Alrighty, we're going to go ahead and call to order the regular meeting of the Oakdale City Council, January 27th, 2026. Sarah, will you please take the role? >> Council member Moore >> here. Council member Morham >> here. >> Council member Severson >> here. >> Council member Rich >> here. >> Mayor Zabel >> here. Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. >> We have a very full house with us here tonight um to take part in something that's always uh very special in our community. Um, tonight I get to administer the oath of office to uh two new fire uh firefighter paramedics and two new police officers. Um, this is always such a a cool tradition and a cool time for for our city, for the families. Um, and especially for those taking their oath of office. Um, you know, all of us every single day we get to see the the important role that our firefighters, paramedics, and our police officers play in our community. Um, and especially in the last few years, we're also keenly aware of the dangers that that they face in their jobs. um the service they provide to our community is irreplaceable and so to have an opportunity to to have them all join us here at our city council meeting um to show our thanks and appreciation is always a really cool opportunity. Uh so a little bit about how this is going to go tonight. We have four in front of us. Um one at a time I will uh call uh each individual up. You'll join me up front here. Um I'm going to encourage any family members, friends that you've brought with you to join us. Um because we know that the work that you do um takes all of you and we know all family and friends pay um contribute to your success in these roles as well. So I want to encourage everybody to come with um and then uh everybody will have uh an opportunity to be pinned uh with your with your badges. Um and then we will have time for some pictures. Uh we'll do pictures after each uh how do we usually do this? We wait until pictures at at the end after we've sworn in everybody, right? >> I can't remember. However, >> where's Lori? Where's our communications man? Lori uh after each individual. >> We'll do that. All right. Um and then at the end, we will invite all of our fire department up to take a group photo and then police department up uh to take a photo. >> Chris, reminder, when we're doing the design for the new building, we need to make space because we always we always crowd in. >> Making a note. [laughter] >> Uh so, first up tonight, uh Daniel Adam Kcha. Please join me up front. And any family, friends, please join us, too. >> Come right down there. >> Thank you. >> Feel free to position people you want for photos. [laughter] >> All right. >> All right. All right, Daniel, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Daniel Adam Koncha, firefighter paramedic for the city of Oakdale. >> I, Daniel Adam Koncha, firefighter paramedic for the city of Oakdale, >> will support the Constitution of the United States >> will support the Constitution of the United States. >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota >> and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale >> and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale. >> I will do my duty to the best of my ability. I will do my duty to the best of my ability >> and serve my commanding officers and subordinates >> and serve my commanding officer and subordinates >> with respect and dignity >> with respect and dignity. >> I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter paramedic. >> I understand there's a responsibility for a firefighter paramedic >> to serve with compassion >> to serve with compassion, >> dedication, >> dedication, >> honor, >> honor, >> and integrity >> and integrity. I will uphold the highest professional standards >> I will uphold the highest professional standards >> and proud traditions >> and proud traditions >> of the Oakdale Fire Department >> of the Oakdale Fire Department. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Right there. Take it away. All >> [applause] >> right, we'll get one more center and a three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks so much. >> Uh Liz Balle, come on up. All right. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> All right. Liz, raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Liz Bal Liz Balile, firefighter and paramedic for the city of Oakdale. >> I, Liz Bal, uh, I'm sorry, >> firefighter paramedic for the city of Oakdale. >> for the city of Oakdale >> will support the Constitution of the United States of America. >> Will support the Constitution of the United States of America. >> The Constitution of the State of Minnesota >> constitution of the state of Minnesota >> and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale >> and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale. >> I will do my duty to the best of my ability. I will do my duty to the best of my ability >> and serve my commanding officers and subordinates >> and serve my commanding officers and my subordinates >> with respect and dignity >> with respect and dignity. I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter paramedic. >> I understand there is a responsibility as a firefighter paramedic >> to serve with compassion. >> To serve with compassion, >> dedication, >> dedication, >> honor, >> honor, >> and integrity >> and integrity. >> I will uphold the highest professional standards >> I will uphold the highest professional standards >> and proud traditions >> and proud traditions >> of the Oakdale Fire Department. >> of the Oakdale Fire Department. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> Yeah. [applause] Hello. All right, count of three. One, two, three. [laughter] One two three. One two three. Thank you. [applause] >> Anna Pomemeroy, please join me. Anybody else to join you? >> Come on up. All right. First of all, congratulations. >> All right. Anna, raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Anna Pomeroy, do solemnly swear. >> I, Anna Pomeroy, do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. >> That I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. >> And that I will faithfully, justly, and impartially >> That I will face faithfully, impartially, and injust >> and justly >> injustly >> discharge the duties of police officer >> discharge the duties of police officer >> discharge the duty of police officers >> for the city of Oakdale, Minnesota. >> For the city of Oakdale, Minnesota >> to the best of my judgment and ability. >> to the best of my judgment and ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. Congratulations. >> Thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> You guys coming up? >> Come on everybody. Come on. >> Sure. Okay, over here. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> Count of three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Thank you. [applause] And Kevin Richardson. Yeah. >> Come on. >> All right, Kevin, raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Kevin Richardson, do solemnly swear >> I, Kevin Richardson, do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America >> that I that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota >> the Constitution of the State of Minnesota >> and that I will faithfully, justly, and impartially >> And that I will faithfully, justly, and impartially >> discharge the duties of police officer >> discharge the duties of police officer >> for the city of Oakdale, Minnesota >> for the city of Oakdale, Minnesota. >> To the best of my judgment and ability. >> to the best of my judgment and ability. >> So help me God. So help me God. >> Congratulations [applause] All >> [applause] >> right, count of three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Thank you. [applause] Let's get a group photo with the police department since Kevin's already up here. >> [laughter] [clears throat] >> Count of three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, and fire department. >> Are you going to do one with everybody? >> Yeah. Well, [laughter] >> that's a bigger issue. Make that happen. >> No. >> All right. Count of three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. >> Thank you. >> Lori, can we get all the the police, fire, and council together? >> Yes. >> One more, you guys. >> Police, fire, and council. [laughter] >> Yeah. Council, stand in the back. >> Still not gonna see me. [laughter] >> Wherever you fit. Fire or police want you can come up here with us. >> Lori, direct us, please. >> Yes. No, that makes perfect sense. [laughter] >> It's okay. Here, I'll go. >> Danny, stand up. >> Are you all in there? >> Yes, you are. >> Perfect. >> Count of three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Do you guys want to sign the four of you? Can you come over here >> signature? [laughter] [laughter] >> All righty. We're going to keep things rolling. Uh, next up on our agenda is approval of our agenda. Council members, can I get a motion to approve [snorts] the amended version in front of us? >> So, moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion to second. All those in favor say I. >> I. The agenda is adopted. >> Uh, approval of minutes. Two sets in front of us. First up, workshop meeting minutes January 13, 2026. >> My microphone back, huh? There we go. Oh, we're back. Uh, let's do workshop meeting minutes January 13, 2026. Any changes or corrections? >> No. >> We'll look for a motion. >> So move. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And workshop minutes are adopted. Next up, regular meeting minutes, January 13th, 2026. Any changes or corrections here? Look for a motion. So move. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. And those meeting minutes are adopted as well. Uh, we do have a public hearing in front of us tonight regarding city project R2026-01. Uh, Mr. Bachmire, do you have a presentation for us? >> Good evening, Mayor and City Council. Brian Bachmire, consulting city engineer for the city of Oakdale. Um, welcome the residents of the 2026 improvement property owners adjacent to the 2026 improvement project. Uh, tonight we are conducting two hearings and um, I believe we'll start with some opening comments by the mayor and then the city attorney will make some comments and we'll start the hearing. On my script, [laughter] uh, good evening. We're here tonight to consider the improvements and assessments for the 2026 street reconstruction project. Two separate public hearings will be held. The first hearing will review the 2026 street reconstruction project. The second public hearing will review assessments and other financing related to this project. Notice of these hearings have been provided through the mail and published in the city's official newspaper. I ask that city clerk Sarah Lewig include the affidavit of publication of the hearing notices and the affidavit of mailing in the official record. Shortly, city attorney Jim Thompson will provide important details relating uh to tonight's proceedings. Before we begin the hearings, I'd like to go over a few ground rules. First and foremost, Oakdale follows the golden rule. We ask everybody treat one another with respect and courtesy. Uh if you wish to speak once the public hearing is open, we ask that you come up to the podium, provide your name and address for the record, and um please limit your comments to 3 minutes. If someone has already shared something similar, uh there's no need to repeat what has already been said. Unless there's any questions for council at this time, I'm going to turn things over to city attorney Jim Thompson to provide an outline of the procedures that will be followed. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, uh, members of council, members of the public. U, as Mr. Bachm said, there's going to be two hearings tonight. The first hearing is on the public improving itself and that's the time for any of the residents to come up and talk about the project. Uh, any comments, any questions? That would be the appropriate time for that. Uh after that hearing is closed, the council will make a decision on whether to go forward with the public improvement project. If they vote in favor of it, then the second hearing will be the special assessment hearing. And that would be your opportunity to come up and have say anything you want regarding the amount of the assessment on your individual property. Now, in order to con preserve your right to challenge that assessment, you do have to file a just a written document this morning evening with the court, excuse me, with the council. And there are forms in the back, I believe, that you can fill out for that purpose. But it's important that you do fill that form out if you want to proceed with the next step in the challenge to the assessment because if you don't do it here tonight, you've you will have given up your right to file an action in court. Uh if [laughter] if you do file um an appeal tonight if if the council after closing the hearing adopts the assessment, you then have to file an action in in in district court in order to perfect your rights and that does have to be filed within 30 days of the adoption. So it's very short time frame. So, so the two steps are if you want to object to your assessment, file it in writing tonight with the city clerk and then you'll have to um proceed after that to file an action in court. >> Thank you, Jim. Um okay. Uh I always just like to clarify the the legal process. So, uh if you disagree with the assessment and you want to preserve your legal ability to challenge it in court, um I believe it's just a one-page form probably in the back of the room. um by the time we close the public hearing, the second public hearing, you have to fill out that form and hand it to our city clerk um to preserve your legal right to um appeal your assessment. Um if you don't do that, >> process is over, right, Jim? Um and I will um I'll make one final call for um any of those appeals before we close the second public hearing. So, we'll we'll offer a reminder for that if anybody wants to do that. Um, at this time I'm going to turn things back over to Brian who will review the elements of the 2026 street reconstruction project. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, before I get started, I do have one introduction. Brad Swanson with short Elliot Hendrickson is with me tonight. He'll help describe the project improvements. Uh, they're the consulting firm that did the design work. We'll be doing the design work and also be our project representative during construction. So, um, just to get our bearings, uh, this is the improvement area that we're talking about. I maybe you can see my cursor, maybe you can't, maybe not, but we have Greenway Avenue from Hudson Boulevard up to 7th Street, Second Street, Grafton, Fourth, and Third Street Court. Uh, this neighborhood represents a little under two miles of city uh, neighborhood streets. As mentioned, we are having two hearings tonight. The first hearing is the improvement hearing where we'll talk about the why, what, and when. Um, we'll describe the improvements. It'll be an opportunity for the property owners to testify before the council on those improvements that we're proposing and then the council will deliberate and determine if the project should be ordered. It does require a four-fifths vote of the council because this project was initiated by the council. um it will require a four-fifths vote. When we're done with the public improvement hearing, we'll move into the assessment hearing and that's where we'll talk about how the project is financed. And so we'll describe the project financing. Again, an opportunity for the property owners to testify about the proposed assessments and then the council will deliberate and determine if they adopt the assessment role. Um we talk about the public improvements, the why. Um, primarily our objective of our public improvement program is to improve safety not only for the motorists but bikers and walkers. This project does include a sidewalk along Greenway Avenue as part of our uh comp sidewalk plan. It identified this corridor as appropriate for a sidewalk to improve the safety for walkers. Uh we also look at um doing projects that contain our maintenance expenditures. Uh the costs are increasing at an increasing rate down in this area to maintain these streets. patching is very inefficient and ineffective. If we come back, we have to come back every year and continue patching. Uh we're also looking at replacing water manes that have a history of repeated breaks. And I will say that there's been 20 water mane breaks on Second Grafton and Fourth and eight water mane breaks on Greenway Avenue. So we have a total of 28 water mane breaks over the last 30 or so years down in this area. We also look at replacing the LED lighting to make them more efficient. Um, the current lighting down there is high pressure sodium. So, we do replace those with LED lighting. I'm an engineer, so I have to have at least one graph in my presentation. So, this is just a a graph that kind of indicates along the bottom is pavement ages starting when the street is brand new at zero years old and going out to 40 years. The left column talks about the pavement condition. When the street is brand new, it has a very high rating and a scale of 1 to 100. It has a scale of 100. Over time, you can see that it deteriorates and it deteriorates at an increasing rate. On the right column is the cost of maintenance and over time you can see that the cost of maintenance increases and increases at an increasing rate. And where they those two lines cross is a point of diminishing returns where no matter how much we spend, we're going to continue to see the pavement conditions deteriorate. And for the Oakdale streets, uh we're finding based on the data that we've been collecting, 28 years, a street that's more than 28 years old, we're actually spending more and getting less return on our investment. So that's when we start scheduling reconstruction. in particular area. It's all the streets down in this area are more than 30 years old. This is the pavement conditions around the community. We've gone out and rated all the streets. Uh you can kind of see the the green and the blue areas are the adequate and marginal and acceptable. And then you get into the uh purple and the red. That's where the poor conditions are. In this particular neighborhood, we are seeing a lot of poor pavement conditions. Uh you can look there are pockets throughout the community and you'll see we have a five-year program where we're targeting and reconstructing those neighborhoods over the next five years. And every year we update the capital improvement program to extend it out another year uh to continue maintaining the streets. And as I mentioned before, we do about two to three miles a year. The other objective we have is to make sure that we're not going to restrict access to the properties. And as pavement gets older, it becomes brittle. And so we have to start imposing weight restrictions in particular areas to make sure the spring uh when the when the ground gets soft in the spring of the year, the pavement doesn't get damaged by heavy vehicles that are providing services to the abuing properties. And now we're uh starting to see the need to restrict the load limits down on these neighborhoods uh to 5 ton or less to try to preserve the streets. and that does uh can affect service delivery to your property. Uh again, the summary of the streets included in the project. Greenway Avenue from Hudson to 7th, Second Street from Greenway to Grafton, Grafton to to Fourth and Fourth um to back to Greenway and Fourth Street from Grafton to Greenway and Third Street Court. I wanted to mention that. But with that, I'm going to turn it over to Brad Swanson to kind of talk about the project, talk about how it's going to be done, and then the process. >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, members of the public. Uh what you have before here is a picture of Second Street North looking west. Uh this is