This transcript has been processed to identify speakers based on the provided municipal roster and the context of the proceedings (e.g., presiding officer duties, department-specific reports, and parliamentary motions). [0:00] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Welcome to the September 9th Faribault City Council. We will call it to order and we will start off with roll call. [0:05] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Council member Barnes. [0:06] **Mandy Barnes**: Here. [0:07] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Doumbouya. [0:08] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya**: Here. [0:09] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Ross. [0:10] **Royal Ross**: Here. [0:11] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Rowan. [0:12] **John Rowan**: Here. [0:13] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: van Sluis. [0:14] **Peter van Sluis**: Here. [0:15] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Thiele. [0:16] **Chuck Thiele**: Here. [0:17] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Mayor Spooner. [0:18] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Here. And pledge of allegiance, Royal. [0:21] **Royal Ross**: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [13:35] **David Wanberg (Community & Economic Development Director)**: Generally, you know, here are some examples. So, this is a property um that's on 13th um where code will require 66 foot 8,500 ft for a newly platted lot. Uh this is an existing lot. So what we're trying to use is a situation where up to 50% of the lot width and up to 50% of the lot area, uh someone would be able to come in with an existing lot and be able to develop that. This is a platted lot. It's undeveloped. Uh what this non-conforming uh code change would allow is someone to come in and put a house on that lot. And so all of a sudden we're taking a lot that's undeveloped that someone might say, "Hey, I don't have a use for it anymore," we're putting a home on it and potentially providing, you know, another [14:21] home for another family in Faribault. The non-conforming section also does apply to uh commercial and industrial lots. So, this is an example where uh right now the property is being used as a single family home, but if someone wanted to come in and do a small commercial establishment, um code require 100 ft uh of of lot width and 10,000 square feet for a lot that's zone C1. In this situation, they have 50 feet and uh 5,000 square feet that meets that 50% threshold of an existing platted lot. So someone would be able to come in and redevelop that property and provide another business here in Faribault. [15:05] **David Wanberg**: What this doesn't include is the really strange lots that we find uh that are somewhat left over from different subdivisions. So there are these uh you know kind of strange lots that are on Highway 60 east of Lincoln Avenue where that divider is on the west side of the railroad tracks. And then uh another uh lot that's along Robinwood Lane uh that's west of Prairie Avenue. This code is not meant to allow these properties. [15:31] These are very strange properties. They're really probably not meant to be developed. Um we'll have to deal with them as they come in. Uh but this code is not meant to deal with these strange [lots]. But in general, what we're looking at from a comprehensive plan standpoint and a and a zoning criteria standpoint is that we're allowing people to take these existing lots to utilize our non-conforming lots code uh that we're proposing tonight and be able to develop them and to put these properties that are currently being uh underutilized or uh misaligned when it comes to our uh future land use for these properties and be able to shift them into something that is achieving our comprehensive plan, is providing another tax base if it's a [16:16] business, and is providing another home for somebody if uh someone's able to put a home on it. So, uh staff is recommending that city council approve the first reading of this ordinance that would allow the changes to our chapter 34. [16:32] Happy to take any questions. [16:34] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Any questions for staff? [16:36] **John Rowan**: Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Wanberg, we're not adjusting the setbacks, are we? [16:41] **David Wanberg**: No. No. Uh we're— [16:43] **John Rowan**: —so in other words, somebody couldn't take this narrow lot and build a house closer to the lot lines than we're currently allowing. [16:53] I'm just picturing in my mind, you know, a neighbor's got a house here and then somebody else buys one of these narrow lots and they put in a house. I don't want to change the setback so that the new house is like really close to the existing. [17:02] **David Wanberg**: Yeah. Yeah. And in the changes, we we've made it clear that although the lot itself might be non-conforming, the structure that you put on it still needs to be conforming. So if there's a 10-ft side setback, you still need to be able to— [17:16] **John Rowan**: Okay. So we're