This transcript has been formatted with speaker names based on the context provided and the standard proceedings of a Lake Elmo City Council meeting. [00:00:00] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, I'm going to call the uh city council meeting for the city of Lake Elmo, Wednesday, November 5th to order. If you please stand with me for the pledge of allegiance. [00:00:10] **All:** 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. [00:00:22] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. Uh we do have an agenda that we need to approve. Uh there is an item that should be removed from the consent agenda which is item number nine. Anything else? Otherwise, I'll entertain a motion with the amended agenda. [00:00:35] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** So move. [00:00:36] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Second. [00:00:37] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second for an amended agenda removing item number nine from tonight's meeting. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:00:45] **Council Members:** I. [00:00:46] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Agenda is approved. Public comments and inquiries. So it's time when the public has time to come and speak to the council. There's no interaction between council and speaker. When you come to the podium, please state your name and address for the record. You do have six minutes. Um, so I'll call Jim Bowler. [00:01:05] **Jim Bowler:** Good evening. Jim Bowler, 11314 12 Street North. I've been a uh Lake Elmo resident for 35 years. Um, yeah, I'm here to speak on behalf of the uh donated equipment for the pickle ball courts in Pebble Park. Um, because I'm the guy who made them. So, if you have any questions or concerns, you can talk directly with me. Um, and we appreciate the recommendation to accept the um paddle holders and the beverage holders that I made, which is great. Um, we appreciate that, like I said, but, uh, not quite sure why, um, the recommendation did not include the, uh, benches and the, um, and the court barriers, court dividers. Um, the benches, [snorts] uh, they're solid, made of 2x12 and 2x4 green treated lumber. They're sanded smooth, rounded edges with a router, sanded again. No splinters, no sharp edges. They're solid as heck. I made them so uh people could have a chance to sit down between games and, you know, socialize, chitchat, rest, whatever. And some people come just to watch uh because they're injured or whatever. They can't play more than 10 minutes and they got to go somewhere, but they want to see their friends. So, they're very helpful. I I think and perhaps maybe one of the reasons they weren't accepted is [clears throat] because in the write up Jennifer wrote they'd last four years. Well, they'll last way longer than four years, probably 20 years because half of the year is they sit in my garage out of the elements. So, um they'll last quite a long time. Um the court dividers uh those were built because um the courts were built, you know, back to back. So if I'm playing here, there's somebody playing directly behind me. And of course the balls are flying back and forth just like a tennis court. And you know, you you'd never build a tennis court without dividers between the courts. like Oakland Junior High for example, they don't have to be 15 foot barriers. Uh the ones I built are just two feet high. They stop 90% of the walls and uh people are worried about, you know, ball coming at their feet when they're running and tripping on the ball and getting hurt and such. So, everyone loves them. I mean, 100% people are saying they're they're great. to really help uh alleviate the uh concern that they're going to get injured or something. And it's, you know, it's just uh kind of just makes common sense to enjoy the game better when you're not chasing the ball somewhere back there for, you know, 100 feet or whatever. Um but they are they are work in progress. I this I'm probably on like version 3.0. little tweaks here and there as I see the winds blowing them over or something else is happening, I'll try to fix them and keep them maintained. And perhaps that's maybe the other reason um they weren't accepted. Uh um we're we put them up, we take them down. Uh the staff doesn't have to do anything. Um there's no maintenance by the staff. There's no work expected from the staff. if they get injured or I mean if they get uh damaged I would I would be the one fixing them. Um perhaps there was concern that somebody would get hurt on them. I guess that's anything's possible but probably [snorts] no more so than running into the perally cemented 4ft posts that hold up all the nets or running into a net and falling over on top of it. I mean, there's all sorts of things you could imagine, but uh we believe they're very safe and they actually protect the players more than their risk is. Anyway, I I'm the guy. Uh again, I'll maintain them. There's no effort from the staff. Uh so, we'd ask that you please approve uh the the um the court dividers and the benches. Um we just we're just trying to be you know good citizens helping out the city where we can make the uh parks more enjoyable for us and everyone and um would appreciate the uh the approval. Thank you. [00:04:10] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. All right. [sighs] Don't have anybody else that wanted to talk. So we can move into the approval of the minutes from previous meeting. Um they were outlined in our packet. I'll entertain a motion on approval of the minutes. [00:04:25] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** So moved. [00:04:26] **Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. [00:04:27] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes from council meeting. Was it uh in October? Hang on a second. October 15th or 14th. All those in favor of approval of the minutes from the council meeting, please signify by saying I. [00:04:40] **Council Members:** I. [00:04:41] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right. Council meeting minutes are approved. In our consent agenda this evening, we have approve payments and dispersements. Approve light up Lake Elmo special event permit. Approve massage therapy license renewal. Approve Woodbury Athletic Association charitable gambling permit. Approve Lions Park playground replacement. Approve 2025 Crack Seal Project pay request. Accept Graph family park bench donation. Accept Lake Elmo pickle ball friends donation. Approve