This transcript has been edited to identify speakers based on the context provided and the dialogue within the meeting. **Note on Officials:** While your list mentions certain names, the transcript includes **Council Member Ingerbritson** and **Council Member Willenbring**, who were present at this session alongside Mayor Zabel and Council Member Morcomb. The person identified as "Kyle Staska" in the transcript is performing the role of Finance Director. *** **[00:00:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Proba 15 20 minutes guess boring and we got the thumbs up so we are going to go ahead and call to order the meeting of the Oakdale city council January 23rd 2024. Uh, Sarah will you take the role? **[00:00:15] City Clerk (Sarah):** Council member Wrich? **[00:00:16] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Here. **[00:00:17] City Clerk (Sarah):** Council member Ingerbritson? **[00:00:18] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** Here. **[00:00:19] City Clerk (Sarah):** Council member Morcomb? **[00:00:20] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** Here. **[00:00:21] City Clerk (Sarah):** Council member Willenbring? **[00:00:22] Council Member Bill Willenbring:** Here. **[00:00:23] City Clerk (Sarah):** Mayor Zabel? **[00:00:24] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Here. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. **[00:00:25] 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. **[00:00:40] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All righty everybody we have a full agenda tonight. Uh, we have some very cool things to to tackle. Um, first things first is administering the oath of office to um six new firefighters in our community. Um, this is something new for Oakdale we've always done it for the police department um but uh we definitely want to take the opportunity to recognize um the firefighters that raised their hand uh and live out a commitment to our community and our resident residents and guest safety every single day and so this is a pretty cool opportunity for us as a as a city council to recognize this commitment as well as as as a community. So um to kick things off I'm going to invite fire chief Wold wherever he went—there he is—to come on down. Um, before you start uh just a quick run through of how we're going to tackle this because we got six firefighters. So um Chief Wold is going to—you can step up to the podium that's fine—um Chief Wold will introduce uh I'm going to come down there in a little bit Chief Wold will introduce all of our firefighters um I will come down administer the oath of office um I believe every firefighter is being pinned by family member or loved one um so we will invite them up to do that and then invite anybody in the audience family friends whoever to come out take an um take a photo with that individual firefighter. We will get through all six and then take some photos with the firefighters and city council and then the department as a whole. I think that's everything right? Did I get everything? Oh and then uh we have to do some paperwork we have to sign the Oaths of office the chief and I and uh firefighters. So I will come down there. Chief if you want to kick things off with comments please feel free. **[00:02:30] Fire Chief Kevin Wold:** Yeah can I just say a few words as you're walking down? Um so good evening mayor and members of the council. So thank you for allowing our fire department to come here tonight. Uh we have six firefighters to be sworn in. All of these firefighters have completed all the required training, uh one year of probation, um all their certifications, um and they're here upon you tonight. Um one unique thing is these are the last six firefighters that took us to being a fully careered Department um from combination from volunteer to combination and then fully career so these these were the last important piece to to get us to that uh to that spot. Um all of these firefighters come with a a a wide um many many many years of experience uh and we're grateful for that where they from where they came from now that they're here to serve our community. So um preference on here you want to start with Andy Atwater? Okay. Um so Andy Atwater. Uh Andy Atwater was hired November 7th of 2022 he comes to us with 14 years of experience in the fire service. **[00:03:45] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you Chief. Andy, raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Andy Atwater, firefighter for the city of Oakdale, will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:03:55] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** I, Andy Atwater, firefighter for the city of Oakdale, will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:04:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...support the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:04:05] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...support the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:04:08] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:04:10] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:04:12] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:04:14] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:04:16] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:04:20] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:04:24] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:04:28] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:04:32] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:04:35] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:04:38] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:04:42] Firefighter Andy Atwater:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:04:45] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Congratulations. [Applause] **[00:05:00] Fire Chief Kevin Wold:** Nicholas Danley. Um Nick Danley was hired September 19th 2022 uh Nick started with us as a volunteer firefighter uh he's got over 14 years of experience in the fire service. **[00:05:15] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you. All right raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Nicholas Danley, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:05:20] Firefighter Nick Danley:** I, Nicholas Danley, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:05:24] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:05:26] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:05:28] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:05:30] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:05:32] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:05:34] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:05:36] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:05:38] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...and I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:05:40] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:05:44] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:05:48] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:05:52] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...I understand there's a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:05:56] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:06:00] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:06:04] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:06:08] Firefighter Nick Danley:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:06:12] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Congratulations. [Applause] **[00:06:25] Fire Chief Kevin Wold:** Mitch Grier come on up. Mitch Grier, hired also November 7th 2022, comes with six years of experience. **[00:06:35] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Mitchell Grier, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:06:40] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** I, Mitchell Grier, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:06:44] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:06:46] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:06:48] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:06:50] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:06:52] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:06:54] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:06:56] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:06:58] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...I will do my duty with the best of my ability... **[00:07:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with dignity and respect... **[00:07:04] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with dignity and respect... **[00:07:08] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:07:12] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...I understand there's a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:07:16] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:07:20] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:07:24] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:07:28] Firefighter Mitch Grier:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:07:32] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Congratulations. [Applause] **[00:07:45] Fire Chief Kevin Wold:** Joseph CPUs. So uh Shane was also hired November 2022 he was also—started out as a volunteer he has over 17 years experience with us. **[00:07:55] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All right raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Joseph CPUs, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:08:00] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** I, Joseph CPUs, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:08:04] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:08:06] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:08:08] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:08:10] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:08:12] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:08:14] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:08:16] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:08:18] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:08:20] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:08:24] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:08:28] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:08:32] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...I understand there's responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:08:36] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:08:40] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:08:44] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:08:48] Firefighter Joseph