This transcript has been edited for clarity and speaker identification based on the provided list of Cottage Grove city officials and department directors. Note: The name **"Kada"** in the original transcript appears to be a phonetic transcription for **Councilmember David Clausen**, as he is the remaining member of the council present. **"John"** refers to Fire Chief **Jon Pritchard**. **"Riley"** in the Planning section refers to a staff member (likely a city planner). *** **[00:00:00] Mayor Myron Bailey:** All right. Good evening. This is a good cold evening, I guess, our first true snow of the year. This is the November 20th, 2024 Cottage Grove City Council meeting, which I'm calling to order. The first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance, so please rise. *(Pledge of Allegiance)* **[00:00:30] Mayor Myron Bailey:** All right. Will the clerk please do the roll? **[00:00:35] Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Councilmember Clausen? **[00:00:37] Councilmember David Clausen:** Here. **[00:00:38] Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Councilmember Olsen? **[00:00:39] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** Here. **[00:00:40] Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Councilmember Thiede? **[00:00:41] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** Here. **[00:00:42] Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Councilmember Garza? **[00:00:43] Councilmember Monique Garza:** Here. **[00:00:44] Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** Mayor Bailey? **[00:00:45] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Here. The next item on our agenda this evening is Open Forum. This is the opportunity for anybody who wants to speak on something that's not on tonight's agenda. We did have a signup sheet out in the entryway and nobody did sign up. Okay, so you just walked in? I was just going to say if anybody in the audience didn't sign up and they want to speak on open forum, they're welcome to go up. Limit your time to three minutes and just state your name and address for the record. **[00:01:15] Bonnie Matter (Resident):** Hello, Mayor and council members. Beautiful evening out there. Bonnie Matter, 6649 Inip Avenue South. I'm just here because I just wanted to make sure I understood that there was a planning commission meeting on October 28th and that there was a public hearing on the 2025-2029 CIP. Things have changed a little bit since that public hearing happened and I want to make sure that the documents are going to be updated. I'd like to know where they're going to be published and when they'll be available. That's it. **[00:01:50] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Okay, thank you. We can make sure that's done there. Was there anybody else that wants to speak on open forum that didn't sign up? All righty, seeing that I'll go ahead and close Open Forum and I'll move to number five: Council to adopt the agenda. **[00:02:05] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** Move the agenda. **[00:02:06] Councilmember Monique Garza:** Second. **[00:02:07] Mayor Myron Bailey:** We have a motion by Councilmember Thiede, second by Councilmember Garza. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Chorus of ayes). Opposed? Motion carries. Next is six: presentations. We actually have four presentations this evening. The first one is the swearing-in and badge pinning ceremony for our fire personnel. Council, what I'll do is have you join me down in front. Jon [Pritchard] is going to come up. We'll join out down in front here and we'll do the handshakes afterwards after our City Administrator does the oath. **[00:02:45] Jon Pritchard (Fire Chief):** Thank you very much, Mayor and Council, for having us here tonight to celebrate a really great tradition of pinning badges for a new firefighter paramedic and a couple of promotions here. We're going to start with Deputy Chief Peter Fischer. Come up. Peter Fischer has been recently promoted to the Deputy Fire Chief. Peter was born and grew up in Maplewood with his parents and two sisters. Peter attended North St. Paul High School and was a dedicated Boy Scout where he earned his Eagle badge. Peter went on to Hamline University where he earned a bachelor's degree in public administration and accounting. After college, Peter started his career working for the Minnesota Department of Commerce as a market conduct analyst. Peter began his fire service career in 2014 with the White Bear Lake Fire Department as a part-time firefighter EMT. He obtained his paramedic certification in 2016 and pursued a full-time position with the Cottage Grove Fire Department, beginning in February 2017. In February 2020, Peter was promoted to fire captain. He has been involved in much innovation including our Community CPR training program and leading us to a Heart Safe City designation. Tonight, Peter's father and mother, Peter Fischer and Chrissy Fischer, will be pinning him. His two sisters, Emily and Hannah, can come up too. I think we're going to make this official right first. **[00:04:30] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Peter M. Fischer, do solemnly swear... **[00:04:35] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** I, Peter M. Fischer, do solemnly swear... **[00:04:38] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[00:04:40] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[00:04:43] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** And of the State of Minnesota... **[00:04:45] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** And of the State of Minnesota... **[00:04:47] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** And faithfully discharge the duties... **[00:04:48] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** And faithfully discharge