Our first meeting to order. First order of business would be the pledge of allegiance. Please rise if you're able to. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Like to welcome everybody to our December 16th council meeting. Got a full agenda tonight. Mr. Mr. Mayor, I would like to amend the
consent agenda item I the assembly permit application for Winds. >> A motion to agenda. >> Hi, >> I Randy. >> Hi. David is our consent agenda includes our November
18th, 2025 regular publicly meeting minutes, our December 2nd, 2025 council workshop minutes, a request to approve the Zach Clap's successful completion of probation for public works. Resolution 2553 accepting monthly donations for the
mural and giving tap. Uh resolution 2554, evergreen place fund at the transclosure. Resolution 2555 evergreen place 4M fund transport and closure request to approve the department of health service connection with fee increase and request
to approve the pine fire department's brush two graphic quotes along with the added assembly permit >> I'll move the consent agenda >> I'll motion a second on the consent
agenda any question or discussions >> I cton Hi >> Vernon. >> Hi >> Bren. >> Hi >> and David. I >> All right, we are going to be moving into our public input. Um before we begin tonight, just a few housekeeping
items. Remember for public input, uh we have some expectations as a council so we can conduct business accordingly and efficiently and that includes uh the guidelines that are posted in the back of the council room. um there's not to be any outbursts, interruptions,
anything like that. Everybody's going to be respectful. Um with the time clock, everybody has their two minutes to speak. Uh given that we have a little bit of a longer list tonight, please do not take offense if I have to cut you off at the two minutes. I'm trying to be respectful, but just give you a heads
up. Please be mindful that there's others that would like to speak as well tonight. Um is Brusty Jackson here? I have not seen anything. But anyways, um he was going to be here tonight, was not obviously not able to make it, but um he is one of our
business members uh that recently sold Owen's locker and he was going to be receiving a a certificate of appreciation from the city this evening recognizing his uh long and dedicated service to the city of Pine Island. He
uh has a long family history with uh their business here in Pine Island and I wanted to publicly thank him for the work he's done and and a lot of the opportunities he provided people for employment. Not only that, but it was a staple in this community and we were
very fortunate to have him and his family here. Uh that business was recently sold so it's still there and we are very thank for that and like to support him as well. So that will be going to the end. So congratulations Russian.
All right, we're going to jump right into again um Darcy Simpson first up to the left there. Please introduce yourself and where you live. >> My name is I live at 2008 Street Club. I'm here tonight to ask you to vote no
on the approval of the pution companies. The application violates our city code. In the land use regulation chapter under city code section 1111 sub1 purpose, it states to encourage development of land
quote while preserving the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Pine Island end quote. And in subd6 preliminary development plan section B number two quote the uses proposed will not have an unknown and adverse impact
on the reasonable of neighboring property. The put application omits information on the use of backup diesel generators which are required to produce energy for the data center when the grid cannot. This is important because diesel
generators create air pollution including fine particullet, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. All of which can penetrate lung tissue and cause asthma, COPT, lung cancer and other cardiorespiratory
diseases. Without detailed information on generator use, you cannot say the project will preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Pineland. The PUT application also states the noise levels will be within the city and
state guidelines, but they don't tell you the whole truth. Data centers create two different types of noise, both high and low frequency. The application only refers to the measurable high frequency tones. The low frequency hum created by
data centers travels as far as 2 and a half miles from its source, moves easily through structures like houses and schools, and never stops humming. It's 24/7. The only way to mitigate low frequency noise is to move it further away from
people. Low frequency noise is also difficult to measure in decibb, but it can be felt and the human brain constantly processes it even while you sleep. Low frequency noise has been shown to cause headaches, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, and
anxiety. This noise does not preserve the health and safety of citizens, and it creates an adverse impact on the reasonable enjoyment of neighboring property. Finally, the POD application also does not provide mitigation on construction traffic for safety. There
will be hundreds of construction workers as well as numerous large construction vehicles using the roundabout and bike pine road daily. Pedestrians, including children who walk and ride bike, will have to navigate across three intersections in the roundabout to get
to and from town. This does not preserve the safety of our citizens and will have an adverse impact on the reasonable enjoyment of neighboring faculty. This is the reality of hyperscale death centers. as soon as we have seen across
the country and proposed here in Pyang, you must vote no on the proposal as it violates our city code. >> I ask you I set the rules. I ask you I set the expectations. No outbursts. Okay.
This is this is my last morning. All right, Lauren. Lauren Simpson, 2008 Street Southeast. Why is Project Skyway being zoned as light industrial versus heavy industrial? Heavy industrial projects have certain characteristics that are
not seen in light industrial. Heavy heavy industrial has a large physical footprint. Pine Island's proposed hypers scale center data center will be 3 million square feet. To give you a comparison, US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is 1.7 million square ft.
Yeah, about half the size. The Lindberg airport terminal in Minneapolis is a whopping 2.8 million square ft. Still smaller than the proposed PI data center. This proposed project is objectively massive. Heavy industrial is
also noted to be a gigantic consumer of energy. With the vast footprint of this proposed data center, expected consumption of electricity will be enormous. This amount of energy poses a significant strain of power on the grid. A US Department of Energy report says
that data centers consume 4.4% of all electricity in 2023 and that by 2028, it projects that data centers will consume consume up to 12%. Department of Energy also raises concerns about blackouts by 2030 unless new power sources are added.
Light industrial has limitations on hours of operation, ensuring reasonable hours to minimize disturbances to residents living close by. Hypers scale data centers run 24/7. People want to use their phones, internet, and computers all times. Makes sense these
hypers scale data centers need to run constantly. It also makes sense that we should not that we should p consider these data centers heavy industrial. Last but not least comes the amount of pollution and waste generated by heavy industrial. Low frequency wavelength
noise pollution is a real thing. We should not have housing closed data center. You will notice in the information supplied by the city council and developer there's no mention of low frequency wavelength noise. You'll also notice that there's no mention of backup generators which will be needed on site
nor the fuel that will be used. The operation of these backup generators are a huge source of air pollution and noise pollution. No variance should be given by final. >> If if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and swims like a duck, it's most
certainly a duck. This PI hypers scale data center should be zoned as heavy and industrial and we shouldn't even be in this meeting because the project would have to be installed miles away from our home. >> The the person before me took over 3 minutes. >> Why aren't these hypers scale data
centers classified by state cities small towns is heavy industrial first the large billion dollar corporations and developers don't want them to be because it affects their bottom dollar. Second state and local All right, fun fact. >> Q is your
>> Yes, yesterday. >> Yes, I understand it, sir. But please have a seat. There's other people that need to speak. >> Exactly. >> No one gave me two minute 2 minutes before I I called. No one said two minutes. I already broke the speech down
four and a half minutes. Took three minutes. >> And you're welcome to send it. >> We have sent stuff. My wife has sent multiple emails and you guys have not answered. >> All right. This is your This is your warning. >> This is your warning. >> Please noted.
>> So for those of you behind back here, >> I sir, I set the expectations at the beginning of the meeting. I set the expectations. Follow them, please. I said two minutes at the beginning of the meeting.
Two minutes. Okay. So, that's we're that's the explanation so everybody can get through. >> All right. Amanda, you're next. Please. >> Farmington allows 5 minutes. >> Sir, I need you to leave. Please tell me why. I need you to leave. >> I need you to leave. Please follow the
rules. Amanda, you're next. Welcome. I'm Amanda Nihard. I live at 230 Prairie View Drive Northeast in Front Island. Um, small town, community, quiet, and
safe are all of the main words highlighted on the word cloud of the comprehensive plan. It summarizes why many people chose to call Pine Island home. I would like to start by saying that I am not 100% propo opposed to a data center. I am well aware of the
direction our world is heading. I'm opposed to data centers located so close to residential homes that affects our quality of life and our livelihoods. I understand why they want to build here because it's more cost effective for them. But they are Fortune 100 companies
and have the means to build their own infrastructure away from residents of a town. Make them be self sustainable. Make them relocate to where residents are not affected by all the negative side effects. set the standard for what a data center should be and where it should be located. While I have many
concerns related to the data center, noise and transportation are also the top of my list. The proposal submitted said that it will comply with the state noise regulations. However, it specifically asks for exceptions right off the bat. There is no additional information that's provided. How will
they exceed these limitations? Monthly, daily for how long? 1 hour, a full day. The residents on the north northeast side of town are being blatantly disregarded. Excessive noise as well as a study hum 24/7 has been linked to so many health risks. Ryan companies claims
that Minnesota has some of the best regulations, but the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board has stated stated specifically that no true regulation will be in place until December of 2026 at the earliest. They can't protect you when exceptions have already been agreed upon. Lastly, with
transportation, it should be a non-negotiable, a hard stop. They plan to use the roundabout by my house, my only way into and out of town along with many other people. My kids use this road daily. There are pets, runners, bikers.
A sidewalk is not sufficient. Please just 15 seconds. >> We are unwilling to gamble with our safety and our health. The proposal is inadequate and it does not answer our questions and protect our safety. The city continues to revised and amended several documents to allow it to fit the
agenda, the comprehensive plan, the ordinances for development. So, who will choose to stand with the residents and not a Fortune 100 company to make them revise their plans? Please hold the project and request more detailed information. >> Thank you.
>> Noise. May I ask you again please refrain from clapping just so there's people here on both sides that would like to speak. >> Welcome Miss Lanners. Tonight, we are here to ask that you pause the status center project until
our questions are answered. Right now, it feels as if we're rushing ahead without a clear plan, putting the car before the horse, and the horse can't even see straight. So far, what we have heard from Ryan Companies has not provided clarity, only more confusion.
key questions remain unan unanswered even though we are were told that there'd be a 60-day pause to address them and gather public input that pause never happened. Here are just a few of our top concerns. First, what
will be the total power demand of this data center? What's the backup system and how much noise will it generate? How many generators are planned? What fuels and what are the emissions during this operation and maintenance tasks? It is vital that Ryan companies not be exempt
from noise limits during these tasks as they have requested. Beyond noise and emissions, how will Pine Island provide enough water once the data center is running and our water permit is maxed out? How many jobs will actually come from phase one? What's the real cost and
benefit to our community? And what's the true environmental impact? Why is this project being classified as light industrial enduring of power emergency? Who gives priority, our residents or the data center? Will these demands raise our residential electric rating? And why
did we sign non-disclosure agreements for nonproprietary information? We are not asking for much, just to pause until we have real answers. We wouldn't build a house without a blueprint. Why should we build a data center without reviewing the plan and without considering all the
possible possible negative impacts to the community? I beseech you to all dig deep into your hearts. This is something that is affecting so many people and there we're not even
allowed to to have a discussion and it it's sad. It's really sad and I would hope to have all of you. Mayor, can I just a comment about the clapping? You know, I understand that people are supportive of a lot of comments here tonight. Um, this is unusual for Pine Island to have a room
like this, obviously. Um, the problem with that, mayor, as I think you tried to point out, is that people may disagree and then they're going to start vooming sometimes. Okay. And then it turns into a free-for-all. So you have to have some rules about the amount of time people get through stop. Mrs.
Batesburg why please don't do that. You have to have rules about the way these are going to be city mayor. Sometime I'm monopolizing a little bit of time here. I've said this to this council before. Cities are not in Minnesota required to have public forms.
