Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Hammer at home again. Dama is not going to be here. Okay. >> This thing on. >> Are you sure they're on? >> Can you hear? Yeah. >> Can you hear us back there? >> Is your green light? >> All right, everybody. Let's have your
attention at 6 o'clock. We will call the Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 Fairbull City Council meeting to order. First item on tonight's agenda is roll call. >> Council member Barnes here. Dumba Ross >> here. >> Rowan
>> here. >> Penslus >> here. >> Teal >> here. >> Mayor Spooner >> here. And pledge of allegiance. >> To the flag of the United States of America, >> republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty for all. Our next item is approval of the agenda. Anybody want to change? >> So moved. Second.
>> Motion by Ran, second by Van Sloo to approve the agenda. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. All opposed. >> Agenda is approved. Up next tonight, we have quite a few presentations. John Sherwin, police chief, please come
forward with our police appreciation and awards tonight. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you, mayor. Thank you, members of the council, members of the public. Uh, thank you all for coming here tonight. U, we don't normally do an awards presentation before the council, but we had a really good run between
midFebruary and mid-March. uh and I felt it necessary to recognize the actions of officers involved with these uh incidents that I'm going to give you a brief summary about tonight as well as give them uh awards and recognition for their actions. Um I'll start by saying
that the officers and deputies that are here tonight and first responders, we have a dispatcher as well. Uh they probably don't want to be here. We don't do this job uh for the recognition. Uh when I first became a police officer, I had a lieutenant that told me the
bravest thing that you will do is take your oath of office because everything else that you do is just doing your job. And I think the officers here will tell you that. But um their actions uh were such that I think they need recognized. Uh first I'd like to call um Deputy
Boros, Deputy Lee, and Officer Wonderlick forward. I'll give you a quick summary of this incident. On Friday, March 6th of this year, Farbo officers assisted by Rice County deputies. We work really well together. That's it's not like the
movies. We work really well together. Uh we responded to an individual that had been stabbed in the city of Farbo. Uh the victim was unresponsive and had lost a significant amount of blood. In fact, officers later learned from a responding flight nurse that uh uh the individual's
blood pressure was 40 over zero. Uh a reading this low indicates uh the final stages of exan, this is a hard word, exanguination, which is death due to blood loss. Um officer Wonderlick was the first uh officer to arrive. He
quickly applied a tourniquet to the individual's upper arm. Um, Deputy Borash soon followed and they were assisted by Deputy uh Lee who removed clothing and we had a second tourniquet applied because of their actions and and probably nobody remembers Friday, March
6th, but it was a foggy night. The snow was kind of melting. There was no flight uh helicopter available. But because of the tourniquet, they saved this individual's lives. So, because of that, I'll be presenting them with life-saving awards. Um,
we we're presenting so many awards. I ran out of the fancy covers. So, Deputy Boros, that's for you. Uh, Deputy Lee, this is a uh accommodation award for your actions. And Officer Wonderlick, here you are. And then I have um medals
for Deputy Boros and and Deputy Wonder or Officer Wonderlick. So, thank you for your actions. Okay, next up, um, Officer Nick Smith, come forward. Please get used to Officer Smith's face because he's going to be standing here for, uh, two more
presentations as well. So, um, during the early morning hours of March 12th, Officer Nick Smith responded to a missing juvenile. Officer Smith's investigation revealed there was much more to the story and the juvenile was being solicited for sexual activity. Using technology and tools at his
disposal, Officer Smith went above and beyond in developing a suspect profile for department detectives while ensuring the juvenile was safe. For his actions, Officer Smith is awarded a written commendation. This to you. Next up, Officer Angel Perez.
And you notice Officer Smith isn't going anywhere. On February 16th, 2026, Officer Nick Smith and Officer Angel Perez responded to a life-threatening medical emergency in Farbo. The victim was unconscious and suffering from an obstructed airway.
Both Officer Smith and Perez began life-saving measures and with the help and coordination of firefighters and paramedics, the obstruction was dislodged and the victim's condition immediately improved. For their actions, Officer Smith and Perez are awarded the Department Life-Saving Award.
this to you. >> Now, now Officer Smith and Officer Perez get to stand here for the next incident. Officer Fischer and dispatcher uh um Atlanta uh Schultz, please come forward. So, on February 18th, 2026,
spoiler alert, many of you may have seen this video. We put a video out and it got a lot of views, but uh a 911 caller reported their home was on fire and their family was trapped on the second floor. Uh Rice Steel 911 Center public safety telecommunicator, I believe that's your official title.
Atlanta Schultz promptly dispatched Farbo Police and Fire to the residence and related essential information. Officer Nick Smith was the first officer to arrive uh finding the front of the residence fully engulfed with heavy fire conditions. As he ran to the back of the home, Officer Smith realized the trap
family had made their way to the roof but remained trapped. Thinking quickly, Officer Smith directed a resident to back up his truck. And about that time, Officer Fischer and Officer Perez arrived on scene and they coordinated a rescue from the roof by lowering the victims down onto the bed of the pickup
truck and getting them to safety just like Hollywood as a propane tank exploded on the front of the home. Um so because of that u for officer Nick Smith to think so quickly like that um we're going a little bit above and beyond a
life-saving award. This is a medal of merit um for your truly uh smart and heroic actions. Um for officer uh Perez, officer Fischer for your assistance, you receive written commendations.
And for Atlanta, we will also provide you a written commendation. I apologize we ran out of fancy ones. So, but thank you so much for your actions. And that is all I have. So, uh, mayor, council, uh, thank you for allowing us to honor the officers and first responders for their actions.
