This transcript has been formatted with speaker names based on the official list provided and the context of the dialogue. **[00:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Good evening. Calling the Lake Elmo City Council meeting to order for Wednesday, November 6, 2024. If you'll all please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. [Pledge of Allegiance]. All right, with that done on the agenda, we'll move on to approval of the agenda. It was in our meeting packets. If you've read through it and everything seems acceptable, I'll entertain a motion. **[00:25] Council Member Matt Hirn:** So moved. **[00:26] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Second. **[00:27] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and second to approve the agenda for tonight. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. **[00:32] Council Members:** Aye. **[00:33] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Agenda is hereby approved. Also, the minutes from the October 15th meeting are in our packet. If you've read through them and don't have any things of concern or changes, I'll entertain a motion on that as well. **[00:45] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Motion to approve the minutes from October 15. **[00:47] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Is there a second? **[00:48] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. **[00:49] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second for the approval of the minutes from October 15th. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. **[00:54] Council Members:** Aye. **[00:55] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Minutes from October 15th are hereby approved. Do we have anyone that's signed up for public comments and things that are not on the agenda? **[01:03] City Clerk Julie Johnson:** We do not. **[01:05] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Okay, thank you. That was D. We have a presentation from the Network Now plan for Metro Transit. Welcome. **[01:12] Cindy Harper (Metro Transit):** Good evening. My name is Cindy Harper. I am the manager of route planning for Metro Transit and here this evening to share a transit project we've been working on for about the last year and a half called Network Now, that's currently in the middle of its public engagement phase. With me this evening is Steve Bason, who is the senior transit planner. He's actually the planner who is responsible for Washington County. [Presentation on ridership trends, workforce, and the Regional Sales Tax]. **[07:05] Cindy Harper:** So that's our strategy for the commuter express network as we move forward. This map shows the change in commuter-oriented service. [Further presentation on high-frequency service and equity metrics]. I’ll turn it over to Steve. **[08:52] Steve Bason (Metro Transit):** Good evening. My name is Steve Bason, and in addition to my manager Cindy Harper with us tonight, we also have Metropolitan Council Member Gail Cederberg sitting in the back row. As far as Lake Elmo and the concept plan, we'll just jump right into it. [Discussion of Route 221, Route 294, and Microtransit zones]. **[12:35] Steve Bason:** This map shows the new updated zone showing that kind of appendage that's been extended a little bit further north in Oakdale. [Details on fares and timelines]. We are accepting public comments through the end of next week, November 15th. That's it. We're happy to take any questions. **[13:40] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** One question. The one that runs from the route that you're adding that goes down Hadley from Eastern Oakdale—is there a park and ride in that location? **[13:56] Steve Bason:** No, along the route there is no park and ride. **[14:02] Cindy Harper:** Generally speaking, for all-day local service, that's not the type of market that attracts people who are going to drive and park and ride. **[14:15] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** You currently have an express bus that leaves by the Guardian Angels. Is that gone now because the Gold Line is going to be open? **[14:23] Steve Bason:** That route has been suspended since March of 2020. We recently closed that park and ride. **[14:52] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Got it, thank you. Other questions? No? Thank you very much for your time and the presentation. **[15:02] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All right, next on the agenda is the Consent Agenda. I'll read through that really quickly. [Reads items 2-19]. With that, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as read. **[16:45] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** So moved. **[16:46] Council Member Nick Kragness:** Support. **[16:47] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. **[16:53] Council Members:** Aye. **[16:54] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Consent agenda is hereby approved. Thank you. Getting on to our regular agenda, item number 20: Lake Elmo Elementary CUP, variance, and preliminary plat. Mr. Nathan Furst will be presenting. **[17:10] Nathan Furst (City Planner):** Good evening, Mayor, members of the Council. This item, Lake Elmo Elementary, has three different entitlement requests associated with it. [Detailed presentation on site plan, variances for lot size and buffer, shooting range noise studies, and tree mitigation]. **[22:05] Nathan Furst:** I want to spend a little bit more time talking about tree mitigation. [Discussion of caliper inches, tree removal calculations, and staff recommendations for a $50,000 cash-in-lieu payment]. **[26:15] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Just quick, do you have an image of where the irrigated area would be? **[26:17] Nathan Furst:** I do. It's on this slide for landscaping. [Discussion of irrigation policy and storm water reuse]. **[27:50] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** On the side actually, one more question. So the minimum of 253 tree plantings is required with mitigation—is that in addition to the 362 trees we were talking about? **[28:10] Nathan Furst:** If the City wanted to make that requirement, that would be the math. [Continues presentation on traffic, Washington County comments, and intersection improvements]. **[31:18] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** At this time, prior to the applicant talking, we do have a resident that requested to speak on this item. Ben Johnson. **[31:35] Ben Johnson (Resident):** Thank you City Council. I'll keep this quick. Removing 79% of the trees on that property—cutting down 2,000 trees and planting 250—just seems like a staggering ratio to me. I'd like to see a bigger commitment from the school to plant more trees. [Comments on screening and traffic on 10th Street]. **[33:15] Mark Drummelsmith (Stillwater School District):** Good evening Mayor and Council. Mark Drummelsmith, Stillwater School District. We are excited to continue our 100-year tradition of having an elementary school here in Lake Elmo. [Comments on site selection and the Prairie design theme]. **[34:12] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** And I may have missed it, what's the timeline for the temporary installation