indicative of all the pictures that you're going to see within the project site. uh where the asphalt has been patched numerous times, the curb and gutters start to show uh a lot of wear and tear and not supporting a lot of vehicular traffic. This is Third Street Court North uh looking west. Uh this particular area of Third Street Court North, uh the asphalt has degraded so much uh there's more patching than there is original street and again it's served its uh life cycle. This is Fourth Street North looking west. Uh again, more patching, uh more curbon gutter that is starting to degrade. Um and uh just more concerns about drainage and the uh lifespan of the remaining asphalt. This is Graven Avenue north. Looking north again, more patching where most of the street is actually patching. This of course causes um a lot of maintenance requests coming to public works takes up a lot of their time uh just to preserve a street which has end uh reached the end of its life cycle. This is Grafton Avenue North at Granada Avenue North again more patching curbon gutter starting to settle. This is Greenway Avenue North uh at Third Street North. Uh this is showing the patches where the water man breaks as Brian had indicated uh in this area is numerous along the street and the ex uh remaining asphalt is turning white. It's actually oxidizing and it's starting to lose its structural integrity. The proposed improvements uh within this project, we're looking at tree removal. There'll be 50 in total. Uh 50 of those are along Greenway Avenue uh for the sidewalk. And then uh eight along the east side of Greenway uh that are too close to the water service lines that are going to be replaced. 27 along uh Second Street, Grafton and Third Street Cord and uh Fourth Street. Of those 10 are ash trees which we need to remove as far as uh the forestry [snorts] requirements uh to create a healthy habitat. Uh nine are too close to the water services and our eight are in poor condition or too close to the curb. Uh along with these improvements, we'll be removing and replacing the asphalt, uh removing and replacing the curbon gutter. They'll be uh utility repairs will replace the water man along uh Second Street, Grafton, 4th, and Greenway Avenue. The current water man that's installed there is remains in service is between 58 and 59 years old. is cast iron water mane that has exceeded its life expectancy in those soils is starting to uh have reoccurring breaks in there. Also, we'll be looking at the sanitary uh sewer. Uh we have televising tapes. We've done inspection. Any place that is not structurally sound or it's leaking, we'll be repairing that as part of the process. Storm sewer repairs. Again, we've inspected all the storm sewer manholes and all the catch basins and we'll be uh doing uh miscellaneous repairs within the project area. Also, we'll be cleaning out areas by ponds and inlets and outlets. We'll be replacing the street lights with the city standard LED fixtures, installing a sidewalk along the west side of Greenway Avenue, street signing evaluation and replacement to ensure they're up to date as far as the retro reflectivity requirements and private utility improvements, gas, electric, phone, and cable. Uh we've already reached out to all the private utilities months ago letting them know these improvements were going to be happening. should they need to improve their own utilities, they'll be doing it at the same time to lessen the impact to the neighborhood. So, the construction process will start out with removing the trees in preparation for all the work to be done within the area. Then the pavement reclamation uh this process where they'll come up come in with a uh machine and they'll grind up the existing asphalt in preparation moving that. But they will be grading that so it'll be open to vehicular traffic at all times. Right away after that process, they'll continue with the utility repair and replacement. Again, the uh majority of the area is going to receive new water man, new water services. A few others uh will have some storm sewer and sanitary repair. [snorts] Uh curb removal uh and repair and replacement that'll be done. And then the street light poles and LED fixtures will be upgraded. Uh the base course pavement will be installed. So at this time this is obviously towards the latter uh part of the project where the first layer of asphalt will be installed. Uh [snorts] the cast iron adjustments will be all the manholes will be raised to the service. Uh both the uh storm service sanitary and water mane will all have access through those castings and then we'll do boulevard restoration. Uh once the curbon gutter and asphalt is in there, we'll bring in the new black dirt, place the sod and any trees that are requested as part of the project and then the final workhorse will be installed. So some of the construction issues that a lot of people have concern about as part of these processes are access. Uh what I can say is all the residents will have access throughout the duration of the project. They will have access to their homes. However, there will will be one exception to that is when crews are working directly in front of those homes. And when that happens, we do have site representatives out on site that will give timely notice to every resident if they aren't going to have access during the course of the of the day, but that'll only be uh a few hours, but otherwise, you'll be able to park in front of your property virtually every day throughout that. Uh and also mail delivery. Uh obviously the uh post office cannot get to the post boxes when we have to remove them in preparation to do all the utility improvements. So anyone that's affected in that in that way is going to have temporary cluster boxes put up in the area. And so uh the mail service will be continuous. There won't be any disruption to any mail service on that. Working hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturdays are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is no work on Sundays. Uh there will be site representatives out on site at all times. Uh we always make sure that we kind of pride ourselves to make sure that we're available to each and every resident uh that's going to be impacted if they have questions, concerns. Uh we also provide uh phone numbers and emails if you want to contact us. >> [snorts] >> Uh here's a site map of what's uh the improvements are going to be. Uh kind of probably a little hard to tell where you're sitting. Uh but Greenway, the north south street that uh has the horizontal dash line on it that's going to have water main replacement as well as the um shorter dash line which is the sidewalk that's going to be installed on the west side. the loop going around which is second street graft and fourth street that again is going to have water man installed on that. The only street that is not going to have the water man installed on it is third street court which uh we believe that the water man is still in uh functioning in a functioning state right now but we are going to replace all the curbon gutter and asphalt on that to replace uh to make sure that we have some longevity in that area. As far as the process, just a little recap. Uh November 5th, uh we had the neighborhood information feasibility report was presented to the council on December 9th. Tonight, we are having the public hearings. In uh May 10th will be the plan approval. Uh excuse me, in April, we'll award the contract. In May, we're going to start construction with September being substantial completion date with final completion is going to be in October. And with that, I'll pass it back to Brian. >> Thank you. >> Okay, with that, that's the end of the presentation. Now, it's an opportunity for the council to hear testimony from the neighbors and have a discussion. >> Thank you, Brian. At this moment, I'm going to go ahead and open the public hearing for the project improvements only. May I invite property owners to comment on the proposed improvements. Please hold any comments or questions related to the assessments or the financing of this project until the assessment hearing, which will come next. At this time, if you'd like to comment as part of this public hearing, please step up to the podium, state your name and address for the record, and proceed with your comments. Seeing none, I'm going to go ahead and close the improvement hearing, bring it back up to council. Um, a reminder for council ordering the project requires a 4-fifths vote. Um, at this time I'll go ahead and entertain a motion from city council to order city project 2026-01. >> I move we wave reading and adopt resolution 2026-08 ordering pro ordering city project R 2026-01 the 2026 street reconstruction. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any comments? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. [clears throat] And resolution 2026-08 is approved. Uh, is there a presentation for the assessment or the financing part? Okay. Uh Brian I guess it doesn't say that there's a presentation on here, but let's go ahead and do that. Okay. >> Uh, would you walk us through the financing and the assessment portion, Brian? >> Okay. So, this is the second hearing where we talk about the project financing. So, we're talking about how the project is being financed. So again we'll talk about uh the financing property taxes defining assessments assessment policies another opportunity for the property owners to u discuss the assessments to their particular property and then it'll be turned back to the council for them to decide on the project. Uh as it relates to the assessments to the property owners, uh the assessment is based on the front footage of the property and we uh measure the width of the lot at the building setback line and most of the lots along Greenway Avenue are 80 feet in width and most of the lots on Second and Grafton and fourth are 70 feet. So there's generally two different size lots, residential lots. So it's either you're either based on 70 ft or 80 ft. So, and it's capped at 80 ft. So, it's the width of the lot up to 80 ft. Um, except for the commercial industrial property, we had to cap the width of the lot at um based on the property value, determine the how much frontage we could assess. And there are two assessment rates. So, it's $80 a foot for the residential and then $115 a foot for the commercial property. And there is the one commercial property on the corner of Hudson Boulevard and Greenway Avenue. The estimated cost of the project is 6.6 million $16,560. Of that special assessments, um total $910,315, which is about 14% of the total project costs are being assessed to the property owners. Uh another portion of the project, the sidewalk, we did get a federal grant for the sidewalk. So there's 400,000 coming from a federal grant. Um our share of the state gas tax uh is also funding a portion of this project to the tune of 1,787,134. Uh there's also utility system replacement funds, city funds that are replacing the the water man and making the storm sewer improvements and the sanitary sewer improvements. Uh 2,243,240. We also have storm sewer funds of 300,000, street improvement funds of 300,000, and then the city will have to issue uh debt in the amount of $675,871 uh to make up the difference. [clears throat] Special assessments are uh generally can be described as a loan to the property. They're spread over a 10-year period. The interest rate is 2% over whatever the cell the city sells the bonds for. And the first uh payment would uh start in May of 2027. Um you can pay it up to the October of 2026 without acrewing any interest, but any payments after October of of 26, you do acrew interest. Uh there is uh you can pay off the principal at any time by coming to city hall. And there also if it creates a financial hardship, there is an application form in the back of the room that you can fill out. There are some criteria that you have to meet in order to meet the hardship deferral. U these are just two charts that generally show the difference between a 70 foot assessment and an 80 foot assessment over a 10-year period. U I'll just read off uh generally you pay onetenth the principal every year and then interest on the unpaid balance. So if you have a 70 foot lot that first year payment would be $560 plus interest of 3.89. So it' be $349 would be your first year. Uh the last year of the assessment is 2036. Um the payment would be the 560 principal and $32.20 of interest. So for a total of $592. So with that, that's the presentation on the financing for the project and opportunity for the council uh to hear from the residents. >> Thank you, Brian. Um I actually have a question on this one. For the hardship deferral, is there a timeline associated with when residents can apply for that? Is there >> It's obviously not tonight like it is with the appealing the assessment. You don't have to have it in by a certain time, but is it just by that first October date? >> Yes. Okay. >> Okay. >> I'm pretty sure it is as long as you apply for before the October the date >> October 15th, 2026 date. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh at this time, I'm going to go ahead and open the public hearing related to the assessments and financing of this project. I invite property owners to comment on the proposed assessments. Uh just a reminder, those wishing to appeal their assessment or preserve their legal right to do so must fill out the assessment appeal form located on the back counter. Uh, Corey, wave your hand. There you go. Uh, they're back there. Um, a reminder, this form must be submitted to the city clerk prior to the close of the assessment hearing. And I'll do one final call for those. Um, if there are any forms before we go ahead and close that. At this time, I'm going to open the public hearing. Anybody wishing to comment on the assessment or the proposed financing, step up to the podium. Uh, please state your name and address for the record and proceed with your comments. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Al Stroshi, 19 Greenway, a resident of 33 years at that address, but a resident of Oakdale since 1961, long before this was a city. I live on the corner of Greenway and Hudson Boulevard. And as a result of the goal line project, the curbs and aprons are already in place. They've already done most of the uh um storm sewer components are in place as well as a section of the of the of the water man. >> I would assume some kind of adjustment is in order being these were paid for by the goal line state of Minnesota and the federal government. And this is up through about 25% of 33 greenway the property just north of me on the other side of the street. Low voltage integrators. They're done up past their service entrance. Um I would expect an at minimum an adjustment. Any thoughts? Uh under council's um adopted procedures, we don't reply to questions presented. We do refer them back to our our city staff or Brian. Um he Brian can certainly get back with you with the answer, but we don't take questions in >> I have had this discussion with Brian once already. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. Bet. Are there any other individuals that would like to um speak under the public hearing tonight? >> Hi, David Olsen, Low Voltage Integrators, 6592 Hudson Boulevard. I'd like to echo Al's sentiments as well with the seems like some of the constructions already been completed with the gold line. Like you said, our service entrance has already been reconnected. we've already gone through, you know, the heartache of, you know, the disruptions and stuff and still not done. Uh there is a sidewalk, too, that's probably 90% completed on our property as well. So, again, hoping that that'll be taken into account, you know, with the assessment. So, >> thank you. >> And, you know, thank you for the information, too, on the form filling that out. So, we'll do that as well. So, thank you. Thanks. Uh, is there anybody else that would like to um speak under the public hearing tonight? All right. Uh, has everybody filled out their forms or received a form from the city clerk? All right, we're going to go ahead and close the public hearing. We'll still be able to get those uh it looks like two assessment appeals in. Um Sarah will take those from you when they are complete. At this time, I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing. uh bring it back up to council consider uh council for consideration. Uh council members, do we have any questions or comments um regarding the proposed assessments? All right, I will look for a motion. I make a motion to wave reading and adopt resolution 2026-9 adopting the assessment rule for city project R2026-01 2026 street reconstruction in the amount of $910,315. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Any final comments? All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. And resolution 2026-09 is adopted. >> Thank you, Brian. >> Thank you. >> Uh wow. 7:45 and we're just at open form now. Uh we're going to go ahead and keep moving uh with open forum. Uh before we open up the floor to any comments, I do have one proclamation uh recognizing the city's commitment to volunteerism in the city of Oakdale. Whereas the city of Oakdale firmly believes that the values of compassion, empathy, and community support are the foundation of a united and harmonious society, fostering connections that transcend differences. And whereas the strength and prosperity of our cities, towns, and villages are based in the selflessness of its residents to serve and uplift one another. And whereas we acknowledge the profound impact that can be achieved when we extend a helping hand to our neighbors, especially those of of diverse backgrounds, uh, lifting them up and collectively working to improve lives. And whereas we nurture a culture of giving within our cities, emphasizing that volunteerism is not just a duty, but a source of personal fulfillment and community strength. And as we work sidebyside with and learn from each other, uh, mutual understanding increases, misconceptions can be corrected, and new friendships are built. And whereas we urge all citizens to care for one another, volunteer, and engage in acts of service and kindness that contribute to our city's betterment and its inhabitants and well-beings, regardless of background or belief. Therefore, I, Kevin Obel, mayor of Oakdale, Minnesota, hereby proclaims the city of Oakdale commits to promoting volunteerism, leveraging just serve.org to make it easier for residents to find and engage in volunteer opportunities and regularly acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of volunteers. Uh, this is a cool proclamation. This is new for us. Um, as the city council and our city staff have been working for the last few years on our strategic plan. Um, you know, one area that we recognize that that we needed some uh formalization and help is uh regarding volunteerism in our community. We have so many amazing volunteers already, amazing groups in our community um that do so much good. And so we really just wanted to figure out a way for the city to kind of actively uh encourage that and um identify partners that might be help uh be able to help us with that. Uh just serve.org or the organization just serve behind that is a is a really cool organization um that provides a platform to participating communities and any groups within those communities to um add and promote your volunteer opportunities to a really broader a much broader audience. And so that's kind of a cool opportunity. We'll be communicating with uh community groups in our city, letting them know that this is a a free um option for them to get the word out about their volunteer opportunities, hopefully bring more volunteers in and really grow their impact and how they're they're supporting our community. So, um we're really excited to partner with Just Serve and get the word out amongst um all of our organizations in our our community because we know they already do so much great work and hope that they can do even