This conference will now be recorded. Yeah, it was disaster. Why does I keep one? I got 6:00 rec to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. We do have one quick little amendment
change. We're going to change uh old business. We're going to switch them around. So, how we deal with that? I'll make a motion to adopt the agenda as amended.
>> Any further discussions? All in favor? I >> oppose. Passes 500 Z. Uh we will open the public comment portion. Individuals may address the city council about any items and concerns. Speakers must state their names and limit the remarks to two minutes.
If it's return referring to the flag once we open that up the resolution, we'll do public comment portion for that which would be uh 6B. So do we have any public comment portion other than the flag? Yes, sir.
>> Uh Ryan McCresky, 356 Warren Avenue. Um just kind of wondering what we're doing with public safety in regards to the first I run over a couple weeks ago. Um I was out of the country when that happened and my first thought when I heard it was on second was, "Oh my gosh, it was that drive-thru. It was that silly intersection up there combined
with the drive-thru. I know that wasn't the case, but as a citizen of Growing Town, you know, we're put we put an apartment building in, we're putting another one in. That's decreased visibility. That's more people. We've got some goofy intersections. You've got a drive-thru that people are not using as it was designed with that bypass to
enter craft the right way. You know what? When's the next person going to get run over and what can we do to avoid that? >> I mean, in my opinion, that I mean, that incident that happened, the lady get hit, it wasn't that intersection. It was this intersection right here. So, the
drive-thru hasn't been an issue. We haven't seen it as an issue as a PD yet, I don't think. So, I mean, I understand your concern. It is something that we'll keep an eye on. NRPD does a good job of if they have concerns with traffic. >> I just know I personally had a lot of close calls at the intersection, you
know, just as it was before. And then we like we added added the drive-thru thing to it and people aren't using it. I mean, just look at the tracks in it. No one's using it. They're just entering traffic the wrong way where there's already not visibility >> and we're going to make it worse with more buildings, more people, more cars in the streets. So,
Any more public comments? >> I will close the public comment portion and we'll jump to consent agenda. All items all items listed on the consent agenda are considered routine by council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless council member
requests in which case item will remove from consent agenda and be considered in its normal sequence of agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Any further discussions? All in favor?
>> I oppose. Pass 500 Z. Accounts payable. Joan. >> Uh just a couple to look at. Um 82605 was the shoeer excavating. We had a water leak repair that was for $5,731.33. And also with sewer, we had um ambient
PDC that is 1069175. That bill is for $6,16.87. Everything else was uh very normal for the month. Does anyone have any questions or comments? If no one has any questions or comments,
I would uh make a motion to approve accounts payable in the amount of 63,75745. >> Second. Any further discussions on accounts payable? All in favor? >> I oppose. Passes 500. Thanks, Joan.
We'll do old business. We'll jump to 6B first. Resolution 20268 resolving a display. Whoops. Sorry. Uh resolution, we'll go 6A. Resolution 2026 910 West 2nd Street CUP. Miles, >> what
>> did you switch those before you started? >> I did, but yeah, sorry. My Sorry, Miles. Go ahead. >> Okay. Uh so last council meeting we talked about uh a conditional use permit where a
possible manufactured home going on a residential lot um while they do repairs on the on the primary residence there or the primary structure. Um so we Mike and I and Brian kind of sat down and we went over this going over our code. um and we
feel as though that it does not meet the standards of our zoning code and our performance standards. So we feel is in the best interest to deny this conditional use permit. Some of the grounds for that was that we have while we don't prohibit manufactured homes, we
do have other provisions that make it difficult for one to be there such as having a foundation of wood um or concrete concrete. And we also noted that the R2 zoning district doesn't list a primary residence as a conditional use, thereby
it it's kind of doesn't make a lot of sense in in our um in our opinion. Um and since there's already two structures there, one of them already being a technically a residence even though it's kind of maybe a con commercial building, but uh that's really neither here nor
there. Um so we felt as though that the the findings made in that we we came to um do not allow for this type of building to go there or for this conditioning use permit to exist. Um so we presided some findings within the resolution there. Uh Mike Flity did a really good job of kind of summarizing
our thoughts um and kind of painting why it wouldn't work to go in this specific spot. Um, so we know we council wanted more information. So just providing more information um on this uh particular issue and uh just hoping for a denial
tonight. >> Any questions or comments? Council, I know we discussed that uh a couple meetings ago. >> Was there any um consideration for ways in which it would fit to do something like this? Yeah, we we talked uh and I talked with the applicant about this as
well, but I we spoke about the possibility of splitting the lot. Um and you know there's just some issues with you know having setbacks what the lot sizes. We just have a lot of restrictions and it's the same as any city does when it comes to zoning code is we have very specific uses and very
specific performance standards for the lot size. It just makes it really difficult for this to work. Um, you know, there's also kind of talk about, all right, well, we have water there, but we have to do an extra water hookup. And so, having multiple hookups on one property makes it a challenge as well.