CPUs:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:08:52] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Congratulations. Thank you appreciate it. [Applause] **[00:09:05] Fire Chief Kevin Wold:** Kevin O'Neal. Uh Kevin O'Neal was hired November 2022 he comes to us with 18 years experience in the fire service. **[00:09:15] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Look at all these Kevins I love it best name. Raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Kevin O'Neal, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:09:20] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** I, Kevin O'Neal, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:09:24] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:09:26] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:09:28] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:09:30] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:09:32] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:09:34] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:09:36] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:09:38] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:09:40] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:09:44] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:09:48] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:09:52] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...I understand that there's a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:09:56] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:10:00] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:10:04] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:10:08] Firefighter Kevin O'Neal:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:10:12] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Congratulations. [Applause] **[00:10:20] Fire Chief Kevin Wold:** Chief Wold bring us home. Michael Straff, hired November 29 2022, um comes to us with 18 years of experience in the fire service. **[00:10:30] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All right Michael raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Michael Straff, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:10:35] Firefighter Michael Straff:** I, Michael Straff, firefighter for the city of Oakdale... **[00:10:38] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...will support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:10:40] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...support the Constitution of the United States of America... **[00:10:42] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:10:44] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...the constitution of the state of Minnesota... **[00:10:46] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:10:48] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...and the ordinances of the city of Oakdale... **[00:10:50] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:10:52] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...I will do my duty to the best of my ability... **[00:10:54] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:10:58] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...and serve my commanding officers and subordinates with respect and dignity... **[00:11:02] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:11:06] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...I understand that there is a responsibility as a firefighter to serve with compassion... **[00:11:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:11:14] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...dedication, honor and integrity... **[00:11:18] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:11:22] Firefighter Michael Straff:** ...I will uphold the highest Professional Standards and proud traditions of the Oakdale fire department. **[00:11:25] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Congratulations. [Applause] We should give Bell curl family come on have all of our firefighters and our city council as well as our chief and deputy chief come on down. Need a wide angle lens for this one. **[00:12:15] Photographer:** I need to move back. Could you together just to touch more please? That's it. Counted three. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Thank you. Good job. **[00:12:45] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All righty uh and we're back while our new firefighters and City staff take care of some paperwork and signing their oaths of office we can keep things going up here. Um next up on the agenda we have the approval of the agenda. Council members, I'm going to suggest one small change and that is moving the item under community development, Twin Cities Towing, um up on the agenda immediately following approval of the minutes. Purpose for this is um we need to work with our city staff a little bit more so we're just going to table this item and not take action on it tonight so being respectful of anybody in the audience that might be here for that item we're not going to be taking action so we can just clear that out of the way um and if people want to stick around they can but um so council members can I get a motion to approve the agenda as amended? **[00:13:20] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** So moved. **[00:13:21] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[00:13:22] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Second. **[00:13:23] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion second. Final comments? All those in favor say I. **[00:13:25] Council:** I. **[00:13:26] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And we have an amended agenda. Next up, approval of the minutes um first up a set from the workshop January 9th 2024 council members any changes or corrections? I look for a motion. **[00:13:40] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** Motion to approve. **[00:13:41] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[00:13:42] Council Member Bill Willenbring:** Second. **[00:13:43] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion a second final comments all those in favor say I. **[00:13:45] Council:** I. **[00:13:46] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And those minutes are approved. Next up we have a set of regular meeting minutes from January 9th 2024. Council members any changes or corrections? Seeing none I'll look for a motion. **[00:13:55] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** So moved. **[00:13:56] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[00:13:57] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Second. **[00:13:58] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion a second final comments all those in favor say I. **[00:14:00] Council:** I. **[00:14:01] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And those minutes are approved as well. Next up we have our slight adjustment. A item under staff reports: Community Development, a conditional use permit application um for Twin Cities Towing at 2741 and 2751 Avenue North. Council members can I get a motion to table? **[00:14:15] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** So moved. **[00:14:16] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[00:14:17] Council Member Bill Willenbring:** Second. **[00:14:18] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion and a second. Any comments? All those in favor say I. **[00:14:20] Council:** I. **[00:14:21] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And that item is tabled. Good, Chris got everything? Perfect. Uh next up: Public hearings. We got question for Jim Thompson. Separate public hearing for both initiating the project and... **[00:14:35] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Yes that's typically how we do it. **[00:14:40] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All right so next up on the agenda are public hearings related to city project 2024-01 our street Improvement and reconstruction project as well as the um assessment role for that project. First things first let's talk about the city project. Uh staff presentation? Yep city engineer Jesse Farrell come on down. **[00:14:55] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Thank you mayor and Council. So tonight we'll be discussing the 2024 Street Improvement project. Um tonight's a big important step of the process. Um tonight there's multiple hearings so there's an improvement hearing where we focus on the improvements what kind of takes place during the construction and then the assessment hearing. Um both hearings are important steps of the 429 process—State Statute that guides how special how cities can specially assess benefiting Property Owners on projects. Um so just for brief background the last time this was before the council was at the December 12th meeting. It was at that meeting that the council considered and accepted the feasibility report. The feasibility report um is available obviously for the council and for the public. It's on our website and the feasibility report goes into great detail about the need for the project um what gets done during the project all the details about how it's paid for anticipated to be paid for and also includes the assessment role. So the feasibility report is really a a very thorough explanation of why we're at this point. Um so following that meeting the council um ordered these hearings. Um so again tonight we have the assessment hearing and we have the Improvement hearing. So um I'll go through uh a presentation. Um we'll also invite um Brad from SEH. He's uh he's our consultant lead. So at any point in time SEH has five or six professionals out on the site. Um we always want to have at least one uh representative out there. Um and any Resident um that's impacted by this project they'll get a letter that has a cell phone number for somebody that's out there all the time. So we have really good customer service on these projects and um and we make ourselves available. So with that I'll start my presentation. **[00:16:30] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** So tonight uh we have the public Improvement hearing and then public assessment hearing. Uh the public uh for our two hearings—first we have the Improvement hearing. That's the why, what, when. Um we'll describe the improvements, um we'll hear neighborhood testimony, and we'll have uh we'll ask for Council deliberation and ordering of the Improvement project. That requires the four-fifths vote. Following that we'll have the assessment hearing. That's how we pay for one part how the city pays for one portion of the project. Um we'll describe the project financing, uh again hear neighborhood