle and then we'll have to submit for reimbursement and then get reimbursed afterwards. Um and we've been
working with uh public works director Hartman and I met with a source rep and basically this allows us to not have to do our own competitive bidding process. So these vendors have already gone through the competitive bidding process
and um so we were able to find who we wanted to work with. Um so public works director Hartman Andrew has Andrew Hartman I can't talk. He has included there's in the packet is um a proposal for the
um electric utility vehicle that he would like. And one thing they noted with this grant is we cannot have a hybrid. So it has to be uh solely uh powered by electric. So otherwise the federal funds won't apply. So we made sure of that. Um otherwise we should be
a go. We just need to get permission to go ahead and purchase it and then we'll get reimbursement. >> How are we going to charge it? >> So probably just down at the shop. So it comes with a char.
>> So we just have to get the charging station installed. >> So basically what this the purpose of this will be to um replace uh the little ranger truck that goes around or any truck that goes along on the trail. So this will be something that whoever checks the doggy way stations or does
other emptying garbage cans or so forth um will be able to use this piece of equipment. So, um, anything else you want to add to it? Nope. Okay.
>> Any questions from the council >> based on the estimate the MSR MSRP price and then the discount price is higher than the MSRP price. Can you And normally it goes the opposite. So, I'm just
confused. >> Okay, let's see. Where's Mr. like page 103? >> Oh, I think it's because there's add-ons. Isn't that what it is? The add-on amount. >> Yeah. So, there's add-ons for like the
doors and the windshield. And >> so, that first line item where it says one, the 29, 999, and then the 30. That's >> Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what why that. I think it might be switched.
I can email them. >> I mean, as long as the numbers just that seemed odd to me. Normally a discount means less, not more. >> They maybe have flip-flopped them numbers that if that's what happened. >> Massive discount $500.
>> Any other questions? Are we displacing any equipment >> or is this just an >> So it it would basically instead of driving um one of the pickup trucks around, you know, we would be using this piece of equipment or electric utility
vehicle, >> right? >> Yeah. >> That's what I was asking. >> Oh, okay. So, the biggest thing this will help with is like, you know, the part-time guy going out and weed whacking and, you know, now he can, you know, carry a a saw, you know, a
chainsaw and things and trim trees, weed whack, do everything all at the same time and not driving a truck all over the park, you know, around the baseball field and things like that. >> Okay. Well, I'll make a motion to accept.
>> We got a first. >> First and a second. Uh, any other discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? All right. You got an electric go-kart now.
All right. Uh the release of the RFP for the auditing service. >> All right. Uh so mayor and city council, we have in the past had multi-year contracts with ID Bailey, our current auditor for auditing services. Um right now we're just on a year-to-year basis.
Um so just looking at um this is a good time to do an RFP and um you know see if they'd be willing to enter into a multi-year and then also see what other um interest there is in the area. there's other firms in Mano and and what they might um come back for with a
price. So, it definitely is takes more um time and energy and just another thing to add, but it's something I think would be a good time to do it right now. So, just asking for city council um authorization to go ahead and release an RFP.
>> Will this be for the 2025 audit? >> Yep. So, 2025 um 2026 and 2027. I make a motion for that RFP process. >> First and a second. Any other discussion? All in favor?
>> I. >> All opposed? Release of an RFP for refuge and recycling. >> All right. Mayor and city council, we have uh a contract with LJP that's been in existence for a long time. And we
recently, I think I can't remember what year it was now, but we had like a 5-year agreement and then um once that 5-year period ends and we just go on to an automatic one-year renewal unless each party gives the other notice. So um our five-year term will end on in
February 2026. Um I did receive um an email from Thompson Sanitation and they would like to submit a bid. Uh, so I mentioned to them that, you know, we sure would be interested in trying to keep our prices competitive, but I'd
have to get permission from the council to go ahead and do um, you know, an RFP. So does I, from staff perspective, I think LJP does a wonderful job and, you know, I don't have any complaints. Um, but it's always good to get um,
competitive pricing and see where they fall. Is this a year with all the potential changes out at the, you know, the county site? >> I don't know how that I don't know if that would necessarily impact us or not. I don't know. It's a good question.
>> And how long is the current? So, we're coming out of a five-year contract with LJP. >> It was longer than that, but the most recent uh I think you want to call it like addendum was like five years. Okay. But we've been with them a long time and they do a good job and we we don't even have to do an RFP. But I didn't want to
make the decision as staff since we got an inquiry and I thought I better bring it to the council to see what you think. >> Are we expecting a price increase from them for 2026? And um I guess I would be slightly concerned if we will get one with what I don't know all the ins and
outs of what was going on with Excel and stuff like that with whether we will and if if they do increase. What is it, and you might not know, but what does it say in there as far as notice on price increases to us? >> Yeah, we don't know any of that information. When they came to the mayors and clerks meeting, it was basically just letting us know kind of what's going to be coming on the
horizon. But it there's nobody has the answers right now. So, >> so they can't come to us though and say, "Okay, here's your 60-day notice. Prices are going to double or I mean, is there any not like what is their obligation if they're going to increase prices to us?"
