This transcript has been formatted with the names of the speakers based on the provided context and the dialogue within the meeting. **Note:** Some names in the transcript were spelled phonetically (e.g., "Hearn" for Hirn, "Drasic" for Dragisich). I have corrected these to match your official list. *** **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, just a little housekeeping note here. Council Member Backstrom is off-site in a public facility, but she is online, so all votes will be done via a roll call this evening. And secondly, since we do have a packed house, I'm going to please ask you if you have a phone to make sure that it's turned off, muted, and that we keep side discussions to a minimum so that we can listen to the people that have the floor. Thank you. All right, so the second item of business is the approval of the agenda for this evening's meeting. I am going to request that we move item number six and item number 10 to the regular agenda item putting them at what would be sensibly 23 and 24. That’s acceptable for second, everyone? Thank you. Anybody else have any changes? No? All right, I'll take a motion to accepted the agenda as amended. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** So moved. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. We have a motion by Council Member Hirn. Can I get a second? **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor—oh, there's my first mistake—roll call vote. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Agenda is approved as amended. **[00:00:00] Phil Schroeder (Interim City Administrator):** Mayor? Yes, sir. Sorry to interject. Kramer Lake item number 21—the applicant would like their item removed from consideration; they have withdrawn their application at this period. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay. And the applicant is not here, that's correct? **[00:00:00] Phil Schroeder (Interim City Administrator):** Correct. Mayor and Council, the applicant is not here this evening. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Mayor, I move to reconsider previous motion. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Support. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Then we have to vote on that. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Yep. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. I'll take into consideration a motion to accept the newly amended agenda with 23 and 24 moving from consent agenda, and item number 21 being removed from the regular agenda. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** So moved. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Support. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** And I as well. Now the agenda is approved. Thank you very much. Then we move on to approval of the minutes for the April 6, 2024 workshop and special meetings and the April 16, 2024 council meeting. I did have one correction on the April 16th. **[00:00:00] Julie Johnson (City Clerk):** I did make the correction and swapped it out in the Google Drive. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, thank you. So I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the aforementioned meetings. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** So moved. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second. I'll call the question. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Minutes are hereby approved. Item number D is public comments and inquiries. We have a couple people that would like to speak this evening. I'll call your name, you can come to the podium. These are for people that don't have anything to say on something that's on the agenda this evening. You'll have six minutes and a minute before the six minutes is up, I might give you a little reminder. The first speaker would be Reverend Paul Fitzpatrick. Please state your name and address for the record. **[00:00:00] Rev. Paul Fitzpatrick:** Honorable Mayor Cadenhead, members of the Lake Elmo City Council. My name is Reverend Paul Fitzpatrick and I reside at 1166 39th Street North here in Lake Elmo, right across the street from where we sit. I wish to speak again so the leaders of Lake Elmo take serious the concerns of residents from Lake Elmo on the issue of pedestrian safety. As I travel around Lake Elmo, I see signs of progress and growth. On many newer streets near businesses, intersections are marked with white lines indicating pedestrian crossings—clearly a good thing. Although reality shows us that just the painted white lines, without common sense and without common concern for neighbors, does not make it a safer intersection. Merely seeing the white lines without using one's brain makes pedestrian safety a much more difficult task. The first time I spoke to this August body, I urged the council to be part of pedestrian safety—not in major ways like traffic lights or large flashing signs that cost thousands of dollars, but in a simple, common-sense way. I again entreat this body to work toward painting simple crosswalk signage at 39th Street and Layton Avenue quickly. Simple signage combined with common sense can make those two crossings ones that give pedestrians confidence while crossing the street at Lake Elmo, especially when we exercise our greatest, most precious responsibility to come across the street to vote. As Lake Elmo continues to grow, simple things ingrained in people's minds can move drivers trained in safety to be alert to their neighbors and to be