As an expert transcriptionist, I have analyzed the context, the names of the officials, and the specific departmental responsibilities mentioned to identify the speakers in this transcript. [0:09] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** let's call the Tuesday March 11th 2025 meeting to order. [0:20] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Council member Barnes? (Here) Council member Doumbouya? (Here) Council member Ross? (Here) Council member Rowan? (Here) Council member van Sluis? (Here) Council member Thiele? (Here) Mayor Spooner? [0:41] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** here. [0:58] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** All right, approval of the agenda. Any changes? [Music] I think I'll take a motion. Second? Motion by Peter van Sluis. [1:19] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Motion passes. Presentation and introductions—we have none. Approval of the minutes: February 25th, 2025, and special council meeting March 4th, 2025. [1:40] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Second by Ross. Motion passes. Requests to be heard—did we have any up there? Moving on to consent agenda items. Consent agenda A through P. [2:12] **John Rowan (City Council):** I'll make a motion to approve. [2:21] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Second by Ross. [Vote proceeds]. Public hearings. First one is Resolution 2025-061: Order improvements and order preparation of plans and specifications for residential street overlay and sidewalk improvements, contract 2025-02. Presentation? [3:06] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** First, that's acceptable to the Mayor. Thank you, Mayor, members of the Council and the public. This is the first of three public hearings tonight to consider three of our street improvement projects. The first one is our 2025 Street Overlay and Sidewalk Improvement, contract 2025-02. The map on the screen shows the streets proposed to be overlaid. We have a couple of streets also proposed to get some sidewalk, and we'll go over them in depth. Project areas here: Project scope on a mill and overlay project—we will come in and mill the street, either an edge mill for a first overlay or a full-width mill if it's the second overlay for the street. We repair castings and structures within the roadway that need attention, and replace any defective existing curb or sidewalk. Just because a sidewalk or curb is cracked does not mean it is defective; it's got to have some settlement. Last thing that's typically done is shown in the chart on the right-hand side of the slide—our street life cycle program. You can see from original construction we get a couple of seal coats in there before we do a first overlay, typically another couple seal coats before a second overlay, and then a fifth or sometimes a sixth seal coat before we get to full reconstruction. Our goal for modern streets is to get 60 years of life out of them. [4:36] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** This project is divided into four specific project areas. The first area, Area 1, is Jefferson Place and Fairview Avenue. This is the area down right to the north side of town. The picture on the right just provides a pavement example of a mill and overlay. The second project area is kind of the Burnhill neighborhood west of Western Avenue, as well as some of the Country Club Estates additions. You can see some of the streets included there. We'll talk about 25th Avenue Northwest a little bit more in depth in relation to the sidewalk; that's what the asterisk is there for. The rest of the streets that are included in this project area are shown here. Again, here is a map showing the streets in yellow that are proposed for an overlay project, and the little green line in the top left of the picture on the left is the sidewalk segment for that portion of 25th Avenue. Pictures on the screen show examples of the existing pavement conditions. Mill and overlays are really pavement preservation projects. We want to do them at the right time to preserve the underlying pavement and gravel base. So, people ask, "Why are you overlaying this street when that street over there is worse?" It's because those streets that are worse typically have exceeded the useful life of a mill and overlay, and it would just be a waste to mill and overlay them because they would fail too fast. That's why it seems like we're doing streets that aren't as bad as some other streets—it's the time to invest to get another 20 years. [6:09] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** I mentioned 25th Avenue Northwest. According to our Council-approved 2021 Comprehensive Sidewalk and Trail Plan, it is proposed to have a new sidewalk extended from 15 and a half Street up to 17th Street Northwest. You can see that on the diagram on the left showing the north-south red line there. The project land just north of 17th Street is developable land that a developer does own. They've been into the city a couple of times with development proposals and just haven't followed through all the way. So, we do anticipate that that land north of 17th Street will develop in the future. At that time, 17th Street, which is a gravel road west of Western Avenue, would get improved to a modern urban street section, and sidewalk would be installed with that project. Then you can see what this does: it creates a pedestrian loop around the west side of Western Avenue that also ties into the trail system along Western, 17th Street, and Highway 21. The picture on the right here is just an aerial photo again; the existing sidewalk is along 25th Avenue and terminates just here at 15 and a half. [7:35] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** In the aerial photo, you can see the sidewalk along the townhomes from the Carriage Home subdivision that was put in with that subdivision. Obviously, the homes that were built north of there predate our subdivision regulations. I did receive a couple of pieces of correspondence from some residents along 25th Avenue asking