>> Thank you. >> I would thank you. I would just like to point out, and I speak for everyone up here in council, thank you to everyone in law enforcement uh, for all you do. We appreciate Yep. We have a couple proclamations that
we read every year at this time that are very important to our city. From the office of the mayor of the city of Farbol. Oh, who would like to come forward on this? We have anybody for the pollinators group who'd like to come?
Come stand up here. Whereas pollinator species such as birds, bees, bugs, and other insects are essential partners for farmers in producing much of our food supply. And whereas pollinators play a vital role in
the health of our trees and plants, our community of our community, enhancing the quality of life, creating recreational and economic development opportunities. And whereas the city of Farbol has
managed our urban landscape and public lands that include many municipal parks and greenways as well as wildlife habitats. And whereas in 2017, Farbull passed a pollinator friendly resolution which led
to the city's recognition in 2019 by the pollinator friendly alliance of Minnesota. And whereas the city has partnered with grows gardeners research reaching out with service
local gardening group to provide educational opportunities and encourage citizens to plant pollinator friendly species. Now therefore I Thomas J. Spooner mayor of the city of Farbull do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
pollinator friendly month. would like to speak. >> I will start out. Um I'm president of Gross Garden Club which has been in farbo 32 years and partners for pollinators grew out of grow. And so,
um, we, uh, have partnered with the city with, um, with planting, uh, flower beds in Central Park. And the recent uh, addition to that through
Partners for Pollinators and Grows is a native garden area there. So, I'll let Ann speak more about Partners for Pollinators. Hi, I'm Anne Po and I am a partner for Parlinators. Um I brought
along our we published this a few years back. It explains what our role is with the city and we do partner with businesses. Um the biggest one that you might recognize well I should but um is the woolenmills. They have a huge garden
and once a year just at butterfly time at the um was it September um when all the monarchs I mean I'm talking hundreds of monarchs come to their garden they have a sale and they ask us to come and
host their so we get to meet people from all over and we're so pleased to brag about Farbo and what Farbo has allowed us to do as pollinators. We also have Oh, there's our sign. Paulie, you're working Pat. Thank you. This is the sign
you might see around gu around town. People who have this sign have put 70% natives into their garden and um maintain and they're by I want to just say quickly that if you
see a butterfly on your flowers, you should remember that there are no butterflies without caterpillars and there are no caterpillars without host plants. Um, and that's where native plants come in. Our pollinator insects have evolved
for thousands of years right here. And they have evolved with the native plants, the ones that grew here on the prairie, the ones that belong here. And they receive most of their nutrients from those native plants. So, as
wonderful human beings, we have changed plants. We have hybrid plants and you might buy a geranium that once only had one row of petals and today it has three deep rows of gorgeous petals. There's a big problem. Our pollinators cannot get
any nectar from that. They can't get into the middle of that plant. And so that's why we're always talking about native plants. And the problem is gorgeous and and pollinators will use a few other plants, but the majority of
their substance ones that they um evolved with. And so looking for native plants and natives trees is really important. The other part of that is if you look at a chickity or other bird right now this spring,
you need to realize baby birds cannot chew seeds. Baby birds aren't going to eat from your bird feeder. Nor can daddy and mommy take them some seeds. They have to have insects. They have to have caterpillars.
And so you can only get caterpillars if you have those native plants for those caterpillars. So, u chickity, if you're ready for this, if they want to raise one brood of their chickity babies, it takes six 6,000
caterpillars to do that. That's a lot. And in and actually, that's one of the reasons our birds are dying out. They don't have enough insects. And of course, we also know that chemicals cause a big problem. And that's why we really appreciate the work
that our city does in pro allowing us provided us um spots for native gardens as you talked about gardens grows gardens in Central Park. We have a garden in our new um heritage bluffs
park down by the water pad and um the city provides us that land and we maintain it. Um so we appreciate that land. We appreciate the city trying to do their best in um limiting the
pesticides and other chemicals that are on our public lands. We just uh felt really good about working with the city. One of the things that happens is
have we travel especially around Rice County and Steel County. And so when we're there, we get to brag and we always get to take our pamphlet along that that says what we're doing and we get to say our city
and we are very proud of that. So I want to thank you again for supporting us. Also another credit to the city, they produce these signs and anybody wanting to set up a garden can contact us and set that up. But uh also the city has uh
cooperated with us in forming we in order for us to become tree city USA which we are now we had to have a tree committee. So, with the city, we have a tree committee that works together, and I can't tell you how important the urban forest is in Farbo. Um, it it not only
cools your home, but it helps heat your home. I want to thank the city park and rec. We have 44 parks and 22 playgrounds, and they have been working diligently with the ash boore problem. They took over 500 trees down, and in uh
I think it's in Alexandria, they only have 51 left left to go. So, we're really working close with the city with that in order to we help them out because uh we host an annual plant sale and with that money, we give it to the city to purchase some trees. Um so, with
that, uh I want to give Tom uh a check from Gross for $700 >> to and I won't plant many trees, but it's a start from what the city uses for their overall budget. And we're going to be planting one of them on Arbor Day,
which is going to be uh coming up on the 24th at Bachelder Park at 9:00 in the morning. And you're all welcome to come and help us plant a tree. And with that, he'll do the Arbor Day. >> Stand right there.
>> That's a great segue. Also from the office of the mayor. Whereas Arbor Day provides Minnesota the opportunity to celebrate its important of trees and forests to our economy, culture, history, and future of our state. And
whereas trees are a great value as they provide clean air, water, shade, and energy savings, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, wood products, and jobs while capturing and storing
carbon from the atmosphere. Therefore, offsetting greenhouse gas and emissions. Whereas, proper properly planting and caring for a diverse mix of trees makes our community forest more resilient by
minimizing the impacts of disease, insects, and other stressors such as climate change and providing for long-term community and environmental benefits. And whereas Minnesota is at risk of losing 1 billion ash trees due
to the emerald ashbor potentially increasing CO2 admissions and floodings. And whereas thoughtfully choosing planting and caring for a diverse mix of trees now supports resilience communities into our future.
