Good afternoon. It is 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026. We'll call the city council meeting of the city of New to order. First item of business tonight is the consent agenda. Councilors, what are your wishes? >> So move. >> Second.
>> Thank you. A motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item 2.1 is a public hearing for a noise variance for music for a mission. At this time, the public hearing will be
open. If you would like to be heard, please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record. >> I'm not seeing anybody come forward. Uh we've granted this in the past. We haven't had any issues. So I'm going to offer the resolution close the public hearing and authorize authorizing the
request from the music for a mission Terry Zinnel for a noise variance to permit amplified sound at Zinnel utility contracting for Thompson Street to host a party by the pond event on Saturday August 29th 2026 from 1:30 p.m. to 12:01
a.m. on Sunday August 30th 2026. >> Second. >> Thank you. We do have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. Resolution. Sorry. Resolution. Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Councelor Christian, >> yes. >> Councelor Wormka, yes.
>> Councelor Schmidz, yes. >> Councelor Mack, yes. >> President Becker, >> yes. That motion does carry. Item 3.1 is a bingo and raffling gambling permit for Friends of the Brown County Free Fair. I'll offer a motion to approve the issuance of lawful gambling permit for friends of the Brown County Free Fair to
conduct bingo and raffles gambling at Brown County Fairgrounds, 1201 North State Street on Thursday, August 13th, 2026 and Saturday, August 15, 2026. >> Second. >> We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor
signal by saying I. >> I. >> That motion does carry. Item 3.2 two is also a raffles gambling permit for New M Baseball Association. >> I'll make a motion to approve the issuance of a lawful gambling permit for New Alm Baseball Association to conduct
raffles and gambling at Nuba facility 123rd North Street on Sunday, December 20th, 2026. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. >> I.
>> That motion does carry. Item 3.3 is a tree service license renewal for 2026 2027. President and counselors, I'd like to make a motion to approve the issuance of a tree license renewal for CTS Construction and Tree Service LLC 34151
283rd Lane um Lee Sewer, Minnesota 56055 for the period beginning July 22nd, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027 subject to compliance with all city and state requirements.
>> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. >> I. >> That motion does carry. Item 4.1 is summary of business conducted during board and commission meetings. >> Okay. I attended the park and wreck
meeting. You'll be dealing with four or five agenda items. It was actually a busy meeting coming down the agenda at the end of our agenda. Uh attended the EDA meeting. Uh good meeting, just standard normal business. And also I attended the League of Minnesota Cities meeting in Rochester and I won't take
the thunder from the other councilors that were there. I'll let them report. It was a good conference. >> Yep, it really was. I I attended as well with the mayor and council president Becker. Um learned a lot. Again, it was one of those that uh learned how to deal with social media problems and in
communities, which everyone has, turns out, and quite a few other just deescalating techniques that they teach. So, it was a really good good uh convention. >> Uh I can just maybe add our sister cities exchange student or inbound student has been delayed for a visa
issue currently. The mayor wrote a letter uh and this is the first time this has ever happened uh for an inbound exchange student. So, we'll be learning a little bit more hopefully at next month's meeting and
go from there for that part. uh cable communication uh commission has not met. Um but yesterday the Heritage Preservation Commission um approved the uh door replacement um the northern of the three front doors on Minnesota
Street for the Chamber of Commerce. And um I will be leaving tomorrow to go up to Minneapolis for the National Heritage Preservation Convention for the rest of the week and I'll report back after that. >> Thank you. Go ahead, mayor. Okay. A couple of
