This transcript appears to be from a **September 1, 2020** City Council meeting. Please note that the names of the Council Members mentioned in the roll call (Bringold, Duncan, Gesme, Lundell, Matson) differ from your provided list (which likely represents the current 2024 council), but the Mayor and staff roles align. I have used the names spoken in the transcript for accuracy. [1:24] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: It's not the brain of our school, right? Welcome, everyone. Good evening. Welcome to the City Council—the September 1st City Council meeting for the City of Cannon Falls. Can we have roll call, please? [1:42] **City Clerk (Sara Peer)**: Bringold? **Council Member Bringold**: Here. **City Clerk**: Duncan? **Council Member Duncan**: Here. **City Clerk**: Gesme? **Council Member Gesme**: Here. **City Clerk**: Lundell? **Council Member Lundell**: Here. **City Clerk**: Matson? **Council Member Matson**: Here. **City Clerk**: Montgomery? **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Here. **City Clerk**: Althoff? [No response]. [1:55] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Would you stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? 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. [2:12] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Okay, approval of the agenda. **Council Member Bringold**: So moved. **Council Member Duncan**: Second. **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Motion by Bringold, second by Duncan to approve the agenda. Any discussion? All in favor? [Aye]. Opposed? Carried. Get right into the consent agenda. Consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion as presented or being removed for discussion and resolution as Council business. For you at home and in the audience, I'll go through the consent agenda. Item A: Just and correct claims for the accounting period ending August 27, 2020. [2:50] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Item B: Minutes for the August 4th, 2020 City Council work session. Item C: Minutes for the August 18th, 2020 City Council meeting. Item D: The second reading and adoption of Ordinance 369 establishing a Park Advisory Board. Item E: Approve the Election CARES Act agreement with Goodhue County. Item F: 2021 flower basket watering. Item G: A Cable Coordinator position. Item H: Public Works Director position. Item I: Resolution 2503... [3:36] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: ...approval of variance for 1208 West State Street. Item J: Resolution 2504, approve administrative subdivision/lot boundary line adjustment for 616 Minnesota Street East. Item K: Resolution 2505, approval administration subdivision lot combination for 894 Fourth Street South. Is there anything the Council would like to bring down? [4:23] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? **Council Member Lundell**: So moved. **Council Member Duncan**: Second. **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Motion by Lundell and a second by Duncan to approve the consent agenda. Any discussion? All in favor? [Aye]. Carried. Okay, we’ll get right to Council business. Item A: Adopting Resolution 2502 approving a preliminary 2021 budget and levy and setting a public meeting date. Neil? [5:05] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: Yeah, it’s that time of year where we approve our preliminary budget for 2021. As you know, the preliminary budget has to be approved before September 30th of each year, and the budget can be the same as or lower than the final budget approved in December. A couple items that I’d like to talk about—to keep in mind when we’re working with the preliminary budget—is a concern with COVID and the economic state that Minnesota is in and how it relates to our Local Government Aid (LGA). Right now we’re certified for $700,111, and I wouldn’t count too heavily on that in 2021. They’re already talking through the League of Minnesota Cities site and other places in Southeast Minnesota that that is going to be looked at pretty heavily when the state legislators look into their budget balancing act of 2021 and also, I would imagine, 2022. So this probably isn’t going to go away for a while. [6:41] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: Some of the highlights that we talked about through the work sessions—we had two work sessions and I believe a Finance Committee meeting—during that time the Council wanted to keep the levy increase to a 0% just because of the state of the economy that we’re in. So as we were working through it, we kept that in mind. The department heads did an excellent job on working that zero percent level and most all of them came in with their budgets less than last year. I put a 1% increase in COLA and included the step increases for the staff. Health insurance had a moderate increase of 6.6%. There is a reorganization of the Finance Department; the Finance Director position was eliminated along with a half-time clerical position and the work was reallocated to the City Clerk, accounts payable, HR, and payroll clerk. With that, that was a reduction of one and a half full-time employees and over $100,000 in savings in Administration. [8:14] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: During the work session, there was a motion to reduce a full-time equivalent position in the Police Department. With that, along with—I believe the Chief had reduced a police officer with one that had retired—that was $115,000 in the Police Department budget that was reduced. The janitorial budget was reduced to a part-time which probably saved about $30,000. The EDA position, we contracted with CEDA; we kept that in the works for a three-day position which originally was a five-day position. About two months ago, we refinanced some bonds (2011 and 2013 bonds) for a $440,000 total savings, which resulted in about a $60,000 annual savings. [10:34] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: For Public Works, we’re going to increase the overlay budget from $130,000 to $150,000. I think every year Council should look at that to keep the wear and tear of your streets under control. The Fire Department will be looking at a new fire truck in the next couple years; fire trucks do not come cheap—you're looking at probably $400,000 plus or minus. We’re going to attempt to not bond for vehicles going forward. In the Motor Vehicle Department, we took a part-time person and increased it to a full-time position to meet customer