And whereas our local community is beautiful in order to stay that way and meeting the needs of local assistance. Whereas we encourage everyone to clean up their yards
and nearby public spaces when possible. Now therefore, I, Thomas J. Spooner, mayor of Farbolt, do proclaim April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day and beautifification day. Thank you.
All right. On to item four, approval of the minutes of March 24th, 2026. >> So move. So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Ross, second by Barnes. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I.
>> All opposed. The minutes are passed. Requests to be heard. A couple of them tonight. Please come forward. State your name and address. Kathy Hobb, please come forward.
>> And you have three minutes. >> Mr. Spooner, Mayor Spooner, and council members, thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm here in opposition to the potential building of the apartment buildings over by Walmart. Um there was
a prior similar endeavor up by the clinic um in the in 2019 and um we opposed that as well. Um, I have traveled all over the world and worked in many, many different countries
setting up companies and offices and I have never had the experience that I have had with the lack of wanting to assimilate into an organization, whether it be a business that you're working
with or the country. Um the Muslim group or the Muslim community has stated they will not overtake us by war. They will take overtake us by population. And I'm concerned that
more and more Somalians will be coming into this community. And if you go down and you talk to people, people do not want to go down our main street. and Main Street is a vital part of our
community. So, I'm concerned about the infrastructure, um the traffic, the crime that may occur, um sewer, water, um the the amount of traffic alone um in that area
is would I would think would be out outstanding. I mean, just a lot of it. So, it's already a congested area in there. And unless you're you're willing to do more um with man monitoring the
traffic, um we're going to have a problem. And the last thing I want to say is I would not support anything that has to do with the potential of us having fraud in our community. We have
too good of a community to put our community in jeopardy. Thank you. You >> Karen Zeller. >> Thank you to the city council. Mayor
Spooner. Um I'm back again in opposition to the D. >> Can you state your name and address please? >> Oh Karen Zeller. I you already said my name so I thought Karen Zeller and 16972 Acorn Trail and I've lived in Farbo over 40 years. Um I
wasn't born and raised here but I pretty invested in this community and I am very concerned about the negative impact on our community of a data center. Um I passed out information. and you each have one of these um which I've done
some research and um you you can take a look at that. So, I'm not going to go over all of those, but I am I do share especially the environmental concern. I mean, we can see how important the environment is in this town. You've got this group with the groves, you've got
all sorts of environmental, you've got a lot of parks, uh we've got the nature center. Environment is a big part of Farbo, Minnesota. and putting in something like a data center that is going to have not a positive impact on our environment. Don't don't even begin
to think that that's going to happen. The amount of uh forever chemicals, the PASS that they emit into the atmosphere and the groundwater is toxic and it's going to harm us for generations. I'm not going to live long enough to see the
negative repercussions of a data center, but your grandchildren, my grandchildren, and their children are going to reap the negative impact of this. Also, I would urge the council not to um make sure that that area set aside
right now that's looked at for the data center that they're looking at, that's not we're not boxing our community in. There's a potential of getting lots of good businesses in Tristar, Dacon, um, St. Gerbane that add to our community
that add people um, and technical people um, all kinds of people to our community to make it grow. A data center isn't going to do that. A data center, if you, you know, I'm sure you've done some research, you know that a data center when it's fully operational has less
than a dozen people. Most mostly most of them have about four or five people that monitor the data center. And think about this. Do you think they're going to live in Far? No. They're going to be living in the Twin Cities and commuting. I mean, we're
an easy commute from the city. That's where they'll they're going to add to our community. They'll only take away financially. If you think about the impact on our utility bills, impact on our our water, they're going to take our
clean water that we are doing in our in in our treatment plant. They take that clean water and they're going to regurgitate dirty water. Do you know that you cannot you you cannot get PAS out of the water by a water treatment
plant? It's a forever chemical. Am I out of time? Yeah. >> Darn it. I have plenty more to say, but at anyway, thanks for giving me this opportunity. >> Gail Degrroot. >> Please state your name and address.
>> Gail Degrroot, 21126 Begley Avenue in Fairbolt. Uh, Mr. Spooner and the city council. Um, I just wanted to bring up I'm concerned about the apartment building that's being considered by Walmart. We live really close to that location. Um my husband farms and um
right now our farm is um across from our home which is by El Tequila across from there and it um next to the trailer park. So we have problems with vandalism in that field already. Um and so now we do own the field right by where this
apartment building is being planned. so concerned about more problems with vandalism and with farm prices the way they are and everything. It's just tough right now. So that's a big concern for us. Um also I'm concerned about the
traffic in that area because we already have the one apartment building plus the trailer court and then the Walmarts right there too. So it brings a lot of traffic into that four-way stop. Um, and then also like I've know they're talking
about other apartment buildings too coming to town. Um, so concerned about like the school like like it being overcrowded like we're already our school district is known to be low right, you know, low ranking right now. So to bring a bunch of more
people into the community isn't going to help the school at all. Um and also like even the infrastructure and our public services like the police and all that. I mean it's going to be a you know bring they'll have to
have more to do and will they get to the calls soon enough. I like I know even right now when I go to the clinic I used to be able to get in like I could get in in a week you know to make my appointment. Now I'm looking at a month before I can get in. So it's like even our medical system in the town is not
like it used to be. So just all my concerns for bringing a whole bunch of apartments into the area. So thanks for listening. >> Thank you. >> Linda Budro Linda Budro 16450 Ames way.