I guess I I'd have to go back and look at the agreement. I don't I don't think they would double our prices though because then they're if they want to stay competitive, I don't think they would do that. But um >> I think what you're asking for is what is the termination and the increase clause? >> Correct. Correct. >> That's
>> there's a CPI clause and um >> so are they only able to do that on a yearly basis at the time of the year of the contract or can they do it anytime along? I I remember going back when the when the gas prices increased and went went really high and they couldn't
>> they couldn't um charge us more. >> Yep. >> Because of what the contract stated, but we should have been, you know, say remember him speaking on all that and don't remember all the ins and outs, but just not to if that whole stuff goes sideways and now prices increase. >> Um >> well, I don't think it's a bad thing to
do an RFP just to check them out. >> And it just adds more work for staff. So if you guys want to do an RFP, I'm totally fine with that, too. I'm just bringing up because I don't want to be the person making that decision. So, we don't have to do it today either. I we can look at the contract and make a decision at the next meeting, too, if
because you raised some good questions about, you know, what happens if they want to increase their prices and, you know, what can they do? But, um, just know that come February 2026, we'll be on a one-year, you know, >> so it'll be 27 >> from Yeah.
with we're in November now. With year end coming up, would you have enough time to do an RFP? >> Yeah, it wouldn't probably take that long to get it out, but then then where the time comes in is is they'll probably come in and do a presentation and have
to walk through their proposals. >> I'm assuming there'll be multiple people are going to want Eagle Leaks business, I think. >> Yeah. I never think it's a bad thing. Well, and just seeing Thompson, I mean, just looking at them quick, they offer three different size bins. Does LJP
offer three different size bins? Because those that don't go through a lot of garbage, if they can save money and go a smaller bin, all the better. >> I think they do. >> Do they? >> Yeah. >> I'll make a motion to to release the RFP for refuse and recycling, right? >> Thirst.
Do we have a second? >> I'll second. have a first and second. Any other discussion? >> Uh just one thing to note, I don't know if it matters or not, but um on some of these RFPs, so LJP is a zero landfill
operation, they turn all their stuff to fuel. Uh and I've Thompson uses landfills. Not saying that that's bad or the other thing, but just just something to be aware of. No, I think that's got to be, you know,
part of the RFP, you know, part of the review process. >> Yeah. >> You know, we want to be good stewards. So, >> okay. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. All right. MSRS healthc care savings plan.
>> All right. Uh, mayor and city council, we touched on this briefly when we did the personnel policy update. Uh, but basically what I'm asking for tonight is just um authorization for staff to go ahead and start working with the healthcare savings plan folks to get this set up. I reached out to a contact
um a while back and so I haven't gotten a lot of movement with some of my questions on that, but I wanted to keep this thing moving because um the way our policy is written, we would want to anybody that's over what they're allotted to carry for vacation would need to get addressed before the end of the year. So, um I'm working through
that, but I just wanted to um get permission to continue pushing that ahead. Um as I realize we don't have any other than when the personnel policy update occurred, there was no separate action with that. So, >> kind of, you know, as we talked through, you know, one of the biggest things that
helps us with is kind of reduces some of our long-term liability. you know, as we get more employees and more vacation and more acruals and things like that, um it helps us kind of manage that, you know, with the policy and with and this is a benefit, you know, that we can offer to
the staff to take advantage of. Um, so I think I look for anyone have any more questions for >> actually I think it's more of a benefit to the city too to for employees to continue to be able to work and keep the
workflow moving more so than the employee because an employee who would participate in this program would be taking a loss of what their benefit is. So just wanted to point that out. >> Well, with our new policy though that loss could have been 100%. Yep. Um, so now it's at least some benefit,
>> but if employees take off the time that they need to take off rather than losing it, then the city's going to lose in productivity, too. So there's ways to look at it that way, too. >> Perfect. >> Any other questions? Look for a motion to continue the process. >> I'll motion.
>> We have a first and second. Any other discussion? >> All in favor? >> All opposed? All right. Number eight, late fee wave report. >> All right. So, we had um received a a um
envelope that should have been delivered to the city of Eagle Lake that would have made it on time before utility bills incurred late fee. It went to a different business. Um and by the time it made its way back to city hall, it was after the the um deadline. So, it's
of no fault to the people who use this way to pay their utility bills. So, we're just asking that um you know uh city staff be able to wave those late fees. >> I'll make a motion to wave. >> Move first and >> I'll second. >> First and second. Any other discussion?