Wildflower fourth edition landscape security reduction. Approve approval of public works director job description and authorize recruitment for the position. Approve interim public works director. I'll entertain a motion on the consent agenda. [00:05:25] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Question. I know we approved the agenda. I mean is it possible to discuss the pickle ball um with the comments just to have the discussion with it? [00:05:35] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Um I'll allow it. You want to pull the— [00:05:37] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Just do a motion to reconsider. [00:05:39] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. You going to do Yeah. Mo. Thank you, Jeff. Motion to reconsider agenda. [00:05:42] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Uh motion to reconsider the agenda. [00:05:44] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. [00:05:45] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. So, just like to pull number eight— [00:05:47] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** —into the regular agenda. Yeah. [00:05:49] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All those accepting the uh motion to reconsider approval of the agenda, please signify by saying I. [00:05:53] **Council Members:** I. [00:05:54] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. So, Council Member Hirn would like to pull number eight and we would make that number three in the regular agenda. All those in favor of approving the amended agenda with item number eight except Lake Emma pickle ball friends donation into the regular agenda. Please signify by saying I. [00:06:10] **Council Members:** I. So moved. [00:06:11] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. Yep. I'll take a—I'll entertain a motion on the consent agenda without without item eight. [00:06:17] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Motion to approve the consent agenda as amended twice. [00:06:20] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Second. [00:06:21] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right. We have a motion and a second to approve for the consent agenda. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:06:26] **Council Members:** I. [00:06:27] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Consent agenda is hereby approved. First item is uh on the regular agenda is Washington County draft CIP comments. I believe uh Mr. Griffith will be walking us through this. [00:06:40] **Jack Griffith (City Engineer/Consultant):** Thank you, Mayor, members of the council. I'm here tonight to just give you a summary of the Washington County CIP. They update their CIP just like the city does once each year. We received a copy of the CIP in early October and the county uh does request comments by the cities. Um and we have found over the years through this practice that they they do listen. They do look at the comments. So, um it's important to um respond, you know, either in support or or let them know what we're thinking. So, um you know, it's a very it's a like a 600-page document. So, I go through the the document and I just pull out what's Lake Elmo and get—and I don't go through the facilities. I don't go through the park and wreck stuff. I'm just looking at the roads and bridges work. Uh that that's in this document. And then I've um in your packet is a letter, a draft letter um for responses that we would send in a letter uh that Nicole would send out tomorrow. Um and then I did hand you a revised letter since I did get some comments um on the packet um and showed the revisions in in yellow. So, um, and and there can, so we're looking for additional revisions to that as a as an end product that would get sent to sent to Washington County in the next couple days. Um, just a quick summary of of what they're looking to do in the next five years in Lake Elmo. It's it's the map is in your packet as well. Um, but the first project is obviously, you know, many of these projects you're aware of. County Road 17 and trunk highway 36 intersection and the south frontage road. So that's the first [snorts] project um we identified as a very critical project for the city and um talk about being supportive for that. You'll have the county here at the workshop next week to provide you an update on the schedule and where that project is at and and show you um you know where where the what the next steps are for moving forward in that project. So that project is back on track to be construct for construction over the next two years in 2026 and 2027. Um so that's the the biggest and the largest project. And it's important to also keep in mind um that most of these projects do have cost participation requirements by the city too. So when the county does a project in the city that then reflects into your your own CIP as a cost participation uh item as well. Uh the second one I have on the list is the CASA 10 and CASA 17 intersection. So Lake Elmo Avenue and 10th Street. That was a new project last year that continuing to be in there this year. They're they're working on planning and design of that project as we speak and they're talking about um you know the new school opens up in 2026 and they're talking about that being um you know a project that's constructed in 2028 I believe. can't not able to read my own my own map from here but um so that's that intersection it's being driven by the new elementary school um and then there's pedest you know a lot of what a lot of the discussions that are going on at those PMT meetings are pedestrian connections as well would be the other things that they're trying to look at what should be done if any there. The next project I have on there is Ideal Avenue CASA 13 um phase. So that's um over by the 180 acres going from Stillwater Boulevard up to 34th Street um along the south two parcels of the three parcels of the 180 acres. And this one is just uh this is a planning and design project that they're they're working on. It again is in progress now um in the CIP. It's scheduled to be constructed in 2028 at this time. Um, this was one that was driven a little bit by the city where we were, um, it wasn't on the CIP a couple years ago and the city was requesting it. U, we wanted as developmenters, developers came in, we wanted to be able to inform them of what turn lanes and intersection improvements would be required so that we could capture that from developer payments rather than the city