Evening, mayor and city council members. I'm here because I'm hearing expressed concerns from our community about the high density proposal on the 10 acres um subsidized housing as well.
I got a lot of notes that are all mixed up here. Um, how many Oh, I guess the first question is, um, the proposal has the potential
to add up to 3,000 or more people. How many of the renters that would be coming in would come from Minneapolis, St. Paul, other metro cities? Since vouchers can be interchangeable
throughout the whole state, housing is tough in those areas. I mean, it's tight. So, they're looking for other place to use their vouchers. Those are some of the questions that I'm hearing. Also, um,
can the city control what happens on the 10 acre compound? Can it control the activities, the construction? Some of those are questions that need to be answered. How would this proposal change the
composition of the community, especially if people are coming from Minneapolis to live here? And also um I think the proposal really begs for
more specifics, financial numbers, who is coming from where and how many vouchers would be coming. I I don't know that we have the ability to control that. I'm sorry I don't know the specifics, but those are the questions that I think we need to have answers
for. And I thank you for listening. >> Thank you. That is all we have on tonight's list. Thank you all. On to item number six, consent agenda items. We have 6A through 6Q. Would
anybody like anything pulled? >> Mayor. >> Yes. Um, Administrator Kzer, I don't want anything pulled, but I would just like to request that all CIP purchases in the consent agenda include the amount that was in the CIP or approved in the
CIP along with the uh final bid amounts in the future. Half are, half aren't. And I just like consistency so we can mentally keep track of the Thank you. >> A motion in there somewhere? >> No, there wasn't, but I will make one.
Mayor Spooner. >> Mayor Spooner. >> Yes. >> I will uh make a motion to approve consent agenda items 6A through 6Q. >> Second. >> Motion by Ross, second by Van Sleuth on
consent agenda 6A through 6Q. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. All opposed. Those are passed. And we have no public hearings tonight. Items for discussion.
Hillblock Condominiums 217 223 Central Avenue. City Planner Harry Davis. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, council. Um, so the first item uh that I would like to talk to you about tonight is the Hillblock Condominiums project. Uh, it's
at 217 in between 217 and 223 Central Avenue. Uh we'll be talking about uh a planned unit development or a PUD, a common interest community plat or a CIC plat, and then we'll also have a uh developers platting only agreement,
which is a typical thing that we find alongside a plat. the the project is is located downtown at you know this is just a very simple location map but in terms of the particular properties that are involved you'll see that they're along Central
Avenue between 2nd Street and third um in terms of this area it's all zone central business district or CBD um and so there's a lot of flexibility there in terms of existing uh construction in terms of the existing buildings that are
there as well as uh if there is new construction as well. Um for the different requests, uh we'll first start with the PUD. So the PUD is uh what would end up being an overlay over these three properties and will
allow them to be redeveloped into 7,000 square ft of commercial as well as 19 dwelling units across these three properties. Um, in addition to that redevelopment or rehabilitation of the existing buildings to include that square footage and those dwelling units,
there's a rigger addition that will help facilitate uh ADA access for the entire building through an elevator as well as providing a uh a a another point of egress uh as there are stairs that are kind of ringing around this elevator
shaft. Um the developer or the applicant for this is proposing that they include parks fees uh as well as an easement for the existing public alleyway in the back. The CIC is something that is a little bit new to the city uh or the
common interest community plat is something new to the city. Um most of the time when we are dealing with CIC plats they've gone through the county. Uh this is the first time uh that the city has reviewed a CSIC plat at the very beginning. Um don't be afraid. This
is this is not gonna you know this is this is not a a a truly outlandish process. It's no different than any other plat. In this case there's a very limited amount for us to look at. The CIC plat is creating common areas as well as the condos for each of the
individual properties. Uh it's not doing anything special and it's really more focused on the building itself. And then the very last thing that we have is the development agreement. So this sets development expectations. Uh it sets the amount of parks fees. So some of the things that we already
talked about and just making sure that um the uh developer or the applicant is being held to what they have proposed as a part of and the plat. So these are the existing conditions for these three properties. Um, I've
highlighted somewhat the existing building in gray to kind of give you an idea about the footprint for the existing building and sorry, um, apologize. So, um, the addition is highlighted in yellow. So, that is where
the new, um, elevator as well as the stairs are going to be. Uh a lot of this redevelopment is going to be focused on the interior of the buildings that are currently on the property. There are um uh there's one building that is two
stories, but the other two buildings are three stories. Um it'll be focused mostly within those buildings aside from the uh elevator edition. And then the sort of gray bluish area in the back is where uh the applicant is proposing that
the city uh acquire an easement to make sure that the public alleyway that the city has been maintaining for a long time uh that that actually ends up within city control and it be citymained. These are some of the floor plans from
uh these these three buildings. Um you'll see that in the first floor uh that is facing central. It'll be completely commercial. There are no residential units. Um actually in the basement there are two residential
units. Those will be facing the alleyway. Uh the rest of those uh dwelling units will be on the second and the third floors. Um the exterior of these buildings are not going to change significantly other than maybe some small changes to the storefronts. Um so
far it seems like that they are meeting the intent of uh the historic district guidelines for Central Avenue. Um so we don't anticipate any issues as it goes forward. They will have to get a certificate of appropriateness from the HBC to do that. Um, but generally what
they're proposing seems, you know, pretty within scale for Central Avenue. So for the PUD, we do find that it meets our requirements for approval. They are asking for some uh some leeway on some
of the requirements for PUDS as well as general development requirements. Um, one of them is open space on the property. uh in terms of some of the allowances that they've asked for, it it makes sense for a property where they're using existing buildings, wanting to
preserve the historic character of downtown by keeping these buildings, uh that there be some leeway as a part and baked into the PUD process for these properties. Uh we do feel like it it makes sense alongside the parks fees
that are being provided and uh the needed alleyway uh easement. The the CIC we believe is consistent with our city standards for approval. So we're not worried about that as well as the uh development agreement which supports both of these uh prior proposals. The
planning commission did unanimously support this project. Um one member of the public that was at the meeting did speak out against the project. they were concerned about some of the impacts that uh might happen upon their property um as well as just the general density,
another 19 units uh located downtown. Um but in general, it's meeting our comprehensive plan. Uh it's furthering the goals of our downtown plan as well, and it meets all of our zoning requirements. So, we are recommending that you approve the associated
ordinance and resolutions. And with that, I'm happy to take any questions. Thank you, Mayor. Um, Mr. Davis, uh, commercial condos or just residential condos?