demands. [12:52] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: Regarding water and sewer rates, we’re going to do a 0% increase. The Sewer Department is in the worst shape of the two; we have a PFA loan that we write a check for $850,000 for every August. We do redline during that time. When residents ask about high rates, you can mention that we go in the red in August due to this $850,000 bond payment. The good news is we don't have many of them left; it was a 20-year bond from the new wastewater plant. I would hesitate to reduce rates once the bond is off because everything wears out quickly in that corrosive environment. West [Wes Anway, Utilities Supervisor] came in this week with $60,000 worth of repairs, so we have to be careful. The resolution schedules the public hearing for December 1st. [15:48] **Council Member Lundell**: I just want to say—echo what people have said before—this is a wonderful preliminary budget. Every single department head came through and did what they were asked. If this was a school paper, it would be an A. But to me, it’s not quite an A-plus, and the rest of the Council members know why. The only thing I disagree with is the loss of that clerical staff member in the Police Department. Everything else in this budget I think is wonderful; I just can't agree without reasoning to let go of somebody. [16:35] **Council Member Gesme**: Yeah, and that kind of stole [my point]. I actually really love this budget except for that one item. I think there are other options we could have done there. I actually can't support it wholeheartedly, but if we could add the approximately $80,000 to it and discuss it going forward... I think that position has earned a little more discussion than just being a line item cut out of a budget. [17:26] **Council Member Duncan**: Well, I'm going to make it real simple. I’m going to make a motion to approve Resolution 2502 and setting a public meeting date. **Council Member Bringold**: I'll second it. **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Okay, there's a motion on the table to approve Resolution 2502 adopting the preliminary tax levy and budget collectible in 2021 and setting a public hearing meeting date of December 1st. That was a motion by Duncan and the second by Bringold. Is there any discussion on that? [18:12] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: I just want to say that this is not the funnest part of being on the City Council. You're trying to think what everybody wants and trying to be fiscally responsible. You should think with your noggin and not your heart. I’m kind of torn, but we’re looking at a few unknowns. I hate to see anybody lose their job, but I think we should move this forward. Any other discussion? [18:57] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: You've heard the motion. Could we have a roll call vote on that, please? **City Clerk**: Duncan? **Council Member Duncan**: Aye. **City Clerk**: Gesme? **Council Member Gesme**: Aye. **City Clerk**: Lundell? **Council Member Lundell**: No. **City Clerk**: Matson? **Council Member Matson**: Aye. **City Clerk**: Montgomery? **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: No. **City Clerk**: [Althoff]? **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: The motion passes 4 to 2. [19:32] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Okay, moving on. Mill Street parking discussion. [19:46] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: Probably a month ago or so, we had a resident in that wanted the Council to discuss the Mill Street parking situation. I know that street’s a little narrow, and when big vehicles—four-door trucks, long beds—stick out, they're in the middle of the drive lane. I know in the past there was parallel parking there; it’s now diagonal. I did talk with the Chief a little bit today on if there is any way we could use signage or enforcement to prohibit larger vehicles. We would need legal guidance on that. There’s a couple items we could do: go back to parallel parking on one side, or we could add some parking stalls over on the west side of the winery and the old Leech Chevrolet garage. If we went to parallel, we lose maybe five spots depending on configuration. [22:50] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: I knew from having the store across the street that a lot of people didn't think we ever went to angle; they were still parking parallel. I think Mill Street is awfully narrow for angle on both sides. [23:09] **Council Member Bringold**: Well, I know I was on the Council—and I think Morris [Matson], you were too—the reason the Council wanted to make diagonal on the south side was to create more parking spots because parking is at a premium downtown. But we have found over the years that it’s getting pretty darn dangerous because it’s so narrow. Those oversized trucks especially—someone’s going to get killed there. I think we have to go back to parallel. [23:38] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: We can put the extra stalls in there on the west side of Mill Street... but I would like for us to look into if we could on that one block prohibit the oversized vehicles. [24:20] **Council Member Duncan**: I completely agree with the safety. However, when we say parking is at a premium... a friend texted me this weekend about how busy things were, and he said, "Go take a look at the parking lot on Hoffman right across from the fire hall." Two cars. It’s a parking lot that has about 20 spaces; it’s a half-a-block walk up a hill. We’ve got a great parking situation; it’s just that people don’t go to the next option. [25:57] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Chief, how many accidents have we kind of had there? [26:14] **Police Chief Jeff McCormick**: I don’t know off the top of my head. I think we probably had more near misses than actual accidents. It has a traffic calming effect in that way, but at the same time, it’s dangerous. It visually makes people nervous going through there. [27:15] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: How are we—does it make sense to say, "Hey, let's go back to parallel on that side, the south side," and look at painting those extra stalls? [28:10] **Council Member Bringold**: Where the old Leech Chevrolet building was, there’s like three or four entrances there. Change that to curb and you’re going to get some more stalls. [28:38] **Police Chief Jeff McCormick**: The way it’s striped now, even the SUVs are sticking out over their back