about why the sidewalk was on the west side of the road. Cost-wise, we've run the numbers—there isn't a whole lot of cost difference. If we go on the east side of the road, we have to add four or five pedestrian ramps. If we stay on the west side, we cross driveways. I'm sure we'll receive some comments regarding feedback for preference of side, which we can discuss. [8:39] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Project Area 3 is Cardinal Avenue and Cardinal Lane. Again, there's a sidewalk proposed on Cardinal Avenue. This is the area north of the truck stop. This sidewalk is proposed to go on the west side of Cardinal Avenue to connect the trail and sidewalk system along 30th Street up to what is presently the hotel but is transitioning into a day treatment facility. It's a way to provide pedestrian access out to that trail system. There have also been various development proposals for the vacant land on the side of the horseshoe here. We felt like now was the time so it's there and established so developers can work around it. There are also now two apartment buildings with a lot of residents out here. [9:51] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** The final project area in this contract is Acorn Trail from 30th Street Northwest to the city limits. Similar to most recent years, we didn't host an in-person neighborhood meeting; we sent out a letter to all the residences adjacent to the project with a virtual informational meeting presentation. It's very similar to what we would give in person but allows folks to read it and participate at their own time and leisure. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on that. Questions I received up until tonight were questions about the sidewalk on 25th Avenue and general questions about access during construction. Generally, they lose access for at least a half hour when the mills are running or they are paving. The only other time would be if their curb or driveway pavement is being replaced, but that’s the exception. Folks get questions about costs and are reminded that starting in 2022, Council transitioned from special assessments to franchise fees to fund our Street Improvement Fund. [11:38] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Total estimated project costs, including engineering contingencies and design fees, is just under $1.3 million. A majority of that—over 90%—is funded through the Street Improvement Fund. The remaining portions are funded through various utility funds to fix structures like hydrants or valves. Pending approval of ordering the improvements and plans/specs tonight, we would look to be back in two weeks with final plans for approval to award a contract on April 22nd. Construction would start depending upon road restrictions and be wrapped up by the end of summer. With that, we would ask that you hold the hearing, and following the conclusion of the public hearing, we ask if there is any direction the council would like to provide. Are there any questions? [13:00] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Any questions before I open the public hearing? Second? Motion by Ross to open the public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this matter, state your name and address at the microphone and please speak directly into it. [13:49] **Nick Parus (Public Speaker):** Mayor, my name is Nick Parus. I live on 1602 25th Avenue North. I've lived there for over 30 years. There are six houses there that are original to this, and we've never had any sidewalk and don't see a need for a sidewalk to go nowhere. It's going to dead-end at 17th Street until that property develops. They've been talking about developing that for 25 years. If the sidewalk has to go in, could it possibly go on the east side of the street where there's no obstructions? On the west side of the street, all of the utilities run there. There are six driveways to cross. He's talking about pedestrian ramps—it's a lot cheaper to put ramps in than to rip up everybody's driveway at least 20 feet because the sidewalk has to be ADA accessible at a 2% pitch. Most of the driveways are a 4% to 5% grade, so everyone's driveway is going to have a big hump to get into the garage. And all the utilities—the companies have to move them. Who's paying for that? My rates will go up because they have to move phone, fiber, gas, cable, and light poles. Another point: where the existing sidewalk was built with the townhouses, the house pads are set back farther from the street. Our original six houses are closer, so that sidewalk would be very close to my window. If it's got to be put in, maybe we could consider the east side or hold off until full street reconstruction in 20 years. The street itself is 40 years old. [18:10] **Public Speaker (Sailor):** I’m Sarah Sailor and I live at 1526 25th Avenue. As far as where the sidewalk is supposed to go, it's going to go right through my front yard and it's going to be like 20 feet off my front window. I don't want somebody walking by my house and being able to watch everything that I'm doing. I have a planter out front that would have to be moved, and everyone's mailbox is going to have to get moved. There's no reason why it can't go across the street where there are no mailboxes or utility boxes. [19:07] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Thank you. Seeing no one else coming forward, I'll take a motion to close the hearing. Moved. Second? Motion to close. We are out of public hearing. [19:45] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Correct, it will be placed within the public right-of-way. [20:35] **John Rowan (City Council):** When do you think sidewalk will connect on 17th? [20:55] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** It's hard to say. In the seven years I've been here, I've met with the property owner to the north. We're in a little bit of an unusual time with interest rates. [21:21] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** What about putting it on the south side? [22:08] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** The