It's not a requirement by law. Many cities have them. Many cities don't. Many cities recently have moved away from having these kind of open forums, public comments because of conduct like this because of conduct like this. So just please follow the rules. Okay, we
everyone will get to speak. Yes, there are time limits because there is a room full of people. There would not be enough time for everyone to speak as long as they want to. That's the way government has to work sometimes. So I would just ask all of you, I don't live in this community, you do. I would ask
you to be respectful of the public forums so that we can continue to have it here. Okay. Again, I work I'm city attorney at cities. Many cities have moved away from having public forums because people won't follow basic civility rules. I would encourage you to
follow that. Sorry, mayor. Take off my hat. Mr. >> Two minutes. Good evening everybody. You know I I had uh all questions. I just so people know I emailed them all
out to leadership and I also hand them over to Bonnie here. I have all questions but obviously in two minutes I can't get through 12 questions. So I picked only one and the one I'm going to talk about is not all the others are just as critical
as get answered before you start the process here. But, uh, I'll start. I'm going to pick water. Um, how will the town get water once the data center moves
um, our DNR pumping limit that's currently permitted? Cuz that's what's going to happen when we give 152,000 gallons of water to the data
center. We will be maxed out on our permit if I jump in here by police. Okay. The current city uses about 300,000 gallons of water. So by
permitting them to take the next 152,000 gallons, that's 50% more than currently used maxes out our permit. And I'm sure people think, well, that's no big deal. Well, I'll tell you what just happened over in Rochester.
People are probably not aware of this. The DNR, I'll read it because this was given to me. The DNR will not permit Rochester to drill any more wells. In other words, put up any more water towers into the Jordan aquifer, which is
what we use until all other options of finding water a viable another viable source. So there Rochester is currently looking into pumping water from the Mississippi or drilling deeper well. How am I doing
right? So give me 15 more seconds because I've heard many times either not to point a finger at you say we will not use any more water than the Pine Island golf course.
The Pan Golf Course uses 292 gallons on an average. 500 gallons on a busy day. So out of the 152,000 gallons compared to 500 gallons.
I mean, you got to answer that question before you go forward. We're maxing out our permit. Do you think we're going to be able to put up another water tower or two? All right, Roxan White. >> I hope you have some common sense. I'm
not trying and makes don't make naive decisions. It's hard to find the words to express how betrayed I feel by the city council and zoning committee. I believe now that this data center project has been in the
works for a long time. I believe the city officials admit that local residents don't pay close attention to what the city council is doing. We didn't think we had to. If you had made a reasonable and honest effort to be transparent at the beginning, you would have received the
push back that you're getting now. I believe this is a calculated manipulation and a betrayal of trust. Your disregard for the people who live near the proposed site is breastfeeding, but this will affect all of us. There's
no regulated permitting for these sites and yet and towns and their resources are being looted by the attack with your help. I support fighting this impending catastrophe anyway can be found.
And if we fail and this huge data center is built, you will all be remembered as the fools who sold out time. >> Follow the rules, please. Your adults, please. All right.
Audrey, you're next. reported here driving when residents on Hitting Woodland County, Virginia, also known as data center alley, bought their homes, they were surrounded by farmlands with the northeast side of side of town. Now, now the residential development is completely enclosed on all sides by data
centers. Residents quality of life is dismal. They're unable to sell their homes because no one wants to live that close to data centers. Bernett was their only chance of selling was to sell the entire development as one industrial part parcel to a developer which angered
the bordering Brierfield residential development because it would put them in the same position as Hittingwood unable to sell exacerbating the problem rather than mitigating it. The reasoning the sale was denied by the county. Residents are left stranded in limbo and city officials have gone on the record that
they created this mess through poor zoning and planning decisions. There are already homes on the market in Northeast. Remember where you lived and your neighbors are selling because of the data center. We in Northeast enjoy being surrounded
by farmland. For many, it's why we moved here and why we stay. We see community neighbors, family farms, and we want to be good neighbors and responsible stewards of our resources. Ryan Companies doesn't know what it is to be a good neighbor. They only see land that they want to exploit, protections to
ignore and violate, and residents and display so that they can bulldo their homes to build data centers, resulting in Northeast being completely surrounded just like any would. We refuse to be unable to sell our homes because you make poor planning and no decisions without thinking through what the human
costs are. Most residents here that sign purchase agreements, they don't want their homes. They felt backed into a corner by a predatory developer with a city in its pocket and were rooting for the project to fail. Our neighbors losing their homes is not a victory or a
benefit. Reject the projects in front of you because we are not dispensable. Ashley. >> Dang. >> Dang. I got next >> expecting to lower this for the first time.
Hello, my name is Ashley Bang and I live at 832 Balsson Court Northeast, less than a mile away from Stat Center. My husband and I moved to Pine Island in 2022 when we were expecting our first child and we were reflecting on the type of life we would like to provide for our
family. I had grown up in a small Wisconsin town uh and I wanted my family to experience the safety, security, and sense of community I had in my small rural town. Throughout our three years here, we trained and we've discussed what types of businesses we felt would
really positively impact this beautiful community. and we are absolutely not opposed to growth and change. However, we are adamantly against a largecale data center that will not only impact our environment but also have very real
and dangerous consequences for my family and our community. I could spend the rest of my minute up here recounting to you all the factual information regarding the impact data centers have on families and communities like many other residents, professionals, and advocacy groups have. However, I
unfortunately have noticed that it hasn't made much of a difference. Instead, I would like to utilize the rest of my time to remind you all the duty and oath that you took upon entering your position. You all solemnly swore that you would support the Constitution of the United States, the
Constitution of the City of Minnesota, and that you would faithfully discharge the duties of your designated offices for Pine Island, Minnesota to your best judgments and abilities. So, help you God. You pledge to follow the law, operate with transparency and integrity,
and advocate for your residents. Please honor your oath. Mr. Mayor, you yourself on your Facebook page during your first term as mayor said, "I will represent all community members in Pine Island, whether they have marked their
ballot behind my name or not. To those who did not vote for me, I will work to earn your trust. It is about representing all the voices in the community. You now need to earn back our trust. Represent us and vote now.
>> Thank you. >> Please. Reverend David Dirkson, here next couple weeks ago on the planning and zoning committee, I brought these questions to your all attention since we do want to follow the rules and the laws of the land. Just as we've heard
earlier, the legal description of the plat is rather vague about some very important questions. There's two historic railroads that are mentioned in their plat. You need to answer who has the authority for these railroad easements.
They no longer exist, these railroads. Have they been quick claimed or vacated? Does any successor railroad reclaim rights? Does the legal description include or exclude the entire easement of the area? There's some really important questions and it's very
frustrating because this is just a pattern of let's move forward before we have important questions to answer. It reminds me of the AU where we learn that there is a historic Catholic cemetery on this land. It's a low threshold to say that we
respect the community enough to actually call the local dascese, get the records of who's buried there, and figure out if this is on the land and obey the law. It's so disrespect to this community that those certain things aren't being
answered. Very disrespectful. And as far as saying that you're being transparent, keep on saying you're transparent. It's like saying, "I'm humble. I'm humble. I'm humble. I'm humble." If you're saying it, you probably aren't.
Show us. Don't say it. Show us. Get the information about the energy use of this project. There's plenty of other projects out there for data centers that have given those information out. So don't give us the line that is trade secrets.
Be transparent. Don't just say it. Walk the walk. Thank you. All right, we got Taylor Schlotower next. >> Hello. >> I'm Dr. Kayla Waldwin Schlottower. I live at 510 Northeast. And I can think
about even speaking today because quite frankly I have the same concerns as most everyone else in this room and I feel like words seem to fall into tears. As stated, I live in northeast neighborhoods. My children are 8, five, and two. Ask any of our neighbors and they'll say that most days you will find
a kids playing outside for as many hours as they can. Now we're faced with a major construction project that will impact them for the rest of their child. Ryan Companies has stated that this whole project could take 15 to 20 years to complete. That means that all three of my children will be grown and gone
before this project. Instead of listening to laughter and playing outside, we will be listening to the sounds of trucks, generators, and heavy machinery. We've already had increased air quality concerns the past two summers, making that be even worse now. More coming to light about health concerns in areas of data centers.
Increased rates of asthma, cancer, heart disease, and even miscarriage is being reported. The University of California Riverside researchers found that health impacts from data center pollution tripled from 2019 to 2023. Harvard's thron school of public health reports that a recent model indicated that US
data centers could contribute to 1300 deaths each year in public health burden of more than 20 billion. More research is needed, but that takes time and money. And unfortunately, the people with the time and money are the ones building the data centers. As a business owner, I understand that this could
decrease the tax burden on existing businesses here. But as a mother and a human being, I know that money isn't everything. As a family, we have so many questions right now. Do we sell our home and move? What does that mean for our business? Do we move that as well? My biggest fear at this time is that in the
notsodistant future, my children, our children will come to me after receiving a diagnosis of cancer or asthma or something else and ask me why we didn't do more to protect them. right now. I'm asking you to please press pause and dig into these issues further and with more open communication with residents of
this town. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Good evening. My name is Mike Lane. I live at 112nd Street Northwest Pine Island. If you want to come my house again, I have Tennessee ruffle feathers here in town. Um I just want to bring up
two items. It talks about tax revenue. Now we understand state of Minnesota will not be taxing the data center but they say the promo was well the locals can tax the data centers. What guarantee do we have as residents that the state
of Minnesota which is facing a shortfall in the next couple years of millions of dollars is going to allow the city of Pine Island to tax the data center. how we hell these guys in fancy suits, lawyers for the data center aren't going to come back and say, "Well, if you're going to have us have a tax, maybe a
hardware tax should have a sales tax and all these local businesses just to be fair." So, that's one item needs to pay. We are going to have to pay more in taxes. Second has to do with energy consumption. Let's look at the elephant in the room. By 2040,
by state law or regulation, we will be 100% renewable. Where is the electricity going to come from? Because we don't even have the infrastructure right now for the state of Minnesota in of itself be 100% energy
uh green energy by 2040. the state of um Excel Energy, it's not happened yet, but mark my words, is going to be sued by five adjoining states that are part of Excel Energy because Excel Energy wants them to pay for the infrastructure for the state of
Minnesota so that the state of Minnesota can meet its green energy commitment by 2040. How are you going to power this thing? Are Yeah, it took me five minutes on the internet. Did you actually do your homework?