testimony, and then the council ask the council to deliberate and uh consider adopting the assessment role and ordering plans. **[00:17:10] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** The objective of the uh of the Improvement project—it's primarily based on the pavement condition of streets. Um over time uh most of these streets uh they range from 30 to 40 years old um so over time these streets have degraded and the pavement is in in poor shape. Um it's also to contain maintenance expenditures. Um every year the cost of Maintenance whether it's potholes, crack sealing—as these streets age the maintenance needs and costs go up. Um we also use these projects—it's in Council City policy that when we do these Street reconstruction projects we also upgrade our lighting. So we'll get into detail on that but we replace with LED lighting that's more efficient from an energy use standpoint and from a maintenance standpoint. Uh and then um some of the streets that we're proposing for reconstruction this year um also have presently have load limits so um reconstructing the pavement uh will allow us to restore proper load limits. **[00:18:05] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Um so this is a graph uh us Engineers like showing and it's just basically the maintenance cost and condition over age. And so on the on the Y axis we have the pavement condition and 100 is brand new. So if the council proceeds with this project by about August the pavement out there will be at a 100. Um if the council did nothing after a long time the street would get down to a zero. Streets in this area range in that 40 to 70 range um which you know if you if there were letter grades it'd be between like an F and a C. Um and so over time after about 40 years typical pavement will get destroyed both by traffic and by the environment. Um and so right now we're at that 30 to 40 year range and that's why these streets are proposed for reconstruction. **[00:18:50] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Again uh this map here—um so this presentation will be available on our website so anybody can go through this PowerPoint and zoom in on these graphics um it's a little hard to see um but we keep really good track of pavement condition here in Oakdale. This map here depicts the entire city in terms in every Street in the city that we maintain and then it's coded in terms of its pavement condition. So the red streets are bad and then the blue streets are streets that have been reconstructed very recently. Uh and then this is another map we keep track of where we post load limits. So right now um some of the neighbor—the neighborhood streets for this year's project do have load limits so that'll impact um some larger trucks or deliveries they'll have to get an exemption to come into this neighborhood um just because the pavement has degraded. Uh and this last map all the red that you see on this are all the streets that have been reconstructed by the city of Oakdale over the last 30 years. So between 1992 and uh last year um we've reconstructed almost the entire city. Um there's just a few gaps and so again you know invite the audience or anyone watching um you could click on this presentation and and the red streets have been fully reconstructed the streets that aren't highlighted in red still haven't been and so right now there's a big gap um for where we're proposing work in 2024. **[00:20:10] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Um so with that um I'd like to introduce Brad from SEH again he's the consultant lead um for our Consulting engineer. SEH has been very helpful to Oakdale over the last 30 years. Um they've been a big uh part of why we've been successful with our reconstruction projects. Um Brad oversees a group uh including surveyors uh and the most popular people out there are the inspection technicians. Um those are the individuals that will oversee making sure things are compacted properly and Brad will get into all that um and a big thing that they provide out there and and City staff as well as customer service so if somebody has their boat in their driveway and they need it out for that weekend for a fishing tournament we'll know about that ahead of time so if we have to pour curb and gutter we'll arrange you know to go to a neighbor's driveway or if people have problems getting their mail delivered or all the different things the challenges associated with construction um we like to solve all those problems on the spot. And SEH Brad and his team do a wonderful job with that. So Brad would you'd like to come up? Perfect Brad welcome. **[00:21:15] Brad (SEH Consultant):** Thank you mayor city council. Uh so what we are going to look at is some of the existing conditions of the proposed project, uh what we're looking at uh for correction and kind of the timeline what we're going to be doing. What we're looking at here is Hadley Avenue North is the main road that we're going to be reconstructing as part of the 2024 reconstruction project. Hadley Avenue was predominantly constructed in 1993 with the North End and the South End constructed in 1983 and 1985. The existing utilities are primarily still in good condition however the surfacing has exceeded its life design and needs to be replaced. There's cracking and delamination that needs to be addressed as well as the uh trail adjacent to Hadley Avenue on the west side which is showing some cracking and needs to be replaced as well. This is 47th Street. Uh this was also constructed in 1993 uh showing a lot of surface failures whether it be cracking, uh some uh curb settlement and also does not have the city standard LED lighting in that area. That would be addressed with this project. Again in the same area as 48th Street uh showing the same conditions, uh a lot of uh cracking it has some repair over the years, uh there's a good example of settled curb next to the catch basin on the left hand side if you look at it. A lot of these areas have already been addressed assessed and will be part of the Reconstruction process. This is 49th Street again uh constructed in 1993 and will be addressed in the same manner. And I seem to have hit the wrong button on that one. Fair enough. This is why I should always bring my own clicker. Hit reset. Wonderful thank you appreciate it Jesse. **[00:23:15] Brad (SEH Consultant):** All right moving forward we'll get this right yet. And now I've lost all control let's see. Yeah it wasn't advancing I'll use that. There we go. All right when and doubt try another way we do the same thing out in the field and construction. So the proposed improvements as were identified on the map include Hadley Avenue North from 40th Street North to 50th Street North; 46th Street Circle from 46th Street to the cul-de-sac; 46th Street North from Hadley Avenue North to the east intersection of Hamlet Avenue North; 47th Street North from Hadley Avenue North to Hamlet Avenue North; 47th Street Circle north from 47th Street to the cul-de-sac; 47th Street Court North from 47th Street to the cul-de-sac; Hale Avenue North from 46th Street to 47th Street; Hamlet Avenue North from 46th Street North to 47th Street North; 48th Street North from Hadley Avenue to the north cul-de-sac; and 49th Street North from Hadley Avenue North to the cul-de-sac. So these improvements are going to include pavement Rehabilitation; street light fixture replacement to LED as Jesse alluded to. Uh the picture that you're seeing right now would be the upgraded LED fixture and light pole that we would utilize on Hadley Avenue however in the residential area we would use the other City standard which is a shorter concrete pole uh with with the acorn pendant on top with a high efficiency LED. Also we'll be uh looking at spot utility repairs uh that would include the fire hydrant and gate valves, sanitary sewer repairs, storm sewer repairs, cleanout sediment Pond inlets and outlets, and street sign evaluation and replacement. **[00:25:00] Brad (SEH Consultant):** So the construction process is going to start with uh pavement Reclamation. What that includes is the contractor grinds up the existing asphalt surface, blends it with the existing aggregate base to be reused when we reconstruct the street. So um uh there is no waste in that process. After that we'll be grading the area so the residents will have access to drive through the construction site at that time we'll be doing utility repair replacement that'll be both public and private. Now the utility repair in this particular project is not going to be extensive uh so we don't see a lot of issues getting in and out of there it's going to be mostly surface improvements and again uh we'll be replacing the street light poles and the LED fixtures uh and then the base course of payment will be installed at that time. After that time uh we'll be doing cast iron adjustments—that's when we actually raise the manhole lids to the surface. And then after all the curb restoration is done uh we'll be doing the boulevard restoration that will include hauling in black dirt and putting sod in that area. And then the final work course will be installed. So with any project there's always uh substantial challenges uh some some major some minor. Um on this some of these that we just wanted to quickly address is uh access for the residents. As I alluded to before there's not a lot of utility uh a deep utility reconstruction or spot repair that would require excessive excavation so those access issues will be uh smaller with this project however as we do see access issues coming up in during stages of the different uh project project uh we'll be addressing those with a contractor to minimize those as well as coordinate that communicate to the residents so they can make an informed decision as we move closer to that. Also mail delivery. Oftentimes we get questions about mail delivery whether or not their mail is going to be interrupted. By and large we try not to interrupt the mail service however when it is necessary we will coordinate and communicate that with residents and will provide temporary mailboxes that they will have access to during that process. Working hours as typical will be 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any work before after that or on the weekend will have to be approved by city council. Then the site Representatives. We will have Representatives on site at all times uh as Jesse said we we do pride ourselves on communication we feel uh that it's just a better overall feel for the project uh not only can we communicate things that we're seeing but the residents can communicate back to us in case they have any questions, challenges, things that we can address in a timely