So, there was kind of more uh, you know, the alternatives that we have that maybe could work that I discussed with her just would take more time and more work to do than maybe it was worth it. Um, she would have to do multiple variances to even make it
work. So, we kind of felt it was in the best interest that this just it just doesn't fit. It just doesn't really work. Um, you know, our our performance standards are pretty I mean, they're standard across the board. It's the same as any other residential zoning district. It's just this one in particular is just it's an oddball. You
know, where the structure that's on the property there right now, it's a ways back. There's space for something, but it's just it's just a weird one, especially when you're talking about having two residences. um it almost kind of gets into the territory of accessory dwelling units which we don't really
have specific answer for and that's kind of being discussed by the state legislature in itself anyway. So it's just kind of a kind of an oddball kind of a mess of a of a piece but we kind of felt as though because it's not specifically listed as a conditional use
or an accessory use um and because of our yard regulations our general provisions performance standards for structures um it just wouldn't work. And then when you kind of get into the territory if she wanted if it was okay, you know, we have to talk about the building permit process as well. So
there'd be all those code compliance reviews anyway. Um, so there's just a lot going against it that don't that don't make it work. And the alternatives that we discussed weren't enough for her to say, I want to go ahead and put all this work in to possibly even do it. especially when you consider multiple
variances with discussion points by council and planning commission multiple times. You know, we've seen that before. Well, those they they'll say no um to to doing variances and in multiple of them as well. So,
I'll make a motion um to approve the resolution 2026. >> I'll second that motion denying the >> Yeah, it's a deny >> the permit. >> Any further discussions? All in favor? No. Roll call. >> Oh, sorry. Roll call. Bob. >> Hi. >> Joan.
>> Hi. >> Kevin. >> Hi, >> Fred. Hi. >> And I I passes 500 Z. Thanks, Mile, for all that work. Uh, let's jump down to 6B, resolution 20268. Uh, resolving the display of the 1983
Minnesota state flag city property. Miles, do you want to go first or do you want to open the public comments? >> Open the public. >> Okay. Okay. All right. What? >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. Miles wasn't supposed
to be Miles. I was supposed to be Kevin. >> Do you want to go first, Kevin? >> I can say something quick. >> Okay. >> So, this is being brought up because our our current uh climate with the just the culture that we're living in and the the
lack of respect and things that we have for our heritage. One of the one of the issues is what flag do we fly? What is the process for getting a flag? what represents motans uh across the state. And one of the things that happened in
uh 2023 2024, the state legislature uh provided a for a flag emblem redesign commission in order to redesign a flag. Um what they ended up doing was empowering the committee to
act independently and as our representatives themselves, they did not end up taking a final vote on approving the flag. And so it was put off to a committee that um none of our actual elected representatives
um had a voting voice on. And so that produced a um a flight design that does not really represent our heritage, our great cultural diversity. And um the proposal that I have set before us is to
maintain the 1983 flag, which is simply a consistent rendering all the way back to the territorial purpose of Minnesota back in 1849.
And what we what I would like to see is just a um an embracing of that until a proper procedure is brought about to identify if a new flag should exist. >> Thanks. I will open the public portion
comments. Uh when you guys come up, please come up to the front where we can get your voice. Please state your name and your address, please. I'm Gammy Cedrin and I live at 225 Mil Street. Um, I am in support of Kevin's
uh motion. Uh, I'd like to see the old what is referred to as the old flag used, not the new flag. There's a lot of bad feeling about the new flag. It feels like every time that thing waves, it's a slap in the face of Minnesota citizens
who were not consulted overall on a new flag design. And it's also a constant reminder to the Minnesota Americans of the waste, fraud, and abuse. In my
opinion, when I see that new flag and it's waving, it's like the Democrats own this waste, fraud, and abuse. I associate it with the Democratic party because Governor Walls appointed half of that committee himself and he did it in
a partisan manner and the other half are nonpartisans. So it is not a good representation of Minnesota overall and we should fly the old flag is in my opinion.
>> Uh good evening. My name is Aaron Schumanker. I live at 415 LA Court. Um I'm here obviously to share my thoughts on the flag. Uh but I'm not here to argue for one flag over the other. Uh it's more about process. I just don't feel like this is a debate suitable for
a city council. The state representatives, whether people like it or not, set forth the process. This was a decision there. And I I definitely um sorry, let me stick to my notes. I absolutely believe if people disagree with that process, they should bring
that to their statewide elected representatives. Um but I don't feel it's a place of a city council to protest a state level decision in this manner. Uh, this is why I would encourage you to vote no on the proposal to fly the 1983 version of the Minnesota
state flag. Um, and finally, I just want to say thank you, council members, mayor. I know you have a tough job, a lot of tough decisions. I really don't think this should be Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Roger Summerfield in 75 50th Fourth
Street here in Serto. I uh think we should have our old flag back for the reason is is that it's a history. It's history of the Minnesota. Um what they did, they didn't really give us a vote on the new one or nothing like that. They just decided to do it. But you got
to remember they're tearing down our history. Our kids need to know what's basically is going on with how this all came about. And if we take our old flags and our old history away, it's going to be gone forever. We need to bring that
back again. So >> yes sir >> I'm doing this John Meer and u I came to encourage the council really to adopt the new flag. I believe
pretty strongly that the uh the the process was it was the process and it's been done and like he says if it uh if you don't like it there's there's another way to go about that instead of each city being different and if you
take a look at it it's it's hard to believe that the old one is anything but an insult to indigenous peoples. So it seems much more welcoming to have
the newer flag. That's my point. >> We have two minutes. Correct. >> Okay. Um I was going to read this whole poem which was written by the wife of the creator of the original Oh, sorry. Yes, please. >> Um Laura McCresky, 356 Warren Avenue.