line. Part of the reason we held off on seeking the legal opinion was we didn’t want to incur that expense if Council just wanted to go to parallel. Trying to craft language [to ban trucks] that is enforceable and not overly vague is a challenge. [29:26] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: I say we just start with making it parallel again and go from there. Makes sense. [30:52] **Council Member Bringold**: I will make that an official motion that we go back to parallel parking on the south side of Mill Street. **Council Member Gesme**: Second on that one block. **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Motion by Bringold, second by Gesme to go to parallel parking on the south side of Mill Street and leave the diagonal on the north side. Any discussion? All in favor? [Aye]. Opposed? Get her done. [31:12] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Okay. CARES Act budget and funding. Is Laura out there? [32:26] **Laura Qualey (Community Development Specialist)**: So, we have been working diligently on how we are going to spend the CARES dollars that the city received. Total, we received $310,327. We were able to break it down into Public Health expenses, technology upgrades for telework capabilities, and economic support. About 1% of the budget will go toward PPE and hand sanitizer stations for City Hall. 76% is technology upgrades to City Hall to remotely access files. We have some money set aside for a small business grant for cleaning supplies. If this is approved, we have dollars allocated to the school district and the senior center. [35:36] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: I just want to clarify—it wasn't just we're doing upgrades for the sake of upgrades; it's a great opportunity to make sure we don't have to pivot as quickly next time. [36:24] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Any other questions? Nope. Okay, then how about a motion for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for the City of Cannon Falls? **Council Member Matson**: So moved. **Council Member Duncan**: Second. **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Motion by Matson, second by Duncan to approve that motion. Any other discussion? All in favor? [Aye]. Opposed? Carried. Thanks, Laura. Okay, go in the reports. Kyle, you got something for us tonight? [37:48] **Kyle (Chamber of Commerce)**: During the Open Air Fair last Thursday from 2:30 to 6:30 on 4th Street and Mill Street, we actually had a very nice crowd. First time having that event, I was very pleased with the turnout. We have canceled our September 10th Fun Fest. Also, Cannon River Winery, Tilion Brewing, and the Arts Board have canceled their events for the first weekend of October. Flavors of the Falls is canceled for 2020. We have not made any decision on Halloween yet. [39:45] **Council Member Lundell**: Park Board met on August 20th. We got some really good news. We approved getting a quote on the pool leak detection company, and I just asked Neil about it today. Neil, do you want to deliver the good news? [40:21] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: Sure. The leak detection company came today. The skimmer baskets all tested great. The main drain pool had a very, very small leak not to be concerned about. In the manhole, there's a backflow valve that is likely stuck open, which is cavitating the pump. City staff can take that valve out and put in a chunk of pipe and that’ll be fixed. As far as the splash pad, both pipes were broke—freeze cracks. The good news is they are only one foot down. We'll get them fixed and the splash pad will be back up and running next year. [43:30] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Thank you. Joint Powers Board? That meeting was canceled. Okay, let's go around the horn here. Departments? Sara [Peer], you got anything? Nope. Jeff [McCormick]? No. Neil? [44:17] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator)**: Just one item. I talked with Tony Haan from the Street Department today. The compost site is being taken advantage of again; we’ve had a load of sheetrock dumped and other miscellaneous stuff. It's unfortunate that a few people wreck it for everybody. We're going to look at maybe some cameras. [45:15] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Nicole, you there? [45:20] **Nicole (Library)**: I can tell you what’s going on at the library. Some of you may know Cindy Zierden is retiring; her last day is the 10th of September. We are doing a drive-by to say goodbye in the parking lot that day at 4:30. Alexa has taken over the Children’s Librarian position. We are resuming normal hours by appointment starting September 8th. I’m starting "Fit Fridays" at Eastside Park—low impact cardio. And on September 23rd, we're doing a fall safety class in the library parking lot with the Ambulance Department. [48:38] **Laura Qualey (Community Development Specialist)**: I found out that a grant I applied for through SMIF (Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation) for $5,000 was received! It will go toward a digital marketing campaign for our "Cannon Roots" brand. Also, a reminder about the Goodhue County CARES small business and nonprofit grants for up to $10,000. We still have $1.75 million left. If you are a business owner, please apply. [50:33] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Okay, we'll open public input. Citizens may speak to issues not on the agenda. Please give your name and address for the record. [51:00] **Mabel Gorman**: Mabel Gorman, Cannon Falls. Mill Street parking. It’s been like two and a half years since Adam Peters came here and complained about it. He also complained about the sidewalk being blocked off. The "dance around enforcement" is what I’m here to discuss. You have ordinances, the law is on the books, yet it's neglected to be enforced. It would be hard to enforce that law if you were employed by the winery—in which our Police Department, especially our Police Chief, periodically is. Why do we dance around the law? Either enforce it or get rid of the law. I'd like a list of which laws we want to enforce and which ones we want to ignore. Thank you. [53:37] **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: Public input? Second call. Third and final call. Hearing none, I'll close the public input. Now, I have a motion to adjourn. **Council Member Duncan**: So moved. **Council Member Bringold**: Second. **Mayor Matt Montgomery**: All in favor? [Aye]. Opposed? Carried.