[Music] Call this meeting to order. All rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Um I think there was only one um one thing added to the agenda and that would be under new business B odd even parking ordinance.
Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? So move second. All in favor say I. I opposed. Motion is carried. Open forum. If anybody in the public would like to speak at the open forum. Yeah. Okay. We're on to the consent agenda.
Approve of the minutes, bills, purchase orders, investments. A donation resolutions. Uh resolution number 2025-39. and a donation from Milando Lakes in the amount of $150 towards Mars Fire Department pancake
breakfast resolution number 2025-40 Mars Lions um $1,9147 to the city of Mos for the light pole banners resolution number 2025-41 donation from American Legion Post 101
in amount of $1,000 for the city of Melos for the light pole banners and if anybody has go and take a look at them uh they for the MOS Dutchman. So, city's time was just putting them on the polls and then there was a um finance director
step increase. So, can I get a motion to approve? Second. All in favor say I. I opposed. Motion is carried. Police department monthly report. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council members, uh, in our August report for the traffic area, we had 24 citations,
114 verbal warnings, uh, nine written warnings. Most of those were parking related, excuse me, 350 calls, requests for service. There we go. Uh, for this year, and last year is 266. So, we had an increase
there. um 200 2,265 calls last year and or excuse me this year and last year's two 2215 uh 16 agency assist pretty common there um ordinance violation that you guys had a um abatement on did resolve itself at the
beginning of uh or at the end of August so we have that taken care of. Um school's going good which has been a plus for the first two weeks here. no school patrol flag violations or bus violations. Um so it's been good to see and a lot of people are using the float in the parking lot very well. Um I did
talk with the superintendent. We appreciated the extra help that was up there from their staff the first couple weeks just to get people used to it. So we didn't have any fender vendors in the parking lot thankfully. Other than that, nothing uh major change or difference in the department unless there's any questions for
I had a concerned citizen reach out to me via email and I attached Joe on Mayor Fanken to it as well about golf carts and having kids hang off of them and driving down the streets. I know we allow it with a slowmoving vehicle, but I do cringe myself sometimes. If I see them in a
cult, I shrug. But if they're coming over the bridge and they're coming past Quick Trip, it does make me pause a little bit when they got little kids in there. They're going to get creamed or something. What do other cities do to I don't know. Is there anything we can do to safeguard? Is it It's kind of all or none type thing.
So golf carts with their lack of safety equipment does lend it to those more hazardous situations or concerns. Um, and that scenario I think that we kind of discussed when this originally was coming through 6, 8 years ago, whatever it was in Longwood, I think JJ was still
here when this came through. Um, was the lack of safety options on a golf cart and it has become more of a concern and more of an issue. Uh, we have had conversations with some people that, you know, hey, you got six kids on here with you. You maybe have
room for yourself and two or three others. They got little bodies, but the ones that are standing in whatever else, this probably isn't a great idea. In the end, it's ultimately their responsibility to decide how much value they have in that young person's life in my opinion.
And then if they modify, must we constitute something different where helmets are required for under the age of 18 or whatever else, you know, follow maybe more DNR related rules like the um ATVs required to follow. And if they modify the golf cart from the original, like sometimes you see them,
you know, typically it's a two-seater, right? Then they put the additional level on and they can pack another couple kids on top. There's no Well, there's there's nothing. Yeah, I I haven't seen one that's been modified yet, you know, or they have them rear facing and you can sit where the clubs were. Yeah. I guess if they're adding they're
adding this a proper seat or something similar to that. We've seen people that literally throw fishing seats you buy at Fleet Farm into the back of a side by side. they bolt them down thankfully, but um doesn't really meet the requirements. So, we have conversations with them. So, I haven't seen the golf
carts that have been modified yet where they take the bag holders off and they have the seat into it, but it's possible it's out there. We aren't seeing it. Is there an age limit on them driving? Driving is 18. It is 18 with a valid license. Okay. Cuz someone did reach out to me
about a 10-year-old driving them. So, yeah. And some of that education because they drive slow and you want your kid to be able to do this that or another thing and oh we're just in the neighborhood and then just the neighborhood expands Dairy Queen and then now we're you know at the high school field for some reason when we live on the south side of town.
We've had conversations with people that would like to see that expanded because they do have an ATV or a DNR certificate for ATVs. Well, if they pass that, they should be able to drive this. Okay. But then there's liabilities and other reasons when something happens with that car or ATV that your H doesn't allow you
to do any sort of thing either or they got their their driving permit. They should be able to drive a golf cart. Lots of areas of debate, but it was scribbled originally for senior citizens is what the original push was for. They're used to it in
their retirement communities. And then now it's turned into, well, this is cool to have, so I'm going to go buy one. And now the kids all start driving them. And yeah. Okay. Are there any restrictions on e scooters, ebikes for age?
Uh, a lot of the a lot of communities are creating their own ordinances related to those to restrict them or to have some sort of framework in place for them. Uh, the great state of Minnesota is always behind on creating laws. You know, something gets built and something gets sold for several years before,
yeah, we probably need to figure out what we got to do about this thing because now they're a big deal. To me, they would be equally d equally or more dangerous probably than the golf cart. I mean, a bike, you're cruising around. You're harder to see. Yeah. I I would argue that either.