All in favor? >> I >> I >> All opposed. All right. Number nine. >> Yeah, you're right. We just have to keep pushing that and trying to raise awareness and get people to move in that direction because Yeah, that would be the best way to do it. Yep.
>> Number nine. >> Um, so in front of you, you guys will see um I have two quotes, one from Sanco Equipment and the other from Storm Equipment for a um blade for the
payloader. um with um if you look at the Sanco um quote, we do have a trade in for um
the wood chipper that we have for like the front of our tool cat and skid loader. Um we haven't really been using that lately. It's kind of more of a pain than it is anything. Um,
and they're giving us a $3,000 um, tradein value, which I almost thought was overpriced. So, um, with the with the cage one, we we've
went out, we've demoed it, we've looked at it. Um there's a lot more benefits to the cage um plow than there is to the um I think it
was metal plus that we had from storm equipment. Um yeah, so we're requesting to use um capital outlay expenses for 2026. Um,
this will just put us in order to get one. Um, just to make sure that we don't miss out on it. >> Questions from the council. >> So, with all the tree trimming, you don't need a chipper. >> No. Lately, we've been hauling all that
to the compost or um where we do our leaves and then burn it. Um with the payloader and the grapple bucket on that, we can haul a lot more and stack it a lot higher and it's way more efficient than trying to chip at all.
And with with that chipper, I mean, anything over 2 in in diameter isn't going to go through there very well. And then when did you say you would get it the blade with approval? You would have it for winter yet.
>> Um so the last time I talked to them, we would probably get it mid December if approved tonight. Um and then it would be a net 30, you know, and paid in January after the first of the year. >> Is the loader ready for it? Is there any
other attachments or any modifications that need to happen? >> Um, so the only modification that would need to happen is um putting new couplers on it. Um, the couplers that the payloader comes with
are very non-user friendly. Um, so in the quote you'll see the the couplers in there. Um we have six that includes um two additional couplers for
um the grapple bucket too. So everything will be switched to the same coupler style. >> I know there's a ton of usage areas for this, but where do you guys foresee this being mainly used, mainly put into place and amongst all the other equipment you
have for it? So our envision for this, so it's a 12T blade with two 4ft wings. So you're at a 20ft plow now. Um, so a lot of what we want to do with it is
like the creek side development that has a bunch of culde-sacs um out on like um Falcon Run and those houses out there that have a lot of culde-sacs. We'll be able to use this to plow the street and go in and clean
the culdeac out way more efficient than with a pickup. I did this with the fire department, so I guess I'll do it with you, too. Uh, it's a lot of money, right? I mean, >> have we just not been able to keep up in the past couple years or I mean,
like I I just feel like >> we've been doing an okay job, right, up until this point? Do we do we really need this, >> I guess, is what I'm saying. I mean, if we have the tools already, we just keep using those. >> Yeah. um with you know and I'll add like
with Fox Meadows you know we're getting a lot more area to plow um with the big trucks um that we don't usually use the pickups to do like streets necessarily. We use those more for just um culde-sacs and
things like that where now we can start using this to help counteract some of the extra streets and things that we're getting. Um, and then if it come we've had multiple years where we've needed to hire people out to do like wind rows in
the field down 598th and things. Um, this will work amazing in there to make windrows if we need to. And >> yeah, I mean we have the equipment to do a job, but this you will notice it'll be done quicker. And I think the number one
complaint is why isn't the culac plow? Well, in my experience just at MSU, we have 10 of these and it I can't believe we don't have one yet cuz it it really cuz you can lift it way up. You can use it like a bucket almost and you can make
piles really high. Um with the wings, it helps going around things around cars, all that type of stuff. Um I think this is something that we do need. >> I I can speak from the cult standpoint. Um, as I've had I've witnessed it myself,
but we usually myself and two neighbors usually clear out half the cult sack before they get there. So, it's not deep. Um, others that live in them have complained because they almost get stuck in them because the the big pile just goes up and pushes it into a big pile kind of in the middle and cars can't get
out. Um, so the culacs are definitely an issue to target. Um, my question be is do we have the manpower too with the correct licenses to be able to have all of our main equipment out at the same time and best utilizing that or throw Lieutenant Gailor in one of them. Um,
but but so that we can that it's it's really maximized with hitting not only the streets but the culde-sacs. Um, because I hear those complaints. >> I mean, this is a multi-use. You can you can literally maneuver this around anything and push snow in any way. Like
I said, it's almost like a bucket and a plow and a wing all in one. >> Makes sense to me. >> Last uh what what month was when we had the big snow? We had some other factors that came into play, but we were just in was it March? We were inundated with
calls about culde-sacs. It was horrible day at city hall. We felt so bad for people that we have a lot of healthcare workers in Eagle Lake and and um law enforcement personnel and that we were getting a lot of calls from people that work in those um you know healthc care
that needed to get to work and and the culacs need to get clean. So um I'm hopeful this will help alleviate some of those issues >> and and with the the blade on this. So, and I'll use Beth's culde-sac as an example. That's so hard to plow down to
the culde-sac with a pickup and then try and move all the snow where this, you know, we'll be able to not even touch that with the big truck. So, people aren't there's not a big pile in there and just come right in with this, open it up and be done. >> Yeah. I think the biggest difference
you'll see is the end of driveways. Like you can use this wing to swing it and not have a giant pile in the driveways, use the the wings for it >> or fill driveways up, too.