doing it after the fact or after a development. The next one, number four we have on the list is uh Manning Avenue from 43rd Street to 55th Street. Um this is I believe a new one on the list. I don't think this was on there last year. Um they the county has been working on the Manning Avenue corridor throughout the whole length all the way from I94 to 36 for quite some time. And if you go back about five years, they were looking at a four-lane expansion. Um, from the new realignment at Stillwater Boulevard all the way down to 10th, that project sort of died and they and what we saw this year was just sort of a pavement rehab project with turn lanes is what they put in. And they decided that that they had gone back and re-evaluated and decided that based on the current traffic demands that they didn't need the four-lane expansion yet and they didn't have the funds for it. And now what they're identifying is the segment going north from that realignment up toward Stillwater um high school as being in the construction um time frame of 2030. Um so and that what they're talking about there is a four-lane expansion going from two lanes to four lanes. The next one that I have on the list number five is the intersection of CASA 19 and CASA 10. Um, that's a currently a four-way stop. They they publish a intersection control evaluation study every year, and that's been on that's been on the the the list for a long time, but it it it has it's always been identified as issues, but not issues enough to get it up there in their priority list to to fund it immediately. So, um, they are again targeting 2030. So, it's out there another four or five years. They're looking at a roundabout at that intersection. It's currently controlled by an all-way stop. Um, and then planning and design projects only. Though the the the ones I've gone through so far all have construction planned in the next five years. The the next part of the list under number six is a is a few projects that are were partly driven by the city again asking them to study the corridor, put a little time in some preliminary layout so that we have the opportunity to identify rightway needs that need to be um dedicated as development goes. So we we have uh CASA 14 um we've asked them from Klondike to 39th Street. coming into the downtown, you've got now the school that the elementary school that might be uh redeveloping. You have the furry motor site, those types of things. And if if that happens, we need to know what that roadway is going to look like so that we could preserve right away so that we can look at pedestrian connections uh that are going to be required as part of that. So, um, we've been urging the the county to do and and it was by their choice that they went back to the Lake Elmo Park Reserve entrance is the is the length of the corridor they want to study. Last year on this list was one part project. We did have the central greenway corridor feasibility study for how to get the greenway uh trail across Stillwater Boulevard and that disappeared. So I c called the county on that one and the reason that disappeared is that's rolled into this project. They want to study this corridor and they've combined it with that. So this this project includes the feasibility study for getting the greenway corridor whether it's a bridge, a tunnel or however they bring that across uh Still Water Boulevard. [clears throat] Uh the second one on that planning and design list is um Lake Elmo Avenue from uh going north from Cass 14 up all the way into Grant. um we had we've had residents calling ever since Northstar and Legacy have gone in for the the stretch to 43rd [snorts] Street. So there's been requests for different signage, different speed limits, um different things, uh pedestrian connections, crossings, things like that. So, we've asked the county to look at that. It's on the county's list to go to look at this corridor all the way through. Um, but we certainly support that earlier that earlier part that's in the old village. And then the last one on there is Manning Avenue from 30th Street um to Cass 14. So, that's the middle segment where um they're looking to make that piece uh a two-lane to four-lane expansion and we'll include obviously the the UP Railroad crossing as part of that and whether they do a grade separated crossing of UP Railroad or not would be one of the things that they would be looking for. And then the last one on the list is um there's a generic every year they have a generic um category just intersection control [snorts] projects. They don't specifically list uh or identify any specific projects, but they have a budget um in in there. I believe it's about 750,000. And so that's for doing traffic signals um taking on a particular intersection. And one of the ones that I know that would probably come out of this is if the Limmerch development goes and we realign Hudson Boulevard, they would be looking at an intersection or a signal traffic signal at Hudson Boulevard in new intersection. So that would be under that category. So that's the that's the work they have identified in their CIP and I'd be happy to stand for any questions. [00:15:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Council member Kragness. [00:15:16] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** So, concerning RB20 2701, um I see that as planned for 2030 and with the elementary school getting completed [clears throat] next year, would it make more sense to move that up and prioritize that so kids could cross more safely? [00:15:32] **Jack Griffith:** Um I it's something we can com comment on if we want them to move that one up. I I do know that pedestrian um trails and connect connectivity is part of the Lake Elmo Avenue and 10th Street intersection. I know the Greenway Trail that's another—the Greenway Trail is supposed to be coming up from Keats Avenue. So I know a trail component is planned for that intersection at 19 and 10 as well, but it it hasn't it hasn't ranked on the county's priorities to date for being up. That's something the council wants us to push for and have moved up. Um that's certainly something we can put in the comments. [00:16:09] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** Okay. Thank you. [00:16:10] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** So in that case is I mean there's three separate projects in regards to Keats and 10th Lake Elmo and 10th and then the greenway itself that would hypothetically actually have pedestrian connections between