Like a moped, you have to have a permit at 14 to drive down a public street, right? Motorized bicycle permit. Yeah. But an ebike, you don't. Right. Okay. And there's some areas that do then constitute that under ordinance that that's what they follow is the motorized
bicycle permit or those sorts of rules more like a motorcycle endorsement style than just saying well it's a bike that's got an electric motor on it just call it a bike called good enough. So it all depends on how much regulation or restriction that city
is going to have on it for the most part. Thank you Chief Mouse. Mhm. And then um of course me, you know, I got that email I sent to you about the parking, you know, in people's yards. Um is there a way we can please educate people on that? I mean, I know that I can't afford
vehicles in my yard. You know, people can park on the street or use the neighbors, whatever. Um just because there are some citizens that are seeing people are parking right in front of their house where their 911 numbers are. They're degrading the looks of the
neighborhood. Um, and some of them have received letters with the photos and um, Sheila and I went over that we were following or had all the proper verbiage in there as far as this is what the ordinance says about surfaces you can have them on. So um, those conversations haven't happened as
far as what their intent is if they're going to move them out to city streets so they're not on the front yard. um just the plain grass, all those sorts of things, or are they going to Yeah, we'll get concrete put in there or something in the future. Uh the number of vehicles
on properties, we do have our ordinance saying that there's four allowed on properties um minus visitation, blah blah blah, a whole bunch of whatever stuff that goes in there. Um the area that was expressed by council in the past is that how do we regulate a multi-generational family or a family
that has four young drivers? Mom and dad each have a vehicle, four young drivers have a vehicle. Well, right now we're they all live in the same household, but they have six vehicles, not what we do, and obviously a fair number of the properties that we're concerned about is so and so has a vehicle they drive for
work, then they might have a secondary vehicle for you got the commuter vehicle, you got the the nice truck to keep keep on property, but then you have a project truck, and then you have a blah blah blah, you know, where does it stop or where do we start regulating that number four to an extent?
So, it's been I guess in the past it's been more of a what is the council comfortable with um for scrutiny as opposed to what should should we follow follow our ordinance to to the team.
I think it's um one thing to if they're parking on the front lawn is as regular as a regular it's different if you're like washing your car on the front lawn or whatever. But if you know residents don't have enough driveway space there's five cars there in my opinion and they're parking on the
front lawn all the time. That's I don't know if it's a problem but it doesn't look nice. Um whether or not you have the neighbors have a problem with it I don't know. you know, is it devaluing devaluing the neighbors property? That's
that I think is more of the more of what the concern would be in my mind is if the neighbors have a problem with the can you sell your property for what you think you should. And I would agree with with that stance is that especially in the winter, we are more of a get it off the street so things can be plowed, get it off the
streets so that it's not in the way for future plowing or whatever else. But by summertime, it's become a custom or whatever else. And some houses have actually, hey, this is what the ordinance is. This is what we needed to do in the summertime. Oh, okay. No, no problem. Didn't know. Um, but there's others where it's um convenient just to
keep on putting it back in the same spot. Do we have some streets that are more narrow than others? Yeah, we do. Do we want them on the on the road consistently? Well, to meet the ordinance, we'd need them to do that, but then how narrow does that street get? Those are some of the the areas of
conversation or debate um related to any of that parking stuff. So, No good answer. Right. If we put opinions inside everything else, you know, then it'd be a different story that, you know, I don't understand your reason for this and your reason for that. But on the backside, well, I just follow what the ordinance
says, then maybe we are making adjustments to a lot of people's households as far as what they have on property and what they don't within reason. I mean, if they got to run it up front yard, I mean, that's really hurting. Yeah. Yeah, in a year like this too where it's been wet almost all the time, putting something on your on your front
yard is not and it is a good way for you guys to, you know, visit with the people too, you know, just educate them a little bit on some Yeah. And and it's always it's always been good conversations. Everybody walks with you and creates some good smiles. So, thanks. Almost like a budget.
Yeah. Community development director Sheila. Uh, good evening. The Planning and Zoning Commission has a public hearing scheduled for their next meeting on Monday, September 29th for a zoning ordinance amendment to the R2 zoning district related to public street
sideyard setbacks. This stems from that recent variance that we provided up in Highlands. Um, the the express of the planning and zoning commission was rather than a single variance, let's just go ahead and change
the zoning ordinance. So, we are going to be looking at changing those setbacks in the R2 district to be in line with R1 so that if someone else up in Highlands wants to build in the similar way, they don't have to go through the variance process. What's good for one should be good for all and make it match R1. We
continue to talk about daycare challenges. Um, we've completed a survey of families in the community which was distributed by employers and shared on Facebook. We're going to meet and review the results and consider ideas. MATA at their recent meeting reviewed some of the results and started to talk about
you know possible things. We really are viewing daycare as a function of economic development because as you need employees but employees need affordable and available daycare in order to be good employees. So that is why we are working on that. And in the community
and development and planning world it's all talk about roads and infrastructure. Just like what Chief Mouse said it's all about the budget meetings lately. And then also I'm going to add um tomorrow at 2 o'clock is the homecoming parade.
