This transcript has been formatted with the requested speaker identifications based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text. **Note:** As the original text did not include specific timestamps, I have provided relative time markers based on the progression of the meeting. *** [00:00:00] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: All right. Um, welcome all. Going to call the city council meeting [clears throat] for the city of Lake Elmo, Tuesday, October 21st. Order. If you'll please stand with me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] All right. Uh first order of business is approval of the agenda as it's uh before you. I'll entertain a motion for approval of set agenda unless you have something to add or move. [00:00:45] **Council Member**: Move to approve the agenda. [00:00:47] **Council Member**: Second. [00:00:48] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Have a motion in a second to approve the agenda. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:00:52] **Council Members**: I. [00:00:53] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Agenda is approved. Do we have anybody with public comments or inquiries tonight? Julie [clears throat] agenda. [00:00:58] **Julie Johnson (City Clerk)**: Not till the agenda item. [00:01:00] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Okay, perfect. So, we have the minutes from 92 of 25 in the uh packet. I'll entertain a motion unless there's some issues with the agenda or the meeting minutes from 92 of 25. [snorts] [00:01:10] **Council Member**: Motion to approve the minutes as written. [00:01:12] **Council Member**: Second. [00:01:13] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: I have a motion and second to approve the minutes from 92 of 25. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:01:18] **Council Members**: I. [00:01:19] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Minutes are hereby approved. Consent agenda items are approve payments and dispersements, approve 2026 LMCIT statutory tort limits, approve inwood town homes first edit edition development agreement, approve Savona fourth edition security release. [clears throat] Approve pay request number four for the 2025 street utility be project. Approved pay request number one for the I94 lift station enforcement improvements. Approved pay request number one for the Reed Parking lot improvements. [clears throat] Approved pay request number two for the Stillwater School District utility improvements. Approve pay request number four. [snorts] Final one for well number two PAS removal equipment. Approve pay request number two for the village parkway up railroad crossing improvements. Approve the 2026 benefit renewal. Approve implementation plan for Minnesota paid leave. And that's what we've got. Uh if I can get a motion to approve the consent agenda. [00:02:25] **Council Member**: Motion to approve consent agenda. [00:02:27] **Council Member**: Second. [00:02:28] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: We have a motion and second to approve the consent agenda. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:02:32] **Council Members**: I. [00:02:33] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Consent agenda is approved. Moving into our regular agenda, we have the 2026 street and utility public improvement hearing. [00:02:40] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Good evening, mayor and council. Um so tonight I have before you uh an item to order the improvement for the 2026 street and utility improvements. So um you you've seen this before um a lot of this information, but I'm going to kind of recap the findings of the feasibility report and the recommendations moving forward... [Technical explanation of the Lake Elmo Heights project] ...With that, if there are any questions, I'll stand for those now. Otherwise, I'll stand aside for public hearing. [00:05:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Any questions first of the engineer. [00:05:18] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: Um, [clears throat] just one real quick. So, just looking at the last part, the 138,000. I'm just trying to compare that to last year's um amount. And I think last year might have been a little bit different how it was segmented up and maybe into a few different parts. [00:05:30] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Yep. So, we we have a comparable project. Obviously, pricing does go up year-to-year. Um this I just want to stress that this is a not to exceed... [Explains the combination of staff and team time] [00:06:05] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: Got it. Thank you. [00:06:08] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Anything else? If not, I'll entertain a motion to open the public hearing. [00:06:11] **Council Member**: So moved. [00:06:12] **Council Member**: Second. [00:06:13] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: All those in favor of opening the public hearing for uh improvements for the 2026 street utility improvements. Please signify by saying I. [00:06:18] **Council Members**: I. [00:06:19] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Open hearing is now at 7:10. If anybody would like to speak on the public hearing, you can do so now. All right. I'll entertain. Oh, got one. All right. Please state your name and uh address for the record, please, sir. [00:06:35] **Jim Greenguard (Resident)**: Yeah. My name is Jim Greenguard. I live at 2677 Imperial Avenue. And I guess one question I have or concern is when do we—And then what's a long range plan for sewer development in that proposed area? [00:06:50] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: At this time we have no plans of uh putting sewer in that area. It's not within the metropolitan utility service area. So it's still maintained through your current septic systems. [00:07:05] **Jim Greenguard (Resident)**: Another question I have is what is the cost-benefit analysis of concrete curb versus asphalt? [00:07:12] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Well, as a standard, we use concrete curb because we have used bituminous curb in the past and it doesn't last very long. It doesn't as well as concrete curb and gutter and that the snow plows tend to chew up the bituminous curb and gutter. [00:07:30] **Jim Greenguard (Resident)**: So, it will last