manner. **[00:27:40] Brad (SEH Consultant):** This is a overview of the north uh side of the project this is showing the street light uh allocation. These are the ones that are existing uh we aren't looking to add any existing lighting but uh these are the locations that we're going to be replacing the current with new city standard. And this is the south end of the project on Hadley towards 40th again we'll be replacing those existing street lights in their current locations. Uh this is a cross section of the street on Hadley Avenue this shows what materials that we're going to be using the widths and the depths. Per City standard we're going to be replacing Hadley Avenue with 4 inches of asphalt. Again this is another uh cross-section of the construction standards that we'll be utilizing with the project. Uh this is with the residential streets where we utilize three and a half inches of asphalt. **[00:28:30] Brad (SEH Consultant):** So the process—on November 8th uh we held a neighborhood meeting, presented a feasibility report to the council um on December 12th and currently we're in the stage of the public hearing. After this hearing in March we'll look for plan approval and April we look to award the contract and late May we'll look to start the project and then we're looking at a final completion date of late August. And with that I'll turn it over to Mr. Farrell. **[00:29:05] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Thank you mayor and Council. Um so the next step for the council are to hear the neighborhood testimony, Council deliberations, and then a Council decision on whether the project should be ordered, modified, or canceled. And just a reminder this step requires a four-fifths majority. **[00:29:25] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you Jesse. Uh council members any questions for our city engineer right off the bat? Well I have some. Um for the street lights that are being replaced on Hadley are those using the existing footings or foundations for the street lights that are currently there or do those get replaced? **[00:29:45] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Uh my understanding is it'll just be the street poles. **[00:29:48] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** So my concern with that is you know we've done other sections of Hadley south of 40th Street in recent years making that same change um and I noticed today when I was walking by that a number of those Street uh street lights are leaning into the street. Um I wonder if that's because of the added reach out over the street than what the old shoebox style lights used to do. But if we're just reusing footings that are for light posts that are different sizes, weights, compositions and we're having a problem with them leaning over our streets why are we just using the same old instead of putting in something to respond to the light fixture that will be there? **[00:30:25] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Oh that's uh thank you mayor. Um very good question. Um my presumption is that the the footing has been uh analyzed and found to be adequate but perhaps there's some shimming that needs to be done but in the event that it is inadequate um we would revise the scope to um include improved foundations. Um obviously that costs money um so we would come to the council with more information but I'll definitely look into that and um with our neighborhood styled light poles those are direct embed and those are easier to adjust um but the ones with the the P Foundation um I do need to get more information on that but I I really appreciate the um notification and we'll will definitely look into that not only on this project but um other locations for that installation. **[00:31:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Okay. Um my other question is um what role if any did the city's bike and pedestrian plan play in drawing up these project specs? Um I'm very surprised to see a number of street lights along Hadley I think it's you know 42nd or 43rd around the Discovery Center remaining on the east side not on the side with the trail. You know as a city we spent years numerous years and a lot of taxpayer money creating a bike and pedestrian plan where one of the most common pieces of feedback we got from our community was you know wanting a focus on safety and lighting and now we have a generational opportunity to put those lights on the trail where personally I feel like they belong and they've always should have been um but the feasibility report is just saying well do what we have currently versus fixing or changing what we've done in the past. Where did the bike and ped plan come into this design if at all and why aren't those lights being moved over? **[00:32:05] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Those are great questions mayor and Council. So um generally speaking The Collector streets have taller light poles. With a taller light pole you meet minimum lighting standards um more for vehicles. Um to meet better light standards at a pedestrian scale would require more lights um they're typically uh less expensive but you have more of them um so that I could absolutely... um if the council um proceeds with this Improvement project uh and takes the steps tonight including ordering plans and specifications—they haven't been put together yet—um we could absolutely look at uh including that in our scope and then bring it back to the council. Um my my presumption is that that would cost more um but it doesn't mean that the council shouldn't be brought that information for their consideration. **[00:33:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Okay. But my question is why haven't we been you know I mean we adopted this bike and ped plan I think in November so it's fresh on everybody's mind you know and I'm not quite following the comment about we would need more lights I mean currently we have no lights along four five blocks of City Trail well we do on the opposite side of the street so I'm I'm I'm trying to get at why isn't there synergy between what we've already said and our community has said is a priority and a 3.7 million city project that's what that's what I'm struggling with is like you're asking us to approve this project but we've had feedback from our residents for years now and it's not getting incorporated into the project. **[00:33:45] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Oh um so if it's the will of the council we'll absolutely include pedestrian scale lighting along the trail for Hadley. Um this is a great time to include it in the plans. Um so if the council orders the project and orders plans and specifications um this is a great time to make that revision and um I think it's a great idea it is consistent with our bike and ped plan um in Minnesota it's dark for seems like six months of the year so I think it's a real thoughtful inclusion. **[00:34:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** But how do we initiate a project when we don't know the cost? I mean you just alluded that there's probably going to be an additional cost to move those light posts over to the other side. How do we initiate a project that has a funding plan in it embedded within it—84% coming from City however much coming from utility reserves 16% coming from special assessments—when there's this lingering out there's this lingering cost hanging out there? So I I'm I'm struggling with we can change this. How do we do that after we've already initiated the project? **[00:34:40] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Well thankfully tonight it's the Improvement hearing the assessment hearing so that's really the only thing being finalized tonight. The scope of the improvements can always be expanded or contracted at the will of the council um again I think it's a really thoughtful suggestion to have pedestrian scale lighting and add that to the project um this is this is the time because we haven't created plans and specifications yet. Um following past practice we would replace the light poles in place um but this would be a higher level of service and if it's the will of the council to to move in that direction and provide that higher level of service we absolutely include that in the plans and specifications and we could probably get um a revised estimate for that alternative um just in a few days. **[00:35:20] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Okay. Council members any other questions? So I got a text from our city administrator reminded me that they gave me a script that it was under my laptop and it answered my question that I asked Jim before whether we need one or two hearings. So if I would have just read through my materials we would have been okay um but there is stuff in here I need to cover now. So before we open the public hearing—good evening we're here tonight to consider the improvements and assessments for the 2024 Street reconstruction project. Two separate hearings will be held—see answer right there. First hearing will be to review the project or the street reconstruction project and the second hearing will review assessments and other financing related to this project. Notice of these hearings has been provided through mail and published in the city's official newspaper Pioneer Press right? Yeah Pioneer Press. Uh I asked that city clerk Sarah Ludwig include the Affidavit of Publication in of the hearing notices and the Affidavit of Mailing in the official record. Shortly City Attorney Jim Thompson will provide important details uh related to tonight's proceedings. Before we begin the hearings I'd like to go over a few ground rules. First and foremost we ask that uh everyone treat one another with respect and courtesy. If you wish to speak please come to the podium and provide your name and address uh for the record and try to limit your comments to three minutes. If somebody has already shared something similar uh no need to repeat what has already been said unless there are questions from at this time. Uh City Attorney Thompson I'm really all over the script here Jim. Do you have anything to add? I I messed up the order. **[00:36:55] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** No Mr. Mayor just for the public—the first hearing is on the public Improvement so the issue is if you have any comments on the project etc. Second hearing is for the assessments and maybe when that gets called I can give a little summary at that and everything yeah. **[00:37:05] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Perfect thanks Jim. Uh so at this time I invite Property Owners to comment on the proposed Improvement please hold your comments or questions regarding the