not— [17:18] **David Wanberg**: —set back. [17:22] **John Rowan**: Yeah. So we're not necessarily making it possible for them to build the houses closer to each other. It's just— [17:26] **David Wanberg**: —longer, skinnier house, I guess. [17:28] **John Rowan**: Sure. [17:29] **David Wanberg**: Yeah. And I've I've had a little bit of uh experience in in different cities looking at essentially skinnier homes. Uh the house that I own with my wife is is a little bit closer to a 20 by 40 uh sort of situation where you know 20 foot wide, 40 foot deep. Um and it's two stories and that's uh when we're looking at some of the details and the changes you could go down to uh 40 ft wide and 4,000 square feet. So, you know, if the code requires, you know, only 6,000 square ft of land area, you can't go below this 4,000 square ft, [18:08] we're still making sure that these lots uh are still buildable and that they're not uh incompatible with the adjacent property. [18:15] **John Rowan**: Yeah. No, that's good enough. I thank you for your answer. I just want to make sure that they weren't going to be able to build a new house or move in an existing house or whatever and have it be extremely close to their neighbors. [18:28] So, thank you. [18:34] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: At this time, I would entertain— [18:36] **Royal Ross**: Mayor Spooner. [18:37] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Yes. [18:38] **Royal Ross**: I'll make a motion to approve ordinance 2025-12. [18:41] **Chuck Thiele**: Second. [18:43] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Motion by Ross, second by Thiele to approve ordinance 2025-12 text amendment to chapter 34 non-conforming. [18:54] [18:55] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Council member Barnes. [18:56] **Mandy Barnes**: Aye. [18:57] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Doumbouya. [18:58] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya**: Aye. [18:59] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Ross. [19:00] **Royal Ross**: Aye. [19:01] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Rowan. [19:02] **John Rowan**: Aye. [19:03] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: van Sluis. [19:04] **Peter van Sluis**: Aye. [19:05] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Thiele. [19:06] **Chuck Thiele**: Aye. [19:07] **Heather Slechta (City Clerk)**: Mayor Spooner. [19:08] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Aye. That passes. We are [on to Resolution] 227. [19:10] **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator)**: Yes. So this—oh, thank you. Uh this is one of those things where it's kind of coming to you in bits and pieces. As you'll recall at the August 26th meeting, uh you approved the development agreement and I believe a a plat or the plat was at the final meeting for Henry M. Rice Square, uh, which is the county's property, um, that they're, um, mostly parceling into two lots. There's a few other small lots, uh, but there's two lots that are moving forward, um, that have potential to them. And one of them they are uh, selling to us for a cost of a dollar. [19:45] And so, the purchase agreement um, did get updated and is in the packet currently. And so, it is for the use of a parking lot or future economic development. And so, uh, this is, uh, part of a bigger puzzle, uh, one little piece of a bigger puzzle that you'll have coming back to you in kind of different, uh, phases as we move forward as well. Uh, but this is a an area where, um, a parking lot, uh, is is needed currently and will be needed for future growth and development um that the county HRA will be helping to facilitate. [20:21] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Okay, any questions? [20:23] **Chuck Thiele**: Make a motion to approve resolution 2025-227. [20:26] **John Rowan**: I'll second. [20:28] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Motion by Thiele, second by Rowan to approve resolution 2025-227. Approve the purchase agreement and county [conveyance]. All those in favor say aye. [20:42] **City Council**: Aye. [20:43] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All opposed? That passes. Resolution 2025-215 legal services for Kennedy and Graven. [20:50] **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator)**: Yes. So, normally this would be something we'd throw on the consent agenda, but we haven't had it at a work session to preview. Um, but our contract with Kennedy and Graven is up at the end of the year and so they propose another three-year agreement. Um, I don't know how long Kennedy and Graven has been our legal counsel, but I know it goes back years and years and years and years. And so, um, at this time, I wouldn't contemplate making any changes in terms of legal counsel. They've provided their, uh, price increases for 26, 27, and 28. And so, I'm recommending [21:29] approval of a three-year agreement with Kennedy and Graven for legal services. [21:34] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All right. Any questions for staff? [21:38] **John Rowan**: Yes. Make a motion to