And I know the thing with City of Pine Island is we'll ignore you. You got a question? We'll ignore you. We'll make up some lame excuse. And I've seen it year after year after year. We can't even get a stoplight in the town because
it's the county road. We pay you. We pay our taxes. Thank you. >> Chris Allen, >> welcome. >> First of all, uh I'm from Rochester, Minnesota. I'm a visual artist. Uh and
I, uh am the daughter of Mar Allen, who founded Channel One, so I'm a little shy because I'm used to being behind the scenes. Uh, but I I thought somebody told me that my island was super um um super
conservative and and I'm shocked. Here I am in this amazing room. Uh I have a daughter, two daughters, 34 and 29. and my oldest daughter moved to Montreal uh
two years ago, three years ago to work on an animation film called the Unicorn. It's still on Netflix. Um Netflix people were super mean. Uh sadly, uh she's come home. She
can't find a job, so she's going to move to LA in two weeks. So, we are best friends, but AI is killing AI is killing jobs for people that are creative. Look at our daughter's. She
just went to a thing called Lightbox in LA. And Lightbox is not where you get a job. It's where you connect. You network. And she said, "People offer me jobs there, Mom." So, thank you.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Robin Schmall, welcome. Um, I've been following this project since I heard first heard about it in June. Um, and I think the thing that has
concerned me the most is that I feel like um I'm I'm just curious why my elected city officials are so in step with Ryan company and what they're asking for. Our developmental plan is changed to match what they want. Our
zoning is changing to match what they want. I'm also concerned about why my elected officials appear to be so deaf to the concerns of citizens who embrace questions and objections about this project. Ryan Company makes a wonderful
sales pitch about the benefits that they're going to give our community. But let's not be fooled. They're not here to help our town. They're here to exploit our resources, exploit our location, take advantage of local farmers facing hard times. They're here to capitalize
on the fact that we as a community, as a state, as a nation are very inexperienced in dealing with this type of in development. And they're capitalizing on the fact that there is lack of government oversight right now. Ryan has offered sales pitches. They've
offered us undefined financial benefits. And they've offered us a lot of misinformation. They've brushed aside legitimate public concerns about raising electricity costs, about noise, about light pollution, about environmental and health issues. I would expect this from
a developer. They want to push this project through quickly so they can gain money. Sadly, I have seen our elected and non-elected officials unanimously offer support to the developer instead of coming alongside of citizens who have
concerns and offering us some support and information. I haven't heard you asking hard questions. I haven't seen you demanding changes to projects that are a problem for the community. You guys can be in the driver's seat. We do not have to let
Ryan dictate how this looks. I just ask you to please do better representing those of us you have volunteer to serve. >> Wend Mr. New York operate a business on the northeast side
of Pine Island last 55 years along with my family and just thankful to be here. We live right across the uh our business is right across from the proposed development and highway 52 goes to move
by us. It's a noisy road. We all know that I'm used to it. Except it is something that's there that's going to stay there. I tend to look back being an older
person and remember when lands had a controversial proposition for the Spanish community as well. They wanted to expand their production dramatically and this council said well where are we going to get the water? Where do we need it?
They're probably the biggest water users in pine now and in the future. But I'm sure that the city they met with them and and they they came up with a pre-treatment plan where they treated the sewage that was
coming in and they became a good neighbor to us and I don't think there's anybody in this room that like see our command lakes company. It was a very controversial time then do but the council did their job. They
investigated and it worked out. There was another controversy that I remember happening over in Claremont had to do with an alcohol plant. I don't know how many of you know how much water and energy an alcohol
plant loses itself a lot but you know they figure figured it out over in that area and it's been a godsend to the farmers. It's a right now the farmers are going through a battle of where where do we
saw our product form got a few more seconds here and that that source is been dried up overseas for the product sale of their product. Fortunately they can take it over to
alcohol plants and it's very and very productive. And let's say it's in that area and here. Now you might wonder what that got to do with here. This is the the commodity that we're talking about here
is information. Everybody in this room's got one and it's information that has to be processed and that's where they thank
Paul. Good evening. My name is Jonathan Paul and I'm now a resident of Oronogo. But prior to leaving town in February of 2024, I called Man Island home for 40 plus years. And as a former council member of this very body as a former me
resident and council member, I am here tonight to vocally show my support for the most recent development opportunities in Pine Island. As a former council member, this is exactly the type of opportunity that we were charged with and strived to obtain for the betterment of all of Pine Island. In
calling this town home for over 40 years, I can say change is hard. It is scary and it is emotional. I have watched this town go from 2,300 people to a little over 3,700 now. And I remember when southeast pile ended at the softball fields, southwest pile
ended at the Catholic church, and the subdivisions of Pinerest, Pine, and Balsson Courts were all still farmers fields. In that same time frame, all that has developed in Northwest until very recently is acres and acres of solar
farms, all of which actually lie outside of the city limits of Pine Island. That reliance on wind and solar energy, as another member point out, by 2040 and this drastic pullback from coal, natural gas, and atomic energy sources has increased the percentage of power in
which Minnesota has to purchase from outside sources. This is a true and direct cause of increased energy rates. I urge you as a council to continue to do your due diligence, continue to put information out for people to review as you are able and to proceed with Project
Skyway. I also call on anybody in this town or who has a vested interest in this town to no longer remain silent if you believe that this is a possible good outcome for Pine Island. Stand up. Let your voice be heard. Take the step that
you know may get you chastised and begin to let positive feedback be heard. Change is scary. It is emotional, but it is also inevitable. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Right. Thank you.
And I would like to remind people if you have uh you're looking for information, we've got links on both the city website and there's a lot of a lot of the questions that keep coming up are on there. So, please feel free to take a
look at that. All right, folks. We're going to jump right into administration. We got truth and taxation. Am I taking this one first? >> I sure am. So, first off, I want to say welcome to everyone. Usually, we have an empty room
when I give the truth and taxation presentation. So, this is pretty exciting that so many of our residents are here today to uh listen to this presentation. So, just to clarify a few things because I know um the average citizen sometimes
gets uh the difference between the levy and the home valuation and the budget mixed up. So, the levy is the amount of taxes that the city collects. A budget is the amount of money that the city spends. And then the property valuation is the estimated market value that the county classifies on your property. So,
what your property is worth in the county. So for uh passing a budget and a levy, there are two requirements. And so the counties by state statute must send out the proposed tax statements uh by the
end of November. And that is based on information that the city passed for a preliminary levy and a preliminary budget in September. Uh and then each most taxing agencies must hold a public hearing uh prior to December 31st to
explain the le. So the city's required to put that information on the 2026 budget, the 2025 proposed property tax levy, which is collectible in 2026. So that gets very confused because although right now we're passing the 2025 levy, those are
actually tax dollars then that are collected in 2026. uh we must discuss the percent increase over the prior year and then the purposes for which there is a difference between um if taxes are being increased.
And so city budgets are divided up into uh different kinds of funds. I will explain what those funds mean. So we have one general fund, we have eight special revenue funds, we have nine debt service funds, we have two capital project and improvement funds and five
enterprise funds. So the general fund, this is the main um I like to explain things in kind of laying terms. And so this would be your checking account per se. This is uh the city's general fund is where the dollars are coming in and out and then usually they're transferred out of the general fund. And so these
are the majority of the accounts of the city spending. Um the functions include like general government, public safety, public works, culture and recreation, so parks and wreck, uh economic development. And so a lot of like salaries, uh insurance, benefits, utilities, things like that come out of
the general fund. So I like to think of that just your average everyday spend. Next we have special revenue funds. These are accounts that uh have a specific purpose. And so if you think like uh EDA, economic development authority, uh our library fund, things
like that are special fund. And so we actually move dollars from the general fund to fund these special funds. In addition, we receive some outside funding. So they might be funded uh partially by the state or county. We might get grants to fund these special funds. Um some other examples are
revolving loans, Ritter monitors, um things of that nature. Then we have our debt service funds. Uh again, if we compare it to our personal finances, this would be uh our debt. So if you have a car loan, a mortgage, the city has debt as well. Um so when we do
large projects like um make improvements, utilities, street projects, things like that, the city actually carries some debt. And so that is what these level of funds are for is so that we can track those. And I'll talk a little bit about them um here later in my presentation, but each each
bond that we take out, so each debt that we take out has its own special fund so that we could track the bond payments being paid. Um we can track the levy dollars coming into this account specific. Next, we have our capital projects and improvements funds. And so the city
opens a special fund uh uh capital improvement fund when we're doing a project. So, if we're doing a street project or um we're building something, the city will open up a capital improvement fund so that we can track the dollars. For instance, when we built
the pool, we opened up a special account so that we have dollars coming in, dollars going out, we can keep track of exactly how much that exact project um costs the city. So, when those special project funds are complete, when the special project is done, um then those
funds are closed. Next, we have the enterprise funds. Uh, these are separate from taxpayer dollars. These are funds that are self-sufficient. So, this would be the sewer account, the water account, our DMV. That's because those are not paid for with any property tax or levy
dollars. Those are 100% paid for by fees. So, if you have sewer water, you pay a sewer and water bill. Those fees fund 100% of the sewer and water account. Same thing with DMV. We run that based on the fees collected when you um buy your tabs. Uh we also have um
the cemetery and then Evergreen Place um which the city will soon be closing that fund due to the sale of the death. So So when we look at revenue, the city collects revenue um from a large variety of different um sources. The majority is
property taxes. So about twothirds of our revenue comes from property taxes. Um then we also have federal and state aid. That would be the next largest amount. And so the city receives I know the news talks about LGA a lot. That's local government aid. And so that those
are dollars that the city gets from the state. Um we also receive some like transportation dollars, things like that. Uh we receive revenues from fees and permits. Uh we charge for services. So that would be things like uh when uh when you pull a building permit, you
have to pay for that. Um and then special assessments. That would be if we have special projects. Um, and then transfers in. So, some of our employees uh work both in general government and they might work also on the sewer and water. So, we actually have transfers in
from those enterprise funds into the general fund. And so, they're paid for by multiple funds. And so, that is why you see those transfers into the general fund. And then we have expenditures. So, when we take money in and we also spend the money. Um and so the largest portion
of our uh expenditures is uh our streets department. Second would be our general um and administration. And so that would be like city employees, uh city council, elections, things like that. We have police and fire uh planning and zoning,
uh civil defense, which is emergency management, uh our pool, parks, and then uh the transfers out. So, just like we have transfers coming in from other funds into the general fund, we also transfer dollars out. So, when I talked about those special funds like the
library and the EDA, we're actually transferring money out of the general fund into those special funds so that we can keep track of those expenses. So, the schedule is uh the city starts meeting with department heads in early July. We start talking about the
previous year budget in addition to requests for what the next year looks like. It's really hard because we're trying to predict things over six months in advance. We're trying to predict utility rates and um projects. We're trying to get quotes. For anyone who's done a home improvement product uh project, you know, like quotes are
usually good for 90 days. So, we're trying to get quotes six months in advance. So, we're really trying to get the best idea that we can of what things cost. So, we're putting those together during the summer. Um between July and September, we're also talking about the budget at city council work sessions.
We're also meeting with the budget committee and trying to narrow down and see what projects they think should be funded, what projects shouldn't. And then in September, I present the preliminary budget and the preliminary levy to the city council to vote on. That's very important because once the
city council uh sets the preliminary levy in September, it can't be increased. It can only be decreased. And so typically cities while they're looking at projects, uh they'll they'll choose if they're looking at quotes, they might include the higher dollar amount quote. So then by December when
we're here at the final, we can kind of cut cut down, trim down those budgets uh because you can't go up. So if anything were to uh cost more to the city than we anticipated, we we can't increase that levy. So then between September and uh
November or December really, uh the city's continuing to meet with uh the budget committee if we're continuing to talk about the budget at uh council work sessions and with department head pens in late November. As I stated before, the county sends out the proposed uh property tax statements. If you own a
home, you know what I'm talking about. Um and then at in December, December 16th, today uh city council will uh pass a final levy and a final budget. And so, just to remember, those are two different things because the budget is
all the dollars that the city is spending. The levy is the amount of property taxes that the city is taking in. So when we look at numbers um here it shows the numbers of what's before the city council. These are the same exact numbers um that was before the city
council in September for the preliminary levy and the preliminary budget. Um this is due to increases. So uh one of the major changes we had is we budgeted a certain dollar amount for like health insurance premiums and dental insurance premiums and those came in higher than what we budgeted. So, um, we had to
account for those. So, we had to cut in some places to cover those for for our employees. And so, we did not, uh, cut the the preliminary levy from September to today, but we are looking at a total of, um, $4,218,893.