active in pedestrian safety, so no one hears the cry of "too little too late" when someone is injured or worse. Since I was the first of the residents from the Fields at Arbor Glen to speak about this to City Council, I have been approached by concerned citizens that I should start a petition drive so that there's not merely one or two complaints that cross the desk of whoever is responsible for care for our city streets, but hundreds of letters. If a petition is not heeded, I prefer to contact people individually so my fellow seniors and others can overwhelm that mailbox that is currently simply almost empty every day concerning the safety issue. Then some concerned citizens watching the work you, chief stewards of Lake Elmo, are doing—perhaps they will also share their concerns with you verbally. I guess having a full mailbox from my neighbors would serve of a better purpose than just an almost empty one. I trust that you will listen to your neighbors and my neighbors and be partners with them concerning the issue of pedestrian safety quickly. I am certain that you are working through this situation and that you are concerned and engaged. From someone who is also concerned, please find this solution sooner. I thank you for your time and your attention. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Next up on the public comments is Colleen Swedberg. **[00:00:00] Colleen Swedberg:** Good evening, everyone. As he said, my name's Colleen Swedberg. I live at 6165 Upper 44th Street North in Oakdale. Yes, "the enemy" [laughs]. But I'm here to remind people or invite you, because I was here quite a while ago, to the Landscape Revival event that's happening at Rock Point Church on June 1st from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s off of Highway 36 and Keats. We'd like to say that it's more than a plant sale because we have 13 exhibitors that attend that help teach and educate people of how to have a rain garden, how to have a pollinator garden. So it's much bigger than just a plant sale. Then we have eight growers from around Minnesota and Wisconsin going to be showing up there—that's the most we've ever had at this event. So it's a great opportunity to learn and buy these plants. We also have a vendor who does wonderful signage for your yard and for your gardens; she does a wonderful job. And if that doesn't get you, we have a food truck! You know, that's got to be the topping on the icing. Anyway, I just want to remind people, I'm going to leave these postcards at the back there for people to pick up. And if you can't make it tonight, Julie has more to hand out. So anyway, once again, June 1st from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Rock Point Church off of Highway 36 and Keats. Hope to see you guys there. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you, Ms. Swedberg. All right, item on the agenda are presentations. We do have an employee that is retiring from the City of Lake Elmo. I'll let Public Works Director Marty Powers present on that. **[00:00:00] Marty Powers (Public Works Director):** Good evening, Mayor and Council. The City of Lake Elmo would like to recognize Public Works Operator Jim Sachs tonight for his 19 years of service. Jim has been a key asset in the department with his knowledge with the sewer and water. He’s going to be tough to replace. He has historical knowledge, experience, and skills. He’s been a great snowplow driver, proficient when handling a skid steer. He often watched the water system and would identify changes in it before we had issues so we had time to correct, so that is going to be a big loss for our department. He was always one of the first ones to arrive at Public Works in the morning—many times he would beat me—so he's very reliable and always ready for action. Staff has enjoyed working with Jim and wishes him the best of luck in retirement. Again, we would like to acknowledge Jim's retirement, the value, dedication, and efforts he has added in the Public Works department. He will be missed. *(Sachs receives award; applause)* **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We're all certainly thankful of our city employees that do such a great job at keeping our roads and streets clean and things working, and plowing in the winter when they need to so we can get around safely. Item number B underneath presentations, we have a donation from Lake Elmo Rotary and the St. John’s Masonic Lodge. **[00:00:00] Dustin Kalis (Fire Chief):** Mayor and City Council, tonight we accept the donation of a new fire suppression tool (FST) from the St. John’s Masonic Lodge and funding provided by the Lake Elmo Rotary. With me tonight, I've got Matthew Stepanik from the St. John’s Masonic Lodge and President Tammy Mist from the Rotary Club. Without the Rotary Club's funding, we wouldn't have these tools. This device will be in my vehicle and our assistant chief's vehicle, and they also provided dollars for our Washington County Sheriff squads. These early suppression tools are another kind of tool in our vast firefighting toolbox. We appreciate the fundraising efforts of these groups to bring these tools to our city. With that, I'll turn it over to Matthew to explain what the program is. **[00:00:00] Matthew Stepanik:** Thank you, Chief. Mayor, Council, residents of Lake Elmo. Once again, my name is Matthew Stepanik with St. John’s Masonic Lodge Number One in Stillwater. It is our honor on behalf of Lake Elmo Rotary—who provided us the funds in partnership with Minnesota Masonic Charities and the Grand Lodge of Minnesota—to bring a new first-generation fire suppression tool to provide to our first responders to make your city and our county safer. This is the 30th, 31st, and 32nd fire suppression tool that we have donated to Washington County, to individual cities, and to the Washington County Sheriff's Department. Without our partners like the Lake Elmo Rotary helping us to make our county safer, we couldn't be here. We are proud to be in partnership with our first responders to make our community safer. Thank you very much, everyone. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Wonderful, thank you very much. Item C is we're going to introduce our incoming City Administrator. I'll let our interim administrator take over from here. **[00:00:00] Phil Schroeder (Interim City Administrator):** Council, Mayor, citizens of Lake Elmo. We've gone through a long process ever since December of this year. We hired a search firm, went through numerous candidates, we had 25 people apply for this job. Council members and department heads interviewed the candidates. We did a thorough investigation with our search firm, and Ms. Nicole Miller is our candidate of choice. We are so looking forward to having her join the city. Her first day will be on June 3rd, and I've invited her today to introduce herself to the staff and to the citizens of Lake Elmo. **[00:00:00] Nicole Miller (Incoming City Administrator):** Well, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I'm looking forward to working with you all, and I appreciate being able to come here and share a little bit more about myself with you, as well as staff that I haven't met and the community. So, I reside in the City of Wyoming with my husband and three children who have decided to attend tonight's meeting, sitting in the back there. The last nine years I've spent working for a full-service city named St. Anthony. I've had the opportunity over the years to work across all departments, recently focusing in the areas of strategic planning, community development, communications, and sustainability. The reason why Lake Elmo was appealing to me is I grew up in the East Metro, and I was looking for an opportunity where I felt that I could be successful with my skills matching what your community was looking for. I'm looking forward to supporting the Council's goals and being part of the strategic planning process, as well as working with your skilled staff. I would describe myself as a collaborator and kind of a measured leader that appreciates collecting information, finding out how people feel about it, and then exploring the options before making a decision. I'm looking forward to in the first few months definitely listening and learning about the operations and projects that are going on in the community and meeting with stakeholders and community members. I'm just looking forward to helping the city move in a positive direction. Thank you for having me here tonight. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Great, thanks. You sure we can't get that start date like two weeks earlier? [laughs]. No, thank you for introducing yourself, we look forward to working with you. Okay, if I could get a volunteer to go through the consent agenda, I surely would appreciate it. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** I can do that. Item 2: approve payment of disbursements. 3: approve pay request number 15 for Water Tower number three. 4: approve Royal Golf 6th Edition development agreement Resolution 2024-48. 5: approve Change Order No. 1 for Well No. 6. 7: approve purchase of SCBA equipment. 8: approve donation from St. John's Masonic Lodge Resolution 2024-47. 11: approve interim administrator contract extension. 12: approve reimbursement resolution Resolution 2024-56. 13: approve purchase of used water truck. 14: approve purchase of tractor. 15: approve purchase of wide-area mower. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Thank you. I’ll entertain a motion for the consent agenda. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** So moved. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Support. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, we have a motion and a second for the consent agenda. I'll have to do a roll call vote on this. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Consent agenda is hereby approved. Thank you. Getting into the regular agenda, number 16 is approve resolution of municipal support for Trunk Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue interchange project. **[00:00:00] Andrew Geeson (Washington County Project Manager):** Mayor, Council members, my name is Andrew Geeson. I'm a project manager at Washington County. Today I will be providing an update and seeking a resolution of support on the Highway 36 and Lake Avenue intersection improvement project. As everyone in this room likely knows, this intersection has an extensive crash history, with about one crash seen here every two weeks. Looking at some other intersections along Highway 36 within Lake Elmo: at Demontreville Trail, over the last 10 years, there's been 21 recorded crashes. At Keats Avenue, there's been 46 recorded crashes. And then at Lake Elmo Avenue, there's been 173 recorded crashes. This really shows that extensive crash history and why we're currently prioritizing improvements here. Traffic volumes on 36 have continued to increase, leading to congestion and delay. We are currently finalizing the intersection study and environmental documentation. Final engineering is anticipated to begin shortly and be completed in 2025. Construction is expected to last two full seasons, kicking off in the spring of 2026 and wrapping up in the fall of 2027. Based off input from the public and our technical analysis, the preferred design includes a grade-separated interchange with button-hook style ramps. This design eliminates the existing at-grade stoplight on 36, making a significant safety improvement while minimizing project costs and footprint. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Thank you for that presentation. Fully agreed—this is about public safety. I'm curious about its compatibility with future upgrades. I know conversations have been occurring regarding the future possibility for Keats. I'm just wondering if you could let the public know what those conversations have been with the state regarding a potential frontage road? **[00:00:00] Andrew Geeson:** Mayor, Council Member—something MnDOT is looking at is potentially extending that new frontage road on the south side of 36 to make a connection to Keats Avenue. They're very early in that design process, but as part of our analysis, we looked at what would happen if that connection is made and Keats Avenue is closed. The level of service at this south ramp intersection would still be a "Level A." We are confident our design can accommodate that future traffic. **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Quick question. When we reviewed the preliminary plans a couple months ago, the button-hook was not our preferred approach, mainly because of the loss of land on the Lake Elmo side. Has anything changed with that? Are we still looking at the loss of the church land for holding ponds? **[00:00:00] Andrew Geeson:** Most of the property impacts on the south side of 36 are with that addition of that new frontage road and the proposed stormwater basins. When we looked at tight diamond alternatives, there was actually a significant increase in property required on the north side. Overall, this alternative had the least amount of property impacts city-wide. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Move to approve Resolution Number 2024-51. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** I just want to say I appreciate the collaborative relationship with the county. At the end of the day, it's about the safety of our residents. It's not my preferred design to begin with, but it serves the purpose of safety, and that is the first priority. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I will say I was very impressed with Washington County and getting the cities together to have discussion. I was a proponent of the tight diamond, and to their credit, they were really good about looking at the future impacts. Really, the leadership from their County Engineer Wayne Sandberg all the way down through project manager Geeson—my hat's off to them. I'll call the question. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you very much. Item number 17, 2024 bonding resolution 2024-57. **[00:00:00] Tammy Somal (Northland Public Finance):** Good evening, Mayor, City Council members. Tammy Somal with Northland Public Finance. You have before you a resolution calling for the sale of the series 2024A bonds in the approximate amount of 5.2 million. The bonds are being issued to finance street and utility improvements. The estimated interest rate is 3.65%. We are recommending the city request a rating; Moody’s currently has the city at Aa1. The sale date is June 4th in the morning, and that evening you will have a resolution considering the award. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** I just want to mention for those watching—we didn't just randomly say "let's do 5.2 million." This is an ongoing discussion about things that have been approved over the last year for our streets. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'll entertain a motion. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Motion to approve Resolution 2024-57, providing for the negotiated sale of $5,230,000 General Obligation Improvement and Water Revenue Bonds, Series 2024A. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Roll call vote. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Motion to approve the Municipal Services Agreement with Northland Securities Inc. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Passes 5-0. Moving on to item number 18, Birth and Haven zoning text amendment and comprehensive plan amendment. **[00:00:00] Sophia Jensen (City Staff):** Thank you, Mayor. The applicant is Melvin Ashford with Minnesota Women’s Care. The property is at 5193 Keats Avenue. The property is currently zoned Agricultural and guided as "Ag Preserve." The requests are to re-guide the parcel from Ag Preserve to Rural Area Development (RAD), and to amend city code to include "birth center" and "postpartum retreat center." Staff has reviewed the requests and recommended adding "birth center" and "Transitional Care Facility" as primary conditional uses in rural districts, with specific standards for screening and buffers. The Planning Commission reviewed this; they voted to recommend approval of the zoning text amendment, but the motion to approve the comprehensive plan amendment failed, as they didn't feel it was necessary to change the guidance for this parcel specifically. **[00:00:00] Melvin Ashford (Applicant):** My name is Melvin Ashford. I'm the owner of Minnesota Women’s Care. We’ve looked for a birth center location for almost three years. Our goal was to look for an area that was rural in nature to give it a natural feeling. Birth centers are not necessarily medical facilities; they are meant to mimic the natural experience of birth. Most are based in residential homes. We want to maintain the nature of the land. The birth center will be built within the existing home. The Transitional Care building will be about 7,000 feet—the size of a home—in the footprint of the existing barns. We want to minimize impact. I understand the neighbor's concerns, but our goal is to make the land more beautiful, not destroy the environment. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** I'm struggling with how this fits. While it's not a typical hospital, I still characterize it as a medical facility. In an agricultural area, it just doesn't seem to be a good fit to me. **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** I have a question—to add birth center to our Ag zone, is this essentially to get around our existing code to allow a medical facility in an area where our code says it shouldn't go? **[00:00:00] Sophia Jensen (City Staff):** I’d say that’s a fair assumption, yes. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We'll move into public comments. First is Joan Zimmerman. **[00:00:00] Joan Zimmerman:** 5761 Keats Avenue. This commercial use would be allowed in five other sewer zoning districts within our city—Business Park, General Business, etc. The Ag zoning district is not the appropriate area for intense commercial uses. This is "spot zoning," established specifically for this applicant. I ask you to deny the request. **[00:00:00] John Ames:** 9799 51st Street North. Keats Avenue is not wide enough to add commercial traffic. I run, bike, and walk there. There's no shoulder. If this fails, what happens to that zoning? It’s a "camel's nose under the tent." I urge you to oppose it. **[00:00:00] Joyce Kelch-Solal:** 4855 Keats. I’m the fourth generation of the same family farm. This could drastically change a unique and tranquil area. The traffic on Keats is already busy with school buses, tractors, and joggers. Will there be a "non-busy time" for a 24/7 operation? Please protect the rural landscape. **[00:00:00] Karen Schubert:** 5222 Keats Avenue North. The applicant proposes luxury suites with lakefront patios and 29 parking spaces. Is it a motel? A restaurant? A 24/7 childcare center? It sounds like anybody can move into Lake Elmo, buy property, and then ask to have the code rewritten for them. **[00:00:00] William Vogel:** 5055 Keats Avenue North. This "Transitional Care Center" is a short-term hotel. Going from Ag Preserve straight to hotels on lakes is a bad precedent. **[00:00:00] George Crocker:** 5093 Keats. I'm immediately south of the property. This proposal is "spherically senseless." When a community feels threatened, they get organized. Please do not put us to the test. **[00:00:00] Jane Charers:** 47th Street. These birth centers in other cities are in commercial facilities, not residential. The rural district purpose refers to single-family homes, not business parks. **[00:00:00] Robert Gear:** 5275 Keats Avenue North. I'm the neighbor directly north. I'm concerned for the safety of my children, aged 5 and 9, who have a bus stop on Keats. People rushing to a birth center flustered will pose a threat. It will also destroy our privacy with constant strangers looking into our yard. **[00:00:00] Katie McGlenn:** 5240 Keats Avenue North. I used a birth center myself. My situation became high-risk quickly. There is no hospital within 15 minutes of this site in perfect traffic. One fatality is one too many. This is medical care; I was relying on them for medical care. **[00:00:00] Claudia Stannard:** 5230 Keats Avenue North. What benefit does this provide for our city? Amending the comp plan is a very big deal. The precedent is dangerous. **[00:00:00] Mark Stannard:** 5230 Keats Avenue North. I’m a family physician who has delivered almost a thousand babies. 17% to 20% of birth center attempts need transfer to a hospital. That translates to ambulance trips on Keats one to two times a week. 30 deliveries a month is also not a financially viable plan—what comes next to make it profitable? **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Move to request staff create reasons for denial for Ordinance 2024-09. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Roll call. Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Motion to find facts for denial passes 5-0. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Move to adopt Resolution 2024-54 approving the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the property from Ag Preserve to Rural Area Development. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Council Member Backstrom? **[00:00:00] Council Member Backstrom:** Nay. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Yes. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Aye. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'm an aye as well. Motion passes 4-1. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, we’ll take a five-minute break to allow the room to clear out. *(Recess)* **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, next item is public improvement hearing for 15th Street North improvements, Resolution 2024-52. **[00:00:00] Jack Griffin (City Engineer):** Thank you, Mayor. 