So, I was going to read the entire poem. Um, but I don't think we have time for that. So, I'm just going to read two stanzas of it. Um, so this was written by the wife of the creator of the original state seal. Um, so it starts, give way, give way, young warrior. Thou and thy seed give
way. Rest not the lingers on the hills. The red sun's parting ray. The rocky bluff and prairie land. The white man claims them now. The symbols of his course are here. the rifle, axe, and plow. A little later it says, "Give way, give way, young warrior. Our title would
you seek? It is the rich against the poor and the strong against the weak. We need thy noble rivers, thy prairies green and wide, and thy dark and crowning forests that skirt the valley's side. The red man's curse course is onward, nor stayed his footsteps be,
till by his rugged hunting ground beats the relentless sea. We claim his noble heritage and Minnesota's land must pass with all its untold wealth to the white man's grasping hand. So, I hope that made some of you uncomfortable. It made me uncomfortable to read it, but that's
what the symbolism of the old state seal was meant to be, was manifest destiny and the white man and the settlers taking over for the the land of the indigenous people. I personally feel like we've advanced in the last 176
years. Um, and the new flag represents Minnesota better, motans today better than that flag does. I also want to point out a few years ago we got a new logo for the city of Zumbroa um to take us into the future and it's more modern.
As far as I know, no one was like protesting against that or saying we need the historic old one. Um, I also think the new flag does represent Minnesota well has a unique shape that echoes the state. It has the um north star, which is one of our symbols. And
um it's also very distinctive. You can recognize it right away, which is what a flag is supposed to do versus the 33 other flags that are mostly a blue background with the state seal. So, I would encourage you to vote no on this um on this measure.
Carol Carol Jackson 44460 Jefferson Avenue in Ba Minnesota. Um I think the old flag is a beautiful flag and I think it represents our Indians. We love our Indians. There's um yes, some white men came in, but that there's
I think it's not fair to take them off of it and I don't find a reason good enough why they want to even make a new play. So I suggest it uh we vote yes for keep our old play because it I don't even know why they have changed it
because this this one don't look looks pretty bottom. >> Anybody else on public comments? Yes, sir. >> Larry Peterson, 640 Warren Avenue. Some people say they're offended. I'm offended.
So now what are we going to do? I mean that flag has flown for years and hasn't offended anybody. But now everybody's getting sensitive. If you're offended and they automatically almost win the conversation and we didn't vote on it and you guys
vote got voted in by majority. They should have had us vote to see what what we said and not them because the flag is ours and not the government's. Thank you. Mary Goodman, 626 Stratford Drive, Somota. Um, I feel we've lost a lot of
history generally through the school systems and everything else. I don't think we need to be losing the history of our American flag. Thank you. Yeah, Bob Holly, uh, 16 Mil Street. And, uh,
I guess I find it a little interesting that you're wasting your time on this because, uh, we are all part of Minnesota. We have one state flag, we have one state bird, and we have one state tree. And I just don't understand.
Um, I I don't particularly like the old flag and I don't particularly am that fond of the new one, but there's a process that the state went through to adopt the flag and for us to um to uh
fly a different flag at this point to me just doesn't make any sense and I think it's a waste of our time to be spending uh much more time on this. So, I hope you get it settled tonight one way or another and I would be against this resolution.
>> Thanks, Bob. Anybody else on public comments? Yes, ma'am. >> Renee Henrik from 144 Highland Circle. Um, I'm actually, if I'm saying this correctly, for the resolution to change
it back to the old flag. Is that what >> Yep. Okay, I want to make sure that I'm saying it correctly. When I look around this room, and I'm I'm new resident, fairly new resident of Sombroda. When I look around this room, I see it's filled
with history of this town, right? And in Minnesota, born in well, born over the line in Iowa, but I always lived in Minnesota. And I feel like
um the people of Minnesota didn't have a choice in changing the flag. Now, you may have come up with this new symbol, which I didn't even know that was a new symbol for Somroa. But if someone came in and they said, "Well, we're going to change it again. It's not going to have the cover bridge
in it because that's, you know, it's just a symbol. We don't really need that because we're moving forward." I think there was a be a lot of people in this area that would really resent not having the covered bridge in the symbol of Zroa
because it's part of the rich history of this area. And so I just feel like the old flag is representative where the new flag has just three colors in it. It doesn't really say say anything about
where's the the land of 10,000 lakes, where's the farming land, what's gone on in this this area in in our Minnesota area. So, I just feel like it's it's an important part of history. And I feel like
that's what this area, our area here wants that history. Is that two minutes? >> Oh, okay. Okay. I just feel like this area it it history is important to this area and I believe that the old flag would be better represent what Minnesota
and how Minnesota should be represented. Thank you. >> Any more public comments? >> I will close the public. Uh yes, sir. >> Merl eel 77 Mil Street.