And so, this is a change of 4.25% from last year. It's a change of $171,835. And so some of the increases uh I kind of got ahead of myself but as I stated it was the 19 we had a 19% increase in health insurance premiums and a 7%
increase in dental insurance premium. We had budgeted 15% and 5% respectively. Uh we also have the imple implementation of a 2024 wage study and so that created a grid for city staff so that they can get step increases each year in addition to
a 3% cola. We had a 12% or $56,183 increase in our Goodyu County Sheriff's Office contract. We had a $2.50 per capita increase for the Zimroda area ambulance service. Next year is also an election year. And so that means we um
in off years we get to use those dollars elsewhere, but then election year we have to put those dollars back um into our election fund so that we can pay our election judges. uh some decreases that I'll go over here in um the next slide. We actually had a
decrease in our debt service. So those debt funds that I talked about, we actually paid some debt off. And so that is in the city's capital plan. If you've been to other meetings, you know the city's talking about uh doing a street project next year. And so that is planned as as we pay off debt, then the
city can look at taking on more debt and um doing more projects. So, here's just a uh some historical data of previous tax levies. I know it's very small print, but I like to include the big picture there so everyone can
see. So, the city has seen um some 0% increases. We've seen some very large all the way up to uh 16%, but for the most part, we've been in that, I'd say, four to 5% range each year. This is uh consistent with our growth. So, I like
to use analogies. um when you have a household of two people, you have a grocery bill. When um you expand your house household, your grocery bill goes up, right? The same thing happens with the city. So, we have our budget. As we expand, we are a growing community. As
we are growing, uh the city budget increases as well. We have more streets to take care of. Um we have more residences. We have more utilities, things like that. And so, it would be unnatural for the city's budget to not increase as our community has grown.
So, a part of that is our new construction. So, this is a a screenshot of what our new building permits have been for um the last few years. And so, this year uh we are on track for our largest build year of we've had 31 new
home constructions. Uh back in 2020, we had 30 homes. So, we just got a permit submitted today, which bumped us up uh to beat 2020. So, that was pretty exciting. uh but this contributes to not only an increased tax base but then an
increased services like I spoke. So, how do we compare to other cities, right? We don't want to be the highest. We don't necessarily want to be the lowest. So, um this is where we compare uh in the percent changes of the levies. So, we were one of the lowest cities in
the area for uh percent change. We'd have some cities um I think or no had a proposed change of like 36%. They've now dropped that to 18%. Um and so we've had some other cities right around in the age um or in in the percent that we are
at. And so we're we're somewhat falling in the middle. And then what does that mean to you? Right? Because that's really the statement everybody wants to know. How does this affect me and my property taxes? And so how it's uh applied is commercial properties are taxed at a
higher rate than residential properties. So I try to break it down here. So, um, if you look at the residential value that, again, going back to that first slide, the residential value of your home, that determines essentially how much property taxes you pay. And so, the residential value is determined by the
county. The taxes that are collected is determined by the city. And so, if your home is has a value of approximately $200,000 um, in 2025, so you will pay approximately um, last year you paid about 1478 in property taxes. next year,
you're looking at 1502. So, a rise of um just under $30. And then same thing for commercial. If you had a $200,000 commercial um valued commercial business, last year you paid 2,657,
next year you're looking at 271. So that concludes uh my portion of the budget and the levy discussion and I can answer any questions if anybody has some. >> Those rates you showed up there. Were they both good and does it different
those counties? >> So the city rate is the same. The county rates are different. So we're only talking about the city portion of Thanks. Do you mind coming in microphone? >> I'm just curious if this information is available elsewhere.
>> I can make it. Yeah. >> Um the city website or something. >> Yeah, I can throw it on there. >> Yep. This is my favorite presentation of the year. So any other question? >> Anyone else? >> Any questions from council or mayor?
>> No. Thanks for working on getting along the process. So appreciate the work that you staff did and effort together is good. Any other comments or questions the council? Not we're going to jump to resolution
2556 which is approving the final budget first. >> 2556 approving the final budget. >> Second motion is second on the final budget going into next year. Any other
concussions comment hearing none. Delena. >> Hi >> Colton. >> Hi >> Vernon. >> Hi >> Ramy. >> Hi >> Davids will be I which takes us to our final levy for resolution 257
approving a levy. >> 2557 approving the final levy. >> Second a motion and a second for 2557 approving the final levy going into next year. Any other thoughts or comments or questions?
>> And this is at the 4.25%. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Belina, I burn. >> Hi, >> Brandy. >> Hi, David. I >> All right, picking right along. We're going to go to resolution 2558 which is
adopting the 2026 fee schedule for next year. Taking this one. I can take this one, Mr. Mayor. Uh so this is a 2026 fee schedule that would take effect January 1st. Uh essentially the only fees that
were changed would be building inspector fees through safe built. Um they have slight increases each year. And then also we have increasing utility rates. uh the city's on a 10-year program or
10-year um schedule of a small increases of utilities of two. >> So, those are reflected in the schedule. >> These are always on the website. People have questions on the feasible flag.
>> I'll move resolution 258 adopting the 2026 schedule. Second motion a second adopting the 2026 fee schedule questions. Delina >> I hold >> I
>> Vernon >> I >> Brandy >> hi >> David will be I moving to item E which is an ordinance 180 chapter 11 definitions change. Um council, so as you know um earlier
this year back in August, we um had a public hearing and approved ordinance 178 which made some updates to section 1111 of the city code um which was related to the planned unit development PUD. Um those changes um kind of updated
some outdated language that we had from I believe the early 2000s. Um our PUD ordinance only referenced um residential development. um our kind of review of surrounding cities and other other cities in Minnesota that was um not the
case. Their definition of PUD was a little more broad um and they were able to use it for all sorts of uh types of development. Um so we wanted to be more in line with uh the cities in the state. Um so that was approved back in August. However, um it was my oversight that at
the beginning of the uh chapter 11 of the city code, it lists a list of definitions of terms that appear throughout the code. Um we did not update the definition of plan unit development to match the substantive
changes that we made um later on in the code. Um so this doesn't change anything that's within the PUD portion of city code. it simply changes the definition that's listed kind of in the glossery um for that term. So we staff is requesting
that uh ordinance 180 be approved um to kind of pull things in line um and make our code consistent. Um this did go for a public hearing in front of the planning commission um earlier this month and they um issued a recommendation to council for approval
unanimously. We got action item for changes. >> I'll move ordinance 180 chapter 11 definition changes. >> Motion and second on the ordinance
chapter 11 definition change. Any other question for Stephen? Otherwise hearing none. We got Delena. >> Hi. I Vernon >> I >> Brandy >> I >> David is I >> request to approve the community
estimate and contract you say this one >> I got it in the works >> yes it has uh so as you know the city has received a $10,000 grant from Smith's small town grant uh for the creation of a community hero uh in
addition we received donations from the community foundation, chief successful board and image committee totaling an an addition of $5,750 for the project. And in your packet, there is a quote and contract from Greg Presika who owns the big picture. Uh
that amount is for $14,000 for the commission of that mural. Uh so this in uh quote does include all the materials, travel and fees as long as and also with meeting with the committee uh to commission this. Uh so to break down what that process will look like uh Greg
will work with the committee of community volunteers including members of the chief fest board, image committee, Lions Club, the school uh the mayor and two other residents. Uh the committee will be responsible for providing input to Greg who will then create three different layouts for them
to review and provide feedback on to then break down to the best option that they see. Um so that first meeting uh with the committee is tenatively scheduled for January 15th pending the approval of the contract. Um and then
once um completed, once the mural is completed, we will need to mount the boards on a frame that will be installed near the easterly wall of Island Market, uh kind of in the city park there where there's just blank space on Island Market. Um the installation and potential lift
rental, those are not included in the quote. Um those potentially run somewhere in addition of $1,000 to $2,000, but I'm hoping to uh get public works guys to do it for us. So we'll we'll see if what we can do to post
>> but I have many questions about the time. >> What's the estimated time frame of >> uh so from the time of the first meeting to completion was about six to eight weeks. >> Oh that's awesome.
>> Oh goodness. Well, thanks for your work in image committee and then getting volunteers together and this will be a nice addition. I appreciate that. >> Yeah. So, he actually uh takes it to four separate boards to build out a 10
foot by 25 foot mural. Um, and then the installation will obviously have to be done warmer temperatures to set concrete and whatnot, but the mural will be able to get done prior to that. >> I'll move the request to approve the community mural estimate and contract.
>> Second motion and a second to approve contract on this project. Any other question for Mitch? Hi. >> Hi Brandon. Hi Brandy. All right. We got a request to vote for
the exemption from an EQB petition. Who's taking this one? >> I'll take this one, Mr. Mayor. So on November 26, the city received a citizen petition from the environmental quality board for the city to complete an
environmental assessment worksheet or EAW for project skyway. Um after reviewing and discussing with um various attorneys, it is determined that the city can claim exemption because the city did complete an alternative urban
areawwide review AU which is more in depth than the EAW. And so there are Minnesota rules where uh if an environmental study a qualifying environmental study which in any way are is completed that the city can um be
exempt from completing that EW42 and >> mayor accuracy is important and so I'm going to throw myself under the bus on one typo in this resolution uh that I'd like to have corrected. It's
on the very first page. The one, two, three, four, five, six whereas I'm open right here. Council if you want. Six warehouse. So the the second indented language is quoting a Minnesota rule
related to environmental reviews by local governments. And there's a typo there. The language there should read if the EQB strike exemption from EAW petitions. Strike that out. So it should say if the
EQB accepts a government unit's process as an adequate alternative review procedure, projects reviewed under that alternative review procedure shall be exempt from the environmental review under parts blah blah blah.
>> You with me council? >> So that's the correction. And just to be clear about what that rule says, put it paraphrase what it says. It says that if a local government does environmental review using an AUAI, which is what
you've done, and the EQB accepts that review, which has happened here, then the project that's being reviewed is exempt from other forms of environmental review and it cites the rules and I said blah blah blah, but it's 4410
is the first rule cited. That's the rule that's been petitioned under. The petition in front of me now is under that rule. So specifically, this petition is not the appropriate way to proceed. We've already done an environmental review and so it's not
appropriate for doing AU. Uh I would just say since I've got the floor for a second, as you all know, but let's confirm it for the benefit of the public. The AU the environmentally cities conducted and it's been accepted as the ATB has been is in court. right?