over and above what asphalt curve was. So that we did a cost-benefit analysis. [00:07:35] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: We did not perform a cost-benefit analysis. No, it's the standard to put in the concrete curb and gutter. It's in our standard plates for the engineering for city of Lake Elmo. [00:07:50] **Steve Meyer (Resident)**: Good evening, council. Uh Steve Meyer, 8301 27 Street North. U question for engineer Mr. Stanley. Um in terms of the complete removal versus a mill and overlay, um do you have any comments about choosing one versus the other? [00:08:15] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Um I'll I'll I'll answer that right now if council's okay. These streets are actually not eligible for a mill. They're not good candidates for a mill-in overlay treatment. Um the deterioration of the asphalt is such that any sort of mill and overlay will just throw the totally tear the streets apart. [00:08:45] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Undertain a motion to close the public [clears throat] hearing. [00:08:48] **Council Member**: Motion to close public hearing. [00:08:49] **Council Member**: Second. [00:08:50] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: We have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:08:55] **Council Members**: I. [00:08:56] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Public hearing is closed. [clears throat] Entertain a uh motion uh for discussion. Motion to approve resolution number 2025-070 ordering the improvements for the 2026 street and utility improvements. [00:09:10] **Council Member**: Second. [00:09:12] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: We have a motion and a second. Discussion. [00:09:13] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: I was going to say thank you to Jim and Steve for coming to the hearing first and asking your questions. I I hope the concerns were addressed... [Technical discussion regarding pavement management policy] [00:10:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Hearing none, I'll call the question. All those in favor of resolution 2026-070, please signify by saying I. [00:10:20] **Council Members**: I. [00:10:21] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Resolution passes. Entertain a motion on the U authorizing city administrator. [00:10:25] **Council Member**: Motion [snorts] to authorize the city administrator to enter into a contract with Bolton Mink, Inc. for the final design bidding phase services in the not to exceed amount of $138,600. [00:10:40] **Council Member**: Second. [00:10:42] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: We have a motion in a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question. And all those in favor, please signify by saying I. [00:10:48] **Council Members**: I. [00:10:50] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Uh, authorization passes. Okay. Item number two. I guess you get to stay up there, Mr. Stanley. Public hearing. Adopt final assessment role for the 2025 street utility improvements. [00:11:05] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Sorry, I need a little technical assistance here... [Presents the 2025 project assessment results] ...Overall, the assessments were reduced by a little over 22,000 or 22% for everybody. [Explains the removal of 9696 55th Street North from the role due to an intersection error] [00:15:10] **Council Member Nick Dragisich**: Could you go back to that 9696 parcel? I'm trying to understand. So, it doesn't front on any street. So, would it ever be assessed? [00:15:20] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: It should have been... [Explains 2017 project history and legal opinion] [00:16:05] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Any other questions for city engineer? Not hearing any. I'll entertain a motion to open the public hearing. [00:16:10] **Council Member**: So moved. [00:16:11] **Council Member**: Support. [00:16:12] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: All those in favor... signify by saying I. [00:16:14] **Council Members**: I. [00:16:16] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Open hearing for the project. So, we have somebody that would like to speak. Um, when you come to the podium, please state your name and address for the record. I have uh Katherine Todd. [00:16:25] **Katherine Todd (Resident)**: Good evening. I'm Katherine Todd. I live at 9961 55th Street North. [clears throat] And I want to thank you for allowing me to speak this evening... [Gives detailed testimony regarding $17,200 assessment, lack of city services, damage to her trees and property during construction, and concerns about 3M contamination] ...I ask the council to respectively consider abating or reducing my 17,200 assessment or eliminating the interest. [00:23:45] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Thank you, Miss Todd. You we did receive uh an email from a Mr. John Bourbon requesting something reducing their assessment hearing... [clears throat] With that, I'll entertain a motion to close a public hearing. [00:24:15] **Council Member**: So moved. Support. [00:24:20] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Motion and second to close. All those in favor... [00:24:22] **Council Members**: I. [00:24:25] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Public hearing is closed at 7:35. Question for Mr. Stanley. Are you aware of said trees that needed to be removed? Were those in the public right away at Miss Todd's residence? [00:24:35] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Mr. Mayor, yeah, I'm not aware of the specific tree she speaks of, but they would have either had to have been in the um right of way or some sort of utility easement. [00:24:45] **Katherine Todd (Resident)**: [Speaking from audience] The trees... They were within the easement. What I was told was the contractor wants to be able to use his um backhoe... [Explains interaction with supervisor] [00:25:30] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: So um to respond to the mayor's question, I [clears throat] I'm this is not an issue I'm specifically familiar with. I'll follow up on this matter first thing tomorrow. [00:27:10] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: Just a question with the 57th Street portion of it... could you speak to how that impacts the lifespan of