things. Uh had the opportunity to tour the uh chamber plots uh new apartments. Uh and uh it was exciting to see the three different units that they're making available downtown New. So kudos to the Chamber of Commerce staff and
board for making that happen. Uh, also the EDA did a tour of the Highland Apartments last week, uh, looking at building one, uh, and as of August 1st, 20, uh, units will be occupied. Uh, and
so today, I understand the cleaning crew is coming in to get that first building ready. Uh, it was very interesting to to see the units uh, in person. You know, we've heard so much about it. uh they had several different options and um city council president was there as
well. So maybe I'll have you continue and share what we got to see. Also, I attended the unveiling of the uh restored Houndstein sign uh at the Houndstein Brewery. So that was an
interesting opportunity and uh kudos to them for doing that restoration. And then finally, I too was at the League of Minnesota Cities um conference and went on the tour of looking at their housing projects and how creatively
uh they were looking at um satisfying the many different types of housing needs, but one of them that I appreciated seeing was they removed a single family home and put four cottages
on that particular uh single family home lot and um they worked with the neighborhood association to make sure that they were not infringing on the culture of that particular neighborhood and so there were many other housing
projects as well and that but it was very very interesting because Rochester being much larger than we had many many projects going on but it doesn't belittle in any way the projects that we have going on in wall. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um, so I'll kind of add on to
what the mayor was saying. So, following our EDA meeting earlier this month, we had a chance to tour um the new apartments that are going up. Um, was very happy with the progress, the layout, um, and really the plan and the staff. I mean, everyone was so great and
so welcoming. Um, they are going online and have folks moving in on August 1st already. Um and so they were feverishly getting everything ready and getting everything cleaned up and ready to go. Um the good thing is because um we are serving and meeting a need that we have
for housing in our area um they are going ahead and moving forward with that third unit ahead of schedule. And so once they're completed with these two um there are going to be some more of these apartments going online as well. So if there is somebody looking um this would
be a great place. Um, and then I also attended the League of Minnesota Cities conference last month in Rochester. Um, attended a great session on data centers. Um, this is a very important topic and something that our communities do need to stay on top of as well because they're not a one-sizefits-all.
Um, they're not all the same and we need to understand and know the differences, especially if we have any that are interested in coming to our communities. And so that was very helpful as well. Um, and those are my updates. Anyone else have anything to add? All right. Thank you guys. All right. Under new
business, item 5.1 is Junior Pioneer Park Water main Crossing Project. >> Right. Thank you, Madam President and city councilors. Uh this project is a joint project with the public utilities commission uh to provide some uh water redundancy in the area of Junior
Pioneers Park going back towards Shell's Brewery. Um public utilities commission contracted with Incorporated to design the project to and prepare project plans. um city staff um will bid out this project and um run the project and
administer the project uh for the public utilities. Uh this project is proposed to be funded with uh water infrastructure funding. Um, so it is our recommendation today to set the bid date for August 26th at 10:00
a.m. where staff will receive and open the bids and then uh uh we'll be bringing back uh contract with the bid information for the first meeting in September. >> Thank you, Mr. Toddheim. Well, I'll offer the resolution approving the plans
and specs, ordering the advertising for bids at Junior Pioneer Park Water Main Crossing Project, setting the opening bid date, and authorizing staff to receive and open bids for the project at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 26th, 20 26 in the city hall council chambers. >> Second.