A group has sued the city over the adequacy of that review. That lawsuit's pending and that doesn't change anything, but that that those are the facts. And so the idea that we would now start a different environmental review in addition to the fact that the rule
doesn't doesn't provide for that. In addition to that, the fact is that the existing environmental review is in court and that will be resolved in due course through the court process. And so it just wouldn't sort of make practical sense to start a whole another review when the existing review is in court and
someone's going to win and somebody's going to lose and we're going to find out if that review was appropriate or not. >> So I just want to correct the resolution since uh yeah I I stop monopolizing your time again. But I I would just say instead of throwing myself alone under
the bus because this is in court, I'm not your litigation council. You're insured by the League of Cities. They've got an appointed counsel for that litigation for you. We received the draft of this from litigation council because obviously this is related to impacts litigation. I reviewed it
though. So I'm I'm taking the claim. I reviewed it. I didn't catch that. So let's correct it. >> Thanks. >> Okay. That action item. >> I'll move approval for the vote for exemption from the EP petition.
>> I'll second that. A motion and a second. >> Can we reference resolution 2561 with correction? >> Y >> um in the sixth paragraph resolution 2561. >> All right. Do you have a second? >> I'll second.
>> Okay. Have a motion and second. This is referencing resolution 2561. Any other questions for Bob? Thank you for the explanation. >> Thank you. >> Hearing none. Delena. >> Hi. >> Bolton.
>> Hi. Vernon. Hi. Brandy. >> Hi. >> David will be five. >> We got resolution 2559 which is approving the liquor license from JF from Padres's form. >> Yeah. >> Oh mercy. Okay.
But this is for a liquor license. >> Yep. Yep. So we have an application for a liquor license um before you is a complete application. >> All of the 259 liquor license for JF for their liquor license. Highly
recommended very good food. Very good. Uh any other questions otherwise hearing? None. Delena. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Vernon. >> Hi. >> Randy. >> Hi. >> And David will be I
and team member discussion for columns perk. We got a request to approve the columns park equipment quot. >> So we discussed this at the work session. Um so park board had approved the purchase of new playground equipment at Collins Park and so that has been
ordered um using budgeted dollars combined from leftover budgeted dollars from 2025 in conjunction with 2026. Uh what the park board asked me to bring to city council is um when we discuss what kind of surfacing we want at the
park. And so the two options would be to do wood chips like we currently have at majority of our parks or to move into um the porin rubber servicing which we will have at trailhead park but now we're
looking at possibly implementing that at park with the new equipment as well. And so uh the the pros are it is easier to clean when if there is flooding. uh we don't have to replenish wood chips uh
each year or in a flooding event. However, it is drastically more expensive and so it essentially doubles the cost of the playground equipment. So the quote uh including the equipment um for wood chips is $13563
and then the quote for the foreign rubber surfacing is $285,25. And so, uh, what I am proposing is either way, if we go with the wood chips or the pouring rubber surfacing, is that
we would use the remainder of the um, for the surfacing, we would use funds from our 250 unrestricted fund. And what those are, those are non- taxpayer dollars. Those are dollars that the city has accumulated from various land sales and then also the recent sale of
Evergreen Place. And so they would not have an impact on the levy. They would not have an impact on property taxes. But there is a pretty big price discrepancy between the wood chips and the floor and rubber surfacing. At the workshop council had asked me to check
uh the balance of that and with various projects that the city has already either paid for out of that fund or has pledged um for 2026 projects. There is still sufficient dollars in that fund. So there's approximately $765,000
left unrestricted. Um, >> so I'm not sure if you've had more time to think about it in the last two weeks since I last. >> Is there more is is this one surface? >> It it's easier to do at the time. Um so they actually pour a concrete slab under
the rubber surfacing and this is because it is in the flood plane and so and then the rubber surf the equipment would be put in and then the pour and rubber surfacing would be put um on top of that. And so I think it is the best use
of dollars to do it at the time of installation versus doing it new phase. Just so you know the residents tell this is more of a ninja style equipment whereas trailing is more the traditional style equipment. >> So kind of you know having two different
parts. So that's why we were looking at growing as well. >> Yep. And I can give some backtory. So we had we had spoken about uh moving the playground equipment from trailhead park to Collins Park originally. That was the
route that Soled wanted to go. That was going to be about $55,000 to move the playground equipment. However, there was no guarantee that we didn't have to replace equipment like we're tearing it up and moving it. And so, typically you only get another five years um out of a
playground moving it. And so, that's when the the park board kind of stepped in and said, you know, why don't we do something different? Why don't we just um use our budget to purchase new playground equipment? And that's when they had decided on it's like a obstacle
course ninja course type style playground. >> Their budget just doesn't cover the foreign road sort of thing. Um, I would like to move to approve the column park equipment quote with the
additional money for the number. >> Please second that a motion and second with >> specify that's coming out on 258. >> Uh, coming out of 258.
Todd from public works. perspective. Is this going to be more efficient instead of having to replace wood switches every time? Oh, yeah. Well, that's that's quite close. >> Cost this worst case scenario. If you
had to replace the chips when it floods, what's the cost of that? >> I think per park is probably a thousand, couple thousand each event. um they you typically get replaced each year anyways and so it would be a matter
of whether the flood event happened before or after >> the chip replenishment. So it's significantly more expensive. I think what um is a lot more accessible. I know that's a city's goal is to make
our city more accessible um age friendly initiative. I think that would help this um in making uh our parks more accessible. Um anyone who's tried to push a wheelchair through wood chips, even though it's considered ADA
compliant, I think that um they can empathize that uh it it's difficult. And so it would be my recommendation to move to have more accessible parks so you have accessibility for all >> safer. Yeah. Well, as you know, we can flood
two or three time. >> We have a motion and second on the floor. Any other questions or discussion? Thank you, staff, for working on this. Um, Delena, >> I hi
>> David. uh mess first >> and that was ordered at the same time as the trail head stuff, right? >> It was ordered at a different time. We're using two separate companies. Um both companies uh have the state have had a state contract and so that's why
we didn't have to put it up for competitive bid because they already did that process through the state. Uh we did use two different companies just so that we uh aren't overwhelming a single company. We are hoping that Collins Park and they have indicated the company
safety first that we're using has indicated that they would be able to hopefully, cross my fingers, don't quote me on this, but have it completed by Cheesefest. Um, just so that we don't have any parks under construction for Cheesefest because Trail Head would not be started until Cheesefest. So, we're
hoping to have one park completed so that while another park is under construction, we can help uh steer the boat to a newly completed park. All right, we're going to jump into planning commission which is resolution 2560 which is approving the 9 preliminary
flat. >> Who's taking this present? >> Uh Stephen, I'll start. We're going to kind of break it up so um either of us lose our votes. >> So just to kind of give um kind of the background of of what got us here with
the plat before we get into the presentation. Um so the city received an application for preliminary platform from Ryan Companies on October 27th. Um this application um proposes the platting of what's called Pine Island Industrial. Each plat has to have a name. Um that is the name that they
selected. This comprises approximately 482 acres uh spanning 12 Goodwill County parcels in northwest Pine Island and Pine Island Township. Um most of the land currently sits in Pine Island Township. Um the city and Pine Island Township entered into an orderly
annexation agreement uh earlier this year. As part of that, Pine Island Township granted the city planning and land use control authority over the area um prior to its annexation. They did this just because we have the resources to dig into um a project like this. The
township doesn't have staff on hand that can um kind of take on a project like this. So they um pass that along to the city as the RDU and the the uh zoning authority for that. Um per Pine Island uh city code 12.20
um planning commission to hold a public hearing and make a recommendation um related to plat applications. The Pine Island planning and zoning commission did hold a public hearing on December 9th. Um public comment was heard um in accordance to that section of city code
as well. Um notice of that uh hearing was published in the newspaper at least 10 days prior. Uh written notification of that hearing was also mailed to all uh property owners within 350 ft of the boundary of the property. Um all of those statutory requirements were filled
prior to that public hearing. Um that is where I will kind of jump over to the presentation here. Um just a bit of a background on the platting process. Um so cities regulate the subdivision of
land um through what's called a subdivision ordinance. Um for us that is chapter 12 of our city code that is considered the subdivision um code section. Um when developers or land owners want to subdivide a larger piece
of land into um smaller subsections for either sale or development, they go through the planning process. Um so that is where we are at today. Um the platting process like I said is governed by um code 12 of the city code. Um
platting submissions undergo preliminary and final review by both the planning commission and city council. Um so the planning commission holds the public hearings for the preliminary plat. Um it is voted on by them. A recommendation that goes on to the council. The council then votes on approval of that
preliminary. Then following the preliminary um the submitter has I believe 120 days from the approval of that preliminary to file for a final plat. That final plat goes through the same process. It comes to the planning commission. They make a recommendation.