So um I did hear from the superintendent today at the chamber meeting that if for some reason there's a wash out tomorrow in terms of rain, they're moving it to Monday at the same time. So thank you. Perfect. Thank you.
City engineer report. Dave. All right. Good evening. I'll echo what everybody else said. We spent the last month working on budget stuff. So, it's ready for the the approval this evening and as we move forward to the first of the year. Other item, we got a bird bath over on fifth that the contractor gave
us. We don't necessarily want a duck pond in our street. So, he's going to have to fix that. But, so those couple of items otherwise a little bit quiet on my end and that's okay. Perfect. All right. Thanks, Dave. Thanks, Dave, Colleen. So, in addition to budgets that
we've been talking about, the other thing that we've been doing is analyzing, you know, obviously all of our rates, um, our fee schedule, etc., which is all part of the budgeting process. We are also in contract negotiations with, um, a you one of our
unions. Um, those we will be meeting with them for a second time next week. So, cold weather rule goes into effect October 1st. Um, and so we're just trying to educate folks about that and get them to understand um, what that is
and how they can make sure that they kind of stay ahead in terms of their utility bills. Um, our second newsletter will be coming out hopefully here in October. And again, um, in addition to our ask me contract negotiations, we
also are looking at all our contract renewals about this time of year with our various entities and vendors. So, that's where we're at. All right. Say, um, I just wanted, uh, Joe, if you'd like to come up and introduce yourself as our new city
attorney. Yeah. Thank you for uh, having me here tonight. My name is Joe Krueger. I'm an attorney with Quinn Living and Hughes in St. Cloud. Um, I've been practicing about 22 years. Been in the area uh for about 20 years. Uh, primarily work out
of the Wong Prairie, our Wong Prairie office. Um, have been doing city attorney work since about 2006 or so. Um, so yeah, I'm looking forward to working with everyone here. We've already gotten off to a running start on
a few issues with with Colleen and and Chief Moss. So, yeah, just looking forward to to working with all of you and happy to help out wherever I can. So, thank you. Glad you're here.
All right, we are on action items and I will be uh turning this over to Tony. Oh, conflict of interest. Yeah, you didn't declare that, but I'll declare it for you. Conflict of interest for me. All right. All right. All right. Resolution 6A
202542, a resolution opting to increase the benefit level for firefighters who are vested in the voluntary statewide fire volunteer firefighter retirement plan. Tom Buddy has some information regarding that. Yeah, thanks. Uh uh chief just quickly want to do a quick
overview. Uh I know we've got one new council member here and I don't know uh maybe two that haven't heard how this program works. I thought I'd just do a quick overview for you guys, talk about the annual review and move on. Um, I guess I missed a really good budget meeting, I guess, before we really
start. But, uh, anyways, uh, back in 2013, we moved over to this, uh, PAR, uh, retirement fund. Uh, so what it is is, uh, we are with a group of other fire departments within the state of Minnesota. They pull all the money
together. Our our funds are separated, not yet all in one. Um, members, Paris sets the rules. So for a member to be qualified for PARA, they have to be on the department at least 5 years. Then they're 40% invested. 20
years, they're 100% invested. So between years five and 20, 4% increase every year. Uh payouts can't happen till they're at age 50. So if someone were to retire at age 42, their funds stay in that until uh age 40. These are all
rules uh governed by her. So we can't set them changing. Quick question on that. Do they get the level at retirement that you have that year or do they get the level that is established at 10 years later at 50? Good question. No, they get it at the level that where when they retire. So if
I uh someone retired at and it was 30,000 uh 3,000 30,000 $3,000 a year, that's what it's at. And the really kind of a little kicker into the pants it is is they don't get any interest on that
money either. So that money that's sitting in there on the deferred amount stays into the into the pool and so it's kind of a a little boner for them but um so yeah. So good question. Every year I come to you guys we do this
annual review. uh in included in your packet, there should be a uh a document that looks something like this here. It says revised on there. Um PAR puts that out every year and within that document, it shows how well the funds are doing and lets us know can we do an increase
or not and so they forecast it what it's going to be out what it's going to be like towards the end of the year. So, uh come to you guys every year whether it's you know what, we can't do an increase but here's what the funds look like. So very very uh open about it and how
things go. Um last thing is how how do you fund these types of retirements? How how is the money getting into your So there's three ways that the funds uh this fund is ret uh funded. One is our 2% uh state uh fund insurance money is what we call it the fire insurance
money. So as the city grows the the percents grow too. on page three if you want get a little time. Last year the the insurance money was at 36 uh 36,000 just a little over 36,000. This year was 419. So the increase in the businesses
increases in the residential helps uh this as well. So that's one way. The other way is through the budget. Uh $10,000 is set aside from the budget to fund this. And then the last piece is uh the interest that we gain on the fund
itself. So mentioned uh it's in the letter or in the uh council packet tonight that we're proposing a $400 increase that would bring us up from up to $3,700. Uh the fund puts us at a 105% funded. So
we are more than funded for uh in the event that we don't have a good year next year or the markets fluctuate or whatever. um past nine months the funds the markets have done well. So I just I feel and and the department as a whole