um the new flag I was it was beyond me. I I didn't I wasn't engaged at uh at that point all of a sudden there's the flag. I kind of questioned it and uh today what I did is uh in response to I saw
that on the my web page that was going to be here this evening. I did some research and uh um got down to what boils down to I think uh what I found uh and the response to the 24 flag. Uh it
said here that the public uh reaction to the final design of the 24 Minnesota state flag was mixed. Um many praising its simplicity and symbolism. And uh it goes on to basically say that a local
news uh poll was taken. However, we found that 23% of Minnesota voters supported adopting um the new flag while 21% preferred replacing it with a different flag, different design, and
49% wanted to keep the existing flag. And uh as I went down through here, um gets a little politically political, I guess. Uh, Democratic leaders praised the inclusive design process and removal
of the controversial image from the previous flag. However, conservative critics argue this new flag resembled uh some place else. Um, and uh so that's where we're at. Although it
did say uh several rural community uh greater Minnesota counties including Crowing, Houston, Mloud, Nobles, Becker, Mau, Brown passed resolution opposing either the new flag or process by which
it was chosen. and an early 24 um I guess re uh Republican legislators bill seeking to place the new flag on a statewide ballot, but those efforts stalled. So, there does seem to be some controversy. You know, there's people on
both sides agree with it and don't agree with it. Um, you know, in regards to the symbolism and things like that, I think uh something to take a look at. Although what I liked was the uh new
great seal. I don't know if you've ever looked at that. It would have been nice if maybe they incorporated that into our flag. It uh it looks nice. Um as I read down through
it, u it addressed some of those symbolism that it was talking about. >> Excuse me. 10 seconds left or 10. All right. Well, wild rice uh mentions notice of the Dakota language. Um trees, water, things
like that. Things that some of the other symbolism was used in this flag, but there I think there's a better alternative and I understand Bob's situation were kind of barking up on. There are communities and places and I
have noticed that um areas that uh are displaying the existing old flag. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Any other public comments? >> Yes, sir. >> Um Glenn Proudoot 4550 Lancaster
Boulevard. I don't like the new flag, but it is the new flag. And if you fly the old flag, you actually won't be flying the state flag. So I really I'm
one that doesn't see the need for this boat anyway. Any more public comments? I will close the public comment portion and open it up to council if they want to give any of their opinions, ideas.
Um, I will go first to kind of get it going. Um, Kevin and I brought this Kevin brought this up to me. It was probably been three weeks ago. Um, I didn't know as much as I do now about it. The current the past in the previous
um, I've been bombarded today the last two three days of comments from public. I've talked a lot to emails. Um, I would say it's kind of 5050 out there of what's what people want and see. Um,
to get down to my honest opinion, I would have to agree with some of the comments here. It really as a local government, is it really our responsibility to deal with the state flag? Um, I my opinion is we have
the pool that we got to address. We have an apartment complex being built. We have a major construction which we're going to get to uh going on in town and opening bids and stuff like that. Is that the easy cop way out? You can look at it that way maybe. Uh but I don't
want to make my decision on a personal basis. I don't want to make it on a Republican or Democrat or how it was brought or how it wasn't. My job as mayor and our city council is to do our best to provide for our residents and taxes and infrastructure and have our
city grow. Um, so that's kind of my opinion on it. Kevin and I have talked a lot on it. Kevin knows where I stand personally, but as mayor of Zimroda, I don't think it's a wise the time
because I have spent a lot of time. I know our city staff has spent a lot of time dealing with this topic and I don't want to make it a personal decision. So, that is my uh interest in this topic.
I guess I I would agree with Todd and some of the residents here. Um I think that this is something that if if you have a disagreement about the flag that we currently have as our state flag, then reach out to your representatives.
I'm not sure that it's a place uh for the city of Zimroa city council to make that decision. should be done through your legislature, your elected officials. >> And one more thing I want to add that I forgot about is yes, this is how things
get changed is by local small government and getting it out there and getting the word out there. But again, is that something that I feel that the city has as mayor and council need to start that when it's different interests are involved. So I I
I do understand that it could be a local government issue that could change the world. I know uh we had I signed a pedentition here four or five months ago on a different topic and it started with the mayor's then but that was a different topic.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. And that's what that was. >> Yeah. We're standing at the cusp of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence coming up. and is a legal document that was founded upon the
Christian practice of interposition of the lesser magistrates and in behest of those they represent to someone who has made a wrong maneuver uh above them in order to bring about protection and freedom and liberties and
preserve a cultural way of life. Our forefathers did that for a 4% tax. We're talking about a flag here that um in the respect of the amount of time we put into it. We're going to be talking later and we've talked many times before
on million dollars of bonding issues and things like that for pools, for schools, for curriculum. We've assisted with that. All of those bring about a because they're bonding a form of indenturedness
to future generations of we are taking and spending their money to provide a resource. Now this flag cost us nothing to be able to stand and say this is this is something that's worth preserving as a heritage as a symbol as a teaching
opportunity. Yes, there are bad actors in history. There have been bad actors all throughout and we don't whitewash those things. The the poem by um the wife of the the seal maker um Mary Eastman,
she has a illegitimate sentiment that should not be reproduced. But the desire and expectation of the people who formed the seal, who wanted it, um Henry Sibi, his whole idea was that we see the
progress forward of the Native American and the settler in the state of Minnesota. That's why they're both represented in the seal because there's a movement forward in terms of um economy, capitalizing the next economy,
the next generation. It's important for us to maintain that sort of historical legacy going forward. Any more comments, opinions, ideas? I guess one of the things that Kevin
talks about um the way this was put through um uh through um in order to become a new flag. Uh that's kind of the question that I've um come up with is uh the process we don't believe was done correctly. Um and here we're in a
process and we want to do the process correctly. At some point I think we need to make that stand to say let's make the process correct and I want to follow that process in our small cities and putting that forward so that the people
that we represent can be represented properly. Um I guess I kind of um um agree with Kevin and I'm not going to say one way or another about the flag right now. to me it was the process that it was done and I want to do the correct process
and if this is a way that we can state to say hey this wasn't done properly but we want to make it proper and that's what Kevin had said too it's like if we can show this and then they can go through and do a proper um vetting they
can do a proper procedure to put a flag in place that's what we're looking for and that's what we're asking that doesn't all start with the the locals submitting a petition to the representatives and being moved forward because uh what you're doing is you're
actually taking out that step of the political process by saying we're not going to fly that flag. You've already said you're you're you're superseding the process. When we we're done with public comment, sorry, >> any direction?