Um they hold a public hearing and then it comes out to the city council. Um both the commission and the city council have to review the plat um against the standards that are laid out in that subdivision code. Um so like I said section 12.2 20 and 12.21 have a
list of documents that are required to be filed for plats. They also um have a list of conditions that all the plat have to meet to be considered um complete. So of those documents that are required to be submitted with the plat um the first is the actual official plat
document. It's a legal map that shows um the proposed boundaries of the lots that they're subdividing um as well as some other information. Uh legal documents that are required for this um include title work um and land surveys just so we know um that it can be checked that
the land that they are claiming to subdivide is where they say it is. It is owned by who they say it is. Um in addition to those legal documents, you get into the more technical engineering side. Um the city collects soil surveys, trees inventories, sketch plans, screening plans, grading plans, utility
plans, um and some additional documents for the city engineer to review. um as well as city staff um review of these reports. They also send it out to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota DNR, the Goodyu County Public Works, and the Goodyu County Soil
and Wastewater Conservation District. Um so all of these organizations review the same documents they send back with um changes that they suggest that they would like to see in any final submission. um as well as you know comments, questions, concerns, things like that that either the city or the
developer can clear up for them. So we'll move into um so this is page one of uh the plat document itself. Again the plat is just a legal document that shows the proposed subdivision of
the land. Um lays out right away things like that. It doesn't necessarily have to do with the use of the property. Um more so again just the subdivision of land. So what they are proposing is um the entire property um both south of
500th and in between 500th and 490th street be split into um four lots. So the first lot that would see the first phase of development would be lot one block one. Um that's what you kind of see in the bottom of your screen that goes along Highway 52 here. Um that
would be the first developable parcel. Uh the other parcels that would be um subdivided would be on the top of the screen along 195th would be outlot A. Um as we move north um there's outlot B which is everything between 500 street
and drive creek and then outlot C which is between dry creek and 490th. Um these outlots um would not be developed at this time. um in the event that they move on from phase one if this is all approved um they would have to come back and replplat um to show all the
information that they have here on lot one block one um all of these easements all of these um items for review those would have to be shown on each outlot or each proposed lot going forward. Um so the P the plaid would that comes in is considered um the first edition which
just has this one block um for development. Everything else would just be out lots and would be undeveloped at this time. Um we can kind of throw it over to Craig Heath to more of the technical review. Um, I had that whole list of documents
that they have to submit um when it comes to grading and preliminary utility plans and things like that. Um, and Craig um as city engineer completed >> the review of that as well as um all their storm water management plans. So, I will pass it on to
>> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, so like Stephen said, I uh did review more of the technical aspects of the of the project. There are some zoning items that you'll be reviewing tonight. This is more engineering based. Um, but I also do want to touch on a couple of
common street tonight. U some of those kind of fit into both categories, the zoning, um, but also the engineering. So, so I'll touch on those as we go through our overall review. Uh so uh again like Stephen mentioned the uh uh
developers had uh submitted a preliminary grading plan, utility plan and storm water management plan. What we look at with the preliminary grading plan um is just that we look at the drainage patterns u that have adverse impacts um to the upstream or downstream
properties and then we also look at how they're going to manage storm and that comes into storm water. Uh so we we looked at all of those um uh documents. We also reviewed the utility plan and uh um this project would
include off-site improvements. So city utilities help to the site. So that would include the sanitary sewer and water man. And then within the site there would be um uh private utilities. Um so those would be owned and operated uh by by the
developer or by the owner um in so uh so we did look at those in in in general they um would comply with the city total requirements. Um, as far as the storm water management plan, uh, there are two two main items that we look at and this
is a lengthy document that includes a lot of hydraulic and um, hydraologic hydraologic hydraology and hydraulic model. And so what we look at there are number one the uh, storm water runoff rates. So we look
at that in the existing and proposed conditions. So the existing being the farm fuel that we use right now. what are the runout rates in the existing condition and then also what are they proposed to be in a proposed condition with ultimate buildout. So not only did
u the reports include uh just with first phase we also looked at uh you know how storm water would be managed u uh when uh phase one or everything south of 500 street ultimately gets developed because we want to make sure our storm water ponds are large enough to be able to
handle that uh down street. Um this project is adjacent to um Highway 52 rightway and mind has a requirement um that the um the the storm water runoff in the proposed condition cannot exceed
that of the existing condition. So those those are some of the items that we look at. We also have MTCA requirements which sort of quality requirements. So for every uh uh so there's requirement of providing 1 in of storm water treatment
uh for every impervious surface that is either created or reconstructed. In this case uh there's very minimal um impervious surface that exists on the site right now. Uh so we look at it uh anything new uh being a building parking
lot anything like that with hard surface that is looked at as imperous surface and they're required to provide that one in of water quality volume per MPCA requirements and their MPCA guidelines their storm water manual outlines all of
the requirements that that MPCA has. So in in short just looking at the um uh the two points of discharge from the site both both of those are in the southeast or excuse me the southwest
corner of the site um so that is um into mind right ofway and we we evaluate and calculate the the hydraulics in the twoear storm 10ear storm and 100year storm and a 100redyear storm um is close
to 7.4 24 in of rainfall in the 24hour time frames. So we uh so we look at all of their modeling. Uh they summarize that there again two points of dis discharge on the southwest corner. Uh the first one in the 100year the
existing condition is 800 close to 874 cubic feet per second. So that's the rate of runoff. In the existing condition again as as it is a farm field in the proposed condition it would be 540 cubic feet per second. So these
series of storm water ponds on the site um there there are a number of them and they are they include filtration basins. So those help treat the water. We also have retention basins and then there are a couple ponds there for flood protection. Uh so again just slowing
that water down before it it leaves the site. uh the uh the discharge in the far southwest corner of the site the 100year existing condition is 1,76 cfs and the proposed condition would be a little
less than 753 cubic feet per second. So again, they're well under the the threshold of of what is required. And again, because it's adjacent to Mindot Rightway, um Mindot Hydraulics does all of all of these calculations and
provides feedback uh to the developer um and the city as well because we'll uh developer will be required to obtain this for work within the writing way um and then access that.
So the overall water quality volumes that are being provided by these filtration basins and what these are are relatively shallow basins with a sand um under layer and there's a subgra that drains and draws down that storm water.
So again that's what provides the water quality uh treatment for the uh a treatment for the increased run uh from the surface. Um we looked at and that's measured in acre feet. So that'd be um
an acre would be the 43560 square feet um and then a foot. So that's an acre feet just to give you an idea of what uh sort of volumes we're looking at there. So the required water quality volume is 8.09 acre feet and what's provided is 10.8
um acre feet. So again it meets that u meets that requirement. So those again are the two main things that we look at with the storm water management plan and the uh utility and plants. Um the u the
private utilities within the site that I mentioned um back up the there is a a require a proposed water main loop that will come from the west side of Highway 52. Um and that would connect all the way down into the White Pines area where the
existing water exists right there to provide a loop for that. Um any sort of uh building within the site uh would be metered. Um and uh talking to the developers sounds like they want each individual building uh meter. Uh so that
way we can keep track of the water such that throughout the throughout the duration of the of the project. Um any any questions on I've got a question on storm water.
>> Yes. Um we're all waiting and stuff that I said here before we had from the mid that right away when it crosses under their road. How is that going to be diverted? Is it following the rightway of US62 or because I know Mind has got
some plans something for that? >> Yeah, that's a good good question. I don't know any plan that not I can generally describe it. Um, so yes, we can leave it right through the ste. So, as you can see, there's a
there's a lighter green um path. Yep. So, that's the existing drainage, you know. Yep. And obviously that's coming through the building. So, the proposal is to um keep that on just on the east side of Highway 52. So, between the buildings and where that label is for
us, >> right? >> Yep. Yep. So that drainage just would cut down through there. That that would that helps manage all of the offsite water storm water runoff that comes out of the property and keeps it in um right
away and gets all the storm basin. >> Correct. >> Yep. Correct. the the main uh the main idea with the offsite water is to bypass all of the filtration basins and any sort of storm water treatment because it can clog up any sort of treatment that's
being provided. >> Um but as far as the mind project though is the um uh so mind is proposing a resurfacing project of southbound highway 52 in 2028. And so um as part of that they are
planning is going to place a covert or two along the stretch. Um and so that the developers consultant and are working together on writing for that
forward project that's his project. >> Any questions for Greg or right now. Not the time for now. >> Can I >> put you on the spot real quick? Um can you speak to um
>> I could but I probably butcher the legal terms um the railroad easement that was brought up earlier. >> Yep. So these are the a couple of the items here that aren't necessarily engineering related but obviously dealing with the preliminary final class. So um so that question has come
up um about the uh uh the lines there that bisect the property right in there. Um the first thing you'll notice that at the beginning about where the cursor is it says former um and so what that means is is these these right of way um or
this right of way um in separate parcels was conveyed uh back to the owners in uh okay it was 6 1968 and 70 71 and 72. So there are a few different parcels that were conveyed back to the owners and that right of does not exist. Uh the
reason that shows up on the plat is because some of the legal descriptions are described from that point. So um and his legal team review all the title work. Um and so that is part of what uh part of the process whenever we
property in town. Title work is required. And that's just really a search of any sort of encumbrances that are on the property. And that was one that uh how that stuck out and and so that was u again
the reason it shows up is because this is the first time it's being platted. Uh well after this is platted the subsequent plat will likely show that right away because there's there's no legal description that's tied to it. So I don't know Bob if you like. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, mayor council, you heard
a couple of comments. I think that one of the things city should know is ownership of the development property and all of the different interests in it. And that's that's a good point and it's right when that is part of your process that that has to be done. So you require in all of your flats that I give
a legal opinion about who owns what. It's flat opinion and you have to have that before you approve the final flat. Tonight is preliminary flat. If you proceed tonight, you have a later process for a final plat. And that's the point at which we have to be sure of all the legal issues, property issues, legal
issues with property. Um I do have if you have um I I do have a couple more things I can I can touch on too. Uh so the water water permit water usage is has come up a number of times. Um and and the water
appropriation permit is is um granted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource. Uh the area hydraologist is one that we work with very closely when we look at um any sort of water usage and um and so early on in the process, we we contacted
them to uh uh to look at what it may take to amend that water appropriation permit. um every close to every 10 years the city puts a water supply plan together. Um that was last prepared in 2017 and according to DNR records they
finally uh they did accept that in 2019 and um again that's updated every 10 years. So um what they have told us is that that's a great time to look at not only just uh one specific user but also what are your water usage um projections
over the upcoming 10 15 20 years. Um again when we looked at the North Sville project we put uh a population calculation um to see you know what our wastewater demand is going to be. How much water waste water are we going to have to treat? Um at that time we used a
2% projection factor. So are the population growing at about 2%. And it came out to be very close to what uh Elizabeth reported earlier with number of houses that are that are being built due to this year. So um so we we do want
to track that very closely because not only uh you know are we going with industry commercial uh but also with our um with the population. So that is looked at. Um there are there's a a lot
a bunch of information that goes into that water supply plan and um the DNR said that uh they told me that within the next month or two to three um the city will be notified that um you know if they start it's time to start looking
at your water supply plan. Um they do want to focus on some of what's happening in the metro because those areas are growing. They want to get a lot of those communities kind of uh coordinated a little bit and a lot of usage but then it's going to turn to outstate and so in the next few years
the the city's water supply will be will be updated submitted to the DNR for regional. Um if there's a request to increase the water use uh from 166 million gallons a year u to to another
number um the the DNR looks at that in various ways. they have tested um test wells. So here we may have to do pumping test um to make sure that there's adequate water in the appropriate. So all of that
information is done that is uh or provided to them. Um we can kind of set the guidelines for what's going to be required for the water use. Um and then and then the city submits that they review it and then provide feedback. So it does take um a few years of back and
forth with the DNR. Uh but um uh but that's something that we'll be starting very soon again just because the large supply fun is was getting close to be uh needed to be updated and I do know that we've put this into our comprehensive plan water tower know
you're told we were looking at that in our that we were anticipating. So >> we're already on board with that plan as well. >> Yes. Y that's that's good. Um, one other item um that I wanted to talk about is
the um uh the the Catholic cemetery. Um that that comment has also come up um a couple times that um has been um or was addressed in the AR. So again environmental review um but I just wanted to provide a little clarity to
that because um because again questions will come up. So in the A there's an archaeological survey um that is required and that archa archaeological survey starts with a database search. So the shipo or the state historic
preservation office uh they have um a database that um certified archaeologists um can review to see where certain historical um to see what project may have an impact on historical
artifacts and things of that sort. So the there was a um a Catholic cemetery that was that was um within or the AUR um area was it within this uh Catholic cemetery um area and that is that was identified
as uh two 20716 was the identification number of the cemetery. Um however it was very uh generic on the description. Um so um further research was done um looking back at old newspaper records.