feel that this is something that um contribute that that we do we put in the time they put in the effort. Uh we do a lot of community events uh call volume haven't talked about that lately but uh when I joined in 2001
we were at 78 calls 70 yeah 75 78 calls. We've been up to as high as 148 late recently. So there's there's a lot of time and effort going into the calls and I think the guys the department as a whole. They deserve it and it helps with retention
whether we get new members or not. So with that I'll open it up to question. I should probably say one other thing. Increases per you can increase it but we can never put it down. So once the increase is done it's there. So, just it's a
I'm very open-minded about it and I feel very passionate about about the program and they passionate about this $3,700 too. So, and I I was the rep for the Council on Fire Relief a number of years ago and I had a heartburn over the levels that I
was going to but learned a lot about it, how it grows. Um, you know, my only question was at the time was if we have a market crash, it happens from time to time. you have a market crash, then you have two guys, you know, so the fund goes down, let's say 20%, 30%. Then you
have a guy that or a couple guys that retire at that 3,700 level, pulls the big chunk of change out. Now you have that much smaller of a um a um whatever big bank to grow when the economy comes back. So I think at that
time we kind of like yeah, you know, 103% that's plenty good, 104% that's plenty good for fully funded. So um being it's really there I mean there's zero no impact to our general fund basically the increase there's no tax levying nothing um so in my opinion I
mean that's perfectly fine level to be at to 3700 um that's what it's there for so um I don't know I can get a motion to approve I'd be fine with that I'll make a motion second all those in favor I motion carried
thank you guys appreciate All right. So, it would be Jackie and it's a resolution number 2025-43, resolution adopting proposed tax levy. As discussed during the council budget session, resolution 2025-43
sets the general fund levy at 1,694,000 and the debt levy at 80,000 for a total levy amount of 1,774,000. This levy provides funding for essential operations and scheduled debt payments. And approval of this resolution is
required for certification to the county auditor. At this time, the council may consider a motion to approve resolution 2025-43. All right. So, there's actually two uh different motions we have to make. The first one is the council take action on the proposed resolution.
Can I get a motion to approve? So, move. Second. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Motion carried. Council take action action to approve approve the uh prime uh preliminary 2026 budget. Can I get a motion to approve? Go ahead.
What is the Did we say the numbers? Um the total levy is 1,774,000. Okay. Just want to make sure that was communicated before we just, you know, approve it and nobody knows what it is. So So does it mean you second it? Second. Yeah, there's a second.
Okay. All in favor say I. I opposed. Motion is carried. Okay. Then um uh blower building technical memorandum. So this is actually a utility project. The reason that you guys have to sign
off on it is because of the land that it essentially sits on. Um you guys own it. Mhm. So it's a technical memorandum. The wastewater department met with on the blower project and the department is
requesting different size blowers than what had recommended. There was a technical memo prepared by outlining its basis for the blower equipment sizing recommendation and an acknowledgement by the city staff and the PUC as we move
forward. So the council to give consideration concurring with the public utilities commission approving the technical man memorandum. The bottom line is our guys want smaller blowers than what SE was recommending. The thought process and how they feel about it is that they would have an
opportunity to put a larger blower in at a there's room for it at a later date, but they want to be able to have the ability to ramp that down on the weekends when um there's not as much flow coming into the plant. And that, you know, they know their plant better
than anyone. Um, and so I think it was just out of an abundance of caution that SC wanted to put this memo together. So that's where we're at. Where does this put us being come to ours? Normally we don't have to do much down there at all. We own the land. The city owns the land.
Yeah, but what does that why does that matter? I They just asked that you guys sign it. It sounds honestly it sounds like we're putting ourselves on the hook for something. Nope, you're not. No, we're taking full full liability because we're not doing exactly the design that SE wants. Is that
we as a we as a city I mean we are acknowledging that I would say that that doesn't work it's going to be 100% or Yep. We kind of talked about that at the public utilities meeting. Yep, we did. All right. Okay. Motion to approve,
please. So move. Can I get a second? Second. All in favor say I. Oppos. Motion carried. Tririccap uh transportation contract. Yes. So in your packet you had the yearly contract with Tri Cap along with
the ridership numbers. Uh this is something that we approve every year and I would recommend that the council give consideration approving it again this year. Uh TriCap is a very needed service in our community. Um it is one that is
wellused and so I recommend that the council approve it. All right. Can I get a motion to approve? So move. Second. Any question? I was just going to ask that we do have um other participants right in the community.
Not right now. We don't. But central Care is not participating or uh central Care the school. Nope. But we can certainly go and ask them to provide us with did visit with us and said that they would like a letter so they can look at it. Yep. And I think we need to get that out
here soon to then. Um but I I agree. It'd be nice to get some buy in. But yeah, let's just and even if we can just maybe get a copy of what the letter is, just send it to us. I can email it to you. Yeah, let's just try to get it out this, you know, by next month for sure. Oh, yeah.