>> I'll make a motion to adopt the resolution 202608. Any further discussions? >> We'll do roll call. Bob >> I. >> Joan. >> Nay. >> Kevin. >> I. >> Uh Fred.
>> Hi. >> I nay. Passes. Three two. Thank everybody for the uh effort the uh work on this topic and we will jump to new business. Uh 6A set a special meeting public hearing for a tax
abatement to help fund the new pool. Uh Brian, do you have I know we talked about it. I know we didn't know if we talked about date times on that. >> We did. Yeah. Um but let me let me just do a little uh rundown first of all. um kind of a little bit of background that
I didn't include in the packet. Um because really what we're after is to set a public hearing to talk about an abatement. But uh to get the background behind this, of course, everybody knows we've been uh working on this pool for since before I was here. Uh we got to the point where we went out for bids.
The bids came back way high the first time. Second time they came back, you'll see on here they came back about a little over $300,000 over the estimated probable cost. So just a hair under $5 million. U which
we've been talking about. Um also along the way the fundraising has not materialized the way we had hoped. So that results in a $ 1.3 million gap in funding uh to get this pool done at this time. Uh as you recall we went to the voters and asked for $3 million of
bonding. That passed like 76% yes, something like that. Uh so this presents a a dilemma uh for the council. Um so and we spoke about this at length in in a couple of work sessions, but uh there's some options. One option would
be to go back to the voters and ask for additional dollars. Uh that would push it off a year and cause another give or take $600,000 of cost for inflation. The the inflation rate is 10 to 12% plus u rebidding fees if we get any biders a
third time. Um, so we would all likely have to go back and ask for another two million uh from the voters uh to to get this project done. Um, another option would be to uh we we had talked about interfund loans. We've been talking
about that for quite some time. Um, our finance director and public works director and I sat down and did a good hard deep dive into those funds, uh, sewer fund and water fund and there are just too many projects coming up. um if we peel 800,000 or 850,000 out to to
help fund the pool at this time, um that's going to cause issues down the road. Not that it's not an option for council, uh but we recommend not looking at that. Um we consulted with our AERS, our financial adviserss, um early on and
uh they recommended if we ended up with a gap in funding that an abatement would be would be a good way to go. Uh what an abatement is is authority for a city to issue debt. And now council could use that authority to to issue more debt uh
without going to the voters again. Um that would be $1.3 million as opposed to the roughly 2 million if we went back and and um and asked for more and delayed it a year. Uh so that is what this is about. Uh this is uh part of
that process is a public hearing which is right. We want to hear from the public and so we're looking to uh set a public hearing on Wednesday the 8th, April 8th at 6 pm here in council chambers uh to do just that. Get comments from citizens on u if council
were to decide to to use an abatement and and get a pool built uh starting this spring uh for the citizens. So, we just need approval for the April 8th at 6:00 for the uh public uh for a work session concerning the uh tax
abatement on the pool. Correct. >> That's correct. Yep. >> And that's only topic. Correct. >> That that's Yes, that's the only topic right now. Yep. >> So, uh everybody okay with April 8th at 6 o'clock for a tax abatement meeting? That work for you, Kevin?
>> Bob? >> I think it will. I turned my phone off. So >> it is now. >> Yes. >> Fred, that work for you? >> Okay. So I just need a motion, a second
to approve that. >> I'll make that motion to approve April the 8th at 6 p.m. for that uh public hearing. >> Any further discussions? All in favor? >> I oppose. Passes 5 Z. Yeah. 500.
Thanks, uh, Brian. 6B resolution 2026, uh, Pleasant Avenue unbudgeted transfers. Kim, >> hello. Um, actually the, uh, the new auditor that we have is preferring that these kind of transfers that we do be
come before the council with resolution. So I have made one transfer already this year that did not come before the council and that is just we use our capital capital projects fund and a portion of our infrastructure fund to fund the costs of the project. So I had
already made that transfer. So, this is a retroactive and actually we'll be seeing at the next meeting the retroactives for um last year because normally we just made the transfers but they want to see those transfers that are not within the budget per se in um a
resolution form. So, this is just a formality of what was already done. >> So, I assume there's going to be a lot of these or a few of these throughout the year. Um there will be some every year especially when we're doing projects. Uh the ones that I said for the retroactive active for 2025 will
come in one >> one resolution. >> Yep. I'll second. >> Uh Bob, >> I Joan, >> hi >> Kevin. >> Hi. >> Fred and I passes 500.