the duties... **[00:04:50] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** Of the position of Deputy Fire Chief... **[00:04:52] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** Of the position of Deputy Fire Chief... **[00:04:54] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** For the City of Cottage Grove... **[00:04:55] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** For the City of Cottage Grove... **[00:04:57] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** In the County of Washington and State of Minnesota... **[00:04:59] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** In the County of Washington and State of Minnesota... **[00:05:02] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** To the best of my judgment and ability... **[00:05:04] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** To the best of my judgment and ability... **[00:05:06] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** So help me God. **[00:05:07] Peter Fischer (Deputy Fire Chief):** So help me God. **[00:05:09] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Congratulations. Well done. (Applause). **[00:05:30] Jon Pritchard (Fire Chief):** The next person we have is Fire Captain Chelsea Flores. Chelsea grew up in Burnsville and attended the Academy of Holy Angels High School. She earned her bachelor's degree at UW-Stout and moved back to Minnesota to buy a house in Cottage Grove. While playing basketball at the gym, one of the fire captains noticed her talent and suggested she take the fire test. Chelsea responded by asking "Are there really female firefighters?" He looked at her and said "Of course there are." This struck Chelsea as a moment where representation matters. Chelsea began her part-time career with the Woodbury Fire Department. She pursued her paramedic certification through HCMC while pregnant with her first daughter, Maya. In 2018, Chelsea began her full-time career with the White Bear Lake Fire Department. She always wanted to come back to where her career began and her hometown of Cottage Grove, so she came back in March 2021. She has been instrumental in our FTO program and the implementation of our community paramedics. Chelsea continues to live in Cottage Grove with her husband Michael and daughters Maya and Scarlet. Maya and Scarlet will be pinning Chelsea tonight. **[00:07:00] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** Please repeat after me. I, Chelsea Flores, do solemnly swear... **[00:07:05] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** I, Chelsea Flores, do solemnly swear... **[00:07:07] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[00:07:10] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[00:07:12] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** And of the State of Minnesota... **[00:07:14] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** And of the State of Minnesota... **[00:07:16] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** And faithfully discharge the duties... **[00:07:18] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** And faithfully discharge the duties... **[00:07:20] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** Of the position of fire captain... **[00:07:22] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** Of the position of fire captain... **[00:07:24] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** Of the City of Cottage Grove... **[00:07:26] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** Of the City of Cottage Grove... **[00:07:28] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** In the County of Washington and State of Minnesota... **[00:07:30] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** In the County of Washington and State of Minnesota... **[00:07:33] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** To the best of my judgment and ability... **[00:07:35] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** To the best of my judgment and ability... **[00:07:37] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** So help me God. **[00:07:38] Chelsea Flores (Fire Captain):** So help me God. (Applause). **[00:08:15] Jon Pritchard (Fire Chief):** And the next firefighter paramedic we will welcome up is Riley Erickson. Riley grew up in a small town in Wisconsin called Onalaska. This is where he met Emily while they were in high school; they have been together for 10 years and live in Minneapolis with their dog June and cat Rosco. Riley attended Ripon College where he was a four-year letter winner in baseball. After moving to Minnesota, he pursued paramedic training while his wife attended law school. Riley worked for two and a half years at Hennepin County as a paramedic and water rescue medic. He has been an astounding addition to our fire department since starting this spring, leading efforts to improve EMS care including improved stroke scores and ultrasound efforts. Tonight, Riley’s wife Emily will be pinning him. **[00:09:15] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** I, Riley W. Erickson, do solemnly swear... **[00:09:18] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** I, Riley W. Erickson, do solemnly swear... **[00:09:21] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[00:09:24] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** That I will support the Constitution of the United States... **[00:09:26] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** And of the State of Minnesota... **[00:09:28] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** And of the State of Minnesota... **[00:09:30] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** And faithfully discharge the duties... **[00:09:32] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** And faithfully discharge the duties... **[00:09:34] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** Of