Um some uh digging on site was done um in coordination with with the state historic preservation office to determine if this actually was in fact the location of the u of the cemetery. uh what was determined from or the results showed that um that this uh
historic cemetery was not on the property, not on the a property or the proposed boundary within what the plat is being proposed. Um and so the uh uh that information was submitted um and the justification for that was submitted
to Shipo and they provided a letter of confidence saying they did review the information as well and um and they agreement that um they says we have determined that no significant archaeological sites will be affected by this project and there are no properties
listed in the national or state registers of historic places. So, uh that was provided to us. Um the developers of of this project and any project want um to do their new buildings to make sure they don't get any um
anything that has historic impact because that that can shut the project very quickly if they run into some artifacts or things like that on project on the property. So um so again that was all done in uh concurrence with uh with
ship. So >> anything else on your end? >> The last one last one is backup generators. So again this isn't necessarily a preliminary plat title but we do again repeat the preliminary plans um at this level at this stage of the
development these these plans are very preliminary um again showing general drainage patterns how site will serve the facilities um and so air emissions is um kind of outside of the purview of our review here uh but more information
will be provided on that at a later time Um the MPC has a lot of guidance on backup generators. Um again, we we don't know how many. We don't know um um the size of these generators yet. Uh but when they're determined, there's there
there's a a few process um that uh that you go through. One is deter for the developers. Um in this particular case, because generators are being proposed um stationary engines or backup generators, it's kind of a synonymous term. So the
the MPCA um has has them uh has a developer um provides some applicability determinations um to find out if a federal permit is required, federal or state permit for air emissions is required. Uh so if it's determined that
they they do need one uh which in this case they'll likely need a threshold because um because it's over by the size generated that would need one. Uh so the MPCA would get involved with the permitting on that and that is they're mandated to
stay within MPCA guidelines for evictions. So that is really a permit that the city will have on hand but really was permitted to facility. So that's all I have. What does that what does that process
look like? If you're talking about any kind of seating um guidelines or anything like that and they're going to be going to say what does that process look like? >> Yep. So they they would provide
information generators, um the size of them, um if they're diesel or natural gas, they look at a number number of other things, but there's a there's a whole checklist that they they review and then in some cases their modeling is required. Um so um so
again work directly with um uh with the question for Craig. put that you want your recommendations or would you want >> um I'll kind of leave that up to you. Um
so in resolution 2560 um there are a list of recommendations if you were to approve the preliminary plat. Um the first one Bob touched on earlier was the um issuance of a plat opinion um from his office. Um and then the following
conditions um kind of reference Craig's report and Craig's um email string with Mindot. We tried to incorporate all their talking points into the resolution itself. They got kind of cumbersome. So, um, we just thought it'd be easier to reference that list of conditions that's
in his report. Um, so that'll be attached to the resolution. Um, yeah. So, I guess if you have any questions on those um for Craig or I guess I'll let >> decide how deep into storm water
management revisions he wants to get into. >> Yeah. Um no Stephen thanks. U so some of these conditions here are are standard procedure for the final. So a number of them are just uh outlining some of the requirements like for some of the plans
that are now going to be required along with the final plat if if this is approved by uh we also did have some comments that we provided and preliminary plat staff also provided some comments on the on the post flat. Uh so we asked that
those be addressed. Uh we had some comments on the storm water management plan, utility plan. Those have actually comments that the responses have been provided by the developer. So um but just make those that's pretty standard
to have those as that they that they use all those or address all of those comments. and then to obtain the any sort of uh permitting or obtain a permit in mind for any sort of access that's being proposed and then
also uh for the uh for the works within the right way. Those are two permits that will be required under um and then we also add a fifth condition there with their R public improvements that outside of the right way that uh the developer is required to
provide the easements in the city for those extra um Yes, sir. >> Just one process question. I'm not going to get into the substantive stuff that you've heard from other experts. Um,
just but on process, uh, to be clear with you, council, I think you understand this. When we do planning, of course, planning is just the word we use for the way you do subdivision. When you approve review and include subdivisions in the city, uh it is very common in the city in the 20 years that I've been
here, it's very common for you to combine the preliminary review of a subdivision and the final review, the final approval into one step. Just have one hearing in front of the planning commission and have the council take one bite at that apple and give approval or don't give approval all in one step.
That's legally permissible. It's it's permissible for cities to combine platting into a one-step process. What we're doing tonight here in front of you uh is proposing a preliminary approval with some conditions, some things that
will have to be done before a next step happens, which is final approval. And I guess I'm just making that point because it's a little bit out of your typical process. And it's uh the reason for that is that this is obviously a significant project to your community and uh it's
something that we want to be deliberate about. And so we're doing it as a two-step process with uh initial preliminary review conditions associated with that and move forward and then another step later down the road for final approval. Tonight is preliminary
approval. >> Mr. Mayor respect. >> No, sir. We're not. >> When do we get a chance to ask our question? Sir, >> sir, >> I'm just asking. >> We've had this. Yes, we've had this conversation. >> I'm trying to get that respectful here.
>> I understand that. And that the rules are right now. >> Did you answer that question? That's not talking. >> When did we get a chance? >> Mr. Lanners, please. >> Mr. Mayor, >> I've answered your question. >> No, you haven't. I haven't answered any question. >> I'm happy. I'm happy to answer the
question. Um, so, uh, I spoke a little bit about our typical process and how we're we're doing our deliberate longer process on this significant project through your community. The way the process works is that uh, you are required to by law have
a public hearing. >> Uh, in the vast majority of cities in Minnesota, that public hearing is held by your planning commission. That's specifically contemplated by state law. Uh, and that's the process we're following here. And I guess I made I obviously was energetic about making the
comment at the front end about your uh your public input u uh time uh which I think is important in these cities and I'd like to see you be able to preserve that. Uh in order for a city to go through a significant development
project like this, you have to have a process. There has to be a process, right? What we can't do is we can't just open the doors for opponents and proponents of the project to just continually give their input and their questions and their comments. That can't
work. That literally can't work. Uh and so there is a >> systemally mandated process. The state legislature in Minnesota has established a process by which cities review projects like
this. And it is my job, my job primarily, the others around here have the same job, but it's and it bucks from me to make sure that we follow that statuto process. >> Uh, and so that's what we're doing. We're following what the legislature has told us to do. Uh, and we have a public
hearing and folks have every right to come and ask their questions and make their comments at that public hearing, but the process can't just be open-ended and folks get to ask questions and make comments at any point all the way along. And so, mayor, I guess I I I support you
in in wanting to have a process. And last comment about that. I hear folks not liking what I'm saying, and that's my job. I don't have a view on this, of course, as you understand. My job truly is the gatekeeper here on process. Um, what you want to do, what policy decisions you make are up to you, but
I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you follow the legal requirements for this process. >> Okay. So, Bob, quick questions, get it answered. during public input you can and then you can reach out to >> that's a simple question he can answer that question
>> Mr. Lannard's this is gonna be my last time asking you to stop or you can leave >> we're not we're going to we're going to be civil here you're going to be civil you're going to be civil here >> we don't get any of our question naive right now >> you may leave Mr. Lanners Mr.
Please leave. >> I'm sitting here. >> Please leave. >> Follow me out. >> Enough. >> Are you done? Enough. >> That's what I say. >> Mr. Lann, >> Mr. Lanners, stop.
>> You're not being Mr. Lanners. Please leave. All right. So, are you done? >> I have. So, this is going to be a resolution 2560. Did you have anything else to add,
Greg? No. Okay. Resolution 2560 which is approving or denying the preliminary flat. Again, this is a preliminary plan. I make a motion to approve the resolution 4560
preliminary as with the proposed plan proposed uh conditions of approval. >> I'll second. Motion, a second on the resolution 2560, which is effective in the preliminary.
Any other questions or comments? >> What's the time difference between the preliminary and the final meeting? >> You want to answer that one? Yeah. So the developer has 120 days to final application for final
and then within that the Minnesota state statute uh land use apply where the city would have 60 days to consider that application. Any questions? >> Hearing none. We have Delena. >> Hi.
>> Hi. Vernon. >> Hi. >> Brandy. >> Hi. >> And David will be I which takes us item B which is request for denying the development. >> Who's taking this? >> I'll start with this one. So next we
have um a request to approve or deny preliminary development plan. And so in October, the city received an application for a conditional use permit. Uh as we've discussed many times, the city has 60 days to process those land use applications.
For the conditional use permit, uh the city code requires a preliminary development plan to first be approved and then a final development plan would go before um planning zoning and council uh with approval. then uh initially use
permit can be approved by council. The city felt that that timeline was very aggressive since we essentially would have had to have the preliminary development plan before planning and zoning and council in November and then the conditional use
permit before planning and zoning and council then in December. So the city has chosen to extend the timelines for the conditional use permit by 60 days. um by state statute. The city has the authority to do that. We have to give reasons for that and the reasons is
because of um our code requires that preliminary development plan process and then also just the indepth review that it takes for staff to uh review the entirety of the development plan and everything that goes with that. And so
today um before you we just have the preliminary development plan. Like I stated, we did extend the timeline for the conditional use permit by 60 days uh for that that allowed us to pursue that.
And so um with the application, there's a proposed underlying zoning district of Light Industrial. Uh what a preliminary development or what a PUD does is a planned unit development, but that essentially creates a different set of code for that development. And so
although the underlying district is the light industrial, essentially the PUD allows the city to deviate from that code and then uh use that PUD code to apply to the development. In most areas,
the PUD language suggested is actually more constrictive than what city code would allow. So, if the development were to proceed without the PUD, um they'd actually have less restrictions than if we were to proceed with the PUD restrictions.
So, I won't go into them all in depth. They were in the packet. However, um when the presentation, we'll kind of hit some of the um the high level kind of the the buzz topics of the EU language. And so, first we have noise.
our current code allows for up to six dB over um depending on the time of day it's either 50 60 or 70 dB and so what the developer is proposing is to just meet state guidelines and what that would be is 60 dB during the day and 50
dB at night. So again city code actually would allow them to go six dB over that they want to stay within um the MPCAP EPA guidelines versus the cities. Next would be lighting. And so the proposed language would be that the lighting
would be limited to 0.5 foot candles at the property boundary. City code would allow them to uh have one foot candle passed at the property boundary. Um so again this is more conrictive than what city code would allow.
This is a very large map with very small print. This will be available on our website. Uh so I want to recognize that. But essentially what this is is the developer um went and took decibel readings and then we also had the city engineer go and take similar decel
readings. Uh they went to these various locations at different times of the day. Um and this is what those decel readings show what it's at. Um I don't want to speak for Craig, but I think it was like noon like evening and late evening I
believe um were the readings. And then there's also candle foot readings as well of what it is. For instance, right outside of city hall here, it was 1.1 candle foot. And um the 0.1 is probably
contributed to our extra holiday decor and lights on outside of city hall. So typically Main Street is about right at that one float just to give a little bit of comparison. Again, this map will be on the website.
Uh so as far as traffic, so what uh the language would allow is uh the developer in the city has worked out a right and right out access point for Highway 52 at 490th Street um for construction traffic.
Uh although the developer doesn't have to uh they are proposing adding a separate sidewalk and path along the east side of White Pines Road. Currently, the walking path is essentially the shoulder on the west side of White Pines Road. And so, we don't want people to have to cross White
Pines Road to use our trail system and uh get to sidewalks. And so, that would be uh constructed at the cost of the developer. And then also uh adding a bypass lane on the westbound County Road 11 at the southbound on ramp to Highway
52 to lessen congestion. Um, and I'm not sure Craig if you want to um touch on this, but that right in access point uh is valid through 2027. So in 2028, uh, Highway 52 is going to be reconstructed.