15th Street is in the lowest category for road ratings; it's well overdue for reconstruction. The project is a street reclamation, narrowing the pavement from 40 feet to 36 feet. The total cost is estimated at $532,000. Because three properties are in Ag Preserve, we cannot assess them. The commercial property is assessed at $39,100. We’ll use $330,000 in state aid funds. **[00:00:00] Tom Armstrong:** 8280 15th Street North. My family owns four of the parcels. We have no opposition to the project. I just want to clarify the storage business on our farm is through a CUP and is not in Ag Preserve; the rest of the farm is. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Move to approve Resolution 2024-52 and award a contract in the amount of $381,440 for the 15th Street North improvements. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Support. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Council Member Backstrom? (Aye); Dragisich? (Aye); Holtz? (Aye); Hirn? (Aye); I'm an aye. Passes 5-0. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Move to authorize the City Administrator to enter into a material testings contract with Braun Intertec in the not-to-exceed amount of $5,960. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Support. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I will be abstaining as the company is my employer. Roll call: Backstrom (Aye), Dragisich (Aye), Holtz (Aye), Hirn (Aye). Passes 4-0. Item 20: Chavez property Comprehensive Plan amendment. **[00:00:00] Sophia Jensen (City Staff):** The property is roughly 11 acres within Sunfish Lake, with only 1.2 acres above water. It's been landlocked for years and will get access through Northstar Second Edition. We recommend re-guiding it from RAD to Village Low Density Residential to eliminate split zoning. **[00:00:00] Joe Chavez (Applicant):** 3505 Kelvin Avenue North. My father-in-law purchased this farm in the 60s. Since 1993, we've been trying to get access to this lot. Now that the rest of the farm is being developed, it’s the perfect opportunity to monetize the investment. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Move to adopt Ordinance 2024-10 approving the Comp Plan Amendment. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All in favor: Backstrom (Aye), Dragisich (Aye), Holtz (Aye), Hirn (Aye), Cadenhead (Aye). Passes 5-0. **[00:00:00] Jack Griffin (City Engineer):** Item 22 is Hudson Boulevard Segment A improvements. Total estimated project cost is $2.5 million. We are urbanizing the north side with curb, gutter, and a trail to create a continuous path from Inwood to Keats. We're recommending $1.4 million in state aid funds toward this. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Move to approve Resolution 2024-53. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Roll call: Backstrom (Aye), Dragisich (Aye), Holtz (Aye), Hirn (Aye), Cadenhead (Aye). Passes 5-0. **[00:00:00] Nathan Farough (City Staff):** Item 23: Public Facility zoning district text amendments. We’ve identified provisions that aren't helping the city, such as requiring ourselves to get a CUP for a park. We suggest removing wastewater limits not tied to engineering and establishing lot coverage standards for larger properties. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I’d like to make a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-08 as proposed but with a revision to keep the maximum parcel size at 20 acres. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Backstrom (Aye), Dragisich (Aye), Holtz (Nay), Hirn (Aye), Cadenhead (Aye). Passes 4-1. **[00:00:00] Marty Powers (Public Works Director):** Item 24: Purchase of Vac-Jet truck. Currently, we use an 18-year-old trailer that doesn't have the capabilities we need. We're required to jet a third of the city's sanitary lines each year. Contracting this out costs up to $60,000 a year. This demo unit is available now for $560,000. It’s a 12-year machine; we’d see our money back. **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Motion to approve the purchase not to exceed $560,000. **[00:00:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Support. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All in favor: Backstrom (Aye), Dragisich (Aye), Holtz (Aye), Hirn (Aye), Cadenhead (Aye). Passes 5-0. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Council reports? **[00:00:00] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** I put together an analysis of our bonding and debt management for future review. **[00:00:00] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** The White House Council on Environmental Quality came to Oakdale and Lake Elmo yesterday. They came to see the impact of PFAS on our community. It was a good opportunity for them to see what’s happening at the local level. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Phil, any staff reports? **[00:00:00] Phil Schroeder (Interim City Administrator):** We’re switching over to the .gov domain next week. Also, next Tuesday at 6:30 PM is a workshop with the MPCA to discuss water and PFAS. **[00:00:00] Marty Powers (Public Works Director):** Dog park is completed; grand opening in late May. Pickleball courts should be open by the end of next week. **[00:00:00] Sarah (City Attorney):** We should be getting the administrative law judge decision in our water appropriation permit case by Friday. **[00:00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, we’ll adjourn the meeting at 10:33 PM.