So, can I get a motion to approve? Oh, we have a first and a second. All in favor say I. I oppose. Motion carried. Then we're on the old business resolution number 2025-32. resolution establishing a fire escrow account.
Round three. We are here tonight to talk about the fire escrow fund and we have everyone in the room tonight. So, Chief Buddy is here to talk about how he feels about this. Um, attorney Krueger is here to talk about his opinion on the changes that we made to the resolution from last
time. So last month we were here and you wanted a more clear definition of if we bought into this program or if we decided to participate in this program, what our guidelines would be in terms of when we would return the money and what
it would look like. And so in your packet was a revised resolution outlining a little clearer. Um attorney Krueger has given his opinion and he I'm going to invite him up here to share. We had talked about returning it as soon as there was a building permit or a
demolition permit. Um I believe it is your opinion that doesn't address the health and safety concerns enough. He'd rather see it at a point with which the health and safety concerns have been cleared as a threshold.
Right. This thing still gives me heartburn. I don't really like it. It's the taxpayer their independent insurance. they're paying the premium for. I did say if you revise it, I'll vote for it. I'm I will vote for it, but I
still don't like it. I they're they're insurance. We shouldn't have their hand in our pocket, but that's I do see the other side, too, where you're protecting the taxpayer as well, though. So, somewhat of a compromise, I guess. Now, if somebody has a big loan mortgage
out on their property, obviously the mortgage company gets paid first. They're primary, I'm sure they're primary beneficiaries of the insurance policy. Normally, they would be named as the lost pay. Yes. Right. So, somebody has 95% or even 80%
out on their mortgage, you know, it's now you're going to take the other 20%. and the people that or the last 20% or whatever of the um insurance proceeds that they would have
got. So basically they don't get anything to work with right off the bat. Would that be accurate? I think that would be accurate. And I think um one of the adjustments attorney Krueger made to the language is that the 20% then could be paid out directly to the contractor whether it's the demolition contractor or the contractor
that has been hired to start. So, right, technically they can use the money as long as they're using the money for its intended purpose, which is dealing with the health and safety concerns, right? And on that note, I don't know what it costs to demo a house, but in my mind,
the only thing we would really need is the cost of the demo to hold demolition, turn that lot back into a flat lot. So, we don't have the whole purpose of of it is is to get rid of the health and safety hazard of the burned house, right? So, to get rid of the burned
house would be kind of the goal to reach. And I don't know, you know, talking 25% of a $300,000 house. That's what is that $75,000. What's that? I would said up to like 20 or 25. Wasn't there an up to%
up to 25%. Yeah. So I mean feel that it feel that it's a little lower then you could Yeah. And that's why I was wondering is if if there's some way you get a high level right as soon as a fire happens high level estimate what it cost to demo that and base your your take on that or
whatever. I think that makes sense in my mind. So, just it's it's a way to protect uh we've had over the even the eight years that uh there's been houses sitting around empty. Yeah.
That have been burned out and frustrating to drive past it and see nothing done. It's it's it's going down real fast. So if we could help protect the city and the community as a whole, I think it's a good thing. So
okay. Can I get a motion to approve? So move. Second. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Motion is carried. New business. Inspectron rate increases. Yes. I guess I'll This is just a matter of information. Inspectron has notified
us of a permit increase. um starting January 1st. Um in your packet was their letter. Uh so flat rate permit fees including reshingles and residing right now are currently at $100. They're going to 125. We have an automatic contract with them
on March of every year. Uh just putting it especially with budgeting going on. We just wanted to make you aware of this change. Okay. Do they come through town weekly? Like you know if someone does shingles, do they get these inspections? He's here all the time because we got a
lot of different stuff and normally he'll do some final inspections while he's here inspecting the other things. So, all right. All the travel expenses, they haven't gone up in a number of years. I mean, gas is right where was two years ago, wasn't it? Yeah. Anyways, so did we
Cars were more expensive though. Do we have to make We don't have to make a motion on it. So, all right. Then we are on to odd and even parking ordinance. uh bringing this forward for a area discussion for the council. Um talking with uh Andrew from streets
about um snow removal is what this concern is. Um we do have a 25 24-hour parking ordinance um year round. Uh winter seems to be the biggest headache related to it obviously and we wanted to figure out a better way to try and get
cars moving more frequently or at least on a consistent basis. Um, our department tries to do parking as consistently as we can. Um, but we do have our nights where we're too busy to do that and or some of it's like, well, there's no snow for 6 weeks. What why do
we care? But I think, um, it's got to come more to a point of we need to be consistent in what we're doing as well as we need to be able to do things on those years that we are getting dumped all the time and the street crew is trying to get things cleaned up. And what we have been seeing on a 24-hour side of it is that park in
a spot, it snows, plowed around, move literally a car length ahead, and now said pile still sitting there. Um, street crew can't remove it because it's too close to the vehicle that literally moved a parking spot. So, they can't really get things cleaned up, gets solid. It's it's gets dangerous longterm
or they can't get it to move their equipment. Um, a lot of communities go to no on street parking in the winter. I don't know if that's a viable option for some of our areas of town that don't have off- streetet parking but you don't have access to whatever those sorts of ideas were. So that's why we went to
looking into an odd even parking um is what it is in the in the title of it. Um even numbered nights on the calendar you park on the even side of the street based off the house number. Odd number um calendar days you park on the odd side of the street based on house
numbers. Um pretty simple to do as far as figuring out the what and where on it. Uh we would provide a bunch of education into it so that people would get used to it. Bunch of written warnings up front um even proposing within our office how you get a big orange sheet of paper that comes with it
explaining this thing so it's not too far off base when citations maybe start flying. Um we did have a a gap in there as well um for the I get done with work at 4. I'm on the proper side of the street but now by midnight I got to get it moved. Well,
there's going to be a gap and there's some times um that I talk to the street department would that they'd be agreeable to as far as here's kind of a free-for-all zone. Just make sure you have it moved by this time to the proper side of the street. So, um those are some of the things that kinks that we worked out. Um I did work with Mr.