>> I think the only question I have is I don't believe this was on our capital acrual. >> Do we have this or piece of equipment? You know, is this replacing something? So, this would
>> we have a wood chipper on the You probably don't have the updated capital improvement plan. >> Um, we have the wood chipper on there. This replaced >> Okay. that just because we're we've been
so much more efficient with hauling stuff to the to the dump site that we have and burning it than >> I just want to make sure that's you know we only have so much capital. >> Yep. >> Perfect. >> Okay.
>> I can email an update one of the public works capital outlay. Um, I know Andrew and I have talked about that before about tweaking that to fit what we need just and reallocating. So, that's kind of what took place. >> Well, I totally understand that we have opportunities for, you know, for capital
expenditures that we'll need to take advantage of that. So, we might need to >> move some around, push a truck out or back or, you know, whatever that may be. But, >> and and that's what we did. So, I think >> in there you have uh 2026 F-150 on
there. Um, we pushed that out to 27 to allocate a little bit more money to put in for this. Um, >> but I think we have a very good utility or, you know, payloader that's can be very helpful, but if we don't have the right equipment on it, it can only do so much. And
>> um, I think we it did a lot last year. Um, especially in March, I guess this last winter. Um, but how much more it could do. So, I would make a motion to approve this um, payload or plow. >> All right. >> I'll second. First and second. Any other
discussions? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. All right. The addition number 10, the Reagan question. >> All right. Um, so earlier today, I received a phone call from Jesse Anderson. He's with Blue Earth County.
Um, and he works with Septic Systems and Wells. Um he was basically calling to notify the city that um the property on 804 Parkway Avenue um has a contractor and they're hoping
to install a septic system tomorrow. Um this has a little bit of history this parcel so it might take me a while. Just bear with me because I think most of you on the council were here when we went through all this except for council member Lewis. Um but basically the parcel is located within city limits
currently has a septic. The septic is failing. Um and so when that happens inside of city limits um the county contacts us as a city has to give um approval for them to put in a new septic system. Um so just I'll just go back and
give a little background because I had to jog my memory. Years go by and you forget. So, um, and I just put this in front of your desk, so you haven't had a chance to read it. So, that'll maybe also help give us some time to kind of get us all up to speed. So, um, like I
said, for background back in June of 21, uh, the property owner at 804 Parkway Avenue, Chad Reagan, um, he reached out to the city after he was informed by Blorth County that, um, he needed to do a septic system upgrade for his property and that his current situation, it was
failing. Um, at that time, Mr. Reagan reported to the city council. he came to the meeting and um said he was unable to obtain an easement from the neighboring property um at 800 Parkway Avenue that would allow the extension of sewer to his property.
Um so we talked about does the city have funding? What are the plans to extend sewer along um Parkway Avenue as you head into Mano um County Road 17 I guess? And there were no plans at that time and it was a huge expense. So at that time the city council said, "Well,
we can't afford to extend in front of your property. Therefore, we would give you permission to replace your non-compliant septic system with a compliant septic system." So we thought that was taken care of. Um then a couple months later, uh the property's
contractor Pete Fory with Fory Septic came to a council meeting and he um requested on behalf of uh Mr. rig and that the city consider extending sewer um to his property instead of um putting a septic system due to different
limitations with the the property. And so at that time then the city's engineer um Bolton uh prepared concept designs and cost estimates to extend both sewer and water. And then there was also quite a bit of discussion about um limited sewer depth and whether or not there
would be need to be a private pump system needed. Um and it spanned over uh quite a lengthy period of time. There were preliminary plans prepared, many efforts made to obtain easements from the necessary parties. Then we fast
forward to September 2022. Um and we still had not had any easements signed. Um so at that point, the council after incurring significant costs basically set a deadline of September 16, 2022. get those easements
or the city is going to move on because we had some other work being done with the contractor. We'd already awarded a contract. Um, and we were just going to remove that from the scope if we hadn't got the easements because we aren't going to invest city infrastructure into an area where we have no ability to go
and and maintain our infrastructure. So, that time period lapsed and so the council removed that from the scope of the project. Um and then um now fast forward to August 2025, I got contacted
by the MPCA asking me if um the propert had connected and I said no, nothing has happened. I was kind of wondering what had happened because the regulatory agency would be MPC, not the city in the situation. And um so
I'm assuming they reached out to the property owner and um I haven't had any contact with the property owner, but but now they're wanting to install a septic system. So, I did consult with the city's attorney and he said kind of the same thing we talked about back in the
very beginning when this started in in 2021 was to just um that the city goes ahead and allows it just to make sure that we have it noted in the minutes that um if and when sewer becomes available the property would need to connect to city sewer and water
services. So, um I the property owner's in a very bad position because if they have a non-compliance system, they have to do something and if they can't the city offered or was very willing to help get um utilities back to that property
and that didn't work. And at this point, I don't think there's an appetite by the city to spend more money on this. I think we're looking at pretty big numbers that would serve two properties. So,
so I just wanted to give you guys um some background, get you back up to speed because it's it's been some time. Um so, at this point, if the council would like to approve the request, and like I said, I didn't get it from the preparer, but I was contacted by the county and he was just wanting to make
sure the city was okay with this. You know, we would want to make sure we put in the minutes that the person would need to connect uh when services are available. Any questions from the council?