>> We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Councelor Christensen, yes. >> Councelor Warma, yes. >> Councelor Schmidtz, yes. >> Councelor Matt, yes. Yes, President Becker. >> Yes, that motion does carry. Item 5.2 is a police department towards zero deaths
enforcement grant application. >> I'll make a motion to authorize the New Police Department to submit a grant application for a total uh towards zero deaths enforcement grant from the Minnesota Department of Traffic Safety for traffic safety enforcement projects
during the period of January 1, 2027 through December 31st, 2027. >> Second. >> Thank you. We do have a motion and a second to any additional discussion. Um, I just would like to add that this has been a program that has been in place since 2003. Um, and it has been
successful in reducing traffic statewide fatalities. Um, and so I do think this is a good grant. Any additional comments? All right. Those in favor signal by saying I. I. >> I. That motion does carry. Item 5.3 is a deed redevelopment grant application for
Paul Nyers. Council President, councilors, this is the deed application uh for the redevelopment grant. Uh we are looking to apply on behalf of Paul Nyers for construction, rehabilitation, demolition
of 217 through 227 North Minnesota um to potentially develop uh a hotel on that site. Grant uh amount is $464,58. um which will be matched which uh we'll have to match at least half of that and
tiff andor tax abatement will cover um that portion of our match. Um so there's really no budgetary or fiscal um impact uh to us. Um this is just the resol resolution. Uh grant is due August
1st. So, I'll be taking it up to um Minneapolis um that last week in July uh cuz they need two physical copies and electronic copies and I don't trust the mail to get it there on time. So, we'll be handd delivering that. Um and application at this point in time is
complete. I'll do one more look through and work with Mr. Nyers if anything needs to be added, but as of my cursory review, everything is there. >> A comment I do want to make is I mean, I'm all for the resolution. Mr. Myers has Nyers has met with our city staff planning and whatnot knows the path that
he's got to take. So he's kind of ahead of the game on that. >> Yeah. >> So moving forward. >> Yep. >> So this would be the first step basically for >> for this process and then >> this will be part of the funding stack that he needs um for funding the
project. So this is again that first step and he'll will know probably in two to three months if we're awarded the grant after it closes. >> So if there's no other questions, I'm going to offer the resolution to submit a grant application to to Department of
Employment Economic Development on behalf of Paul Nyers. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Councelor Christian. >> Yes. Councelor Wormka. >> Yes. >> Councelor Schmidtz, >> yes. >> Councelor Mack, >> yes. >> President Becker,
>> yes. Motion carries. Item 5.4 is attendance at the 2026 conference in Long Beach, California. >> President and counselors, I'd like to make a motion to approve city manager Chris Dalton to attend the annual 2026 International City Managers Association
Conference in Long Beach, California from October 16 to 22nd of this year, 2026. >> Second. >> Thank you. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. >> I.
>> That motion does carry. Item 5.5 is New Fire Department services for Flying Dutchman motorcycle club hill climb. >> I'll offer the motion to approve the New Fire Department rescue squad to provide services to Flying Dutchman motorcycle club for their motorcycle hill climb on
Sunday, August 30th, 2026. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. >> That motion does carry. Item 5.6 is Hermanfest 2026 requests. I see Mr.
Schugle. Good evening. >> Thank you, Council President Bker, city council. Joey Schugle, park and recreation director for the city of New. This is an annual request for Hermanfest activity that would take place in Herman Heights Park and Harmon Parks, as well
as uh three things that need your approval. One is to close Center Street from Garden to Highland, allow cannon shoots, um, and fireworks to be uh, displayed during that event as well. Uh, I will report there are uh, no
substantial changes to this event as years passed uh, through the as requested by the Herman Monument Society. Uh this does take coordinated efforts from park and wreck as well as the police department and fire department to make sure this goes off um
smoothly as it has in the past. >> And again, it was unanimously approved at the park and wreck meeting. So I mean it's nothing new to any of us. I'm going to offer the resolution authorizing the Herman Monument Society to temporarily close Center Street between Garden Street and Highland Avenue on Saturday,
September 12th, 2026 from approximately 8:15 to 9:00 p.m. to accommodate the fireworks discharge during Hermanfest and authorize a request by the Herman Monument Society for the following during Hermanfest on Saturday, September 12th, 2026 in Herman Heights and Herman
Parks. Grant an exception to the city code section 8.20 20 Subdivision 3 to allow the discharge of cannons and fireworks during the event, including the 5K. Authorize the discharge of fireworks at Herman Heights Park during the event. Permission is required as the
city is the owner. Allow the fire department to remain on standby at the fireworks discharge site should their services be required. This does not include crowd control or fireworks discharge activities. >> Second. >> We do have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion?
Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Councelor Christensen, yes. >> Councelor Wormka, yes. >> Councelor Schmidtz, yes. >> Councelor Mack, yes. >> President Becker, >> yes. That motion does carry. Item 5.7 is Pollinator Park and Natural Resource Area. >> Thank you, Council President, city
council. Uh this is a request to designate the Pollinator Park and Natural Resource Area as city parkland. Uh, if I can steer your attention to the screens here, uh, in in 2015, the both the park and rec commission and city council approved designating a portion
of the 2250 North Broadway park as a natural resource area that could be used for pollinator preserve and monarch butterflies area. If you look at the screen, that that red um rectangle is is the part that that area was developed to
to do that after 2015. And so after the last 11 years now, that area has seen significant development due to uh high high volunteer um activity out there and passion for that area. In addition,
these two uh other parcels which are in blue uh make up additional 20 acres. The current area is 2.64 all city property. Those areas have also been used uh uh throughout that area
with some walking trails, um education, signage, and and some native native plantings. But this request is talking about that that whole area to officially designate that parkland. Uh back in 2015, the pollinator park, as it's called, was not designated parkland at
that time. uh in both the comprehensive plan in 2024 and the park and recck master plan in 2026 that was just adopted, both recommended that this area be enhanced uh and coming from the 2024
city comprehensive plan. A concept a conceptual study was done that of what this area could look like and that is in I can reduce that.
So this kind of became was staff met with uh both uh consultants and volunteers to kind of develop this area and this came from the comprehensive plans recommendation to look at what some possibilities are in out are in this area and then our park
and wreck master plan then adopted and is also recommending that we look at some of these enhancements. So really this would be the first step in adding or actually designating this area parkland. And then um some of these enhancements could take place in the
future. Uh I will add that park and recck maintenance staff does do regular maintenance in this area even though it is not parkland right now. Our recreational trail goes through that area. Um and again have high volunteer activity out there.
So I am happy to answer any questions that any of you have. was lucky enough to have this in their backyard. I can't thank the volunteers that have put all the work to making this what it is. Um it's an awesome part of town. Trails are trails are fun. This
looks very usable. I'm I'm I'm very much so in support of this. David mentioned the same before. So >> I also my comment was I did like it the natural resource area. It's a common thing we have in New Great use of the
property. Uh director Schugle and myself actually had that discussion some of our other parks that are natural resources right now. Going the step further I'd actually mention a couple of our forest parks that some councilors weren't even aware of that don't get used or
advertised. >> So I think it's a great use. President and counselors, I agree with that and I'd like to offer a resolution to designate the pollinator park and natural resource area as city parkland. >> Second. >> We do have a motion and a second. Any
additional discussion? Mayor. >> Um I don't have discussion, but just want to extend on behalf of the city of New appreciation to the volunteers that have gotten us this far with that pollinator park. I don't think we would be sitting here tonight approving this
additional acreage if it wouldn't have been for their effort. So, thank to all of the volunteers that have supported that pollinary uh pollinator park concept and made it a reality. >> Mayor, I would agree with that and I see
some of the key volunteers here, Deb Steinberg and the gardeners. Thank you very much for all your hard work over the decades. Um I'll just add um that this is why these um reports and these comprehensive
plans are important. I mean even just by citing you know what we've done here u from the report we received in June of 2024. Um I remembered kind of going through the report and seeing that and it's it's nice to see these things coming to fruition and that's why we have these
types of plans done and thank you for helping to move this forward. Any other comments? I just want to say thank you. Done a wonderful job. >> Thank you. Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Councelor Christian, >> yes. Councelor Warmka, >> yes. >> Councelor Schmidz,
>> yes. >> Councelor Mack, >> yes. >> President Becker, >> yes. That motion carries. Great work, everyone. Thank you. Um, item 5.8, Park and Recreation Department nonresident fee policy. >> Yes, Council President Becker, City
Council. Uh this would be an update to our non-resident fee policy which is currently sits at 10% of of resident fees. And and really what uh we're recommending, staff's recommending at this time is uh our fees are any fee should
non-resident fees should be 10% across the board and then rounded to the nearest whole dollar. And and way that we do that is um you know with the penny going out of of use and other things, this is just updating that policy to reflect that. So we would either round
up or down to the nearest dollar based on this. >> Make the motion to approve the park and wreck uh department non-resident fee policy change for a 10% across the board fee rounded to the nearest whole dollar to take effect January 1, 2027.