>> Um, Mr. Mayor, I I do believe that it's currently more focused on um the idea to create residential condos. I think that it's also kind of looking at the existing lots and saying, "Well, we don't really want to mess a whole lot
with that." So, it's it's it's setting them up for success in the future. It's not necessarily changing things now, but it's kind of setting them up for the future. >> Okay. So, so the residential the 19 residential units would probably be 19 condos or
>> those those would likely be the condos, I think, going into the future. >> And just by your wording, I'm kind of guessing that they would hold them for now and rent them and then sell them in the future. Is that kind of their intention? >> I uh Mr. Sure. I I believe that is the
intent. Uh I'm not going to speak a whole lot in terms of the intent, but I I believe in some of our conversations, yes, that is that is what they said. >> I couldn't read the little tiny writing, but what any idea on bedrooms what we're
talking how many ones, twos? >> Um >> and if you don't, that's fine. >> Yeah, that's a that's a great question. I haven't sat down and count the number of bedrooms. Uh I know that from the previous unit mix um uh tables that I've
seen that it's more focused on onebedroom, twobedroom. There might be two or more threebedrooms, but it is more focused on a lower number of bedrooms. >> Um I believe generally what they are doing is uh intending to market these
towards young professionals. >> Okay. Um, I really don't have a a problem with this uh this project at all. Um, just for the rest of the council, if you don't know, this isn't uncommon. Um, we've had at least a couple in in Farble that I can point
out. Um, the depot square building, uh, Larry Horn and Jeannie Horn divided those offices up and sold them as office condos and they retained some to rent out and sold the rest off. No residential, just all office. And then
I'm pretty sure that the uh redemption building, the uh six units on the upper two floors, I believe were were set up as condos. Check me on that, but I believe they were cuz I think they were originally going to be set up as condos and sold
off. So, this isn't an uncommon method of setting up a property like this. So, that's all I have. >> Questions, Mr. So, Council Member Ross, what is a commercial uh condo? Just a condo owned by Yeah. company.
>> Yeah. A CIC just stands for communities in common. It's a state designation. And basically, if you um had a commercial condo in the depot square building, you would own that condo as Geek Central. >> Okay. Instead of an individual.
>> Well, yeah. I mean, it doesn't matter if they own it as an individual or as a business, but yes, it's set up for your business. It's not residential. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Yeah. And Council Member Ross, just um to bounce off of your questions, we did meet with the builder, the contractor
for our HA meetings, and he did state that um some would be onebedroom. I think most would be two if I remember correctly. And we had asked him how long he had planned on owning and he said at least 10 years. I guess I'll entertain some motions
here. Ordinance 26-05. >> Yeah. Mayor Spooner. >> Yes. >> I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 2026-05. Second. >> Motion by Ross, second by Teal. This is a roll call. >> Others.
>> I Ross. >> Hi. >> Rowan. >> Hi. Vensus. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Mayor Sper. >> Hi. On to resolution 2026-11, approval of the CIC plat. >> Mayor Spooner. >> Yes.
>> I make a motion to approve resolution 2026-11. >> Motion by Vance Loose, second by Barnes. All those in favor of resolution 2026-11 signify by saying I. I. >> All opposed. That passes.
Resolution 2026-112, authorization of the execution of the CIC. >> Mayor Spooner. >> Yes. >> I make a motion to approve resolution 2026-112. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Teal, second by Rowan. All those in favor of resolution signify by
saying I. I. All opposed. >> That also excuse me. Ordinance 2026-06, approval of the text amendment for data centers in I2 zone. Once again, planning manager Harry Davis.
>> Thank you, mayor and councel. Um, so the item in front of you is a request brought forth from city staff on direction from city administration and the city attorney's office. Uh it's a zoning text amendment focused on adopting a definition for what is a data
center as well as adding them as a permitted by right use within I2 uh heavy industrial zoning districts. Um this is the definition. It's relatively straightforward. Um we have kind of borrowed this from a few different um uh
other municipalities just to get an idea as to how we might be able to comprehensively define what is a data center. And then in terms of the other change to allow with an I2, this is what it would generally look like within the
uh land use tables within the I2 uh zoning district. So you know, you'll see data centers listed there and a P under I2. This is not allowing data centers in any other zoning district or in any other overlay district. This is just
focused on allowing them in our heavy industrial district. Um, in terms of a zoning text amendment, uh, it we do feel like that this clarifies the ordinance going forward and makes it, um,
abundantly clear to both applicants as well as the public as to where a data center is allowed, what is a d a data center, where a data center is not allowed. um from the planning commission. They did unanimously recommend approval of the zoning text amendment, but they did strongly
encourage city council to adopt uh specific design standards within a reasonable amount of time. Um there was a lot of discussion about this. Um the there were a lot of members of the public that spoke generally against the idea of of data centers. Um, but in
summary, the zoning text amendment does meet our comprehensive plan goals as well as the zoning requirements and so we are recommending that you uh approve ordinance 2026-06. >> Any questions? Mr. R. >> Well, we've got questions. Can you put
page four back up? So the definition you went with is a data center is an establishment engaging in the storage, management, processing and/or transmission of digital data housing computers and network equipment systems, servers, appliances, and other
associated components related to digital data operations. This is overly broad. As a person who's owned and operated three ISPs, I would have been directly affected by this. As the owner of Geek Central Computer Repair, we would be
covered under this. Russ Consulting would be covered under this. Wells Fargo would be covered under this. Rice County would be covered under this. And possibly even the city of Farbo. It's horrible. This needs to go back to committee for clarification.