It was a fun time a couple years ago. And I do have a a possible motion in the packet that would meet what the city attorney said would be recommended. Jennifer, remind me. Does this open up because I know we had that conversation when it first came up too where okay, we
allow this. We have to allow others. You know, are we setting president that this is okay and we they should be hooking up but they're not. Are there others in city limits that could potentially fall underneath this? >> I don't think there's any other sector. Is this the only one? >> We had one over that we didn't even know about that. That one has been removed.
They're connected to city services. I don't think there's any more septic systems that I'm aware of. Right. No. Then then the other one over by um Scott Wangens. Maybe there's a septic system there. There might Sorry. There might be two
septic systems in in town, but um no. So basically the sit oh so another situation would be if you wanted to next in a parcel that's too far away that the city can't afford to extend services and they don't necessarily need city um
services at this time you could allow them to be an exin with the you know notation that if and when sewer and water become available you would have to connect to that. And with you saying if and when it's available, I mean it is available because we offered them an opportunity but not available within
their front lot, right? Okay. >> Yeah. Yep. You're exactly right. Yep. >> So the corner property does need to connect and I do need to talk. We need to get that figured out. They have been asked to connect and they have not responded. So when you say the corner
800 800 Parkway needs to connect. >> Yeah, that's been available for years. So, the body shop has to connect, but the house doesn't >> because it's available for them to connect to, >> but to get to 804, you have to go across
800, >> right, >> property, and we don't have an easement, and there's no way we're going to pay for the infrastructure to do that >> when we can't maintain it. >> And I there's a lot of family history in that, too. So, >> did you say what the reason? I know it's
off subject but on with this why 800 Parkway hasn't connected >> for years it's been available and I don't know how is Flint >> they have a septic right now then and it's functioning or is it expired like 804 was >> I don't know >> or currently is
>> they were probably put in about the same time um >> if not 800 Parkway if it's on septic would probably have been older Um, as for why they don't want to connect,
there's probably a million reasons why that they can give you, but there's probably no good reason why, >> right? >> Um, I think it might be just a matter of we need to just the city needs to buckle down and say, "All right,
now is the time." And push them into it, otherwise they're never going to do it. I think we'll need to do that because I think you kind of alluded to it. We need to be consistent on how we're handling each of the properties. Like the two here in town now they're on septic or
they're moved to the city services. >> I believe there's a property >> it was off of agency >> off agency right and they >> now part of the city system that was um abandoned >> thing in the back and all that fun stuff. >> Was that the one
Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What a connect, right? >> I'm wrong. So, this might be the only one. Then we'd have to check with the county. They they should have records of any septic system. But, >> um,
>> but so he puts a new septic in and then has an opportunity to hook up, we have to force him to do that or >> so that's where the city attorney put in there when the septic system is no longer compliant. Yes. So, so it could
be a 30 year useful life. I mean, I don't know. >> What I'm getting at is I don't want him to spend 30 grand and then has an opportunity to hook up next year and he spent 30 grand to get a new septic and now he has to spend money to get hooked up. >> Yep. And that's where >> that to happen. >> Yep. And so in the motion I put or when
the septic system was no longer compliant. Yep. >> I know it's been a while, but when uh Mr. before he came in and talked about it, didn't he encourage it to go on city utilities because the lot did not have
good ample space fortic? >> Yep. >> But now all of a sudden it does >> that that's exactly your recollection is correct. That's >> what our minutes reflect. And I guess part of my conversation on this and and I've mentioned it to you before and I've
mentioned it to mayor too of my frustration on when stuff comes last minute because we don't have time to ask these questions. So, I don't know if there's something we can get in place, which is not part of this, but it is of there's questions to be had and decisions to be made, but we're all
having to make this decision on on a two-hour notice where we have to put something in place where if they don't have it within five business days of the meeting, it's not on the agenda for that meeting because it doesn't give ample time to have us ask questions for you guys to research. Um, and I think that's
there there there was so many meetings leading up to this last time and back and forth and and frustrations where um I want to make sure we do right to the city and do right for the land owner, the homeowner, too. Um, but
the when the when the story septic is saying connect the city utilities and then four years later he's saying no, we'll dig it. That it just isn't making I'm I'm confused. So, it's hard for me to make a good rational decision when what was said before is now not
what is being said now. >> I think you have good points, but at this point, I think there's one option, and that is to get a new septic in. So, I'll make a motion to you make this motion. I'll make a motion to approve the
installation of the septic system at 804 Parkway Avenue with the understanding that the city and sewer water services become available or when the septic system is no longer compliant. The property owner shall be required to connect to the city services at that time.