And so there's going to be some um we're having starting to have conversations between the county, the township, the city, Mindot um and the developer to try to figure out an alternative route in 2028 when um Highway 52 is under
construction. And so none of the construction truck would utilize any residential roads or areas. If they're going on Highway 52 and they need to turn around to be able to use the right in right out, um they would be using the Elkr interchange because that reverse
diamond is essentially made for people to be able to get off the highway and back on quite quickly. >> Yep, that's right. So the yeah like Elizabeth had mentioned that uh the resurfacing project in 28 uh will take
up about the entire construction season and Midnot is planning to have um one lane of traffic in each direction uh throughout the majority of that construction season. So at that time in 2028 um or anytime that construction is
happening and we're reduced to one direction or one lane of traffic in each direction, we not want that 490th access needed. So uh so that's something again we're still still working out. We're also working out some of the geometry of
that um that um access um for the acceleration on the highway. So those are ongoing conversations with uh with Mindad. Um also um you know because it includes count 11 and the
potential of a bypass lane. So what that would be uh that's that third bullet point there on the traffic. So that bypass lane will be as you're coming into town on across the bridge. So coming in towards the uh the treatment point and cemetery there'll be there
will be a left-hand turn lane where you can go southbound Highway 52. and uh MIDOT is is proposing as part of that project to have a short bypass lane. So some of the work team would be coordinated if it's warranted, if it's
needed uh then um then that bypass lane might be extended just to provide more staffing for vehicles as they have southbound. So to be clear on that, my understanding is that the traffic for construction
phase of this whole project will use 490th and then when they close off the southbound at 490th, there will still be an off ramp on the northbound and then there will be a new bypass or acceleration lane built in on
the northbound side and if they need to go south, they have to go up to ZRO. the highway 60 and turn around and go south. Correct. >> Well, it's actually the the access. So, they don't want any access on it in that 28 instructions.
So, that that is a detail that would need to be worked out worked out if the developer is planning to have construction during the season. >> Right. From my understanding, the build dollar is 105 years. >> Absolutely. Correct. So 2028 also that
time >> correct. Yep. >> So that's why I'm trying to understand the traffic because what Mind was saying. >> Exactly. Yep. And it's again um part of the ongoing conversations with Mind. We have another um meeting with various
agencies coming up in January where we're going to continue to talk about um the possibility of altering alternative routes. Um but again the the overall goal of providing that access at 490 is to so that truck traffic can reach that
access point and uh we don't bring traffic into the the way plans that is the world >> right and then so then that would have to somehow figure out a way to say if you have to take 195th all the way to 60
they would have to pay that as a control test and everything like that is going to be done on 49th and 195th of construction. Yeah, that that's a good point too and there's some again as part of an on ongoing discussion with mendot
there um there is some benefit to mind as they have stated that uh if if u their ultimate goal is to to have highway 52 reach freeway status and what that means is they they just they very much limit access points at radio access
points on highway 52 and so um this but in in order to have something like that. Uh you also need a frontage road system. So from the 12 interchange, you know, all the way back in town, we have a frontage road system um with uh without
access on 52. Um and so that's that's what they would like to to get to. So we're just again working out details on how how that could be accomplished. Could involve the county, could the township, city mand
funding opportunities uh and what that may look like. and then also a timing on the board. So, none of that has been worked out yet, but that that's something that uh but yeah, we're continuing to talk about >> and then the um walking path that
they're talking about on White Pine, right? >> Um there will be like a grasser between the road and the >> path is be separate and not adjacent to the road, >> right? And so the that would come that
will come with final final plans. But yes, that is the the overall goals to get that to have that boulevard separation between any sort of pedestrian and vehicular track. >> They only have to go over that one. >> Correct. Right. >> Right. So coming out of the subdivision right now as you know and it it's very
busy there. There are a lot of people walking along the side of the road and then they jump down on the trail. Um so if if that is on the east side um like Elizabeth was saying then um anyone coming out that subdivision that sidewalk and then they're there at
that separate they have that separation between the traffic and them and then when they get to the roundabout there is a crosswalk there that that would be utilized for crossing the front >> and when that sidewalk is being done is
there are there provisions maybe to put a curbing along that site to help protect any vehicles from you know off in the pedestrians or whatever for safety. >> Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So there and there are a couple considerations that we look at with that too. One is again going
back to the storm water because right now there's a there's a a drainage going on there. So we put a put any sort of path there that could disrupt the drainage pattern. So um uh so that would be the ideal condition where we have a
curve against some storm sewer to convey the storm water and then have that separation. So it would be like a typical urban uh roadway section. Now that may not be on both sides because we run through the sun just on the west
side but again working with the developer on the final final plans for for that after all of the fees gaend well final plans that will be reviewed by city staff.
Anything else? Anything else? >> I do not. Please. >> I'll jump back. I'll jump back in here. So, um, moving on to infrastructure. So, the PD does contain language that, um, White Pines Road would be paved up to
500th Street. Um, and then in addition, there would be, uh, water main and sewer extensions. It's approximately three miles, and this would be at 100% of the developer's expense. Here is a map. Again, I recognize this is a
large map with very small print and this um is currently available on the website and we will make this presentation available again on the website. This shows uh all the proposed off-site improvements and so it shows a looped water main. Um so water uh lines would
be extended on the west side um to the development in addition down the white pine road on the east side. Um in in addition it shows extension of sewer lines. Um is that okay so setbacks and buffers. Uh so the
proposed POD language would keep the 30 foot setback uh to the commercial zones. So if it abuts commercial zones, it would have to have a 30- foot setback or a 50 foot uh residential zone uh setbacks which would uh be right in line
with the I2 uh zoning in addition to the 45 ft in height for buildings. Um what they're proposing that any building over that 45T uh would have two feet added to the setback for every foot that it goes
higher than 45 ft. So, like I said, most of the restrictions are more restrict or um yeah, more restricted than city code. This is one of those that uh the developer is asking to go over the 45 foot building height, but again, they're requesting that for every foot they go
up, they would go 2 feet back. Um and so then again looking at height and then also um rather than having a height standard um capped at 45 ft, they're asking to go up to 60 ft. But again, anything between 45 ft and 60 feet, they
would have two feet for every foot they go up additional. Uh, and then they aren't asking for the any accessory structures structures to be able to go to 80 ft. This would be like antennas on top of buildings and things like that.
So, not the main structure. Just I like real life examples. Um, and so we wanted to show some just what they look like. So 301 Main Street Apartments here, Kitty Corner from City Hall. So to the edge of the roof line, that's approximately 32 feet. Uh, to the top of
the roof line is approximately 50 ft. And then when we go look at the grain bins at Egg Partners, so that's actually over 100 feet. The structure between the grain bins. Um, and so Egg Partners, I believe they have a variance to go up to
154 45. So, um they they do have that allowance to go up to 145 ft. Uh water. So, the A estimated approximately 152,000 gallons of water
per day. uh that would be the usage for the entire buildout, not just this phase one, but that would be for any additional phases as well would be included in that entire uh water usage. So, this does have similar water usage
to our residential neighborhoods. We compared the Pinerest water usage compared to um what they are requesting and when we broke it down for acre, it was within I think it was like seven gallons per day per acre. uh is what the
water usage is being requested. There will be zero water usage for um any industrial purposes such as water cooling. All water uh used in the development is for domestic purposes um such as employees flushing toilets and
washing their dishes after lunch and things like that. Um and there will be no private wells on site. All water will come from the city's municipal water system. As we stated before, we are proposing that every single building will have a water heater um patched.
And then storm water management. So phase one proposes approximately 18.5 acres of storm water treatment. Um I didn't include it in the packet. It was a link instead because it's a 300page uh storm water management plan. So that
has been said it uh submitted to us and that was reviewed uh with the preliminary the green space ratio. Uh so the proposed PUD would require a green space ratio of 35%. Phase one alone has green space of
approximately 60%. And current city code we uh only require a 25% green space ratio. So if we're just looking at the entire development or even phase one, we're going above and beyond what city code uh requires. For trees and
landscaping, there's a 1 to1 tree replacement ratio. Uh just in phase one alone, there will be three over 300 trees planted in addition to 41 acres of native grassland. Uh and then wetlands, there is one small wetland adjacent to Highway 52, which
would be mitigated during phase 1. This is I'm going to butcher this because I'm not an engineer, but this is um drainage from uh Mindot rightway. And so essentially we would have to mitigate that uh because where it sits currently
partially is on Mind Mindot rightway part of it is on the private property and so that would be mitigated in conjunction with MDOT um for that uh storm water. So as far as building aesthetics and materials and so um the proposed
building materials would be consistent with modern commercial industrial standards for quality appearance. other proposed building materials within the QD are more specific. So our language is very vague in what um that requires and the PUD language wants to define that uh
more closely. Same thing the proposed PUD for parking. Uh they would require at least one parking space for um every single employee on the maximum shift city code. We have a square footage requirements uh for parking. Uh and so
allowing this would actually allow for more green space and more grasslands than uh if we required them to abide by the city code. And then the use so the proposed PUD would expand on the list of uses um in the high 2 zoning district.
So this would include technology campuses, research facilities, technology college schools related accessory. So there's more information again in the packet. Um those were the highle items.
Um we reviewed any items that uh strayed from city code. Like we said most of the items are actually more restricted than what our code allows. Um and then reviewing those that are not I do not think questions for Elizabeth.
I know this is like the third time we've reviewed this information, but >> it will be an actionable item. Council, >> make a motion to approve the preiminary development plan. >> I'll second motion and a second. And
again, this is a preliminary development plan. Any other discussion, questions? None. Delena. >> Hi. >> Holton. >> Hi. >> Burn. >> Hi. Randy. >> Hi. >> And David will be
takes us right public works and engineering. You have any engineering that you want to add? I don't. Thank >> which takes us right to apartment. Want to go first?
>> Sure. Um thing I'll address is I know um there have been a lot of questions and so I would like to address that and so I know Mr. Lanner's like I I met with you first. >> I know I'm hard of hearing as well and I've had a lot of >> No, I don't want you to come up here.
>> Well, I just I can't I'll sit here then. Yeah. >> All I'm saying is you've sent emails. I've sat down with you. So the invite is with everybody. I have sat down with most of you one-on-one. that that invite is extended. I won't turn down a one-on-one meeting with anybody. I will
answer questions. I get over a hundred emails a day. Emails aren't always going to get responded to. Um unfortunately, I have a full-time list of jobs um outside of this project and I do what I can. It's it's very busy season where we're trying to wrap up, but I will always give any resident the time a day. So,
please reach out. Schedule time with me. Be more than happy to reach out. So, um that's essentially all I will add. the balance of the metric or something. >> Oh, the library. >> The library. Thanks. >> Although it's kind of cold downstairs,
but that's okay. >> Um, just wanted to note that my report has an incorrect date. Winterfest is the 31st, not the 25th. We'll be having our annual book sale during Winterfest this year, both Friday and Saturday. So,
January. Yes. Not December. Thank you. Um, so yes, we will be having that then. We are currently accepting donations of materials. If people really want to bring stuff that are in good condition, not smelly, not stained, but something that you would want me to do, that would
be great. Um, otherwise Mstead County funding, I just wanted to highlight the fact that budgets have been cut um for many of us. Uh we did request from Mstead County uh 79873 for our fiscal year this coming year and they were unable to fulfill that. We did
come in um to receive 73187 which is a 1.9% increase over last year and they did that to all the libraries in the county across the board. So we did we do we we did redo our budget to reflect those changes but I just wanted to
highlight the fact that we appreciate all the funding we get from all of our sources. We do get funding from the city Dodge and good counties. So, thank you all for your support of libraries and thanks to
>> Excel works for you guys. Good job. Good job with the following. Very much appreciated. Let's see what the weather does
and ADA anything from department keeping busy. >> All right. Anybody else? Otherwise, I ask the public please read for close session pursuant to Minnesota statute
section 13.05 subdivision 3B. The meeting will be closed to discuss the following pending litigations against the city. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy versus City of Pine Island Ryan Company's US Inc. court file number 25 CV252298.
Take a motion or no. Hope you all figured out going across.