Thank you, mayor. Um, I know you didn't have a map up there, but I'm looking at the uh Beacon map. Is zone uh I2 is that the purplish color, do you know? Or >> Yes. Yeah, I would be kind of the most purple of the different purple colors on
that map. >> And remind me what blue is. >> Blue would be IP Industrial Park. And then what color is I1? >> I1 uh is a lighter purple. It's kind of like a lilac.
>> Okay. Zone one is light purple. Zone two for industrial is dark purple. >> More like a royal purple. Yes. >> Okay. Got it. Thank you. That's all. Mayor >> Counc. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um just a question. The planning uh committee highly
recommended establishing design standards. Do you believe this is something we should be doing first before designating a zone for a very vague proposed change? Uh Mr. Mayor, so um this has been
something that we've been directed to by city administration as well as by our legal counsel and those that are that are representing us that this is something that we have to do. Um there's a lot of discussion at the state level about what the state is going to do in terms of regulations. That's something
that might come, it might not. You know, we're just not sure. There's a lot of um uh general confusion, I think, as well as uh some some sitting and waiting. But this has been something that has been recommended that we do. So, from a from
a legal standpoint, this helps protect us. Um, you know, I do disagree that this is broad. Um, when it says an establishment, uh, that is a business, uh, that is a business that's focusing on the idea of what you would consider
to be a data center. This is not meant to and will not include anyone that happens to have a server within their building or within their business. Um, you know, I I disagree completely with that. it is going to be focused on those
that are that are focused on uh housing data or or trans or transmission uh transmitting data. This is not going to focus on anyone else. Um but to answer your question, this is this is something that we've been directed to do uh from a
from from a legal standpoint. This helps protect us. >> Yep. I understand and I understand why we need to designate certain areas for this reason. I get it. Um, but this is like saying I'm allergic to chocolate. Do you want chocolate pie or chocolate cake? So, I'm I'm not for the data
center. I'll just state it. Um, but my question would be um you had mentioned a moratorum and I know that was discussed. I would suggest we do a one-year moratorum um to get more information and to see where this is headed. And um also
the last question I have, Mr. Davis is from what I understand where the data center is proposed to be built. It sounds like once let's say everything's said and done, it's built, it was approved, I understand that every 3 years they could add on and we wouldn't
need to do any more environmental studies. Um wouldn't be such a big process as it is right now. Is that a true statement? >> Uh Mr. Mayor, uh, I'm just trying to figure out, is this something that we can discuss with the ongoing litigation?
Uh, >> yeah. Yeah, we're at a we're on a borderline there. >> I I would suggest not talking about we don't have an official application from anyone. Um, >> for the record for the general public, we are still under litigation as far as
the proposed data center and our legal council has stressed us not to discuss anything about the question of is proposed. That's a bad way to
you know what I mean. >> So again, my opinion is I would like to see this tabled. So I'm going to make a motion to do we have to go >> public hearing here. This is item for discussion. >> So I make a motion that we table this
back to committee. >> I would second that. >> Uh is there any further discussion? >> Yeah. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Um Council Member Rowan, are you talking like I I understand what you're what you're saying. Are you looking for
something like an establishment engaging forprofit in the storage management processing be >> because like you said I mean a bank stores tons of information but they're not doing the storing of for profit.
So, I think, you know, we're going to have to have some >> Well, to answer your question, I'm more concerned of like my business and the Rust Consulting, right? Uh type businesses where they have
external data that's not theirs, right? Without getting into their business model, um it would it definitely fits into the same thing with internet service providers, your telephone companies. the language just has to I I get I get
that Mr. Davis is talking about an establishment, right? And I think something before that or after that would would narrow it that would satisfy it. But as it sits now, it literally would affect internet service
providers and other businesses in the community. Um, we can think anything we want of the language, but ultimately it's the courts that have to interpret it. And I I just don't see a good outcome with that. >> Yes. Because I have some questions you
have for >> in our ordinance has until now. No, have we ever used the word data centers? >> Our ordinance currently does not include data. >> Does not do anything. just for the general public. This is so we can
actually talk about what a data center is potentially where it should go or whether it should not go somewhere. This is allowing us the ability to actually speak on behalf of what we want a data center to be. Correct.
>> Yes, Mayor. >> Thank you. All right. I I don't I understand I have a vote on a motion and a second and we're going to have a vote on that. But I'm just going to say we have a twoe grace period here. This is an ordinance.