the two along 10th Street. Correct. [00:16:25] **Jack Griffith:** Yeah, it would. Yeah, they may not all go at one time, but you if you're working on an intersection, you're certainly going to work that pedestrian connectivity through the intersection at the time, at least through that component of it. But maybe the maybe it's a trail to nowhere until the next component happens. [00:16:40] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** And to confirm with 2808 with 10th at Lake Elmo, that construction for 2028, that's for the roundabout, correct? because we're—we'll required the district to have temporary lights up before the school opens. [00:16:53] **Jack Griffith:** Correct. It's a that's an intersection to replace the temporary wood pole signal and I believe a roundabout is the primary leading candidate. I know Nate sits in on those PMT meetings. [00:17:05] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Yeah, how is the city share in these projects determined? [00:17:10] **Jack Griffith:** Uh they have a cost participation policy that they follow. Um and so it spells out all components—the trail components, curb and gutter, storm water management, rightway. Um I would say the lion share of the city costs in most of these projects is is rightway and storm water. Um if you have an intersection that's county road, county road, you'll see our cost participation isn't very high. Um the Manning Avenue project this year that had the turn lanes and the pavement rehab. For instance, our share this year it was about 34,000. It was our share was just insulating our water main as they were exposing our water main. But then you know we're looking at a $5 million cost participation for trunk highway 36. Um so it it they have a policy. It's a very rigorous spreadsheet. We um so for instance in trunk highway 36 we're still waiting. We've been participating with them in the design and development of that but we have not seen costs or cost participation for our share other than their high-level guesstimates with no detail. Um, we will be receiving that shortly and I think it's their intent to have us bring forward a cooperative cost share agreement for the council when you'll see all that detail and how they've arrived at that number um in that agreement and that would be coming forward in December for that particular project. [00:18:40] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Because on most these CASA projects funding would be—could come all of it could come from CASA. [00:18:47] **Jack Griffith:** Yeah, they most of them come from all kinds of different cost—or different— [00:18:52] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** I mean like water line probably if their excavation causes a problem for our water line it's on their county state aid highway it would be eligible for county state aid highway funding—we wouldn't have to pay. [00:19:05] **Jack Griffith:** They they don't have sufficient funds to do that so they do they do expect—I mean if we if we utilize their rightway for our utilities if we have to relocate our utilities they will—they expect the city to relocate them and then the the storm water one gets um you know they they use our land they [laughter] um and they charge us for any contributing water from a hydraulic st modeling standpoint. So um it's a pretty robust policy and formula. I have been known not to agree with many components of it but they use it countywide and they have all the cities um using it. So they're trying—their argument is to treat all six the same. [00:19:50] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** You know me I'll look at it in detail. [00:19:52] **Jack Griffith:** I think I think it—we're all county residents as well. [00:19:55] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. Any other uh questions? Otherwise I'll entertain a motion for discussion. [00:20:01] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Move to approve city comments to be submitted to Washington County regarding the county's draft 2026-2030 capital improvement plan with comments to be submitted on or before November 7th 2025. [00:20:12] **Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. [00:20:13] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Motion in the second discussion. [00:20:15] **Jack Griffith:** Excuse me. Yeah, I provide an amended letter. [00:20:18] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Oh yeah, the amended letter. So just sorry. just to so not all council has been present in some of the meetings regarding Saw 17 and 36 and so now I can kind of uh I don't know how many council members have gotten emails for resident from residents that live south of 36 off of Keats but the current plan did not show maintaining the exit from eastbound—in here it's a westbound was written, it would need to be eastbound turn highway 36 to southbound Keats. So that right turn off at 36 would be removed and people would have to go up to the uh button hook and come back on the frontage road to go south on Keats. And my my request was that um they keep the uh turn lane from 36 to southbound Keats active so that residents don't have to one unnecessarily clog a a button hook intersection that's going to have plenty of traffic through it anyway and to have to double back. I don't know. They have to go at least a half mile down and a half mile back to get to the south southbound Keats. I don't know exactly—can't remember exactly the distance of the button hook uh along the frontage road from Keats. Um but some of the residents didn't didn't like that and so then I'm requesting that the state leave the exit off of 36 to Keat southbound. um they're not necessarily in agreement with us, but I felt compelled to put that as a comment that we're requesting that uh for that project. I'm open to any discussion if somebody thinks otherwise. [00:21:40] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** I I mean I think it makes sense. I just I guess do you remember from the conversations when this was being studied why they didn't want to do that in the first place? Well, is there safety concerns? [00:21:50] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** They they say that there's safety concerns, but that that movement has zero crash incidents from the eastbound 36 to southbound uh Keats has zero crash incidents. uh from it. It doesn't seem to be uh I was told by MnDOT that it it's just beyond what the FHWA accepts, which means it's acceptable to have an exit that distance