more for our community, for our city. So, um thank you to Just Serve uh for that partnership. Uh, still under open forum. If there's anybody joining us that would like to talk about anything that's on their mind, please feel free, similar to the public hearing rules, to step up to the podium, state your name and address for the record, please try and confine your comments to 3 minutes or so. Um, please feel free. Patrick Tibo, 6293 25th Street North. um here uh representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and representing the Just Serve organization. And I just wanted to step forward and thank you for adopting Just Serve. We look forward to partnering with the city and commend this council for being a leader amongst the cities of Minnesota in volunteerism, which we see as a way of bringing people together and taking care of some of the issues we've seen bubbling up recently. uh serving one another is a great way uh to just go around doing good and we thank you. >> Thanks, Patrick. >> Thank you. >> Uh is there anybody else that would like to speak under open forum tonight? >> Seeing none, we'll keep things moving uh move into our consensus motions, non-controversial items on our agenda tonight. In front of us, we have A through D. Uh council members, were there any that we wanted to pull for individual consideration? Council member Moore, did you have a question? >> No, I'm good now. Thank [laughter] you. >> I saw your hand out. I was like, what? Oh okay. >> Thank you so much. >> Uh, council members, can I get a motion to approve approve consensus motions A through D as presented? >> So, moved. >> There's a motion there. Second. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And those motions are adopted. Uh, next up, we'll check in with our advisory boards and commissions. Only one met uh since our last meeting, our tree board. Council member Moore, you are their liaison. How's our tree board doing? >> Indeed, I am. Our tree board is doing great work, I will have to say. Um, in our meeting, we discussed the 2026 work plan, um, which this year includes an opportunity for them to explore some new ideas for programming this year. I think they're really excited to, um, just to kind of, I don't know, see what's out there, see what they can do. Um, and that was wonderful. We also shared our appreciation for our outgoing chair, Nick Kinola, and wish him well. Um, and voted in a new chair and vice chair. >> Cool. So yeah, a lot of good things in the treeboard. >> Is Nick done with the treeboard? Did it his term? >> He is his term ended and um Nick did um he has he has some other things going on in his life which is wonderful and exciting and um that means he has done on the treeboard. So we are losing an incredible mind um an expert in in that area and he did um promise slashthreaten but promise to be involved in all of the upcoming events. So we will still have him um as a resource and and um as a part of our our network and that's wonderful but we wish him all the best >> and that means the treeboard has a vacant seat. So if you're interested in in serving on the tree board or any of our commissions you can visit our website oakdalem.gov and fill out an application and join one of our uh citizen- le boards. >> Yeah, >> always got to get that plug in there, >> right? We'd love to have you. >> Uh nothing under award of bids tonight, so we'll move into staff reports. Community development has a number of items for us. Luke welcome. Would you please walk us through the first item? >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor and Council. So, I'll get my presentation on the screen here in just a moment. So, if you recall, um, the city has been working over the past few months, several months with a project team consisting of Don Tyson, the city's representative, BKV Group, and Cross Anderson Anderson Construction on plans to expand city hall, or I should say expand the police department facility and remodel city hall. So, as Oakdale continues to grow, the city needs modern facilities, additional space to better serve our community. And based on the size of the building expansion, a formal site plan amendment is required. And the city is going through the same process that any developer would go through. Uh we did this with the public works facility a couple years ago if you recall. So the expansion here, the existing building shown on the the left side of the screen is in blue. It's approximately 17,000 ft. And the expansion which is shown on the right side of the screen in red, the red outline there, that's about 27,000 square ft. The total building size would be approximately 44,000 square ft. The ex uh the building expansion would uh slightly push the building a little bit further south, a little bit closer to 15th Street, but that setback distance would be about 85 ft. The building would not extend any further east, closer to Hadley than where it is right now. So, currently there are two existing accesses off of Hadley Avenue. So, um the one here on the on the north and then the uh uh southern entrance there where my cursor is and then there is a new proposed access off 15th Street which will function as the primary entrance for the public visiting city hall and the police department. So, as mentioned there are the two existing accesses off Hadley and both will remain as part of the the project. The north access off Hadley will remain as the entryway for the public visiting Walton Park. The south access off Hadley would be restricted to city staff and police vehicles with a gated system. The new access off 15th Street will uh uh contain 49 parking spaces for the public. And I do want to note that uh engineering staff reviewed the new access off 15th Street and they determined that the uh projected volume vehicle volume uh vehicle traffic rather uh with the the new entrance the new parking area that there there's not a need for a turn lane off 15th Street there [snorts] excuse me. The overall number of parking spaces in this portion of Walton Park will be reduced from 281 down to 243. However, the total number of parking spaces meets and uh exceeds the city's zoning requirements for parking, which are a minimum of 110 parking spaces. Uh by and large, uh parking here at Walton Park and City Hall. Um it's pretty underutilized with a few exceptions throughout the year such as Summerfest and baseball softball tournaments. Additionally, there are other parking facilities throughout Walen Park that will remain. So in terms of trees and landscaping uh tree preservation plan and landscaping plan formal plans have been submitted provided 64 trees will be removed. However3 new trees will be planted as part of the landscaping. There will be additional shrubs throughout the site as well. Tree replacement and landscaping requirements are met. When we look at our lighting requirements, lighting cannot exceed 0.5 ft candles at any property line. And the phototric plan that was submitted shows that the maximum illumination along the the two property lines, the southern property line and along the east uh does not exceed 0.2 foot candles. So the project team did a very good job in terms of minimizing light um and impacting neighboring properties. So that requirement is met. We have two new storm water features here serving the expansion in the building. So there's a there will be a detention basin located on the west side of the facility as well as an underground system north of the facility. Uh so the next few slides are some elevations and renderings. I just want to touch on the the building height at 36 ft. The tallest part of the building does not exceed the 40 foot requirement. And in terms of exterior building design standards, the zoning code requires that the the structure the building consists of at least 70% class one materials and the architectural plans that this is more than sufficiently met with about 95% class one materials, brick, metal panels and glass. And the remaining u materials will consist of stained pre-cast concrete panel and existing masonry. So those design standards have been met. Whoops. >> [gasps] >> So, um, here are just a few more elevations of the building on the screen. I'll show the renderings in just a moment. So, here's a look at the southeast corner of the building. I just want to point out 15th Street there where my cursor is and then Hadley Avenue. So, this image shows the east and north sides of the building. Again, the existing southern entrance off Hadley Avenue will be restricted with a gated system for police vehicles and city staff vehicles. [clears throat] This image shows the proposed access off 15th Street and the new public entrance. Uh notice the increased amount of glass on the building just to bring in additional natural lighting. And this image is a view looking over the park pavilion showing the west side of the building. And just notice the additional pedestrian infrastructure that will help better connect city hall police department with the rest of Walton Park. Uh this image shows the public entrance of the building and as well as the memorial. And here's the uh the final image that we have. And just a couple notes before we conclude here is that uh the city did hold two voluntary uh public house or excuse me open house events during the week of December 15th to provide the public with information on this project. City also mains maintains a dedicated web page on our city website that we encourage folks to visit just to learn a little bit more about this project. The planning commission reviewed the site plan amendment back on January 8th and they recommended approval and staff recommends approval of the request as detailed in the staff report on file and we do have a few conditions in the resolution. So this is resolution 2026-07 which is found in the agenda packet. So four conditions of approval. So the first one is provide additional details on the methods of screening for rooftop utilities. Number two, add a roof to the external trash enclosure area. Number three, obtain approval of the site civil construction plans by the city engineer. And then number four, obtain app permits and approvals from the wershed district for storm water provisions. So with that, we have uh Don Tyson as part of the project management project team here. If you have any questions and staff can answer questions also. Thank you. >> Thank you, Luke. Uh council members, any questions for Luke? How about any questions for Don? Seeing none, let's just hop right into the action. Who would like to make the motion? >> I'll make the motion. Mr. Mayor, I I uh move we wave reading and adopt resolution 2026-07 approving a site plan amendment for 1584 Hadley Avenue North with conditions included in the attached resolution. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and second. Any final comments? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Resolution 2026-07 is adopted. Next up, uh, city project P 2026 2026-01. Mr. Gilav, are you going to walk us through this? >> Uh, yes, Mayor. And I'm going to be, uh, joined by uh, Cory Titz, our public [laughter] works director. Our fine furniture. Come on. >> Well, we're moving out, right? You guys [laughter] packing stuff around, right? That's going to be your office chair though, isn't it? >> It's not tall enough. I like >> Okay, >> mayor, I'll also note that we have uh uh Hannah Dunn here as well who put a lot of the work into into this item and just recognize that there's a lot of uh questions and feedback and I think those all make um this project stronger in future projects as we move forward. So, we appreciate that feedback. Um, I'm going to go and and kick it off with just a little bit of background and then Corey's gonna add in and then we'll open it up for any any questions. So, again, this is for the city projects for the for the parks 2601 Tanner's Lake, 2602 Tower Park, and 2605 GU Park. Uh these improvements are the results of the park system plan, the 18month effort to define our park system growth for the next 20 years, including short, mid, and long-term pri uh priorities. It also included concept plans for every park and and cost estimates as well. Um the selected parks for 26 Tanners includes relocation and construction of a new playground with an accessible path, turf grass restoration at the site of the old playground, pickup ball and tennis court improvements and construction of a parking lot off Glen Brook Avenue North and improving ball field drainage, a tower park that includes replacement of playground equipment, adding a small seating area, construction of an accessible paved path to the playground, and completing turf grass restoration on the hill. Gelfu Park, replacing expanding the playground and adding a concrete plaza with seating. Um to approach these projects for um for 2026, uh the city is looking at one consultant to do that work to provide some efficiencies. Um that consultant um prior to final design, they would do additional engagement. And we we've got some feedback from council on on who to engage and how we'd like to structure that. Um and and the plans would come back to parks and recck commission and then to council for final approval before um moving forward. Um, one additional um, thing that's ongoing right now is we have some grants that are pending. U, one is for Tanner's Lake, the 3MP fast settlement that if we were to receive that grant, and we've been told spring, which is is when we when we get seasons, it's always hard to pin down when that we'll actually get that news. But if we we're successful in that, that would be for natural resource habitat, shoreline improvements um that were identified in the park system plan as well as um the uh parking lot improvements are also in there. So there's the ability to uh maybe offset some of the costs that are there. So in anticipation of that there, we would come back and do a separate um change order on this this contract to uh design service to support those efforts if if successful. Um given the timing, the need for additional engagement, the complications with with that grant as well as some others that the city is pursuing, uh Tower and Park, Tower Park and Gelfry Park would go first, ensure that they're constructed in 2026. Uh Tanner's Lake Park would uh begin its engagement, take a little bit longer of a path, get started in construction as early as possible, but would be finished in the 2027 time frame. Um with that we went through uh quite an extensive process here to uh get to the LHB um recommendation. We had a uh solicitation go out. We had nine proposals. Uh we reviewed those proposals, interviewed four of the the top teams. We included criteria in there such as understanding of the proposal objectives, qualification and experience of the firm and the key personnel assigned work plan and schedule and cost. Um at the conclusion of that staff recommended LHB uh for this project. They're a multi-isiplinary team that augments the resources that that city staff has. They have experience completing similar projects. They have the appropriate licensed professionals and landscape architecture, civil structural, electrical engineering, surveying, geotechnical and cost consultant. In addition, their cost proposal was about middle of the pack um as far as uh cost competitiveness. um a total cost of $274,000. Now, when we put the CIP together, we we did build in design costs. Um we had an uh assumption up to $450,000, which is 20% of the project. So, this does leave some more um wiggle room within the with within the project um going going forward here. Um so, with that, I I'm just going to turn over to Corey. wanted to say a few words about the the engagement and sort of the the bigger picture approach now that we're, you know, at a big milestone for council moving from project specific to delivering a program of park improvements. >> Yeah. Thank you, Andy, mayor, members of the council. We just wanted to touch on, you know, point out for both uh the council and members of the public, we're kind of going through uh a landscape shift um and how we did project improvements or park improvements in the past to um uh how we're going to do them. will be moving forward. So obviously as you know and and many members of the community know um community development team in the city spent uh almost three years developing the parks master plan that was just recently adopted um last fall. So um through that plan there was a lot of um there's a lot of question about we see a design in that plan and and it it's important to remember that that's conceptual and [snorts] um a very highlevel schematic of what the park could look like. It it gave us a guide of where we need to go. So through this project um all of these projects and as we move forward that doesn't proclude us from having to do further architect work and engineering work that really defines what that site will actually look like and where the integration of that will come in and is um through lots of community engagement programs and then uh discussions with uh commission um the various different commissions DRC and obviously the council here. um you know staff heard the feedback from the council on the importance of uh community engagement with that stuff. So happy to say through that evaluation on one part of this firm offered numerous different opportunities. So, there's a minimum of 16 different engagement opportunities for these parks, whether they're uh it's a different surveys, some online stuff, some yard signs, and also direct on-site um one-on-one engagement with the community at a minimum of uh uh one for each project. And Tanner is currently scheduled for two opportunities for that stuff. Again, that's also includes um the engagement participation for the various commissions and then um uh council uh different meetings and stuff like that. So, wanted to make sure we pointed out that distinction here. As we move forward, there will be while we have the parks master plan, there's still going to be the ongoing need to do some some further work. Um, schedule for this. Um, this is a very big project, especially with the tanners component of it. Um, we'll engage our behind-the-scenes work has already started and we'll continue moving forward with our project kickoff meetings um assuming approval tonight. Um and then we'll see uh um really the project kick off again in the background as soon as next month here in February and continue on uh engagement start as soon as depending on you know weather April May um for for a couple of the parks uh golf tanners would get done um uh this spring or I'm sorry golf and uh Tower would get done really excited. >> I know this [laughter] I caught myself. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry I caught myself. Uh those will get done in 2026. Tanners will we will see activity there in 26, but because of the complexity of the scope of work that we're looking at doing and that um that you members of the council approved through that master plan that will um have to extend into 2027. Um with um we have a very conservative schedule right now with um optimistic that hopefully depending on weather conditions and stuff like that um there's good opportunity that we'll be able to um to move that time frame up. So, just wanted to point out a few of those various things and um certainly um make sure you uh members of the council and the community know that we will have a lot of engagement more engagement that we've seen and and um um from both the elected body and the general public. So, with that, happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you, Corey. Thank you, Andy. Um council members, any questions for staff? We can take questions first. Seeing none. All right. Uh who would like to make the motion? I can make a motion to authorize mayor and city administrator to enter into an agreement for final design and construction administration services between the city of Oakdale and LHP Inc. for an amount not to exceed $274,000 for city projects P2026-01 Tanners Lake Park, P2026-02 Tower Park and P2026-05 Golf View Park. >> There's motions there. Second >> second. Okay. [laughter] >> Wanted that >> fight over it. There's motions there and there's a second. Any final comments? >> Yeah, if I could, mayor. >> Council member, welcome. >> Just to say I'm starting my fourth year on the council and from day one, this was a priority to get our parks back to where um we want our community to to have them. So, the engagement, the master parks plan, the work Hannah did, the work community development did, uh the parks and recck commission, everybody involved, Corey and the public works team, uh this is really exciting. Been talking to the residents for four years about this and we're going to get there. So, thank you. I'm excited that we're here. >> Thank you, Council Member Morham. Any other questions or comments? >> I do. >> Council member Moore. >> Um well, we all know that I came from the parks and recck commission before I was elected to council. So, I echo your sentiments. I'm so excited to see this move forward. Um Tanners Lake became something that I was really excited about and interested in in the park renovation opportunity. Um, so I am just delighted that we get to sit here today and start taking action on um all of the hard work that's been put into this so far. So, thank you all. >> Thank you, Council Member Moore. Uh, any other comments? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. And I will be voting no. Uh, that authorization is given 4 to one. Uh, okay. Couple more actions related to this agenda item. Uh, who wants to make that motion? I can keep going. Make a motion to authorize city administrator to approve amendments such as term extensions to the contract with LHP, Inc. for city projects P2026-01 Tanners Lake Park, P2026-02 Tower Park, and P2026-05 Golf View Park, provided that they do not exceed the contract dollar amount. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Uh, final comments. Actually, I do have a question on this one for Chris. um uh next few months, do we anticipate any changes that while while you're in >> so while you're down at part time, do we need to change the language to authorize you or your design? >> No, Mr. Mayor, city council, one of the things I'm keeping is all contracts, all legal authorities. Okay. >> That kind of thing. So, I'll be able to do that electronically now. >> Got it. Perfect. Thank you for that. Uh motion second. A little bit of conversation. All those in favor say I. >> I. I >> opposed and that authorization is given. Last item. >> I'll make a motion to authorize the city administrator to approve individual change orders and purchase orders up to 100,000 for series projects P2026-01 Tanners Lake Park, P2026-02 Tower Park and P2026-05 GU Park, provided that they are within the approved CIP budget. >> Uh there's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Final comments. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? And that authorization is given as well. Thank you both. >> Thank you. Uh, one more item under community development tonight, amendments to chapter 25. Luke back. Luke, welcome. Please walk us through these changes. >> Yes. Thank you, mayor. So, uh, no PowerPoint slides, just a verbal presentation. I'll keep it as brief as I can. So, recall that a comprehensive update to the zoning code was adopted back in July of last year. So after 6 months of being able to implement the new code, the city has identified a handful of corrections, clarifications, and minor policy changes uh to consider. So the first of which is uh a change to the residential district uh the R2 district to be specific. And we're proposing to remove town homes and courtyard cottages from the R2 district. And this is intended to create just a more intentional transition between the R2 district and other higher density residential districts. uh no properties would be made non-conforming if this adjustment is a made is made. Uh [snorts] the second is changes to the B2 business campus district. We are proposing to allow light manufacturing as a uh as an allowed principal use and the intention here is to broaden allowed uses there and better match market conditions. Uh another change to the B B2 district is to increase the exterior design requirements for uh industrial type uses there. So uh we would require 70% class one materials. So brick, glass, um stone on on the exteriors there just due to the visibility of the of the sites there that are zone B2 because they are along interstate frontages. Um, the next change is related to additional garages and oversized accessory buildings. And we want to restore specific review criteria for additional garages and the accessory structures from the old code. It was a technicality things didn't get migrated over. We're also proposing some new standards to regulate the the scale of these structures. We're proposing a maximum building size of 1500 square f feet, maximum height of 25 ft, a driveway requirement for second garages, and we want to clarify that no more than one oversized accessory structure can be allowed through the conditional use permit process. Other updates we are proposing include fixing an incorrect reference in the the zoning map amendment section of the code, clarifying setback requirements for accessory structures, and clarifying that electronic signage in non-residential districts require a conditional use permit. So the planning commission, they held the required public hearing for the zoning code amendments back on January 8th and they recommended approval. So staff recommends approval of the ordinance and uh we find it to be consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and um yeah staff is recommending approval of the amendments. Happy to answer questions. Thank you. Uh thank you Luke. Uh council members, any questions for Luke? Okay. Um I have one amendment I'm going to offer. So let's let's get a motion and a second on the floor and then I can um propose that amendment and then we'll see where that goes. Sound like a plan. Who would like to make that motion? The first one. >> I'll make it. Uh, Mr. Mayor, I move we wave reading and adopt ordinance number 959 amending the code of ordinances for the city of Oakdale, chapter 25, relating to allowed uses in the R2 and B2 zoning districts, criteria for electronic signage and accessory structures, exterior design standards for the B2 zoning district, and a correction to the application review procedures. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion second. conversation. Um, so one amendment that I'm proposing is um in the accessory building section uh for staff's reference 25-09-201 um we outline the conditional use permit process if a property wants um an accessory building larger than what's allowed in the city code. Um the number provided is 200 ft. Um within that there are I believe eight conditions um ranging from building features etc. So height of garage door um I think placement um may not be subdivided that type of stuff. One of the conditions um raised some concerns with me particularly it was uh in section D3 condition G access to a private garage must uh be by a driveway surface with batuminous concrete brick class V or other materials as approved by the city. My concern here is um obviously we all know a all a lot of parcels in Oakdale a lot of different shapes sizes etc. Um we have uh a number of residential properties um totaling more than 300 ft in length. Um while I understand the intent with this, the application is where I think we run into some problems. You know, for a lot of those long skinny lots we have in our I think there probably are two districts. um you know, if somebody is to put a a shed at the back of their lot, um you'd have to have a driver that goes to it all the way um for possibly up to 300 ft. Um on those long skinny lots, you have very narrow side setbacks. So, it may have to uh encompass an entire sideyard to accommodate that driveway um just to have an accessory building at the back of the lot. I'm not saying this is a bad idea. I think we need to clarify maybe some intent items, put some parameters around why installing a driveway would be necessary. Right now, I just don't think it's defined, and I worry that it may um disincentivize um property owners from making improvements to their property. So, I'm going to offer an amendment um striking um section 25-09201 um sections uh D3G from the proposed language. Uh can I get a second? >> A second. >> Uh motion a second. Any questions on that amendment specifically? Jim, >> uh just one, Mr. Mayor. And I think we should include that in reing paragraph 8 to paragraph >> G. Yeah. >> Just so it's clear. uh adding that one little clerical item in there as well. Um any questions on my proposal or why? >> Well, if I could >> Yeah, Council Member Morham. >> Yeah, just a clarification, right? That even without the driveway requirement in there, it would still go to planning commission. It would still go to council. It would still have public hearings. So, in the end, we're not a cook cookie cutter town. And I kind of like that about Oakdale. So, this allows options for review and common sense instead of just earmarking something that could be so expensive it would just price a project out of someone's outer reach. Uh, any additional comments? Uh, seeing none, all those in favor of the amendment say I. >> I. >> Opposed? And the amendment is adopted. Uh so we're back to the underlying um motion. Um all of that language uh in ordinance 959 as amended. Uh any any other changes people want to put forward? Okay, Jim, we made an amendment. Do we need >> to vote on the main motion? >> All right. Uh so the motion in front of us is uh ordinance 959 all that subsequ sub subsequent language as amended. Uh all those in favor say I. >> I opposed and that ordinance as amended is adopted. >> Uh one more action regarding title and publishing title and summary. And >> I'll move we wave reading and adopt resolution 2026-10 authorizing publication of ordinance number 959 by title and summary. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. Final comments. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And that resolution 2026-10 is adopted. All right, let's check in with our city attorney, Mr. Thompson. What do you got for us tonight? >> Uh, nothing, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, but happy to answer questions. >> Anybody have questions for Jim? All right, let's check in with our city administrator, Chris, you have one item on the agenda. Is there anything besides that one you'd like to walk us through? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for reminding me. I [laughter] seem to forget that sometimes. Thank you. Whoops. Yeah. Um, we do have Don Tyson here, the owner's rep. He will um he will discuss this. It's really a a legal necessity to do this, but I'll let Don explain if you don't mind. >> All right, Don, welcome. Please walk us through this agenda item. >> Thank you, mayor. Evening, councel. Thank Chris. Um, so one year ago, we released the request for proposals to hire an architect for the police expansion of city hall remodel project. Seems like yesterday, but it was one year ago. In the past year, the design team has been working with city leadership from the police department, administration, and you in several workshops, and we now have a project to begin the bidding process. The city is going to utilize a construction manager at risk delivery method, and Krauss Anderson is the construction manager at risk for these projects. The bidding process starts with Krauss Anderson issuing a [clears throat] request for qualifications to pre-qualify contractors, and that was approved uh about a month ago. The process for bid package one has been completed and tonight we're recommending approval of 52 contractors over seven different work scopes to be pre-qualified for bidding. Bid package one includes work scope items that we need to start the project on time or they have a long delivery uh time frame for fabrication and delivery of those materials. Tonight, we're also recommending then approval to authorize Carl Anderson to solicit bids for bid package one. We expect that we'll present those bid results for approval and a guaranteed maximum price agreement with the city at your March 24th meeting. So, I said bid package one. So, there will be a bid package too. Bid package two for those remaining work scopes. That includes everything that's left from plumbing to painting. We plan to request approval to pre-qualify contractors for that package at your February 10th meeting. Approve contractors and authorize bidding at your April 14th meeting and then present bid results and an amendment to the guaranteed maximum price agreement at your May 26th meeting. So, this all leads up with your approvals tonight to a groundbreaking in early June and the start of a construction project that's going to result in a great city campus for residents and staff. So with that, council, I certainly stand for questions. >> Council members, any questions for Don? How about questions for Chris? >> Who wants to make the action? I can make a motion to approve the police expansion and city hall remodel project pre-qualified subcontractor list for bid package one for the letter from Krauss Anderson dated January 21st, 2026, and authorize Krauss Anderson to solicit bids for bid package one. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. Motion with second. Final comments. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. And that approval is given. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Don. >> Chris, anything else for us tonight? >> No, sir. >> All right. Uh, council presentations. Anybody want to go first as I sift through all my paper up here and look for mine? >> Yeah, I can go. >> Council member Morham. >> Yeah, I just want to reiterate with Just Serve, right? That's the program, the volunteer program. I am so excited about that coming online. Um, it's for anybody in this community, right? It could be a church, it could be a civic group like the Lions Club, it could be for the scouts, could be for schools, but it gives people a chance to share what the needs are and then people to connect and go be a part of the solution. So, I hope we do a lot of public uh marketing and sharing of what that is when it comes out. But I'm glad we're on board and volunteerism is a really important solution to all of uh what's going on in the world right now. >> Absolutely. >> That's all I had. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, anybody else have any council presentations? >> No, I just echo e echo echo council member Morham's comments on on that that that uh that facility. That's going to be great. I think it's fantastic for our city. So, >> thank you, Gary. >> Yeah, I would just like to say I got to spend some time with our fire department last week. Um, and I was so unbelievably impressed what what these individuals do just behind the scenes for this community. And it is it is truly astounding and I really really enjoyed tonight for them to get some very public recognition for the job that they are doing all day. Um so that was really really neat to be a part of. Thank you. >> Thank you. Council member Rich >> I'm the only one that didn't have anything today. You know I can talk into a microphone but no I just think everything's going so wonderfully in this community and I love being a part of it. How about that for a council presentation? >> Love it. Uh I have a few uh updates from our city staff that they wanted me to share. First off, City of Oakdale outdoor ice rinks and warming houses at East Side and Walton Parks have reopened for regular hours as of Sunday, January 25th. Uh we've been on a roller coaster, weather roller coaster as of late. Um I think I saw for this weekend like 30° temperatures. Um so I mentioned all that uh the availability of ranks and warming houses changes it seems like daily. Uh we encourage everybody check out the city website um and our social media for the current status or you know just pop by um see if if there's any if the warming houses are open etc. But um our public works crews are doing everything they can to keep those those ranks uh in in good condition. It's just mother nature's throwing us some curveballs it seems like every few days. So it can be kind of hit or miss. Uh just three days remain. Uh if any residents still have their natural Christmas trees at this point just take it into your backyard and throw a match into it. I mean, [laughter] >> do that. >> I mean, yeah, there's information on our city website if you still have your your natural Christmas tree at your house. My goodness. Um, I hope not. It's end of January. Um, are you planning an outdoor event this summer? Ooh, this is a great reminder. Rentals for Oakdale Picnic Shelters for the 2026 season, which runs April through October, can be made online through the city website. Uh, reservations are first come, first served. uh Oakdale residents receive a discounted rate. Shelters book up pretty quick. Um we we have a lot of um a lot of groups and a lot of families in our community uh that love using those picnic shelters for gatherings, birthdays, graduations. Um so if you are looking at your calendar and eyeing a certain date, do not delay. Um please go book those on our city website, oakdalem.gov or oakdalefund.com. That's >> Oakdale. >> That's the recreation page. dealfund.com um online res reservation system or you can also call uh the discovery center and our uh recreation department would be happy to help you out. Um but hop like a bunny. You want to lock down those dates. They go really fast. So uh finally, a reminder, Oakdale City Hall offices offers free disposal of unused and expired household medications for Washington County residents. We have two dropboxes located here at city hall on the first floor near the police department. They're available Monday through Friday during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Uh, drop off of items is completely anonymous. No ID necessary. Uh, also names on your prescriptions do not need to be crossed off. It is a secure bin um that gets confidentially disposed of by Washington County. Medications should be kept in the original container if possible or placed in a small bag. Um, items accepted in the bin include household prescriptions, over-the-c counter, and pet medications. Uh, we just surpassed, I think, our first full year of having that service here at city hall. wildly successful. Um I think Washington County Sheriff's Office uh published that they um collected something like 1,200 lb of unused and unneeded medications. Um obviously we all know that um far too many medications end up, you know, going down the toilet, going down the sink, and so to have a safe space where th those medications can be disposed of properly, keeping them out of our our water system is incredibly important. Um it's so nice to see that um people in our community are taking advantage of that. Uh if you are wondering what's going to happen to those boxes when construction hap uh begins here at city hall or the police department um we will be moving them to one of our fire stations, one of the south south fire station um on 15th Street so that service will remain available even during construction. We want to keep that um a as a as an option for our residents. That's all I got. Uh let's pay some bills. Claims roster. Uh January 14th through January 27th in front of us $3.18 million and change. Uh, council members, were there any claims we wanted to pull out for more information? All right. Who wants to make the motion? >> So, moved. >> I'll do it. Uh, approve the claims for the period January 14th, 2026 to January 27th, 2026 in the amount of 3,188,362. >> Got to get those two pennies on there. >> Even though they don't even make pennies anymore. Uh, we had a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. I >> opposed. >> All right, bills are paid for another two weeks. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you and good night.