Uh 6C resolution 202611 revised personnel policy. Miles. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh so over the last six to eight months, I'd say we've been in the process of revising our personnel policy to be more
modernized. um because the last changes were from I mean the last change was really 2011 2010 um so frankly it's overdue and we've had a lot of changes since then you know we do union negotiations every couple years um and and those updates we like to reflect in
our personal policy as well because those are part of our contracts and a majority of our employees are union so we just want to reflect it in those so we're bringing a new revised personal policy for you to approve this evening u we had lots of discussion in a couple two different work sessions now about
this for council. Um hearing some different proposals. Uh proposals like the tuition reimbursement that we had proposed has been removed after discussion from city council. Um and really we're just updating it to be based off our League of Minnesota cities model. Um which is just it's very
generic and it's um it's easy for us to update as things change. You know, state legislature has made a lot of changes to different leaves over the last few years in particular. um easy easier for us to easy for us to get updates as those come in and the League of Minnesota does a
great job of giving us language so we can update that too. So, it's just it's an easy version for us to kind of go with as as time passes and we can update rather easily. We've had a lot of comments from staff now. Um so, we've been able to kind of incorporate all of those. Um so, we're bringing a finalized
version for you tonight. One thing I will note as well, we did catch a typo on page 27 U that's being revised or it's already been redone. So, um, it was just the we forgot to put it or I I should say I forgot to put in the the comp time amount uh for compensatory
time. So, that's in there now. And I just reverted it so it made sense. Um, so that's really the only thing we really caught. Um, that was an issue as well. >> Any questions for Miles on? I know we've been working, he's been working hard on that.
I'll make a motion to um approve resolution 202611 for the new personnel policy. >> Any further discussions? >> Oh, I sorry. Roll call. >> Yeah. Roll call. Bob Joan.
>> Hi. >> Uh Kevin. >> Hi. >> Fred. And I I passes 500. Thanks Mile for all the work on that. Uh let's do 6D a public works director vehicle. Jeff. >> Yeah, we're just uh put together some possibilities for a public works
vehicle. Um put together a formula to try and figure out the best cost effective from new to used. And it was uh I knew that it was very hard to beat the cost of ownership over over buying new for the long haul or whatever for we're looking at probably 12 years of
ownership on that. Um it's just kind of addressing u outstanding issue that there was never a public works director vehicle having used my personal vehicle and um this will just have a marked I'll be in a marked vehicle that is insured by the city. >> I guess I have two questions. I know the
answers I talked to Brian. One are you okay with a vehicle versus a pickup? And then okay for my duties and stuff like that I'll be able to um outfit with the GPS units stuff like that that I need to do what I need to do dayto-day. >> And that was one of my questions and
Brian says he asked you that. So that was one of my questions. Um so uh I mean and I assume it's in the budgets and the capital improvements and it's all taken care of because you've done very well with that. >> Stated in the memo or whatever. Yep. We have have the funds in there to
>> to cover. Yep. >> Perfect. Can I just jump in there from administrative standpoint? Sorry, I guess I didn't wait for you to tell me if I could, but I just want to thank Jeff and his staff because they they really took control of this equipment schedule. They've been shifting things around um rep prioritizing and this is
one of those things that we've talked about for for quite a while. Uh that we want our public works director not to be putting a whole bunch of miles on and their own vehicle and if if something were to happen, we want him in in one of vehicles that uh that we insure as well. So, so kudos to that.
>> Perfect. I just wanted to thank Jeff too for that and Kim and all you guys that have worked to manipulate your uh budgets to keep things in budget and uh and your capital um plan in line. So, I really appreciate that.
>> And I just want to piggyback on that. Everybody else Jeff has done a very good job of taking that by the and and dealing with that. And I know other city staff has appreciated that and being organized and getting questions and details because I asked some things to Brian that Brian already has told Jeff
and Jeff has done it to satisfy it all. So he's done very well and I appreciate that too. >> Yes. >> So when we get the summer help then what vehicle did they use? Uh for the most part they use the uh the side by side the ranger and then depending on what
they're doing they they will take um city staff pickups at time. >> Y new vehicle >> second. >> Any further discussions? All in favor? >> I oppose passes 500. Thanks Jeff. Let's
do it again. Uh 6 uh E 4 Street, no parking. Jeff, >> yeah, we're just addressing an area down here that uh has some no parking um on Four Street. Um the north side to the west and to the east already have no parking areas. One
of them on the east side is kind of in conjunction with the apartment building that is an exit entrance underground parking door anyways. And what we run into is just with city equipment trying to perform our duties and stuff. So often we'll get to double parked vehicles there on a narrow street
already and it almost makes it impassible for us, you know, to impossible for us to pass in these areas. >> Often times it's impossible for any of us to get past. You have to you have to wait for one car to get all the way through. So uh in discussing this, the
no parking along one full side really would would alleviate a lot of that. Uh, and then the seasonal comes up. Um, and we've got a a grassy area there that we could push some snow into, uh, if we needed to, if there's not a bunch of cars in the way. Um, you know, so seasonal, no parking there. Just just
seem to make sense as well. When when, uh, Chris and Jeff proposed this to me, you know, it it it makes sense. >> And currently, right now, that's no, you can still park where you want by that park there. You can still park there. There's no restrictions currently, right?