homes on the west side are generally closer to the right-of-way than the houses on the east side. [22:34] **Mandy Barnes (City Council):** I'm very familiar with the neighborhood. Thank you for coming today. I agree with what you had said. The homes do seem to be a little bit closer to the roadway. There isn't a need immediately, I don't believe, for sidewalks in that area because it is a gravel road and a dead-end street. My concern is if we wait, will the expense be more? Of course it probably will be. But I'm wondering if it's best to wait until development happens. [23:54] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** I'll just say this: I've been an advocate for sidewalks, but on this one, I think we should just wait until development. [24:39] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** You can add 5 to 10% inflation to whatever year you want to project them out to. [24:48] **Mandy Barnes (City Council):** I would agree. [25:45] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** I have a motion by Peter van Sluis, second by Barnes to approve Resolution 2025-061, including the sidewalk modifications. All those in favor signify by saying Aye. (Aye). [26:13] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Up next, Resolution 2025-062: Order improvements and plans for 2025 Hulett Avenue overlay and sidewalk improvements, contract 2025-03. Director DuChene. [26:28] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Thank you Mayor Spooner, Council, and members of the public. This is our second overlay project. We split these because the previous project was funded out of our local improvement fund. Hulett Avenue is on our Municipal State Aid system, so this project will be funded out of our State Aid account. There are different rules, like prevailing wages, that make it more expensive. This is a mill and overlay of Hulett Avenue from 7th Street Northwest all the way up to Highway 3. We repair castings, replace defective curb/sidewalk, and pave. Included in the scope, we had included completing a loop of water main on the south end. During a project along Highway 3 last year, we had a failure of the water main and had to abandon it. We are proposing to add an alternate bid to this project to put water main in to complete that loop and restore a redundant system for that Northwest quadrant. [29:24] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** We sent out notices and received comments from two property owners regarding sanitary sewer. One owner asked to extend sewer up to them. For the city to make that extension, the benefit would be assessed 100% to the property owners. It was more economical for them to look at what was done on the east side—putting in a grinder pump to pump to public sewer. This project does not currently contain that sewer extension. Project costs are just over $870,000 with the water main alternate. Without it, it's about $587,000. Similar schedule to the last one—we are here to order improvements, back in two weeks for plans, and a bid date in March. [32:39] **John Rowan (City Council):** Thank you Mayor. When we go to make a motion on this, do we add the alternate or is that already in there? [32:51] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Mayor, if I may, I would only say if you don't want us to consider it, provide that direction. If you're open to it, we'll move forward with the alternate bid and make a final decision later. [33:24] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2025-062. Second by Barnes. All those in favor? (Aye). Opposed? (None). [34:03] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Next item, Resolution 2025-063: Order improvements and specs for 2025 Third Avenue Southwest reconstruction, contract 2025-04. Director DuChene. [34:32] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** This is a full reconstruction of Third Avenue Southwest from Division Street to Third Street—the old Divine Mercy School block. This is a reconstruction where we replace pavement, curbs, sidewalks, and all public utilities (sanitary sewer, water, and storm sewer). This segment is pre-1950 construction; we know it went in in the 1940s. Some of our oldest remaining water main is here, dating back to 1915. Most drainage will go through our recently constructed pond system at the old Lockerby site. We are proposing a 36-foot wide street on all three blocks, which involves removing angled parking along the side of the northernmost block. In the past, when we’ve reconstructed streets with angled parking, the property owner has been responsible for an agreement to maintain it. I only received correspondence from one property owner who had a question about his driveway slope. Total project cost is just under $2 million. We'd be back in two weeks for plans and specs. [40:39] **Chuck Thiele (City Council):** Questions about where the parking is now—the angled parking. [40:51] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** It's within the public right-of-way. It predates the subdivision ordinance. In the recent past, if angled parking was specifically for a property and not needed for public purpose, the owner was responsible for the cost and snow removal. [42:29] **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator):** That would be a policy decision for the Council. We can design it either way. [43:09] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Anyone else? Questions? At this time I'll open the public hearing. Moved? Second? All right, out of public hearing. [43:54] **Peter van Sluis (City Council):** In relation to what was discussed, I would say if the current property owner wants to maintain that parking... [44:49] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** There will still be parking on that site, it will just be parallel parking. The question is how many stalls is the difference. [45:53] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2025-063 as presented without the alternate. Second by Thiele. All those in favor? (Aye). [46:56] **Travis Block (Public Works Director):** Ordinance 