from the interchange. Um you know, I think we're putting—the city's putting in a fair share of money into the project. I think estimates around four and a half to five million. The state is putting in roughly $5 million even though it's their corridor. The county has brought this project forward. They did go get bonding money. Some of the DOT say, "Well, those are transportation dollars." Well, they're transportation dollars. And as much as Washington County went to get the transportation dollars, they're not necessarily transportation dollars that the DOT dedicated to this project. So with as much as we're putting in, I know that closure of Keats is important. I know that that's a high crash area along with the interchange. And I would like to see, you know, the crossing closed and and the right turn on to 36 because of the speed differential makes sense, but I see absolutely I I I I I failed to see the reason for removing the right turn um del lane for southbound Keats. [00:23:05] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Yeah, I think that's a good addition. I mean, again, obviously it's for them to consider, but I think that's a very fair point and something that if if it if they feel like is doable does make it simpler for those residents and I mean yeah it's like glad you know that stat of no accidents there that's good to know. [00:23:22] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Well and there's there's people live off yeah you know um so that's 60th 57th 53rd 55th 51st people from Tapestry use Keats to go home off of 36 it's not necessarily just all large agricultural uh residents. There's the development right behind Rockpoint Church that would use that as well. So, yeah, it's I don't think it's an insignificant number of and this isn't like this was there and people moved in knowing it. This is something that's coming after the fact and that that area is well established. The other the other item that I asked to add is just that small highlight um supporting on RB 2645 was to supporting transportation and utility improvements. As um some of you know, anything that happens uh on that city property um north of well in and around Saw 14 is going to need sewer. And if there's an opportunity, maybe it happens sooner and we take care of it beforehand, but some consideration to put in a pipe sleeve underneath the UP railroad so that if and when a sewer line does need to be brought north that the sleeve is there and you're only working with the the railroad at the time that you're you're working on the roadway project and you can extend that sleeve pipe beyond uh the right away and and slip the sewer line in um or whatever utilities we need to find that that may or may not be needed in that area to at least have it looked at while uh they're working on this project. [00:25:00] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Agreed. [00:25:01] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Makes sense. [00:25:02] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** That's all I had for discussion. Everything else looks I I like the comments that Jack has made. They're all they they seem to make sense to me. Um Washington County does a does do a really good job at maintaining the roadways. And yes, it does cost our residents some extra money um as a city pays into some of these things, but it's I think it's well planned out. It's it's well looked after, well designed. Um, [clears throat] I don't see any any anything that's really glaring to me beyond what uh Jack has provided in these comments. Also, I think the timing on all these really makes sense. The only one that I was kind of going back and forth on was um the RB 2702 the on CASA 14, the park reserve to 39th Street and then the CASA 10, CASA 17 intersection. I was kind of almost at first my thought was maybe those times should be flip-flopped as far as uh 20 28 for CASA 14, but um again outside of that and it probably has more to do probably with like the financial side of trying to manage obviously some big projects with 36/17 interchange. [00:26:15] **Jack Griffith:** I think the 2702 is more of a planning arena where the where the 2808 is actually a construction piece. [00:26:22] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Well, then maybe I I guess I do think that that's the only one to me if the school is opening in 2026. That is already quite a a a troublesome area to get through at that time of in the afternoon, especially without the school there already. So maybe that would be then a one thing that I would look at is maybe bumping the time frame up and possibly like swapping those two. [00:26:42] **Jack Griffith:** Well, I think it's it's not they're kind of two different things. And I think when you're looking at the 2028, as council member Holtz indicated, there will be a temporary uh wooden pole system with a a signal system at that intersection. So when these uh projects go in, there's there's quite a bit of uh preliminary design and design that goes into it. So you're you I think the 2028 is probably as approached as their staff could make it. [00:27:12] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. [00:27:13] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Yeah. That that's 2028's as fast as they can get that one in the ground, which is why they went to the temporary pole system in term and they've mandated that that's up and running for school opening. [00:27:25] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. And then the only other one uh was the CASA 15 43rd Street to 55th Street. I guess my thought there is if that can start further up kind of outside of the Lake Elmo uh borders. Um just from a cost perspective, I guess I don't know the necessity of it. There's not really future development there that you know there's going to be more traffic use. So I guess just from like a financial perspective of if that's something that does it have to start at 43rd Street or could it be started at 55th Street and and kind of that's where the expansion to four lane begins. Otherwise I think all these other ones I mean these are all things that I hear from people uh projects that are of high priority. [00:28:10] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. Regarding that CASA 15 from 43rd North to 55th, I I like that they're including that piece to the south with the development of Northstar Legacy. I see that some of the crossings like at 39th and the one that's north of that aren't the safest for pedestrians