>> Second. >> We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. >> I. >> That motion does carry. Item 5.9, park and wreck department scholarship policy.
>> Council president, city council. This uh policy would be an update to our current scholarship policy. So our our current scholarship policy has only allows staff to award scholarships to either program to program related fees and activities.
So, what this uh uh recommendation would do is to also open it up to memberships to the recre South Point recreation and wellness center. And when I say memberships, it would only include the three-month membership. And that could be used one time um by a household or an
individual. And that would be a a start into this process is why we chose that one. And it uh would be able to stretch the dollars further if we we start that way. Uh there have been some additional opportunities in our community for memberships at at the recreation center.
Library pass library does check out passes now for rec centers for a week long as well. Um we'd follow all our other guidelines with our with our scholarships uh on meeting the criteria and it would also not include additional budgetary uh cost
as we would be using the same um funding we have in the past. We'd just be allocating the funds differently for this. Again, happy to answer any questions. >> I've got no questions. I'm going to offer a motion to approve the park and recre department scholarship policy
change to include a three-month membership to the South Point Recreational and Wellness Center to take effective January 1, 2027. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I.
That motion does carry. One more for you today. Item 5.10, park and recreation donations. >> Yes. Uh, council president, city council, a good number of donations this month. First one for the pollinator park from Robert and Linda Beck in the amount of $500.
A Terry Steinbach plaque at Johnson Park to be placed right inside the entrance from the New Baseball Association. And that plaque uh cost was would be $3,860.99. Uh Herman Run sponsorship from Ferth Miley Insurance for $150.
A little free library to be placed in Nell's Park from Kathleen and David Suker for $75. A German Park paver stone from Shila and Brian Earl honoring Jerry and Jojo Earl for $200. Flowers at Riverside from Dr.
Anne Vogel honoring Ron Balden, the curator of the Environmental Learning Center for $103.31. Pickle ball general donation from Jazelda Web for $30. A pickle ball another general donation from Betty Camels and other pickle ball players for
$200 and wreck on the go uh first aotment to that grant from New Public Schools for $6,400. That total would be 11,519.30. Again, the park department had a great month. I'm going to offer the resolution to accept donations offered to the city
of Gnome through the park and rec department totaling $11,519.30 for the identified purposes. >> Second. >> Give a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Councelor Christian, yes.
>> Councelor Worm, >> yes. >> Councelor Schmidz, yes. >> Councelor Mack, yes. >> And President Becker, >> yes. That motion does carry. Thank you, Mr. Schugle. Item 5.11, library donations and memorials. >> I'll offer the resolution to accept the donations and memorials to the new
public library for the period of April 1st to June 30th, 2026. Unless Joe wants to keep reading these. Uh, first one was from the Prairie Peacemakers for adult books for $170. Next was Friends of the New Public Library for $1,000 for
children's programs. Friends of the New Alm Public Library, $150 for other for the National Library Week staff recognition. Uh New Alm Area Foundation, $130 for children's program. New Almaria Foundation, $33,2.30
for adult books. Ann and Craig Anderson, $50 for adult books. Sue Uler, $30 adult books. Doug Doug and Betty Royer, $100 for adult books. Carol Crummer, $100 for adult books. Brenda Portner, $50 for
children's programs. Uh Katherine Friedri's in honor of Nancy Stark, $75 and anonymous for $85 undesated. Total of $2,272.30. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Director Jorgensson, please call the role. >> Christian, >> yes. >> Councelor Warma, >> yes. >> Councelor Schmidtz, >> yes. >> Councelor Mack, >> yes. >> And President Becker, >> yes. That motion carries. With no additional business, today's meeting is adjourned. We will move into a work session.