2025-01, second reading. This ordinance updates sections 52 and 59 regarding backflow devices. This revision addresses the State Plumbing Code and testing requirements for non-compliance. First reading was February 25th; staff received no comments. I recommend approval. [47:59] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk):** Motion by van Sluis, second by Thiele. Council member Barnes? (Yes) Council member Doumbouya? (Yes) Council member Ross? (Yes) Council member Rowan? (Yes) Council member van Sluis? (Yes) Council member Thiele? (Yes) Mayor Spooner? (Yes). Ordinance passes. [48:53] **David Wanberg (Community & Economic Development Director):** Resolution 2025-065, approve a CUP for multifamily structures at 1st Avenue Northwest and 2nd Street Northwest. Steve Schmidt on behalf of Community Action Center is requesting a conditional use permit to allow two multifamily structures in the Central Business District. We have been working with Community Action Center for several years to find sites for workforce and emergency shelter housing. The city-owned property at "First and First" received grant funding. There would be two buildings with on-site parking and ADA accessibility. This went through our DRC and Planning Commission. Because it's in the historic district, it also received a certificate of appropriateness from the Heritage Preservation Commission. Scott Wopata from Community Action Center is here for detailed questions. [54:00] **John Rowan (City Council):** I see the two buildings are right around 2200 square feet. Are these apartments really only on one floor? [54:06] **David Wanberg (Community & Economic Development Director):** Scott Wopata can probably answer that more clearly. [54:19] **Scott Wopata (Community Action Center):** There are eight units total—four units in each building. [55:50] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Have a motion to approve Resolution 2025-065 by Rowan, second by Thiele. All those in favor say Aye. (Aye). Motion passes. [56:18] **David Wanberg (Community & Economic Development Director):** Resolution 2025-066, approve a CUP for a ground-mounted solar array at 927 St. Paul Avenue. The owner, Tom Farley, is requesting to put in a 527-square foot array. Ordinance allows 120 square feet in residential, so a CUP is required. We added a condition today based on Council member Rowan’s suggestion to ensure it doesn't cause interference with federally licensed radio services on the nearby city towers. We don't anticipate an issue, but the condition is there. [1:00:06] **Peter van Sluis (City Council):** I’ll just make one comment. Years ago when I was a Planning Commission member, we talked about this. This is the perfect scenario for a big backyard. [1:00:46] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Motion by Rowan, second by Doumbouya to approve Resolution 2025-066. (Aye). [1:01:24] **Mark DuChene (City Engineer):** Resolution 2025-070, Lindale Avenue/County Road 48 improvements. This is to grant municipal consent for Rice County’s 2025 project to mill and overlay Lindale Avenue from the south I-35 ramp to Highway 60. We discussed adding flashing yellow left arrows at the intersection of Division and Lindale. We are also revising pedestrian ramps to connect to the new trail. The city’s cost share for signal and walk improvements is estimated at $45,000. [1:05:11] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Motion by van Sluis, second by Ross. Motion passes. Under Resolution 2025-071: Approve quotes and authorize purchase of a 2025 Vactor truck. Mr. Block. [1:05:50] **Travis Block (Public Works Director):** This resolution is before you tonight as a result of an accident where a truck hit a bridge, resulting in the truck being totaled. The insurance payout will be $348,000. The quote for a new truck is $718,557. To offset the difference, we are recommending foregoing a $105,000 budgeted project for a generator at the Glenview lift station. The remaining $265,000 would come from the Sewer Fund which has available cash. [1:07:45] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya (City Council):** Mr. Block, I'm curious. You mentioned the Vactor truck is specialized. Is it purchased as one piece or customized? [1:08:14] **Travis Block (Public Works Director):** It’s a chassis with specialized body equipment. It was a low-profile vehicle. The contributing factor to the strike was an equipment malfunction where the boom did not lower during transit. [1:09:17] **John Rowan (City Council):** Give me your reasoning why we're going with brand new versus used? [1:10:03] **Travis Block (Public Works Director):** This piece of equipment gets an extensive amount of use. Buying something used, in my opinion, for our volume of use makes me uncomfortable from a reliability standpoint. [1:11:31] **John Rowan (City Council):** Thank you Mayor. We just had an unexpected repair to our water system. It’s a bad time to bring up finance issues, but we have over $1 million of unbudgeted expenses now. We have to really pay attention to how many of these unexpected things come up. [1:12:40] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Like the primary splitter box at the Wastewater Treatment Facility? [1:13:27] **Kindra Papenfus (Finance Director):** There is money there, but the fund balance is somewhat earmarked for future projects. [1:17:35] **Chuck Thiele (City Council):** Mayor Spooner, as painful as it is, I'll make a motion to approve Resolution 2025-071. Second by Ross. [1:17:59] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Motion passes. Boards and commission reports? Announcements? [1:19:27] **Mandy Barnes (City Council):** I wanted to share that the Paradise Center for the Arts is hosting a concert Saturday, March 15th at 7:30. Also, Riverbend Nature Center is hosting their maple syruping program. I also went to the advanced training for the League of Minnesota Cities recently; it’s always nice to network and talk to other elected officials. [1:20:40] **Thomas J. Spooner (Mayor):** Motion to adjourn? Second? Meeting adjourned.