this? [00:27:30] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Yep. [Provides detailed technical explanation on concrete curbing vs. bituminous curb and the pavement management program cycles] [00:32:45] **Council Member Nick Dragisich**: I think that, you know, the point made by the residents on 57th Street about was built in 2010... Are we penalizing them because we made a bad decision? I think some reduction would be appropriate. [00:33:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: I guess I I would argue the other side, council member Dragisich... [Argues for uniform assessment policy] [00:34:10] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: [Addressing Miss Todd regarding 3M settlement and private wells] ...The city does not have receive funding for your wells. That goes through the settlement process with MPCA... I don't feel that it would be appropriate to change the assessment for that purpose. [00:37:05] **Council Member Nick Kragness**: Yeah, I was curious about the reduction of 22% from the preliminary estimate. What was the reason behind that? [00:37:15] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: Primarily because we got such good bids. The bidding environment was pretty aggressive. [00:38:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: I'll call the question. All those in favor of approving resolution... revised amended final assessment role for the 2025 street utility project... [00:38:25] **Council Members**: I. [00:38:26] **Council Member Nick Dragisich**: [Opposed] I. [00:38:27] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Let it know that it's passed 4-1. You're just going to stay up there, aren't you? Item 3: Public hearing adopt final assessment role for Stillwater Area School District Utility Improvements. [00:38:45] **Nate Stanley (City Engineer)**: [Recaps school project involving lift stations and force mains] ...The school district actually submitted a waiver of assessment. [00:40:50] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Entertain a motion for a public hearing. [00:41:10] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: I just think staff at both the district and the city need kudos on this because the this project was an extremely fast-tracked project. [00:42:05] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Motion passes. We have a landfill solar farm who's presenting this. [00:42:10] **Nicole Miller (City Administrator)**: Director Stoppa with Mr. Manzer. Commissioner Menzer is here today to talk about the next steps. The EDA made a motion to ask the city council they want staff and the city attorney to research restrictions. [00:42:35] **Tony Manzura (EDA Commissioner)**: Good evening. I'm Tony Manzura... [Explains history of the landfill and the request for a legal opinion on General Obligation bonds to allow solar farm development] [00:45:15] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: So the city owns it. Does it—is there still any legal responsibility by MPCA with their oversight? [00:45:30] **Tony Manzura (EDA Commissioner)**: I talked to Hans Ney... He basically said that we have to get this resolved. [00:46:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: I think I'm okay asking the rest of the council if they're cool with community director Stoa to inquire about an estimate of what this might cost the city to get into. [00:47:30] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: [Conclusion of Solar item] Thank you. Next item is uh High Point Crossing Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Mr. First. [00:47:45] **Nathan First (Senior Planner)**: Good evening, mayor, members of the council... [Presents High Point Crossing history, septic failure, and the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to bring the property into the Musa] ...The planning commission recommended a denial. Staff understands the sewer capacity issue is a really consequential piece of information. [00:55:10] **High Point Developer**: Good evening, mayor, council members. Um, I'm back. Yes. And uh I would say you know I think the elephant in the room is the sewer capacity issue... [Presents alternatives for 11-lot or 30-lot rural developments if the sewer amendment fails] [01:05:30] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: [Discussion on sewer modeling and Met Council timelines] ...So increased sewer capacity is likely not to happen before 2027. [01:08:15] **Council Member Nick Kragness**: I personally would be open to looking at those exceptions. [01:10:45] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: I'm intrigued with the 11 parcel one... it aligns with what we are consistently told by residents that we value our green space. [01:15:30] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: I would support the 11 lot alternative as well. [01:16:15] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Item number six, uh, Limerick Village, EAW. [01:16:20] **Nathan First (Senior Planner)**: Limrick Village... a mandatory environmental assessment worksheet was required... [Explains negative declaration recommendation based on MPCA and Met Council feedback] [01:21:45] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Motion to adopt resolution 2025-073... [01:22:15] **Council Members**: I. (Resolution approved). [01:22:30] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Quarterly goals update. Administrator Miller. [01:22:45] **Nicole Miller (City Administrator)**: Thank you. It's always my pleasure to provide a quarterly update... [Provides updates on the 77 acres, 100th anniversary, ULI technical assistance panel, old fire station RFP, and GIS mapping] [01:27:30] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Council reports. Council member Dragisich? [01:27:35] **Council Member Nick Dragisich**: No report. [01:27:36] **Council Member Jeff Holtz**: Nothing really. [01:27:40] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: [Presents plaque from Betty McCollum for the 100th Anniversary] ...Council Member Hirn? [01:28:15] **Council Member Matt Hirn**: No report. [01:28:20] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: Staff reports? Julie? Nathan? Clarissa? [01:28:30] **Nicole Miller (City Administrator)**: I will be attending ICMA Saturday through Wednesday. [01:28:45] **Mayor Charles Cadenhead**: All right, with that we'll adjourn this this evening's meeting at 9:35.