assessments until the assessment hearing. So as I mentioned if you have any comments or questions please feel free to step up to the podium uh state your name and address for the record and share whatever's on your mind please feel free. Sure. **[00:37:25] Margaret Bros (Resident):** Hello Margaret Bros uh 7062 48th Street North so I'm one of the townhome owners that are up there um and so first of all I I really appreciate this being taken on as a project because I've I've lived here for eight years and I've seen the the construction slowly slowly moving North. I'm wondering when is it going to be time for my streets to be improved and so I'm excited for this project. I did have a question about—and I don't know if it's inside or out of the scope—the intersection of 48 or sorry of 50th and Hadley the lighting there is really unfortunate um especially since some of the lights have started to go out now it's really dangerous intersection I don't know if that was going to be part of of the plan um but basically I just wanted to you know offer my excitement and support about this project. Thank you. **[00:38:15] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Jesse do you have anything to add on that lighting? **[00:38:20] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Mayor and Council and this would be a great time to mention as well that the city and other stakeholders are working with the county. Um they're going to be reconstructing 50th Street next year as well so we're going to do our best to coordinate the impacts but um on one hand all the construction will be done in one season rather within multiple years um but there will be more disruption. I will pass along uh the street lighting uh concern at that intersection. We have looked at uh intersection improvements there so whether it be a signal or a roundabout and it didn't meet the criteria for traffic counts um but um I'll pass along that concern for lighting and hopefully one of the two projects mayor can um help address that concern. **[00:39:05] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Great thank you. Thanks. Thank you. Are there any other um individuals that would like to comment on the proposed improvements? Seeing none I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing um and bring it back up for Council questions and consideration. Council members what do we think? Any any questions for staff or general comments? **[00:39:25] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** May... Oh go ahead. **[00:39:27] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** Yeah I've got a general comment. Our our street—we live off 31st Street—they did ours last year and we had a National Night Out, there was grad parties, and actually I mean before I was even on the council right so I didn't get any special treatment but when I called the city and we let them know that during construction there was going to be these certain events at our house I was surprised at how easy it was to get accommodations from the construction crew from from the team. So that was our first concern as residents when these big projects came forward and I just encourage anybody that's a part of this project if you've got events that are important make sure to reach out in advance and let them know because they they are here to help. Thank you. **[00:40:10] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** Yeah just a comment just about Oakdale streets in general. I mean I would put our streets up against any municipalities in the Metro. You go to St Paul, Maplewood, there's potholes everywhere, bumps, cracks, and then as you know it as soon as you get to Oakdale because the streets are infinitely better um you know and I know the cost is painful for people I get that but you know um I can't speak for anybody else up here but myself as a council member adequate when it comes to streets isn't adequate you you have you have to do it before you hit that zero number Jesse talked about. So I just want to comment on that that you know you know but I will say this too that there are County streets that run through Oakdale and I know um we haven't had comments on the streets but Street plowing and you know that's you know it is what it is is there but um I just want to comment on you know that we have a really good plan in place so thank you. **[00:41:10] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Mr. Mayor you brought up the concern about uh the um bike and ped uh plan and the implementation there with some lighting um and the possible impact on the finances. How would today's vote in favor of ordering the project to start how would that impact the uh financial consideration and and what should I be bringing into consideration when I'm um trying to make a decision on behalf of the city? **[00:41:40] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Council member Wrich it sounds like there will be an additional checkpoint when we're approving uh plans and specifications for the total project um so not a lot of impact um for in tonight's vote um there will be another stop where we may have to add it in make a change adjust funding um but not tonight sounds like. And would it be fair to say City Administrator Volkers that since this has come up and there's been some discussion that likely we'll see a little workshop time on that in the near future? Would that be a possibility? **[00:42:10] City Administrator Christina Volkers:** Mayor I well I I wouldn't think it would go to Workshop. I think what's going to happen is you get the materials ahead of time for the um the specs that you're going to be expected to approve. We'll discuss it if we need to kick it to Workshop we will but I doubt that will be needed. **[00:42:25] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** I would just add I mean if may just come down to two options being presented and then we decide on the fly whether it is or isn't. **[00:42:30] City Administrator Christina Volkers:** Yeah okay we'll make sure you're informed. **[00:42:31] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** And I know that I just yeah that wasn't you know little bit different. **[00:42:32] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Just one quick thing to Mayor Zabel's point regarding the bike and ped plan um it was a lot of work and it was costly and going forward um anything that we do any kind of improvements on roads Trails or whatever want to make sure that we reference that to make make sure that we're updating everything according to that plan in the future just to your point thank you. **[00:42:55] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All right uh let me go back to my script uh how a motion? **[00:43:00] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** I would like to make a motion to wave reading and adopt resolution 2024-6 ordering city project r2024-01 the 2024 Street reconstruction. **[00:43:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[00:43:11] Council Member Bill Willenbring:** Second. **[00:43:12] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion and a second and all those in fa—oh final comments? Sorry. All those in favor say I. **[00:43:18] Council:** I. **[00:43:19] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And that project is ordered. Uh next up we have let me just stick to my script geeez. Uh staff will review assessments and financing related to the project. Uh Jesse? **[00:43:30] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Thank you mayor and Council. Easier stick to the script. So we have a presentation for you that I'll start. So uh this portion of the meeting is our assessment hearing. Um the assessment hearing will include a staff presentation um both by me the city engineer and our finance director. Um we'll go through project financing, um we'll review um local tax distribution, um we'll define assessments, uh and we'll touch on our assessment policies. Um the council will also have an opportunity to hear testimony uh from the public and then the council will make a decision on adopting the assessment role. **[00:44:05] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** So first just at a high level—it's City policy um for public projects uh that there's an assessment to Property Owners um for Street reconstruction. Um the the policy is $54 per frontage foot for residential. Um now it gets complicated on certain streets and if there's townhome associations but for a single family home it's fairly simple um it's $54 uh per frontage foot up to 80 feet. Um so um and so last year it was $53. So right now we've been increasing $1 per year. Um what's happened over time is that that percentage that this is covered by special assessments has become a relatively smaller amount um because of inflation but the um working with the policy we have um we increased at $1 from last year. So single family homeowners are paying um about $80 more this year than they did last year. Um the project cost is estimated at approximately 3.7 million. Um again that's an estimate um it it should be close um but we'll get more information following preparation of plans and specifications and then at that point it goes to bid so private contractors will look at these plans, look at our specifications and will the council will consider going with the lowest responsible bidder. Um of that 3.7 million um approximately $585,000 um is proposed to be covered uh via special assessments. Now this is using the same formula um that the city's applied—it's tried and true um for 30 years. Um it's gone through minor iterations um in 2003 and over the last few years but ultimately um the way this project is being financed is very similar and consistent with how it's been done in past years. Um um right now we're looking at uh utility system covering $150,000 um using $300,000 from the city street Improvement fund um and then that leaves a debt issuance of two approximately $2.6 million. Um with this um I'll invite our finance director to come up and talk a little bit more about special assessments. Kyle? **[00:46:15] Finance Director (Kyle Staska):** Thank you mayor, thank you Council, thank you Jesse. Uh so yes I have a couple slides here just to go through with regards to the the special assessments. First one: special assessments defined. Uh in essence it's a loan spread over 10 years. Uh the interest rate on it will be 2% above the city's rate on the bond per our policy. Prepayments may be may be made on the assessments uh until October 15 2024 without interest and then uh we will certify it to the county it's due by November 30th and we'll accept payments uh that will have interest on it through November 15th. Partial pre prepayments are uh accepted at a minimum of $500. There are some assessments under that minimum and we would accept those payments. Uh the first installment if it goes uh to the county if no prepayment full prepayment is made would be on the May 2025 property tax statement uh and then any remaining principal may be paid at uh any time in the future uh whether it's due to home sale or other uh situation. Uh hardship deferrals are available please contact the finance department if interested and the due date for these uh deferrals is February 23rd. **[00:47:30] Finance Director (Kyle Staska):** Here is an example for an 80ft wide lot of what the assessment would look like if no prepayment was was made. It's uh so the total principal would be the $54 Jesse had mentioned in an earlier slide times 80 is that 4,320 and it's equal annual principal along with the interest uh assumed at 7% for this uh with last payment in 2034. And then my last slide uh these are the previously assessed Parcels uh through 2022. 