approve resolution 2025-215. [21:42] **Peter van Sluis**: Second. [21:43] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: I have a motion by Rowan, second by van Sluis to accept resolution—agreement for legal services with Kennedy and Graven. All those in favor say aye. [21:58] **City Council**: Aye. [21:59] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All opposed? Motion pass. Resolution 2025-218 agreement for prosecution and legal services with Eckberg and Lammers. [22:09] **John Sherwin (Police Chief)**: Yeah. Thank you, Mayor, members of the council. Much like the previous item, this uh this resolution uh takes forward our prosecution service for uh the city for the next three years. Uh the contract outlines the price increases. [22:25] One thing of note that is a little bit different is that this contract also provides the police department with extreme risk protection orders which are now in effect for about the last year. They're actually a civil action under law. Um so it's a little bit different, and I have talked with Scott Riggs, our civil attorney. Eckberg specializes in this throughout the state. In fact, uh in conversation, he's actually represented agencies in approximately 60% of all ERPOs filed throughout the state. So that that's included in this contract and something that I think will benefit us. [23:06] Um I also don't know long how long they've represented us as our prosecutor, but I did find uh historical note that in 2014 the council recognized them as our prosecuting body. So they've been here a long time and and they provided recommendation. [23:26] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All right. Any questions for staff? [23:30] **Royal Ross**: Mayor Spooner. [23:31] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Yes. [23:32] **Royal Ross**: I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-218. [23:35] **Chuck Thiele**: Second. [23:37] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Motion by Ross, second by Thiele. All those in favor say aye. [23:47] **City Council**: Aye. [23:48] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All opposed? Motion passes. The last two items on the agenda were removed for next week. So on to item nine, bids. We have none tonight. Boards and commissioners reports. I believe there— [24:00] **Chuck Thiele**: I have one. Um this coming Friday, Buckham West, affectionately known as our Faribault Senior Center. They are doing a "cheers to 55 years." They're having a barbecue. And also the the the main event here is the burning of the mortgage. They uh got their mortgage paid off. So I think that's a great accomplishment for those that uh have lived here for a little while. You know, they were collecting donations and stuff to build this new senior center just a few years ago and they've uh managed to get it [24:33] paid. So, that's absolutely wonderful. So, come on out Friday at 4:00 at Buckham West and uh celebrate with them and have a barbecue. [24:43] **Mandy Barnes**: Uh the light of hope will be at Central Park September 13th from 4 to 10 and taste of Faribault is at the Faribault West Mall. 5:30 till 8. [25:01] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: I wanted to acknowledge uh 9/11. There will be at the fire station a bell ringing ceremony at 7:00, the public is welcome to that. Right? [25:11] **Dustin Dienst (Fire Chief)**: Yep. [25:12] **John Rowan**: And Fall Festival is October 4th, right around the corner. So we only have one more time before that. So chili cook off. I don't know what we're going to do this year. Our main chef is on crutches here. So, so we'll have to talk about that. [25:31] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Ms. Kinser, I believe you have some stuff. [25:35] **Jessica Kinser (City Administrator)**: Yeah. Uh just as a reminder, you all were talking about it before the meeting, but council chat is tomorrow night at um uh Riverbend Nature Center starting at 5:00. Um one of the projects that um there's been some announcements about lately is uh the Cherry Trail Bridge. And so we're going to have some signage indicating where that is. So if people want to stop and check out what's happening, um they can certainly do that. Otherwise, we will be at the um interpretive center. And then uh just as a a reminder for next week based on kind of the ordinances that we weren't able to do a first reading of, we will do a special council meeting before the special work session. Um we do have somebody from Xcel who will be coming for that meeting next week and [26:21] on the 23rd as well. So I thought if we did that before the budget work session then that would help facilitate him. [26:30] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All right. Thank you everybody. At that point in time I'll make a motion to adjourn— [26:35] **Adama Youhn Doumbouya**: Move. [26:36] **Royal Ross**: Second. [26:37] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: Motion by Doumbouya, second by Ross. All those in favor say aye. [26:41] **City Council**: Aye. [26:42] **Mayor Thomas J. Spooner**: All opposed? We are in adjournment.