of stop lights on the poles? **[34:20] Mark Drummelsmith:** They'll be in service by the time we open first day, which would be fall of 2026. **[34:32] Mitch (Larson Engineering):** Hi, I'm Mitch with Larson Engineering, the civil engineer on the project. [Clarification on turn lanes and 2028 county improvements]. **[35:10] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** There's been a lot of talk about comments on the trees. I assume there's some flexibility in coming to a plan that would work for everybody? **[35:22] Mark Drummelsmith:** Correct. We talked about various options this afternoon. **[35:35] Council Member Matt Hirn:** With the noise study, if more trees were put on the western side, would that be expected to provide further noise mitigation? **[35:54] Mitch (Larson Engineering):** In certain areas yes, but there's a large low area currently that acts as a landlocked basin. You cannot revise grades in that area. **[36:20] Mark Drummelsmith:** We could plant more trees along that northwest corner without irrigation if acceptable by the Council. **[36:35] Paul (World Architects):** Hi, I'm Paul with World Architects and Engineers. This state law is really about not interfering with the gun club. The district has always been comfortable with the location. Meeting the threshold means we are in compliance with state law. **[37:25] Council Member Matt Hirn:** I guess I do want to dig into the tree thing just a little more. [Discussion of planting in the northwest corner and the cash-in-lieu fund]. **[39:05] Nathan Furst:** One of the challenges is when we get mature tree canopy, plantings that are really close together don't end up turning into great long-term trees. **[40:15] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Nathan, is one of the conditions of approval number 10, requiring applicant cost participation at no more than 50% or $250,000? Was there a reason for that cap? **[40:40] Nathan Furst:** I wanted to set a cap that felt reasonable. I'll look to Jack [Nate Stanley] if I misstated anything. **[41:15] Nate Stanley (City Engineer):** It’s difficult because we barely have a concept from the county yet. Given it's a county road, the anticipation is the City's cost share shouldn't be significant because we're already doing the right-of-way and storm water through the plat. **[43:05] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** On the legend of recommended additional trails, is the intent the District takes the lead? **[43:30] Nate Stanley (City Engineer):** The grants are available on a planning and construction level. It would probably be a collaborative effort between all three entities. **[44:50] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I'll entertain a motion. **[44:52] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Move to adopt resolution approving the variances... [Resolution 2024-114]. **[45:05] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Support. **[45:45] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All those in favor please signify by saying aye. [Motion passes]. **[46:00] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Move to adopt resolution 2024-115 approving the preliminary plat... **[46:12] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Support. **[46:25] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I think the trees on the southeast corner need to be moved to the inside of the trail. One thing I’ve discussed is making an event out of it—have the kids or families "plant a tree" or "adopt a tree." I’d like to see 104 extra trees. **[48:30] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** I kind of like Mayor Cadenhead’s suggestion. Get seedlings from the DNR. It won't be prohibitive in terms of cost. **[49:15] Mark Drummelsmith:** Yes, we'd be interested in that. **[49:40] Nathan Furst:** Just to clarify, the additional condition would be to require a plan for planting 106 saplings in the northwest corner for when the school opens in 2026. **[50:15] Council Member Matt Hirn:** I want to amend condition 10 to remove the $250,000 cap and just keep it at 50%. **[52:00] City Attorney:** Mr. Mayor, you would have to do a motion to reconsider the previous resolutions to change that condition across all three. **[52:30] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** [Mayor leads the council through several motions to reconsider and amend resolutions 114, 115, and 116 to reflect the 50% cost-sharing change and the tree planting plan]. **[57:30] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I take great satisfaction in the fact that you had local government come together. I'd urge the school district to participate in our 2050 planning process. [Final votes taken]. Motion passes. We're done with item 20. **[58:15] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** Item 21 is approve Well 2 PFAS treatment plan and specs. **[58:25] Nate Stanley (City Engineer):** Mayor, members of the Council. Asking tonight for approval of plans and specifications to order the advertisement of bids for our water treatment plant at well number two. [Technical presentation on building modifications, equipment installation, and budget]. **[1:01:45] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Move to approve resolution 2024-117. **[1:01:53] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** Second. **[1:02:00] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** All those in favor signify by saying aye. [Motion passes]. Item 22 is EDA appointment and reappointment. I move to reappoint Nina Waldock. **[1:02:20] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Second. [Motion passes]. **[1:02:30] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** I move to appoint Brandon Quam to the EDA. **[1:02:40] Council Member Nick Dragisich:** Second. [Motion passes]. **[1:02:50] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** That ends our regular agenda. Council reports? **[1:02:54] Council Member Nick Kragness:** No report this evening. **[1:02:57] Council Member Jeff Holtz:** The Mahtomedi School District had their quarterly meeting. They are looking to expand indoor athletic facilities. **[1:03:35] Council Member Matt Hirn:** Yesterday was a voting day. Thank you and congratulations to Julie and her team. **[1:04:15] City Administrator Nicole Miller:** Thank you to all the staff for participating in the future agenda list. It helps us stay organized and transparent. **[1:04:45] City Clerk Julie Johnson:** For the special meeting next week, it will be at 6:15 for canvassing election results. I’d like to thank our election judges—they do an amazing job. **[1:05:40] Fire Chief Dustin Kalis:** Just want to offer a reminder: we had a gas leak reported on Facebook on Halloween. If you smell the odor of gas, call 911. We don’t monitor Facebook 24/7. **[1:06:15] Nate Stanley (City Engineer):** They're now moving dirt for the Bridgewater Bank development. There will be a 3 to 4-day closure at Little Bluestem Trail. **[1:06:40] Clarissa Hadler (Finance Director):** I'm working with the Carriage Station HOA to get the Carriage Station Park transferred over to the city. **[1:06:55] Mayor Charles Cadenhead:** With that, we’ll adjourn the meeting. [Meeting adjourns].