1992 through 2022 uh and this uh mirrors an earlier slide that Jesse had presented uh with regards to the streets improved and the portion that would be assessed here is in the North or the top chunk uh the more open area near it's yeah the northern large area and yeah that's I'll pass it back to Jesse. **[00:48:25] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Thank you Kyle. So the the council has uh uh adopted a policy um for projects that include special assessments and just pulled a couple of the pertinent sections. Um first um this is a project that's initiated by Council um and so we've followed um this process where we uh the council initiated the project. Um right now we uh the policy is that street lighting shall be included as reconstruction and overlay projects. Um we'll look at also improving uh Street lighting as part of this project. Um um we followed the process where we've informed the affected Property Owners so everyone was invited to a neighborhood meeting and and the city puts this right in the policy that that we're required to hold a neighborhood meeting and then anybody that can't make it to the meeting we send them the full packet um and we also included our email and phone number and um we'll send out a lot more correspondence um following this meeting if the project proceeds and then also during the project so communication is a huge part of how we try to make these projects successful successful and that's following the policy that the council has set up. Um right now um we the the the step of the process um section four um where the council's already accepted the feasibility report um but now the council is being asked to uh adopt the assessment role via this assessment hearing and then order construction plans. And so we'll continue following this process um through the duration of this project. Um and with that I'm not sure if uh the mayor's going to have the City attorney make any comments but uh that concludes my presentation but myself, Brad, and our finance director are all available to answer any questions that the council um or the public might have. **[00:50:20] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you Jesse. All right in a minute I will open the assessment hearing to the public but let's turn to our City Attorney Jim Thompson who has some rules to cover. **[00:50:30] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Mr. Mayor members of the council members of the public—yes the mayor is about to open the assessment hearing. Now this is the time for you to come and speak if you have any questions, concerns, objections to your assessment. In order to uh uh take the next step in any assessment appeal you do have to submit a form tonight at the back of the room. Uh that's one of the preconditions to later on challenging your assessment you have to file an objection tonight with the city clerk on the form in the back. If you do that and if the council proceeds with adopting the assessment role tonight you do have to then take the next step which is to file it in court and that has to be done uh normally 30 days after the resolution tonight is adopted. So uh it's very short time frame so if you do want to challenge your assessment you want to make sure you follow the steps precisely. Thank you. **[00:51:25] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you Jim. So at this time I'm going to invite Property Owners to comment on the proposed assessments. If you'd like to please step up to the podium state your name and address for the record and proceed with your comments don't be shy somebody's got to go first might as well be me. Perfect. All right. **[00:51:40] William Baumeister (Resident):** I'm William Baumeister. My wife Paula is here. We own 6898 Greenwich Lane North. It's located in the Raintree Condominium Association in section six. Our unit is located in the far end of Greenwich Lane. Uh um we've been assessed a whopping—or we'll be assessed a whopping $270 but I can't believe that anybody's going to look at the Hadley Improvement and give us an increase in our market value for anything and let me explain why. In order for us to use the Hadley and Greenwich Trail intersection, we leave our place, we make a right turn, we drive the entire length of Greenwich Lane in our development, we get to the intersection, we make a left turn. If we make a right turn we drive 100 feet out to 50th Street, we make that left turn, we drive through all of Raintree, we go past section one of Raintree, section two, section three, section four and the rest of section five. We then get into the adjoining development that actually abuts Hadley and that is a distance of almost a half a mile from our place. If we go up to the top floor we can see where 50th goes past Hadley and this time of year if we see a Northbound car going uh Northbound on on uh on Hadley we might see a headlight for about 20 ft. The project is so remote from our unit that it it's will have no Market impact. So we're asking that our our assessment be uh be stricken from that. I recognize that eventually you're going to be doing 50th and that is uh much closer to to us and you're not likely to hear a peep from me on that one but there's this nice formula uh the city engineer was kind enough to explain to me how they came about the assessment and the different ways they could do it but at the end of the day—and I'm sure Mr. Thompson will tell you—whether you can assess somebody or not is is dependent upon how it affects the market value of the property and in our instance it it doesn't affect our market value at all. Thank you. **[00:53:50] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you. Do you have any questions of me? **[00:53:53] William Baumeister (Resident):** So at this time we just have to take public comment and then we'll have an opportunity for Council and I did my own form we'll take it. Thank you. **[00:54:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Is there anybody else in the audience that would like to um speak on the proposed assessments? Going once going twice... Okay we're going to go ahead—well before I close it I just want to reiterate something our City Attorney said. If you want to appeal you have to fill out the form before I close the public hearing. So um we'll give this gentleman a little grace period. Yeah you're good you're in. But if anybody else wants to appeal um please fill out one of those forms and get it to our city clerk. Not seeing anybody jump up so I'm going to go ahead and close the public hearing. I guess a nod from the City Attorney so I'm good um and bring it back up for Council questions and comments. Council members uh does anybody want to jump in with a question or comment? If not I will. All right uh probably Jesse. Um can you talk to us about the logic behind the Raintree neighborhood um being assessed on this project? I've looked at a map you know um they're at the corner of 50th and Hadley you know to the gentleman's point you know Hadley isn't even their most direct route out to a main thorough fair. So how does the city policy the special assessment policy gauge whether a property should be assessed or not when they have two access points? **[00:55:15] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Thank you mayor and Council. Uh so it does require interpretation and some um uh level of thought into how do you justify it and so the root is that this entire neighborhood benefits. There's about 310 properties in this area and the 310 properties can only come and go from two points: one on 50th Street one on Hadley. Um the the speaker's property is in a location where that property would most likely predominantly use the 50th Street access but collectively the neighborhood as a whole needs both access points. So um a certain amount of frontage—this neighborhood abuts a certain amount of Hadley and so what we did is we took that total distance and then we multiplied it by our assessment rate and came up with basically how big of the pie is this neighborhood proposed to pay. Then it's a matter of how many slices does it get cut into. Um we could have put a line through the like an arbitrary line or a real line where the different associations are and the effect of that would be is that some people would get a zero special assessment now and people that are proposed to get a $270 assessment would get a $540. In that scenario we might hear from the people in the middle that point to their neighbor and say well they go out to Hadley sometimes and I never you know and so at that point in time you would have a different type of argument. Um but we could have proceeded in that manner. In that scenario when 50th Street was done and the special assessments—that pie for 50th Street was split up—the people that had already paid double wouldn't be asked to pay anything and the people that are currently asked would now have twice the assessment because there'd be less properties participating. Really what it boils down to the justification for spreading that cost—basically—and that's why the assessment $270 is a lot of money but for a special assessment um it is a small a very small piece of the pie so to speak. Um it's my opinion um and and I and I consulted with others is that these access points benefit the entire neighborhood. Um a person could make the position that well when I drive I always drive to 50th or I always drive to Hadley but they they also access it via walking. Um somebody might drive to 50th but might walk to Hadley and use our nice Trail and go to the Discovery Center. Um another person might order something from Amazon or another delivery service and the most efficient way might be to come from Hadley or 50th