>> Question here there. Yeah, like I said, there is already no parking on each end for uh section and then in between it is already marked as seasonal. >> Okay, >> for that we would just be making that part no parking and then as you come out of the door of the on the uh south side of the road on fourth as you come out of
the um apartment building, we would make that seasonal there where we need to make that corner and potentially pile snow in the future. So se so seasonal you can only say somebody doesn't move it for snow you can only ticket it in seasonal or can
they be towed also? >> Uh I would my assumption would be just just during that seasonal enforcement. >> So if we put no parking there and they >> well yes for that part they would that would be no parking. Yes. >> Right. But then if they still park there can we tow them then?
>> Correct. >> Seasonal you can't tow if they're parked and then season. No parking for seasonal. It's just a ticket. >> You still direct their operations. >> The seasonal days. There'll be no parking there during those snow
ordinance times. And and correct me if I'm wrong, Jeff, and and Tony or Pat or whoever, but um this is just kind of outside of where we usually tow. We usually if if we need to, we tow in the very downtown area because we got to keep those roads open. But this is kind
of just outside where a lot of times it's a a citation. But then they're still in the way. >> That's what I was getting at. So can when it gets to be no parking, can it just be a total >> during during which park? I guess. >> Well, the seasonal ones that you're
changing >> the seasonal. Yes. The ones towards the corner on the south side of the road that we will change to seasonal. Yes. Those would be like Tony said, a directive of us to say we need to do Yep. maintain the streets and they can be towed. >> I'll make a motion to approve the fourth
street west parking arrangement. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussions? All in favor? I oppose. Passes 500. Thanks again, Jeff. Uh 6F, uh Pleasant Avenue bid posting, Mr. Angerman.
>> Thank you, Mayor. So, this is our 2026 street project. So, just as a recap, uh this is a street reconstruction of Pleasant, uh Third Avenue, Second Avenue, and part of Fifth Street. So, this is a project where we will remove everything, meaning the curb and gutter,
the pavement. We'll put in new sanitary sewer, water, and storm sewer. Uh we did hold a public meeting on February 25th. Uh that was very well attended. We were very happy with the amount of public that came out for that. A couple highlights from our meeting. Uh we just
went through what we're doing, but we also point out this is a construction project that uh access to your home will be limited at times. Generally speaking, we try to get you into your house every night. But if, for example, your curb is being poured that day or your driveway, there's a period of time you'll need to
stay off of that. Uh also uh construction projects are very weather dependent. So we are hoping mother nature cooperates with us but if we have a wet year or a wet spring that can definitely throw it off. Uh we always want to be very forthright with our
residents and that is that uh living in a construction zone is is a challenge. It's difficult. Uh so we went through what we do to help with that as far as notifications, as far as garbage cans and mailboxes. as we went through those details and um I think everybody felt we
have a pretty good plan of how we're going to tackle it this year. So uh so what we're asking the council tonight is we're approving the advertisement for bids. So we will take bids uh April 15th. We'll bring them to the council on April 16th uh for action. Uh a couple
things. Uh one thing I wanted to point out from the public meeting. We had a couple residents uh ask if we could install some more subdrain. They let us know there's some wet areas there. So what Brian and I and Jeff had talked about is we're going to keep the scope as is, but if we were depending upon
what our bids come in at budget, we may elect or come back to the council to add some subdrain into the project. Okay, that was one item. Another item of a more recent concern, this is for Kim, and that is we are a little concerned right now what's going on with oil prices and diesel prices. Uh we are
seeing things increase uh with what's going on in the world right now. So, uh, what'll happen in the next month is anybody's guess, but that's something we are a little concerned about. Is that going to impact costs? So, uh, unfortunately, we we won't know until we
open bids. Uh, but otherwise, uh, everything else should be set, uh, to go. So, again, we're looking for a a motion tonight to approve the advertisement for bids, but would love to answer any questions uh, prior to that. >> What is a projected start? How many
months to do this? >> Um, so, so we give the contractor flexibility end of May, uh, first part of June and our completion date is in November. >> Any questions for Bill? >> I'll make a motion to approve
the >> second. Any further discussions? All in favor? >> I oppose. passes 500. Thanks, Bill. Here you come again. 6G, resolution 202612, lead service line fund application. >> Yes. Thank you,
>> good news. If you hadn't heard, uh we did receive a grant in the amount of a million dollars uh here in January to replace lead service lines. Uh that will not replace all the lead service lines we have, but this was the maximum grant amount. So, we received the maximum amount. Uh we have also now applied for next year as well. So hopefully we'll
receive some additional funds. Uh as part of our funding application or funding package, there's a resolution we need to pass tonight. That's what's in your packet. Um after we pass that, we're actually still waiting for the final documents from the state. Brian and I work through that. Uh the intent
is that we'll come back to you again after this. it's out of our hands. But, uh, assuming we we finish our funding package, we'll come back here in April to approve an engineering agreement, then to put together plans and specs. Our goal would be to bid this project later this summer, early fall, and then,
uh, start work on, uh, those service lines. So, a good thing for the city and a good thing to get accomplished. >> So, um, uh, Mayor, the recommendation is to pass uh, the resolution that's included in your packet. I'll make a motion to approve resolution