and residents that are trying to get over to the old village area. Now, there is a trail that goes along the west side of the roadway down to the intersection that's lighted. They can use that. Um, but I I you know, I'm glad I'm glad that they're they're looking at it. And um, you know, when when we look at these, we're like, well, that's that's quite a few projects. But I think you also see in in the packet the number of projects that Washington County here. I feel like I'm defending Washington County a little bit. Having worked for uh a metropolitan county, if you look at the overall number of projects in the county, uh these guys tackle quite a bit all the way down, you know, towards Hastings, Cottage Grove, all the way up to Marine on the St. Croix and those areas. So, they they tackle quite a bit. And um this is just this is just Lake Elmo. So, um, understanding that these projects take a long time to plan, design, and construct, um, I don't know that we could like grab all their attention for everything in Lake Elmo. Plus, you know, we we got the the cost share and those things that we need to be cognizant of as well. [00:29:40] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** I mean, I don't know if it what it would look like, but with 2702, if there would be room for language to say, look, 2027, understand that's your planning. There's logistical reasons, but just so you know, the district is strongly looking at redevelopment and the property owner as well. So, something to consider, county, if you're able to, maybe 2027 if that's your thought. FYI, there might be a need sooner because that, as you said, that directly affects what that looks like. And I I don't know what the county's awareness is with the school district as to that potential change. [00:30:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I think it would be prudent to add something in there to say uh the city would like to make sure the county understands that that school will be moving out and there could be some development plans for that location intersection entire site. So, I mean just to make sure they're aware of it, I think is a good— [00:30:35] **Jack Griffith:** I can I can craft something and they are aware of it. We meet monthly with them and we stress that we're seeing—we're seeing our planning staff meet with developers and opportunities and talking about that area and every time I see that happen, I panic a bit because they all want to build in our rightway and we need more rightaway. [laughter] [00:30:58] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. Other than that, I didn't have anything. I I agree with both of you like these are things our our constituents talk about frequently. They're necessary projects. there's a cost, but thank you for putting the comments together. All right, so we have a motion on the floor. Do I say motion with added comments during discussion there? I'm asking you, uh, Nicole. [00:31:25] **Nicole Miller (City Administrator):** Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I think you can just approve the the amended letter and as long as your seconder—you already have a seconder. Is it okay with that? [00:31:32] **Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Yep. [00:31:33] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right. You do have a motion and a second on the table. All those in favor of the amended letter, please signify by saying I. [00:31:40] **Council Members:** I. [00:31:41] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Letter is approved. Thanks, Jack. [00:31:43] **Jack Griffith:** Thank you. [00:31:44] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Um item number two is tree fund right-of-way boulevard tree program. [00:31:50] **Jennifer Doyle (Admin Services Director):** Hello. Good evening. Tonight we'll talk about the uh zoning tax amendment to the tree fund and also the boulevard tree program. So just a little bit of background. The tree fund was presented to the council at a workshop in 2025. Uh we discussed it. Um the city also received $50,000 payment from Stillwater Schools for tree mitigation when the new elementary school was approved. The current code allows for a fee in lieu but does not specify how the fund should be spent. Using the funds to replace trees was discussed during the approval process. Uh the city does not have a separate tree fund um from the park dedication fund and the city does not have a rightway boulevard tree replacement program. So the issue before the council tonight are two. It's um would the council consider a zoning tax amendment to create a tree fund and also would the council consider a boulevard tree program. So the proposed language is pretty basic. It would amend the tree preservation ordinance to add section G tree fund. So it starts with the purpose and the purpose is to provide a dedicated fund for tree replacement throughout the city. The funding sources—the primary funding sources will be from the tree replacement funds allocated by the city council and individual and business donations and the eligible expenses uh fund shall be spent on programs approved by the city council which include but are not limited to a boulevard tree program. So the expectation here is if this is approved, it would just be spent on the boulevard tree program unless the council wants to adopt a different program. So, public comment, this was uh advertised in the paper. We did not receive any comment before the planning commission meeting and no one showed up to the planning commission to provide comment. Fiscal impact, none for the tree fund. Uh the Boulevard tree program cost would be offset by the $50,000 payment and future donations. Program administration and project delivery costs, not including trees and materials, are estimated to be around 5,000 to 10,000 per year. Our recommendation is that the city council approve both the tree fund and the boulevard tree program. And we have two motions. Questions for director? [00:34:10] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Council member Holtz. [00:34:11] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** I was looking through the FAQs and like one of the questions that was created which is awesome to help to provide to residents. One of the things was um what level of care is expected and that's you know there is not a warranty. You'll receive a how-to care for the tree which also be on the website. Are we considering that part of the cost with the tree is also like say