>> We got a first. We have a second. >> Do a second. All right. Do we have a first and second? Any more discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? >> I you >> I'm an eye of um Yes. Not me. >> Okay. Okay.
>> I just I my my frustrations or concerns or whatever are all there. >> No, I Yeah, I >> this two-hour notice is needs to stop. >> Yeah. No, I totally agree that we need to kind of have some known cut off knowing that, you know,
obviously there is emergencies that come up that we have to deal with, but um he created the emergency on this one that we could have maybe could have should have pushed back and said we can't see it, you know, till the December meeting. So, um, but I'd like to be able to get
that out and in place and not have it, um, on staff to go, "Nope, you can't do that because you're within five days." You know, >> well, and we know I'm a people pleaser, so >> that is part of our problem. Um,
but, uh, okay. So, I think we're Is that it for new business? All right. So, we're up to the city administrator report. >> All right. Uh first two we can kind of breeze through here. You guys see this every month. Year-to- date expense and revenue report um shows year-to- date
expenses and revenues for um the end of October. Employee leave balances. Uh we did have payroll today, so there's a new balance leave balance sheet that's not included, but that'll be in the the next packet. Uh accounting services project update. Uh we met with Abdo Solutions
last week and they reviewed um our current bank reconciliation processes and so right now they're working um with our um final year-end trial balance and going to to the present and they're going to be working back from from that
to get us up to October and then uh city staff is going to take over the bank reconciliation through the end the end of the year and be documenting processes cross trainining Um, and I did get a report today from ABDO and basically the report was just kind of like their
assessment of our when they were on site and of our current processes processes, excuse me, and their recommendations. So, I think they're doing a really good job and I'm looking forward to this project when it's completed. And so, we'll keep you posted on that. Um, we did have to get a loaner um laptop from
CTS so that they can be able to remotely get the information. they don't have access to any of the other C's information but just be able to to work on this project. So CTS was really great to work with and um they got that going real quick. So, um, next item, Taylor
Family Farms Foundation grant. Um, the rural child care um committee uh spent a couple gosh maybe we three times meeting uh worked hard on getting a grant application put together for uh possibly
creating a forgivable child care loan program to try to help our Eagle Lake childcare providers. So, we got the mayor on that committee. We've got um council member Rooric on that and they gave up more of their time to help with this and so we don't have a big ask that
uh we're hoping to get but we thought it's something. So we talked to the EDA. The EDA um did give their blessing that if the the committee's grant application for um 10,000 is approved then we'll get a match of of 10,000 from them. So to be
determined on that, we're hoping we get selected. But um just good to see our committee working hard and um you know coming together to try to get things done for child care. Next item, Pambina grant. Um we have uh phto and ADA water
fountain project that'll be taking place next spring. We got funding for that. And I just want to kind of give a shout out to a former resident. Um now his name is escaping me. Paul Clay. Yes. So, he reached out to make sure I know he reaches out to the fire department, too, because he cares about Eagle Lake and
just making sure that we knew about this grant. Um, so that that really helps and we appreciate that and I just want to make sure he gets recognition for that. So, when we do get the check, I'll see if I can schedule time to get a picture with him and include him in the newsletter because it's a big deal. We wouldn't be able to afford to buy a a
water fountain like this um for our park. And it's really cool because it's got um a is it called phto me? So, you've got the part for the dog on the bottom and and humans on, you know, obviously. So, it's kind of cute. I think it'll fit perfect at our at our
park. Um, and the next one, uh, Eagle Lake helping hands recap. I just can't say enough positive things about it. Um, we had, I think, 48 volunteers and 14 yards that got raked and the, uh,
positivity, um, the enthusiasm was just so over the top from the kids. They loved it. They They want to do it again. So, I think we definitely are going to build on this from moving forward. >> The craz made for TV, too.