Street. So there's really thousands of scenarios where the two access points become critical not just for any one property or for half the property but for the the entire 300 properties. Public Safety is another huge thing—there's scenarios where that second access point becomes critical. So by that logic it made sense to spread that cost split that pie amongst all of the the 300 properties rather than just half. What will be important for future councils is that when 50th Street is reconstructed a similar consistent approach is followed where not just half of the property is is helping with 50th but you would take that same logic that these entire 300 properties also benefit from 50th Street and that will probably be an easier thing for people to imagine just with the elementary school a lot of people are going to go that way for the elementary school. Um but no I absolutely um um how how assessments are are calculated it's a very prescriptive process and we follow follow that process but where there's some where there's a judgment call sometimes is how do you apply it in unique situations. **[00:58:20] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** I have one more question. Um I saw you looking at Jim oh okay. So City policy has three different um assessment amounts: single family, commercial, and multifamily. Um the Raintree neighborhood as well as the town homes on the other side of Hadley—I'm not sure what the name is... **[00:58:45] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Thank you thank you for the assist... **[00:58:48] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** ...are being assessed at a single family rate. Why aren't they being assessed at the multifamily rate? And I also because I noticed in your minutes from the neighborhood meeting that you refer to those properties as multifamily parcels but we're not assessing them as multifamily parcels. So there's a little disconnect there. So how do—how does policy or the city define multifamily in this respect? **[00:59:15] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** So we we applied the residential rate um and that's based on a single family. Um but I I would need to—so our policy is um um I've reviewed it a few times but just not to that level of detail where I could recall it on the spot. Um but um not only did I review these but I also had help from SEH. Um Todd Blank is our consulting engineer there um and he's been working on these projects for 30 years and I also reached out to our previous Public Works director and city engineer Brian Bachman to make sure that I was doing it right um and so with all three of us on the same page I'm I'm confident we did it right um um but I'd be happy to follow up um at a later point in time of course that doesn't help when you're in the middle um of an assessment hearing. **[01:00:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** No it sure doesn't I just I I want to make sure we're being consistent and if if we aren't able to explain why something is or isn't a multifamily how how can we with confidence say 'Yep this is the correct rate'? I mean this seems like a gray area that should be a lot clearer especially when we're talking about money out of our residents' pockets and 3.7 million project cost but I feel like I'm missing something. **[01:00:35] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** Mr. Mayor city council I have a question of our City Attorney. That is a good question. We would have to do like Jesse mentioned we'd have to do some research to articulate the way we calculate it and because we want to make sure it's right. Jim is it possible to—how do we what are our options? Could we delay this? **[01:01:00] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Yes Mr. Mayor and Council. First of all um uh now I forgot—did we close the public hearing yet? We didn't no oh I thought so okay. **[01:01:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** And that's fine I don't think we I don't think we did either. **[01:01:12] City Clerk (Sarah):** No we did. **[01:01:13] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** I I didn't I don't remember it so... **[01:01:15] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Uh there's two things. One: you could continue the public hearing but I don't see a reason they need to do that tonight because everybody who wanted to speak is spoken so you can close the public hearing. You don't have to act in this tonight. There's no rush. These don't get certified until October or November sometime in that time frame. So you can defer adopting the resolution until you get the information you want that you feel uh um you need to make a decision. So you have plenty of time uh just to you know table this until staff can come back with the answers to your questions and put it back on the agenda. **[01:01:45] Council Member Katie Wrich:** And how would I make a motion to table? **[01:01:50] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** I'm gonna um make a suggestion we move forward because um we have residents here tonight. I also don't want to be the one to point out that the multifamily per foot rate is higher than the single family rate so I think that'll be wildly unpopular but I want to make sure we're consistent especially as we're adding a lot more multifamily in our community. I mean that is the trend right now. So if this is a gray area we need to figure it out but you know my seven years nobody's asked that question and it wasn't until I saw in the minutes from the neighborhood meeting that we referring to these townhomes as multifamily instead of you know single family homes. So I just want to make sure we're using clear terms and maybe it's just a mistake in the minutes and we've always applied the single family or the residential rate but I just want to make sure we're consistent. And my question there is for Jim—um are we looking at issues in the future on appeals if we allow a multifamily to have the single family rate now and then someone looks a couple years down the later that's in a SI similar situation and has a multifamily rate could they come and say 'well that one was a single family rate so I should get the single family rate'? **[01:02:40] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Yes Mr. Mayor Council and Council Ingerbritson. The assessments have to be um fair a portion you know you can't pick one lot do by a front foot and another lot by an area you have you have to have the same methodology within any one assessment. So within this assessment you do have to treat people similarly situated the same way. But if for whatever reason you did it differently this year than you did last year or might do next year there's no issues there you just have to do it fairly this this year and cities do change their assessment policies from time to time and so I don't see any any problem there. **[01:03:15] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Okay. **[01:03:16] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Uh council members questions or comments? So just to clarify the multifamily is at a higher rate correct? **[01:03:22] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** It is okay. **[01:03:25] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** And I assume we've always applied the same family rate I don't know though. According to the research that's... **[01:03:30] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Mr. the assessment role from previous years you m—Mr. Farrell indicated you talked to Mr. Bachman and reach his conclusion. If Mr. Bachman said this is how we've always done it I would tend to think that's probably correct um now uh um having said that if you were to adopt the the resolution to approve the assessments tonight some new information comes to light you can always amend that resolution. You can we can you know you can change it later on if you want to. But I would be fairly confident that Mr. Bachman knows the history to this and and but um I mean I'll defer to the engineering staff on that. **[01:04:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Mr. Mayor city administrator Volkers. **[01:04:12] City Administrator Christina Volkers:** Mr. Mayor city council um can we defer to Mr. Farrell is that what you said? That Mr. Bachman said this is always how we've done it for multifamily? **[01:04:20] City Engineer Jesse Farrell:** Um well so him and I worked on this together and he double checked it but my understanding is—so the multifamily is called out in our policy but then it's not defined so um I my recollection is that multifamily was more residential property that were apartments but not townhomes. Um I'm but I'm just not 100% on that so um and unfortunately you know the policy was updated in 2021 but the definitions were not clearly defined but um I also um agree with the City Attorney that um with Brian's assistance the important thing is that we're consistent and we're interpreting interpreting multifamily the same way that we had in the past it was just it's it's just kind of an interesting break where you have single family—I mean you could have multifamilies in a single family home so it's um you know it's an interesting definition and my understanding is we've applied it this way in the past consistently. Um and then end result would be that um at least in 2003 um it'd be $15 more per foot um and so it would increase the assessments for all the townhomes on this project um and and uh my inclination is suggest that we'd be inconsistent with how we've done it in previous years how we've interpreted multifamily. Um um we we do plan on bringing this for an update for the council so again this was updated in 2021 and 2020. I do see uh some opportunities for improvement and clarification in this policy um this would be one of those things. Uh another is that the the increase of this prescribes that it goes up $1 per foot per year which is a Council decision um but if it's the will of a Council to follow inflation somewhat um it's inadequate in that regard and so one way or another I I it it might be that the assessments would likely be more expensive in the future than they are today um which is a good message for people um in this project. **[01:06:20] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Council members I'm going to suggest we move forward um and if a change needs to be made it sounds like according to City Attorney Thompson we have an option down the road if it needs to. Does that sound okay? **[01:06:30] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** That's correct yes. **[01:06:35] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All right uh any final comments? I will