that water bag that includes with it? [00:34:38] **Jennifer Doyle:** It will receive a water bag. [00:34:40] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Okay, good. That is a very good bang for the buck. [00:34:42] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Any other questions? Otherwise, I'll entertain a motion. [00:34:45] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** Move to adopt ordinance 2025-16 approving the text amendment to the to create a tree fund. [00:34:52] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. [00:34:53] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. I'll call the question. And all those in favor of adopting ordinance 2025-16, please signify by saying I. [00:35:05] **Council Members:** I. [00:35:06] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a second. Motion. [00:35:08] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** Move to adopt the boulevard tree program as presented by staff. [00:35:12] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Second. [00:35:13] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second. Uh, any discussion? Council member Dragisich. [00:35:18] **Council Member Nick Dragisich:** I think this is a really great program for the city replacing boulevard trees. I to me I'm a tree person. And I think it's important to get them replaced and have a nice, you know, canopy of trees. Makes the city a much more beautiful place and is actually good for the environment. I know a lot of other cities that have a tree program like this. Um, oftentimes residents will pay like a small fee like $5 or something. It's nominal. It's just have some stake in the game. Um, I'm not proposing that, by the way, but I think, you know, replacing Boulevard trees as they're lost for disease, they get hit by cars, whatever happens, will just make the city a better place all around. And so, I appreciate your efforts on that. [00:36:10] **Jennifer Doyle:** Thank you. [00:36:11] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Any other discussion? [00:36:12] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Ditto. [00:36:13] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. All those in favor of the motion to adopt a Boulevard tree program as presented by staff, please signify by saying I. [00:36:20] **Council Members:** I. Approve. [00:36:21] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. [00:36:22] **Jennifer Doyle:** Thank you. [00:36:23] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right. Um item number three which was pulled from the consent agenda is um the Lake Elmo pickle ball donation which uh went through the parks commission and they voted to recommend that we accept the donation for the paddle holders and the drink holders but withheld the benches and the the separator fence or for lack of a better term on that. And Council Member Hirn, you uh— [00:36:55] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Yeah, I mean I clearly I read through this too quick. Um I missed in the I thought it was approving all of it. Um, I guess my thought, my two cents on this or my thought on this is, uh, I think when the community wants to get involved and do this type of thing, I think we need to, um, I think we need to try to honor that. You know, we had the example with Lake Elmo baseball with the fields not too long ago over at um, gosh, which field was that? [00:37:25] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Reed. [00:37:26] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Yeah, Reed Park. um where I know there was concern and they wanted to do the work and it turned out great and it saves the city a ton of money and I think this is just for me this is another example of it's just a community member wanting to um contribute. I I really don't see any risk um in including these the the wooden benches as well as the portable fence. Um I that's just my feeling on this. I I I I guess maybe others are more cautious with wanting to have a wooden bench, I guess, from a specific company um where there's a warranty or something. I just I don't I I think this is something that [clears throat and cough] when we have a community member bringing this to us that um I think I don't see any reason we shouldn't accept it. [00:38:15] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** I agree. I think it should be something that should be almost rewarded of like the fact that you're willing to put in your own time. There's no staff involvement. I don't see anybody getting injured on a 2x12 bench personally, but uh I I honestly love the idea. I think it's great involvement and yeah, I have no issue with it. [00:38:35] **Council Member Nick Dragisich:** I think you look at the parks commission, they they didn't reject the other stuff. They said discussed with the donor other recommendations to make the items more permanent or from a reputable manufacturer. So they didn't close the door and they want to have some further discussion about those. I support accepting all of the items. On the other hand, it may be we accept um accept the ones recommended park commission right now and take a look at the other two. um ask park commission to meet with the donor and discuss those and come back with um a recommendation because they didn't say no, they just want to have some discussion. [00:39:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** And I unfortunately for me I failed to watch the parks commission meeting to see what the discussion was. But um if I could ask Mr. Bowler to come to the podium and maybe enlighten I don't know did anybody else watch the parks commission meeting? [00:39:30] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** I did not. [00:39:31] **Jennifer Doyle:** I could add a little bit into it. Yeah. Yep. So, um some of the concerns are having um materials that aren't um aluminum or permanent or longer standing as well as the staff that's doing the safety inspections of the equipment. So, the bench um being someone's going to sit on it, there's no standards to evaluate it against. So that was a concern and that is part of um what we ask um the commission to look at is any liability issues. So that's the bench. Um and then also for the um court divider um I don't know—it was a recommendation by staff to the parks commission just like for permanent fencing to be considered not temporary. [00:40:20] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Well so Mr. Bowler couple questions I have is um not on the benches so much