202612. >> Any further discussion? All in favor? Roll >> call. >> Bob. >> Hi. >> Joan. >> Hi. >> Kevin. >> I Fred. >> Hi. >> And I I passes 500. >> Um, thanks Bill. Uh, 6H Highland 7th
preliminary plat miles. >> Thank you, Mayor Council. Uh so we have received some preliminary plat documents from Bigalow Homes to construct 28 single family and patio homes along Eagle Lane and Highlands Avenue. This would be the seventh phase of our
Highlands developments. So uh if you go up to the golf course, there's kind of that big open space. Um they're moving into that. They own the land. They're they're moving into that. So we we've been part of this process for the last 20 years basically, but they're coming to do their next next chunk uh to get this moving. Uh so public notices were
sent out in February to the affected properties. Uh we held a public hearing at planning commission in March. Uh so we heard from probably a dozen residents around the area mostly about uh the construction timeline, road access, and uh possible addition of a park. Um some
of those were just just are done by the development agreement itself. So you'll probably see a lot of that as the development agreement comes along too. Um so you'll see that in the future, but we will also see a final plat next month as well from Bigalow Homes. They've actually already submitted a lot of that documentation for us as well, so they're
moving pretty quickly and they are uh have been super easy to work with for me so far. Um, and city engineers Bill Ingramman and Scott Huni both reviewed the submitted material submitted materials and recommended conditional approval of the preliminary plat. Those conditions will be satisfied by the
final plat before you get the final recommendation. So, um, anything that's in that conditional letter will be satisfied by the next time you you would see this. Um, and so, uh, we're looking for kind of approval to move ahead. Uh, planning commission approved this, uh, unanimously. Um, so we're just looking
forward to move ahead on this and continue working on the development agreement and getting the final plot ready for council next month. >> Your goal is, I assume, move dirt here this year yet, this spring. >> Yeah, they'd like to. Um, you know, it's obviously a slow process, but uh and they know they know the gist of our
timeline and and what's going on. So, they're kind of just waiting on that. Um, but that's the goal is that they want to start getting moving on it this summer at some point. >> 28 motion and a second to approve the preliminary. >> I got a question.
>> We've had questions on some lots and things before. Is there any questions with these lots where we're going to need variances down the road or everything kind of meet our codes right now? >> Everything meets our codes. So, um Bob you may be referring to in the last
phase you this was a plan unit development we changed the rightway width because we were finding that previous phases were narrow and that maybe led to some of the issues. Y >> so we did change that last phase and we are asking them to continue that in this phase to hopefully alleviate some of
that. So my answer is yes, but the but the but part is ultimately we don't control what's proposed on the lot, but it meets all requirements and we feel it's adequate. Now someone can still pro propose something excessive, but we we're pretty comfortable with it.
>> Great. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. This is this is Mike on Zoom. Um, so if the council is going to make a motion to approve this, I would just in the motion reference the conditional approval uh the letter that was sent
that lists the conditions. So you'd be approving it' be a motion to approve the preliminary plat subject to the conditional approval letter um delivered by staff to the developer. >> Thanks Mike. Yeah,
>> I'll just make that motion as recommended. >> Got that, Kim. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussions? All in favor? >> Opposed? Passes 5 Z. Thanks, Miles and
uh Mike, our city attorney. Uh let's do reports. Brian. >> Yeah, I just want to thank the citizens that came out tonight. It's always good to have uh debate. Uh thanks for the thoughtful uh discussion with the council. You know, this is the way local government should work and we just
appreciate all the efforts and uh yeah, it was a I thought it was a very good meeting tonight. Thank you. >> Thanks, Brian. >> James, >> nothing's a nightmare. Thank you. Sorry. Um we've had several applications come in for the police officer posting that
we have that's going to close on Sunday. Then Chief Callan will begin the review process of those and scheduling interviews for qualified applicants. Um Stephanie, our newest sergeant, has started her field training after completed the administrative side. We threw her right into it Sunday with the
blizzard. Um so she was in for a wild ride right off the bat, but she's acclimating very well. She will be assuming my side of the schedule here on Wednesday, Thursdays once she does complete the training. Um, other than that, we're just looking forward to getting interviews underway for the officer candidates.
>> Thanks, Bill. >> Nothing additional. Thank you, >> Jeff. >> Nothing tonight. >> Nothing tonight. >> Mild. >> I just want to make a quick note. I know we had a few inches of snow. I just want to thank the >> the park and street. Um, I know they had some challenges just like anybody else
that was moving snow or had to move it in the driveway, but uh you did a great job of cleaning it up and keeping on it. So again, I want to thank uh Street Skies for that. >> I just wanted to say about the same thing Brian did. Um thank you for all the citizens and all the people that did
make comments to some of these issues that we have. Um very much appreciate their inputs. >> Uh Joan, >> I would agree with Bob. It was a very nice conversation here. Very nice.
>> Yeah. Two things. one with the the new ambulance rig is in and out in use. So, that's a that's a success. And then also related to that, just big props to the department of uh for the
plowing. Uh we had the state had a number of rigs in the ditch and things and they were able to accommodate some of the traffic and clearing of roads and things that really helped out in the emergency situation. So big props to your department for that. Thank you,
>> Brett. >> And I just want to thank you too for that because I could imagine you guys got there on Monday morning was like, "Oh, what do we do with all this?" >> Yeah. It's like, you know, so I appreciate it. Thanks, guys. >> Perfect. Meeting Journ