the position of firefighter paramedic... **[00:09:36] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** Of the position of firefighter paramedic... **[00:09:38] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** For the City of Cottage Grove... **[00:09:40] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** For the City of Cottage Grove... **[00:09:42] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** In the County of Washington and State of Minnesota... **[00:09:44] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** In the County of Washington and State of Minnesota... **[00:09:47] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** To the best of my judgment and ability... **[00:09:49] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** To the best of my judgment and ability... **[00:09:51] Jennifer Levitt (City Administrator):** So help me God. **[00:09:52] Riley Erickson (Firefighter Paramedic):** So help me God. (Applause). **[00:10:00] Mayor Myron Bailey:** I do have to say, John, are we making it a prerequisite to be a firefighter that they have to play baseball? **[00:10:10] Jon Pritchard (Fire Chief):** Well, I think the police versus fire softball may be coming back. I didn't mention it to him yet! **[00:10:20] Mayor Myron Bailey:** I knew that was the case! All right, let’s take a pic. (Applause). Congratulations to all our fire personnel. The next thing, we’re just going to stay down here because we have an Eagle Scout award to present. Riker Pace, if you would join me up here. One of the big things we do in the City of Cottage Grove is recognize with distinct honor those that became an Eagle Scout. We do the same thing for the Gold Award for the Girl Scouts. Because the City takes great pride in those achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, we want to recognize them in two ways: presenting a plaque, and adding their name to the wall to the right of the council chambers. I’ll read the plaque: *"Riker Pace, Congratulations on attaining the rank of Eagle Scout through Troop 905, Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Presented this 20th day of November 2024 from the City of Cottage Grove, Myron Bailey, Mayor."* Congratulations. (Applause). Now, to attain the level of Eagle Scout, they usually have to do a project. I'm going to hand over the mic to you to share what you did. **[00:11:55] Riker Pace (Eagle Scout):** I did my project for the Youth Service Bureau here in Cottage Grove. They had a picnic table outside that got crushed by snow when they were plowing their parking lot. I decided to build two picnic tables and put them on a mulched area with black plastic edging. That was my project. **[00:12:15] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Outstanding. I was recently President of the Youth Service Bureau and I used to tell the director that the picnic table needed to go. The fact that you put two in is much needed. (Applause). **[00:12:45] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** I have to commend Riker on making two of those tables. I looked at the plan to make a picnic table for my wife once, and 10 minutes into the plan, I decided that wasn't a project I was going to take on! **[00:13:00] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Now you know who to call if you want someone to build wood for you! All right, let's take a picture. (Applause). Our next presentation is a recap of the upcoming holiday events here in Cottage Grove. We have Molly Petruski from our Parks and Rec Department. **[00:13:20] Molly Petruski (Parks and Recreation):** Good evening Mayor and Council. I'm just one person in a big amazing department that makes these events come to life. First is the Hail to the Bird 5K, held at Hamlet Park on Thanksgiving morning at 9:00 AM. This is the 14th anniversary of a local group of guys giving back. All proceeds go toward the Friends in Need Food Shelf. Next is our Holiday Lights Home Tour. It opened November 12th for sign-ups. We have about 15 houses so far. If you have a house that should be showcased, go to the city's website and insert the address. It creates a map for families to use for a free date night. The map goes live Wednesday, November 27th. Hometown Holiday will be here at City Hall on December 5th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Mayor will arrive via fire truck at 4:30 PM. We will be lighting the tree, having wagon rides, live reindeer, and over 35 inflatables. River Oaks Santa Breakfast is December 8th. It includes photos with Santa, sleigh rides, and s'mores. Reservations are required and it typically sells out. The CPKC Holiday Train is coming back for the 20th year in a row! It arrives at 5:15 PM on Wednesday, December 4th. We hope to hit our goal of $100,000 for the food shelf. Festivities start at 3:30 PM at the Park and Ride. Finally, remember recreation isn't just summer. Our trails and skating rinks stay open. We are adding Glacial Valley Park as a warming house site this year. **[00:18:30] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Thank you, Molly. Are there any questions? Council? **[00:18:35] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** I think you did it really well. I was going to add things for my comments later, but you covered them all! **[00:18:45] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Thank you for all the work putting this together. The final item under presentations is the Proclamation for Small Business Saturday. I asked Councilmember Thiede to read the official proclamation. **[00:19:00] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** *(Reads Proclamation)* "...Now, therefore, Mayor Myron Bailey and the City Council of the City of Cottage Grove do hereby proclaim November 30th, 2024, as Small Business Saturday in the City." I move that we make November 30th Small Business Saturday in the City of Cottage Grove. **[00:20:30] Councilmember David Clausen:** Second. **[00:20:31] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Motion by Councilmember Thiede, second by Councilmember Clausen. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Chorus of ayes). Motion carries. Definitely shop local this year. Next on our agenda is Consent. Council, is there anything you want to pull? I do have one item. I'm pulling 7I regarding the Highway 61 River Oaks R-cut change order. Ryan, why are we putting a sidewalk across the middle of Highway 61 in front of River Oaks? **[00:21:15] Ryan Burfeind (Public Works Director):** It’s actual federal ADA pedestrian accessibility requirements. Even though we consider them driveways, that is West Point Douglas Road and East Point Douglas Road intersecting Highway 61. Federal law states all intersections need to allow pedestrians to cross. We pushed this all the way to the top of MNDOT because no one should cross there, but it’s a hard and fast federal rule. Because it was narrow, cars were trying to cheat and drive through the sidewalk, so we are adding barricades and reflective posts to prevent that. **[00:22:15] Mayor Myron Bailey:** It’s unfortunate. No one is going to—we don’t want anybody crossing there. Very disappointing that the federal rules forced that at the taxpayers' cost. Council, I need a motion for Consent. **[00:22:45] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** I move to approve Consent. **[00:22:47] Councilmember Monique Garza:** Second. **[00:22:48] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Motion by Councilmember Olsen, second by Councilmember Garza. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Chorus of ayes). Motion carries. Eleven is the regular agenda. We have one item: the Intermediate Zone Water Treatment Plant preliminary and final plat, site plan review, and variance. Riley, you can take it away. **[00:23:15] Riley (City Staff):** Thank you. Before you is an application for a site plan review and variance for the Intermediate Zone Water Treatment Plant located south of the Central Fire Station. The site is 6.78 acres. This plant is one of two permanent plants funded by the 3M settlement. The location was selected due to existing water main infrastructure. 3M settlement funds will compensate the city for the park land, which will then pay for park improvements. The plant consists of a 58,000-square-foot building. We are requesting two variances. The first is for building height—some sections exceed 40 feet to provide access for stairs and the Lamela detention tanks. The second variance is for the rear property line setback, proposing 32 feet instead of the required 35, due to the limited acreage of the site. **[00:26:00] Ryan Burfeind (Public Works Director):** To touch on operations: construction will start early next summer. It takes three full summers to get this operational because of the amount of concrete. We aim for the fall of 2027. This plant is a "good neighbor"—everything is enclosed and quiet. Once this is complete, we can take five temporary treatment plants offline. **[00:28:00] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** Regarding the 30-foot light poles, are there any lights associated with the water towers right now? **[00:28:15] Ryan Burfeind (Public Works Director):** Not specifically for the tanks. The parking lot lighting is downward-directed "Cobra head" style, which projects much less light than the standard neighborhood globe lights. **[00:29:00] Councilmember David Clausen:** Just to touch on the height variance, the practical difficulty is the stairwell and the gravity flow process for iron and manganese removal, correct? **[00:29:15] Ryan Burfeind (Public Works Director):** That’s exactly right. **[00:29:30] Councilmember David Clausen:** I move to adopt Resolution 2024-159 approving the preliminary and final plat for Pine Tree Pond Addition. **[00:29:40] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** Second. **[00:29:41] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Motion by Councilmember Clausen, second by Councilmember Thiede. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Chorus of ayes). Motion carries. **[00:29:50] Councilmember Monique Garza:** I move to approve Resolution 2024-160 for the Water Treatment Plant site plan and variances. **[00:30:00] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** Second. **[00:30:01] Mayor Myron Bailey:** Motion by Councilmember Garza, second by Councilmember Olsen. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Chorus of ayes). Motion carries. Now for Council comments. Councilmember Clausen? **[00:30:15] Councilmember David Clausen:** Everyone just please be safe in this first snowfall. **[00:30:20] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** I want to mention the Lions Santa Breakfast starts at 8:00 AM at the VFW on December 8th. Also, the "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" team is partnering with the Lions for military families. We are doing a Holiday Helper Raffle—tickets are $100 with a $1,500 grand prize. Reach out to me or Sgt. Pat Nickel for tickets. **[00:31:30] Councilmember Dave Thiede:** I’m good, I don’t have anything. **[00:31:35] Councilmember Monique Garza:** I’m excited to collect donations at Cub Foods this Saturday from 8:00 to noon. **[00:32:00] Mayor Myron Bailey:** My grandson just texted me to remind everyone that this Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, the Squirt B2 hockey team will be begging groceries at Hy-Vee to help pay for ice time. Then on Sunday, we'll be at Cub Foods for the Friends in Need Food Shelf. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone. Meeting adjourned.