per se. How—well how long are the benches that you've you've fabricated? [00:40:35] **Jim Bowler:** Um about 52 in long and 16 or so 17 inches high. They'll [clears throat] support three people my size. And I'm a big guy. [00:40:48] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. Can you uh talk about the temporary court dividers that you've you said you're on your your 3.0. [00:40:55] **Jim Bowler:** Yeah. Yeah. They're made out of uh uh I cut four foot snow fence in half, sliced it down so it's two feet. I picked the green snow fence over the orange because I just thought it would be more environmentally I mean it wouldn't like stark out the the neighbors or anything. Um it's snow fence with some some [clears throat] poles and a 4x4 uh base with a couple of [snorts] um 1x sixes just kind of cross over like this. So this stand up, you know, on their own. [clears throat] And then the the nets are just uh cover the width of the uh of the courts, which is approximately 80 ft. [00:41:40] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Yeah. And would those be taken down before and after use on the pickle ball courts? [00:41:45] **Jim Bowler:** No, we we've been leaving them up. [00:41:48] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Oh, so it's something you've been using. [00:41:50] **Jim Bowler:** Oh, yes. I made them this year. And really because we had now six courts and they're very nice courts and people love them, but the pain of the balls flying all over and people risking—they were freaking out about getting falling over and breaking hip and all sorts of things. [00:42:12] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Anyone else have any questions for Mr. Bowler since I asked him asked him up? [00:42:15] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** No, no, I mean I thanks for asking those and thanks for clarifying. And that's a good point. You know, when the parks commission is looking at it, they're obviously looking at it from that perspective and and that's what they're trying to look at it from. Again, I just to be honest like I mean from that comment like I think there's less risk by having this there people running into each other tripping over each other um maybe I just have a higher tolerance level for it too than than others are comfortable with but I just I I think it's a great thing and when the community wants to step up and do these types of things I think we got to get out of the way. [00:42:55] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. Any uh Well, I guess we need a motion for discussion. [00:42:58] **Council Member Matt Hirn:** Oh, sorry. [00:42:59] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** It's all right. That's all right. We didn't say that beforehand. We're trying [clears throat] to get some questions in there. Um so motion to accept uh the donation from Lake Elmo Pickleball Friends Club um for the two wooden benches, paddle rack, drink rack, and a portable fence to divide the north and south courts. [00:43:20] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** Second. [00:43:21] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** So we have a motion and a second discussion. I think we've already heard discussion from council member Hirn. Anyone else? [00:43:28] **Nicole Miller:** Mr. Mayor? This will require four votes for the statute, which is kind of a weird one. [00:43:35] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Oh, because it's a donation. [00:43:36] **Nicole Miller:** Yes. [00:43:37] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. Keep that in mind. [00:43:40] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** I agree with Councilman Hirn on basically everything here. I think uh it should be something that's honored and with it being green treated lumber too, I don't see any risk with it splintering or falling apart or anything like that anytime soon. So, I think it's a a great asset and thank you for for building it. It's awesome. [00:44:02] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Anyone else? Otherwise, I'll call the question. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I. [00:44:10] **Council Members:** I. [00:44:11] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Those opposed, same sign. Hearing none. The motion passes. All right. Council reports. Council member Dragisich. [00:44:20] **Council Member Nick Dragisich:** No report. [00:44:21] **Council Member Nick Kragness:** Sorry, my roles. Uh, thank you to the Lake Elmo Fire Department for making its rounds on Halloween. I know they got managed to make it to multiple neighborhoods and it was definitely appreciated by the youth and the families throughout the city. I have no report. [00:44:38] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** No report. [00:44:40] **Council Member Jeff Holtz:** I I guess just with the pickle ball courts, uh, we did get another comment about the the time uh, in respecting the hours. So, I mean, maybe that's something that we ask with these benches if we can put a a sign again of the reminder of the hours. I think the the Lake Pickle ball friends, if I remember right, they're the ones that were there at the at the earlier aspect of it. But, um, I guess just a reminder to please respect that um because the people that do live nearby, obviously, we're trying to make this work for everybody um and not have to just completely get rid of them. So, no report. [00:45:20] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right. Uh staff reports. [00:45:22] **Nicole Miller:** No report. [00:45:23] **Jennifer Doyle:** No report. [00:45:24] **Julie Johnson:** No report. [00:45:25] **Clarissa Hadler:** No report. [00:45:26] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right. Online is um future agenda items. If you care to take a look at those. Uh I got to go. I do like to just state what's coming up in the workshop next week for those that may be watching. Bear with me in just a moment. [00:45:45] **Nicole Miller:** Um for your information, mayor and council, the sidewalk, trail snow removal um policy discussion will be continued into the future sometime that has been postponed. [00:45:55] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. So, we're getting a Highway 36 Lake Elmo Avenue project update. I'm assuming that's from the county. um looking at some rental review uh levy discussion scenarios and CIP future projects discussion. So with that I'm going to adjourn this evening's meeting at 7:55. Thank you.