look for a motion. **[01:06:40] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** I'll make a motion to wave reading and adopt resolution 2024-7 adopting the assessment role for City Project r2024-01 the 2024 Street reconstruction in the amount of $585,500. **[01:06:55] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[01:06:57] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** Second. **[01:06:58] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion and second final comments all those in favor say I. **[01:07:00] Council:** I. **[01:07:01] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And the assessment role is adopted. Back to the agenda. It's one of these pieces of paper up here. Uh: open Forum. Open Forum is an opportunity on our agenda for anybody in the audience who would like to step up to the podium and share with us whatever's on their mind three—um similar rules to the public hearing we ask that you start with stating your name and address for the record, share whatever is on your mind, uh try to keep comments to three minutes or so, and of course the Golden Rule absolutely applies we ask for respect um and courtesy. So if you'd like to share anything on your mind please feel free to uh step up to the podium. Seeing none we'll keep moving forward and go into consensus motions. These are non-controversial items on our agenda council members we have A through I in front of us are there any that council members would like to pull for individual consideration? All right I'll look for motion. **[01:07:55] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** Make a motion to approve consensus motions A through I as presented. **[01:08:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[01:08:02] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Second. **[01:08:03] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion and a second final comments all those in favor say I. **[01:08:05] Council:** I. **[01:08:06] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And A through I are approved. Next up is an opportunity to check in with our advisory boards and commissions. Uh the only one that met was the tree board I filled in for council member Willenbring mind if I take a crack at the summary? Um they worked on their—well it started off with um an appreciation dinner for their work last year. Um we also did a little strategic thinking for the year ahead. Um they worked on their work plan for 2024 also nailed down um some dates for City events so they have the Arbor Day tree giveaway, the spring planting event, as well as the the um fall Buckthorn removal event so um they're trying to make those dates consistent you know on a fixed like second Saturday of this month you know so easy planning going forward. So um they are invigorated they know we have a lot to do in terms of tree canopy and they're ready to get to work so and they had their chair and vice chair elections. So uh water of bids nothing. Staff reports—we moved Community Development up and took care of that. City Attorney Jim you're back—anything? **[01:09:10] City Attorney Jim Thompson:** Mr. Mayor members of the council nothing specific to report happy to answer questions. **[01:09:15] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Anybody have questions for Jim? All right let's turn to our right and check in with our City Administrator Chris Volkers. **[01:09:20] City Administrator Christina Volkers:** Thank you Mr. Mayor city council. The only thing I have is I want to um to make sure we publicly recognize that the city of Oakdale did um recently receive the certificate of achievement for um excellence in financial reporting for um comprehensive financial report for fiscal year ending December 31st 2022. They're always quite a bit behind when they do this so it's been audited, certified, and now we received the award. Um the award was um presented to us by GFOA which is um short for Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada okay mouthful okay you can't leave out Canada. **[01:10:05] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Yeah yeah right GFOA let's just say that. **[01:10:08] City Administrator Christina Volkers:** Um the award for the that we received is the highest form of recognition that we can receive for governmental accounting and financial reporting and I just want to specifically acknowledge our um professional and dedicated Finance staff and which is now led by our recently promoted Finance Director Kyle Staska and so we're really grateful for them and for all the work they do so we're very proud of that award thank you. **[01:10:35] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Thank you for sharing that Chris um and a big congratulations to Kyle and his team. Government numbers aren't the most sexiest field in the world but they do a a phenomenal job in keeping our books clean, uh being transparent, um and keeping a count of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. So thank you Kyle uh and the finance department. Council presentations—anybody want to share anything that's going on? How about down here anything no? How about over here for me anything? All right well I got a few. **[01:11:10] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Um we have some very uh important events coming up. So uh we want to make the community aware of that. First is this Thursday January 25th—the city is hosting an open house here at City Hall for the public um to learn more about the construction of our new Public Works facility. Uh it's taking place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. here at City Hall. Staff will be available to discuss the project scope the project schedule and final plans including showing off some architectural renderings. Um this was one of the two projects that is being financed uh with the local option sales tax that the voters approved uh last last nope two Novembers ago yeah it's 2024 now so in November 2022. So Thursday January 25th 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. here at City Hall. **[01:12:00] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** We also have our indoor market returning to the Discovery Center this Saturday January 27th uh from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. uh there will be over 20 local vendors offering a unique variety of items don't make the mistake I did when I went what two weeks ago I got there at like 12:15 um and it was pretty picked over so if you want to get a good selection go there early. Um the just stop and say hi to the vendors they'd love to see everybody too so um lots to choose from. **[01:12:30] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Uh final event I want to highlight for the community is MnDOT is hosting um an in-person public meeting on Tuesday January 30th—a week from today—5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Discovery Center. Um this will be an opportunity for the public to learn more about potential improvements to Highway 120, Century Avenue, Geneva Avenue, Division Avenue whatever you want to call it um between I-94 and 694. This has been um a topic of conversation in our community for a very long time um and to see um our partners at the state as well as our partners in Ramsey and Washington County um moving forward taking public input floating ideas of how to improve this highway is definitely um we're glad to see that progress moving forward. So um that just a reminder: next Tuesday, a week from today, January 30th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Discovery Center, 4444 or Hadley Avenue North um so please come on out and chat with MnDOT. **[01:13:30] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Public Works is still disposing of natural Christmas trees through the end of the month um if you still have one up I bet it's pretty crispy by now but uh if you want to get rid of it you can take it to the Public Works campus 1900 Hadley Avenue North and they will mulch it up. Uh there is a cost of $3 per tree. When you get there just pop into um the Public Works office and they will direct you where to go. **[01:13:55] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Finally we have an exciting contest taking place uh naming the new city park in the Willowbrook neighborhood. Um we are inviting all residents uh to submit their ideas in the park naming contest. Uh it is now open through February 5th. So if you have some ideas head over to our City website oakdalemn.gov and submit uh your ideas. Um submissions should capture the character of the park and neighborhood or relate to Oakdale history so you can go a number of directions with that but uh it's going to be a pretty cool park coming to our community. A lot of amenities for kids um accessible amenities, uh performance stage, a lot of cool stuff. So we just need a cool name to go with it. **[01:14:35] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Finally I'll add one plug—um there is voting for the presidential primary going on right now um you can do that by voting early at um the county service center sites and then I believe we have early voting here in February? **[01:14:50] City Clerk (Sarah):** 16th yes yes yes. **[01:14:55] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Um so that will be an option. I think it's about two weeks or so before the the March 5th presidential nominee primary you'll be able to vote here at City Hall. So if you want more info mnvotes.org—org? Gov? Org? Yeah mnvotes.org. Um you can type in your address they'll tell you where to go. So uh we got bills to pay. What's so funny about that? Tell us where to go it's fine that's a different conversation. All right: claims. We have claims roster in front of us January 10th through January 23rd 2024 in the amount of $1,348,195.47. Can I get a motion to approve? **[01:15:35] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** Make a motion to approve the claims as presented. **[01:15:40] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** There's a motion is there a second? **[01:15:42] Council Member Susan Ingerbritson:** Second. **[01:15:43] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Motion and second final comments all those in favor say I. **[01:15:45] Council:** I. **[01:15:46] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Opposed? And the bills are paid. Uh can I get a motion to adjourn? **[01:15:50] Council Member Andy Morcomb:** Motion. **[01:15:51] Council Member Katie Wrich:** Second. **[01:15:52] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** All those in favor say I. **[01:15:53] Council:** I. **[01:15:54] Mayor Kevin Zabel:** Oppose? We are adjourned. Thank you and good night. So we can't...