If you'd like to give planning uh department a chance to verbally massage that paragraph, I'm going to I'm going to move it forward. I'm not going to vote to table it. So, any other discussion? So, you
want me to change my motion? >> That's I cannot tell you what to do. >> No, I'm trying to get clarification. So, you would support my motion? >> I'm going to vote against your motion, but if you wanted to say, Mr. Davis,
please come back with a better verbiage on this paragraph. I would recommend that. >> Yeah. And I'm fine with that, but I'm not going to approve this tonight. So, do we want to act on my motion? I guess we
>> would like to withdraw your motion. You like to withdraw your motion? >> No. >> Okay, then we're going to vote on it. We have a motion and a second to table this. Any further discussion? All right. Motion to table this. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. I. >> Hold on. This is a This is a roll call. >> Not not for the table. >> Oh, all right. All those in favor of table signify by saying I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> Nay. >> Oh
two. >> 42. It is tabled. Okay. >> We just to clarify our our next work session on the 21st. We will have this item on there. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> And I would be happy to sit down with you and your staff in that process to
find something that works. All right. On to item C, ordinance 2026-07, approval of a zoning text amendment for child care in a P1 zoning district. Harry Davis, planning manager.
>> Thank you, mayor and councel. Uh, so this next um item before you is another staff initiated proposal. Uh it's a zoning text amendment to uh include childcare centers as a permitted by use within PI or public institutional zoning
districts. Um the change would be pretty simple. It would be adding a line to our land use table. Um and then only under PI uh would there be a P meaning that it would be a permitted use within public institutional zoning districts. Um we do
feel like that this is a needed change. We're seeing a lot of interest in childcare centers and we do feel like that there is really good opportunities for synergy between uses uh between childcare centers and uh places of worship um institutions uh organizations
uh whether they are educational or uh religious based and allows a lot more childcare uh childcare locations within the city. Uh the planning commission did unanimously support the request. We do think that it meets the comprehensive plan and zoning requirements. So, we are
recommending that you approve and I do apologize. It should be ordinance 2026-07. >> Right. Thank you. Any questions for planning monitors? >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, Mr. Davis, this sounds to me like something that we have
already had in practice, is it not? And I'll give you the specific example of South Central College 15 years ago. They had a daycare on site so their students could, you know, go to class college classes and they had a daycare. That's an example of
this, right? >> Uh Mr. Mayor, so the public institutional zoning district did not exist until I maybe five years, six years ago. Um, so this, yes, there might be examples where that is currently in
place. What this would allow is sort of legitimize that and not have them go through special approvals to expand or something like that, you know, and and it would allow the idea to have within the same campus a bunch of different principal uses without having to try to
figure out, okay, uh from a zoning administrator standpoint, how can I make a determination that that continues to allow this or, you know, what's the best uh best method for it? This just says yes, this is this is allowed. This this this clarifies that.
>> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Davis. Yeah, I see >> questions. Mr. >> Can you pull up a zoning map so I can kind of see what areas you'd be so kind? >> Sure. So, um I apologize for all of my uh planning nerd friends here and at home.
Uh the numbers are or I'm sorry, the colors are slightly off. Uh in this case, institutional the PI zoning district is kind of this grayish color. Um, I'm gonna see what I can do to clean up the map just >> so you can see >> that school there.
>> Yeah. So, you know, Shadic um uh the uh correctional facility, the correction center, uh different schools across uh the city, those are all PI or public institutional as well as Bethlehem Academy.
Um, that does that help? >> Yeah, thank you. Appreciate it. >> Other questions? >> This time I'll entertain a motion. >> Mayor Spooner. >> Yes. >> I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 2026-07.
>> Second. >> Motion by Ross, second by Vance Lucen. Ordinance 2026 7. This is a roll. >> Council member Barnes. >> I Ross. >> Hi. >> Rowan. >> Hi. >> Fences. >> Hi. >> Seal. >> Hi. Mayor Spooner.
>> I thank you. That passes. On to item nine, bids. Resolution 2026-108, accepting the bids for miscellaneous concrete projects engineering director Mark Duchain.
>> Thank you, Mayor Spooner, members of the council, and the public. Uh before you tonight, we've got our first of three bids that were received within the month of April. This bid was opened on April 1st for our miscellaneous concrete contract. A reminder, this contract we bid out annually and it covers random
things that happen throughout the year. Um, repairs of concrete items related to water mane breaks. Um, the parks department may need some concrete replaced in a park here or there. This allows us to have a contractor uh on the ready under contract to take care of these miscellaneous things that pop up
throughout the year. Uh, the contract typically runs May through November. Um, you'll see the low bid from Create Construction LLC of $91,248. Um the reality is is we usually spend about a third of that each year, but we bid a bunch of concrete items so that if
anything pops up, we're ready for it and can address it in a timely manner. So with that, I do ask you to consider resolution 2020 6108 awarding a contract for the miscellaneous concrete to create construction. >> Any questions?