Krueger on this. Um it's been a nice transition, very responsive from their office, so that's been good to see. Uh some areas that we have some questions on or some areas that we have kind of some special areas is um apartment complexes that are maybe in areas that don't have um a whole lot of outlets for
it. Roseview Manor prime example. They have a few stalls in the back. A lot of their tenants park in the same spots in the same places. Street crew has worked with them in the past. Hey, we're going to be plowing make sure everything's out of the way. If you have to get it moved, a lot of times they put it back in the same spot. There's not enough space on either side of the block to put
everything from that neighborhood in there. So there might be some exceptions to the rule to an extent, but um just the proposal we have um parking fines would be the same as our other parking stuff which we're proposing to change in next year's fee schedule a little bit,
but for the most part, we want to work with the residents best we can because ultimately we just want the streets cleared and we want them to be safe. We don't necessarily want to penalize people, but then there's always the people that choose not to put the effort in to make sure that their neighbors and and everybody else
can take advantage of the clean streets. Are discussion for everybody? Is it only for when it snows otherwise it's it'd be November 1st through April April 1st. We'd want to try and like I said, make it consistent, not so it's just well, we got an inch, but it's a Saturday, so I know they're not coming out the plows, so I'm not moving. Well,
we got, you know, we got an inch and a half, but it's Tuesday, so they're coming, but I didn't look at the calendar. I I forgot about it. So, if we keep consistent as far as just every day, you're basically flip-flopping what side of the street you're parking on if you have to use off, you know, on street parking, it'd probably be the easiest or
most consistent way. How we get people moving more than, you know, more often than every 24 hours. How about if we have we've had some years it doesn't snow till late December. Are we still going to enforce it? Well, and that I think up front we
definitely want to we definitely want to get the education out there, get people used to it because it is going to be a new ordinance and those sorts of things if you move forward with it. But we we do want we can have some discretion there. Just the concern is is that like I said, we get a November, we get a mid mid December before we finally get some
significant snowfall. Okay. Yeah, maybe we don't have to work as hard on it right away, but we do want to make sure that people are educated on it. And with people moving in and out of different properties is something that might be each year it's a little more education that happens. I just don't want it to be that oh well you know we don't do it
when it's a half inch but all a sudden it's an inch and or or it's a half inch during the week and the guys are cleaning up or whatever but now we want you to do it. You know we want to try to have some consistency so that the residents understand that it's just worked on period or worked on significantly and you couldn't do it by like a snow
emergency or some type of that would say in the ordinance already. Those are six inches or more and they got to be um advertised and put out there and whatever else. So, a lot of everything would basically stay in our current ordinances related to snow or related to parking, those sorts of things. This just gives us the ability
or at least the knowledge for people to keep them moving so that cleanup days or or just plowing in general. It's more efficient for our street. Um is there you know I whatever I agree is there any way we can do something like the school has with you know
calling you know, have a text, mass text sent out to people, too. I mean, is there multiple ways like saying, "Hey, it's snowing, you know, something you can send out on like you put it on app, but not everybody has the app." Well, that's the only way we could do
it. I mean, everybody has the utility, you know, of places. It's just another option to add to it. I don't think it would add too much more time because I know it's just something unfort I'm just saying can we just look into that too
while we're doing all this that was we use the emergency sirens in town to let everybody know half inch of snow is coming clouds are coming move your cars right midnight sirens change your car to the other side a block and a half away or near
if I remember right haven't we gotten yelled at for just turning on our sirens for the fire trucks when we go through town, you get yelled at for that. All your trucks happen to do that squad cars. Whatever. Um, how do you guys how do you feel about it?