>> He loved that. Thank you. He absolutely loved it. And uh Lieutenant Gayler was a little reluctant to go on TV, but I think he's a natural, too, so he's too humble. But no, so I a shout out to Lieutenant Gayler. He came by my office one day and he pitched the idea
and we ran with it. So, super super great. Um, next is Wreck on the Go. Um, summary and we got that from community ed. We will be reviewing this with the park board to make sure that we want to keep doing this and that it's, you know,
we're getting the bang for our buck. So, we'll definitely review this at a park board before we commit to 2026 to make sure this is what what the city wants to do. Um, MS4 permitting status. So you the last couple years we've been talking about why is the city of Eagle A
considered an MS4 city? We're so small and it's because of our proximity to Mano. Well, we had argued a couple points with PCA that after the recent census that we really shouldn't be um in in that same designation and it's I don't think it's ever been done before
where they've removed um a city from being an MS4. And so I talked to Randy Nere and he public works director Hartman. I met him. He's with the Minnesota City Stormwater Coalition. He worked really hard to um try to advocate
for cities like us. You know, just like they know how complicated this stuff is and how can a city like Eagle Lake stay on top of this. So, um we have a petition form. I got a letter from PCA and I talked to Randy today. Um, so we just have to submit that and um, I think
we've done a lot of good work with the MS4. So we don't that's not going to go away, but what's going to go away is the audits and you know doing that that was very heavy lift. So um, we're not going to change any of our requirements for people that come in and and want to build in our community because we want
to do what's right for the environment and um, but so good news because it'll save us cost on having to hire a consultant with ISG. So, we'll be saving money and I think it's it's just really surprising that they're and it's not
done yet. We have to submit the petition. So, we will submit the petition and and uh um and uh so I guess with that too, I know formal city council approval isn't per se necessary, but do you guys give me authorization to
submit the petition form to release us as an MS4? >> I would say yes. >> Okay. I will get that done and let you know. um I figured that was a safe assumption but on that one or >> but I didn't want to >> um wrongly assume. So then the next
thing um the mayor has been talking to me about goals and what we need to do u with planning in the city and um we all know we have an outdated comprehensive plan severely outdated. Uh we tried to bite off the easiest one and that was this strategic economic development plan
a couple years ago with a grant. Next, we talked about trying to um tackle land use plans. So, um I mean, these are not cheap updates. These are going to be thousands of dollars, but um we did submit an application to Southern
Minnesota Foundation. Haven't heard back yet. Um just hoping that they'll give us some money that we could hire a consultant to try to get this land use plan updated. Our current plan was updated in 2006. So we've had so much change in Eagle Lake since 2006 and
really could use an update. And then mayors and clerks mean. So we hosted that in October. It was very well attended. We had a really informative presentation by Mark Stalberger. Um he's property environmental resources director and Mark Manderfeld, deputy
director of property environmental services. And they were talking about exactly what council member Roch was asking tonight about the solid waste plan and refuge derived fuel initiatives. and we don't have any answers right now because they don't have much time to work with, but they're going to be giving us updates as they
go. They just wanted to meet with the mayors and clerks so that we can try to counter or we know who to go to if there's misinformation circulating because I think you guys got an email and we're all kind of like, what's going on? And we just want to make sure we
have the facts and that that was really the purpose of them wanting to come and talk was to get out the facts. I didn't know trash was that complicated. >> Yes, it is. >> Um, so more to come on that. Uh, orderly annexation agreement. Uh, again, in
meeting with Mayor Whittington and what do we need to do to um, you know, protect Eagle Lake's interests and make sure we're doing smart planning, we talked about reaching out to Manito Township. So, we had a meeting with Dan Rochid with Manito Township and we talked about um getting an orderly
annexation agreement in place. There is an orderly annexation agreement with Mano in the township and it references Eagle Lake, but it doesn't necessarily protect our interest. So there's certain sections in the township that are identified that if they were to be developed that they may be an X into
city like Eagle Lake city limits, but we want them to be an X into not the May because if there's ever a change in leadership and you know we want to make sure that Eagle Lake continues to grow as Mano continues coming closer to us. So we uh it was a good meeting. Uh it
sounds like Mano Township would be receptive. So, they have asked that we have legal counsel draft that orally annexation agreement and then we'll take it to them and uh hopefully get them to approve it and uh be on our way uh updated or an upcoming holiday open
house. We talked about this at the EDA meeting. We do this every year, but we're looking at December 19th 9 to 11. the EDA uh gave us money to uh send out a holiday mailer to help promote our businesses and uh we'll work on um
getting refresh refreshments with that. And then I just have one other thing I want to add. uh public works director Hartman and I met with um Freedom Security Day to talk about surveillance for the public works building and um I'm probably not going to do a good job of explaining all this, but they have uh
there's a new software available um that has more capabilities and um just lots of really good features. We were really impressed. We went to Freedom Security and looked at how all this stuff works. Um, so basically they'd be switching software and I can't remember all the names right now, but it would cost so
the stuff that we have existing right now it would just be a onetime $100 fee um license fee upgrade and I can explain more because I know Mayor Wington you're the IT guru and but anyways the software that they're going to um I think is
going to have a lot more um data I guess for us and it'll it looked really impressive. But anyways, with that, we also talked about getting pricing for the surveillance um at the public works. We talked about So, we're going to be getting pricing for that, but kind of the same setup at as city hall where we
have a camera and it has or excuse me, four cameras on it. >> Yeah. Like to have something down there in case somebody hits the building or something like that. >> Who would have ever thought that would happen? Thank goodness nobody was hurt. So, >> and then one other thing, sorry. Um,
Mayor Whittington and uh, Council Member White and I are heading to Witchah on Wednesday. So long as I don't oversleep, right? No, I will be there on time. Um, but no, we had a pre-trip gathering last week and there was um, you know, an
agenda that they went through and it's going to be a very jam-packed. So, we leave >> 8:30, we get on a bus, we go >> Oh, yeah. 8:00 for me. Thank you. >> The bus leaves at 8. 8:00. >> Be there at 8:00.