Retain a motion. Mayor >> Spooner. Yes. I make a motion to approve resolution 2026-108. >> Second. >> Motion by Vansoo, second by Teal to approve resolution 2026-108. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. I. >> All opposed. That passes on resolution 2026-109. Accepting bids for street reconstructions. Once again, Mark Duchain. >> Thank you, mayor, members of the council, and the public. Uh this is two contracts that we bid at bid bid in one
package. The first contract is 2603 which is our street reconstruction improvements. This includes the reconstruction of 2nd Street Northwest from 1st Avenue Northwest to 4th Avenue Northwest as well as the reconstruction of 1 Avenue Northwest from Third Street Northwest to Fourth Street to trunk
highway 16 Northwest. We also bid in the same bid package due to the proximity and the similarity and scope of work. uh contract 2606 which is the parking lot 21 improvements. Uh these are the new the new public parking lot located at the northeast quadrant of
the block at State Highway 60 or Fourth Street Northwest and 1st Avenue Northwest. These bids were both opened together on April um 8th last Wednesday. The low bid came from Holtmire Construction. You can see we had nine biders on this project. It's probably
the most biders we've had on a reconstruction project in a number of years. Um, while the bid from Holtmire was a little over 2% over the engineers's estimate, we do feel like these are adequate bids and we're not likely to do any better to delay the project or move on. Again, similar to our overlay project this year, it seems
like a lot of the cost increases are due to uncertainty and volatility in the oil and batuminous market right now. Um, so again, I I don't think even if that volatility went away, if we waited it and extended this out, inflation is going to get us more than 2% likely anyways. and we look at the tightness of
a majority of these bids. Again, I am recommending that we approve these bids. Um, staff will come forward with a budget amendment once we have final contract numbers. Um, we traditionally underrun our contracts. Um, so we'll come back with a one budget amendment at that time for those bids. But I will
stand for any other questions otherwise we are recommending approval of resolution 109. Uh, you can see here the total project funding is split amongst our various capital funds, our stream improvement fund and our utility funds. Uh this also does still include a small 5% construction contingency. Um so it's
likely that these numbers will come down before the final project schedule-wise. Um I have talked to the contractor. They anticipate getting going pretty quick on this project. So maybe late May, for sure, early June, they want to get going on this contract. Um there is a provision
in the contract that they can't start on First Avenue until after an event that's scheduled by one of the adjacent businesses down there. Um, so they'll likely start on Second Street and then move on to First Avenue in the parking lot. So, sorry I jumped a little bit ahead there, but now I'll stand for any questions and ask you to consider
resolution. >> No. >> All right. Yes. Oh, that's a Yeah, I I thought that was a no. >> No like this. I want I don't want a card. No hit. >> What do you >> Thank you, mayor. Um, just, you know, so it's publicly stated. I'll ask the same
question I asked last time for this, but the two streets have been on our street reconstruction map for several years and just going through the >> First Avenue was scheduled. I think this is the third year it's been moved into the CIP. We were kind of waiting for the
redevelopment of the Henry M. Rice block as it's officially known now. We've been waiting to make sure we didn't redo the street and put a driveway location or not put a driver location in and then dig into a brand new street. So, that one has been in there. Um, Second Street similarly has just moved up annually through the year and this was its year
to be done. Yes. >> I I just want to make sure that the public knows that both of these street projects were planned years in advance. It's not like it just come up and we're doing the street the streets in front of the city first, you know. Thank you,
>> Mayor Spooner. >> Yes. >> I make a motion to approve resolution 2026-109. >> Second. Motion by Barn, second by Ross. All those in favor of resolution 109 signify by saying I. I.
>> All opposed. Passes. Uh resolution 2026-110 accepting bids and designs for Vioaduct Park phase two.
Mark, are you going to take this one? I have a different Are you doing it? >> I'm going to do it. >> Director Ducha, I have a different in my notes, so I just I just don't want to call you by the name. Mr. Mark Duchain, director of engineering. >> Thank you, Mr. Spooner. Mayor Spooner and members of the council and the
public. Uh yes, before you tonight is awarding a contract for the construction of the Video Park Ice Shelter. Uh this contract or bids were also open last Wednesday, April 8th. Uh we received one bid from Metcon Construction at just under $650,000. I will say that um due to some timelines
and constraints that we were working with, we did vet out multiple different structures and in order to get something built down there at Vio Park by this fall um we needed to pick a structure and bid it so that we could keep things moving. Um I can say we like I said we
we vetted out multiple different structures. A butler structure ended up being the most economical and so we bid a butler structure. Um there are numerous or or more than just Metcon Butler installers in the area. However, Metcon was the only installer that
elected to bid this. So, this was not a sole source bid. Um it was publicly bid. There were options for alter contractors to bid this. Um but we did receive the one bid for Metcon Construction at just under $650,000. This does fit within the project
allocation. You know, we have a total $3.6 million budget for phase 2 of Idok Park. This fits within the allocation of what was it? um for the vioideuct park ice shelter structure. So I will stand for any other questions but otherwise we are recommending award of resolution
2026110 >> no card >> up here for nine years and I just figured out tonight that this means no. >> All right at this time I'll entertain a motion. >> Mayor Spooner. >> Yes. I make a motion to approve uh
resolution 2026-110. >> Second. >> Motion by Barn, second by Teal. All those to approve resolution 2026-110 signify by saying I. >> I. All opposed. Resolution passes.
Boards, commission reports, announcements. Anybody have anything? >> City administrator. I just wanted uh to have Heather um select a city clerk highlight kind of what today has been like with um you know a hail storm coming through and the response that
we've gotten. >> Our licensing software is working fabulously for um registering all of our solicitors. Um since this morning we had 36 solicitors um register within this city. So um along with a number of calls
on how to register and a number of calls from residents asking if people are registered. Um so I should note that you can find that information on our website if you go to our permitting and licensing site on our like link on our website. Um you're able to search for
solicitors and they they're all listed on there. Um, and I do encourage members of the public to reach out to the city if they have any questions regarding if somebody's registered or if they want um to let us know that somebody is not registered. Um, all solicitors have been
emailed a registration certificate from the city. They are not signed. Our Tyler system does not have our signatures implemented yet. Um, however, there are examples of that on our social media and our website. So, >> ask a question. Yes,
>> Heather. Um, so I've received probably 30 phone calls. Is that a part of the solicitor list? Okay. >> This is only door knocking. Correct. >> This is door knocking. Yes. So, and they I will say all of the um companies have been really patient and really wonderful to work with um for this. So, although I
know people don't like them going doortodoor um they have um been very very good to us here at city hall. >> They're doing it the right way. That's good. >> Okay. Thank you. Anybody else got anything? At this time, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Second by Van Sloo to adjurnn. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All opposed. We are in adjournment. We But we are