I agree with it. Yeah. Except for Except for I don't know where I'm going to park on my street cuz I live on a curve. I understand the need, but I also understand the the the if there's no snow, if we're not getting any snow,
why does people keep having to do the dance from one side to the other side to wherever all every single day or what? Uh I don't know if I'm understanding that right. But I think it's every day, right? Yeah. It would be basically daily besides, you know, you have the 31st and the first. Okay. Then that those two days get to stay on the same side. It's
more or less the consistency of is trying to keep people moving forward on one side, right? All cars in their plows will come through, clean up the other side the next day. Right. That's the intent. Yeah. Tony, just stay parked in your driveway. It'll be fine. Yeah. And I'm not even worried about that. I'm think back to when I lived in Freeport and I got a ticket. It was
November 3rd and it was 60° out and I had a had a snow violation parking ticket on my windshield in the morning. I'm like, what is going on here? I I don't. So anyway, right. And I think the education side of it, especially year one, is going to be
probably social media, utility building, bill building, those sorts of things to try and just because we do have a lot of dry November. Um, yeah. Or nonplowable November. But we do want the public to be aware that if there's snow in the forecast, this is probably going to be situation. Get in the habit of it. If there's
chance of snow. Yeah. Just if there's a chance. How many planes we get a year? But we don't have the plow trucks then. Right now it is. Yeah. that we visit. So, okay. All right. Where are we at, council? I'm looking for a motion.
Uh, approve this or what? Yeah, it's in there. No, no, you have to send a public hearing. We present the ordinance next month if you're in favor of it. And like I said, like Tony said, I agree. Plenty of education up front. Citations don't need to roll out, especially on the the
drive. November is the whatever else. And it we want to make sure people on board are at least aware of it. And these would be administrative fines, right? Not they we're going all these things are going to the county because whatever and we get $10, right? But it would follow it would
follow our current practice as far as first citation uh second citation. We generally try and get a hold of the property owner saying, "Hey, you got two of them. You know, generally there's a written warning that's hanging on there. Then there's a citation. There's another citation. It's like, hey, one more of these and this is going to get towed."
And then the third one is a tow and they got to pay the citations and all those sorts of things. So we try we try and work with people as best we can. But on the back side too it's it's been out there for x number of days with snow on and whatever else and you haven't made any effort to move it. Hate to say but I don't feel like not
either because you're too laz below zero. So here come the door. Yeah ex Well exactly. wrong. That's what I'm telling is you leave it up to the you implement something. If it snows and you happen to be on the wrong side of the road, Jacob Jay or what they're
calling brothers, they'll be happy to come grab your car to move it for the tow truck because it's your responsibility to get it moved so the plow can follow the street. They don't move it. It's easy 50 bucks. Yeah. for the plow company or whatever.
You know, you can't find a plow truck for under a few hundred dollars. Now, that's a bad thing. Well, that's true. They're getting a little out of hand with their pricing, but I don't like the every You could cut it. I bet if they had a mass
mass customer like we would be for snowstorms. They would give us a good deal on as a utility. We we as a city, we don't want to be their best customer. That's not very good for our tax day. They do do contract rates with city though. So yeah.
Yeah. I don't want that. I Mark mentioned about concerned about the everyday. There are some cities that do the first week you're on this side of the street. Second week of the month you're on this side of the street. Then there's variations as far as well technically this is you know it's a new month and
now it's a Thursday. So where do I need to be and those sorts of things. So there are some of those that are set up that way as well where it's you're moving on a weekly basis. um concern with that is then on one side of the street is not allowed for a whole week potentially. So I know it's a huge pain for Andrew and
you Craig, but at the end of the day they are paying all of our, you know, salaries too and we're supposed to have their best interest in mind. So if we're making an unnecessary burden for the citizens of Melrose, I don't I don't particularly like that. So I I get it when it snows 100%. But if
you're doing it every other day trying to keep track of that, I I would be a nay on that. And and like I said, I think the snow side of it's the the focus at our I mean, we use discretion on a lot of things and that would be it is that it's the the concerning part is that if
people aren't educated far enough in advance as far as that's where my biggest concern with is getting the education out there and making sure people are aware soon enough so that when the snow does fly, it's okay, I knew this was coming. It was my mistake. get and and I also want to want government
to run as efficiently as they can and to have these cars parked there because there's a lot of cars that are parked. Yes. You know, then the plow trucks got to come by again. I think the homeowner would actually appreciate it to be honest. True. Makes parking a lot easier, too.