>> Oh, you better just pick her up. >> We'll both drive by our house and honk. >> So, we leave um we go up to the sty charter a plane just for our group because I think there's 70ome people that are going to be going on it. And then we get there, we just go go and I
think we go every night until 8:00. Then we're up at 6:45 with getting going. And then we we're back Friday by 5 5:30. So, it's going to be I think a they have they have a lot of good stuff planned. I'm really excited. We'll give a report when we come back. So, and that's all I've got.
>> Perfect. Council member reports. I have less of a report, more of a question um or observation. Um I should have asked during the consent agenda, but I noticed on um agency that we got a um speed sign that flashes. And I was going to ask because I keep going to
Winnebago. We passed the Amboy and the Winnebago one and said, "Okay, if we have this issue, can we um I got to imagine they're not cheap, but can we put them on some of our main roads?" And I noticed it miraculously showed up and I'm assuming it was out of Lieutenant Gayler in the county um doing it. So
curious, assuming it works as far as slowing people down consistently, but is there an appetite to put them on Parkway 598 or other areas that the trailer has been going? >> So yes, that was um we had the speed trailer in the area and we found it very
effective in every single area that we had it. We have two of these signs. They're very expensive. Um I think um this one we had sitting around and we just needed a location for it. So this is going to be permanently
there for now. Um if the city is willing to or wanting any extra um I know the county was willing to put that one there being that it's on a county road within city limits, but we have no problems with that. But yes,
they if the city wants more, I guess who would uh where would the cost come from, >> right? And I think that was just, you know, the observation and I would lead on um you know, both you, Nick, and um you know, our law enforcement officer would say yes, they are working. It is
worth having or they don't make that big of a difference to spend that money. I don't I don't know. Um, but I do know that they're not cheap or I would assume. >> Just a quick look online. They're about 3,700 bucks. >> Less than I thought they'd be,
>> honestly. But I don't >> I can check on what ours were. >> And then if there's any grants that we can apply for that would help fund some of those and stuff or just having it on the in our mind where if grants do come up. Um, >> I know people like it. >> I think they're very effective. >> Looking at one for over there. Yeah.
>> That actually I mean that really people >> I like the red and blue flash so it looks like a cop. >> Exactly. >> I think that we're definitely a deterrent. I think uh since we started over here I think we've talked about that in the last uh couple
activity reports, but we noticed some speeds pretty high when we first got over here. I think 45 to 50 was not out of the ordinary >> on agency or on 598. >> Uh mainly on agency. uh 59 98th was probably around that 40 to 45 pretty
consistent. But now when we have I guess with the signs with our presence and uh extra out of patrol 35 to 40 is >> it's working >> kind of our highest speed. So I think it's it's cut it down substantially.
It's not perfect but >> well it flashes. So I mean when you're driving by it if you ignore the sign you don't ignore the flashing. And then if you still are over it and you deserve to get pulled over then, you know. But no, so I appreciate that when I when I saw it go, I actually saw in the back of the
building and said something to Jennifer that night. Um and then the next day it was installed. So it it was um thank you for doing that. >> Perfect. >> That's all I have. >> Nothing here. >> Perfect. And I think Jennifer
did all the ones I've been in doing. Ambassador Perfectly fine. Nick Signney council meeting is on December 1st at 6 o'clock. EDA on the 20th of November at 6:45. Park board November 13th at 6:45. And
then the planning commission is uh November 17th at 6 o'clock. So I think without any other Jennifer, this is in my packet. Is that something we need to do with this? Um, I think it's on the consent agenda. It's res. >> Okay, perfect. >> Thank you for asking.
>> No, I just want to make sure if we needed something done before we adjourned. >> All right. I'd look for a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> All right. >> Second. >> All right. Thanks. Water.