Unless you're working, right? Got to send someone over to get my car moved before I'm ticketed or towed. Well, and that's where that that kind of open area is is that it kind of played into, okay, the night people and, you know, people that work nights, people that work days, those sort of things. Here's that that window where, hey, before I go to work,
I'll get it moved or as soon as I get home from work, I'll have it in the proper spot for the potential snowfall. Those Something's got to happen, I think, because I know it's it's awful. Every winter, it's awful. There's lots of streets with lots of big cars, whatever
marks in the migra percentage. What is the percentage? It's the same ones that just Well, and that that's what I was just going to say next. It's going to be 40 cars that have been the headache beforehand are going to be the headache
still. Um it's just a matter of the people that do move them consistently now because yeah, I park on the street because I I go to work every day and I just have to park on the street. I don't have a garage or I don't have enough room in my garage for said vehicle. Those people won't be the problem. It'll be the ones that, well, this is a vehicle that I use, but I don't want to
put in my garage. I want my garage available for, you know, so my car is clean when I go to work. Well, you leave it on the street isn't appropriate either. Find a better option for it, right? At least in the winter months. We just thought like like we talked
about efficiencies. Do you want it brought to the meeting next month with that and some other options? Is there some other options like like I just said? I'm just asking is it fair to that you know we send out a a mass text message or you know it goes
the phones like the school does um just that everybody gets it. That's part of the I I don't know. I'm just sending up every day or only when it snows like cuz written as it is, it's every day you got Yeah, I know. And that's where if it snows that um
Did you move your car today? Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I know. Is that something also maybe, you know, like school's two hours behind or you know, we have that type of stuff. I just want us to I just don't know if we have the
technology to be able to do that right now. That's the challenge that we're faced with is the school has that technology. We don't I have that capability to do mass text messaging. What we could do is um we could put some
stuff out on Facebook or we can have stuff for people to pick up at the front. Um put it maybe in businesses to get opinions. I don't I guess what are what are you asking? So if we let's just entertain us for a second. If
we would go and we'd say on even days if it snows you have to be on the south side or east side whatever of the street. Odd days you have to be on this side if it snows. Get the education out there. If there's
cars not moved, you get a ticket. The problem would go away real quick after the first ticket. I think if you just made it when it snows. Does that make sense? I would support that. Then if it's only when it snows, so you're cleaning up. Otherwise, it's just a burden for people
to keep having to remember or Yeah. I mean, anytime you think there's going to be a chance of plowable snow, you got to have your car on the right side of the street. Otherwise, you're going to get a ticket. If it still doesn't work next year, we could tighten it up and say,
"All right, automatically every day." It's I don't think there's anything wrong with them putting though the dates from October 1st or November 1st through April 1st or whatever. I don't think I think you should still have that date in there
or is that too much of a burden for the police department because now we're only ticketing people when you make the judgment call or when you guys make the judgment call to go plow or sand. Well, what if it snows in the middle of the night? We come in at 4 a.m. people aren't moving, right?
Yeah. True. Yeah. I think the judgment would come is when is it plowable snow? If it's Sunday morning, it's less likely to be a plowable event than it is during a work week. So then that's where some of these areas. Yeah. Because we're not always waiting 12 hours to plow the streets
on the especially with the big snows. Yeah. But that's where my point is. If you think if you're expecting snow, you have to be on the right side of the street, whichever it is, because it's snowing. I never watch the news.
Okay. Prior to but a person like me, I don't watch the weather. I do not watch the news at all. You would be getting a ticket. I would be getting a ticket or I just will be parking on the after ticket. You'd be w after you get a ticket, you'd be watching the weather.
I'm just going to park in my driveway. I mean, you still have the option to change your put your car in every I know you have that option. I know. Just in case. And I don't know, Joe, have you have you written ordinances like this for other cities where they've had these discussions or had these issues?
I'm getting a little heartburn here trying to figure out how we're going to determine what's a snow, right? I mean, we like black and white, but yet black and white, we need gray. I feel like we're just Well, anytime you're going to issue a
ticket, it has to be clearly articulable what the scenario is that I'm going to get punished for. Yeah. So, you can't articulate what a snow is. I mean, does that mean we had some flurries for 20 minutes or
does it happen? That would be the problem of trying to It snows about an inch more snow. Plowable snow. So if we take the plow out because we make the call that the shoots got to be cleaned up and there's cars in the way. Then that's
car owner. When you plow snow, you plow today and then you're going to then you're going to Well, no, you can answer that. You can yell because he's got a speaker on there. So usually when you plow, you get it done for today. You usually go back the next day to do it, right? try to pick up
what got missed. Yeah. Yeah. But like he says the car went up one car that one car is the same people. Yeah. No different than the summer. Yeah.
It's no different. I heard it. We said it's no different. I mean, is it that hard that we put you cannot be within 30 or 40 feet of where there is nonplowed? This is hard. I mean, you're going to have people just totally go after you.
Just keep it even odd. Have a public hearing next month and let's see what the public thinks. I think so. Yeah. If it's not favorable, then we don't move forward with it. If it's nonattended, then whatever. Pass it. We'll wait for him to
complain in January. But this technology stuff that you said, what what's the difference? You can get on mass tax lists for stuff. Um what what can what can uh you find out about that from the school? You'd have to. We will we will check into it
from the school and then um right now if people sign up for our app and I think well you got to be able to put in the old people where it can ring to their voicemail on their landline phone yet. I mean, that's where we're going to have, you know, it go out on a call or or mass
text like the school does because they call my house and they leave me a text. Okay. Well, I can we can check into it to Eric Denny to start with and see what he has to say. He probably knows. So, yeah, we'll figure we can figure something out.
At least give some options. Okay. Thank you for the research and stuff. Yeah. All right. Informational items, utility commission meeting minutes. Unless there's anything else, can I get a motion to adjurnn?
So move. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Motion carried. Meeting adjourn. [Music]