City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay. Yeah. How are you, sir? I have calendar numbers getting bigger.

Those numbers are maybe getting smaller. Taking up more space. If I can get excited for Christmas, I get excited too. Sometimes it takes forever to get there. It's better try not to think about it. Kind of hopefully sneaks up on I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I thought about a couple times a day I think some point as well. before you retire.

It's one of those things where you're in public. It's not like the official need. If I could do it, I would have years ago. Well, I don't know any specifics for that. Somebody that you probably retired no longer be here. He put his two weeks ago and he's gone. That's awesome. I want to do that.

We Yes, we are. My wife had to move a chest because some new furniture. Apparently, it was a motherload of cat toys. My cat is very excited. Um, it's like that's like a multiple year supply of toys. Yeah.

Next year when she wants to buy them stupid Christmas, I'll be like, "Whatever we find, he gets He likes the box more than anything else. Empty Amazon boxes.

Jason, did you ever talk to me? Chief Richard Stephen, we're ready to roll though. Bri.

All right, we'll call the meeting to order. Please stand if you're able for the pledge of 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. Right. Good evening everyone. Uh, welcome to the city council meeting. Uh, Bri, take the role, please. Mayor King, present. Council member at large Austin, present. Council member Waller, present. Council member Baskin, present. Council member Posma, present. Council member Hely, present. Council member Obala, present. Council member Fischer, present.

Mayor King, we have a quorum. Thank you, Bri. Looking for item number one is a motion adopting the agenda with the tableabling of item number seven and the addition of item number 14. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number two is a motion approving the minutes from March 16th, 2026 meeting. So move. Second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to item number three under recognitions and awards. We have the step-up award and Jason's going to present that to Scott Kenobyl. Uh, congratulations, Jason. What do you what do you know about Mr. Kenobyl and why he's so worthy of the step-up award?

All right, honorable mayor and councel, I'm pleased to be up here this evening. I'd like to go through just a brief background of where this award came from. Um, so at the February 4th, 2026 parks, recreation, and forestry board meeting, the board discussed the implement implementation of a new community recognition program. Um the stepup award will serve as an official recognition presented by the city to local individuals, businesses and organizations in appreciation of their volunteer service, sponsorship of programs and events, promotional efforts, outstanding service in the interest of the city, and for other meaningful contributions that significantly enhance the quality of life here in Austin. The award will be administered by the parks and recreation director. Uh award recipients will be nominated and selected by the parks recreation and forestry board. The award will be presented quarterly at city council meetings specifically on the first meeting of the month in January, April, July and October. Pres the presentation will take place under item three recognition and award. So, uh, little back background about Scott before I bring him up here and present him with the award. Um, I've known Scott since I've been here. Um, I had an opportunity to kind of sit down and chat with him a couple weeks ago and get to know him a little bit more and and and boy, what a you know, a good example of of who to give this first award to. Um, Scott has has lived here in Austin, Minnesota since 1976. He has a 41-year career with Hormeell Foods. Scott says he appreciates the investment the Austin community made for the Riverland Ballfields and he has volunteered his time maintaining the Riverland Ball Fields for many years and has been involved in youth baseball as well for more than 25 years. He says he

enjoys volunteering his time at Riverland Ballfields and that he's doing this for our community. He also says that he's part of a strong group of volunteers who help the city maintain the ball fields at Riverland. It's not just Scott. He he wanted to make sure that we recognize the other volunteers out at the ball fields as well. Um and so he also says that he appreciates other volunteers who also work tirelessly on the maintenance and upkeep of Riverland ball fields. Scott feels it's important to invest time in keeping these fields in good condition. and he says it's nice to showcase our facilities and share with them with visiting teams. Um he added that these fields are a community asset and they bring people to our community. That's very true. Just to point out a few u big events that happen other than just the everyday uh baseball and softball that happen out there. Um this summer we will host the sections for the high school. Um Austin High School softball

baseball. uh of baseball, sorry. Um the sections tournament, we're actually doing some field renovations to that um to help support that here next week. Um also, we will host, I believe, two youth baseball tournaments that we've done in the past that bring in a countless number of teams, fill our hotel rooms, support our local businesses, um eat at our restaurants, just, you know, so it's nice that we're bringing all these people in to support our community. It's also nice to showcase the facilities that we do maintain. So, um, on behalf of the city of Austin and the parks, recreation, and forestry board, we would like to present the Austin, I'm sorry, the April 26 stepup award to Scott Kenobyl in recognition of his outstanding service and contributions to the community. And I do have a couple of awards I left at my desk. I'm going to grab, but Scott, can I ask you to come up here and I'll present those to you. So, we have a certificate here um that um kind of shows our appreciation to your uh contributions to our community. And um Luke Reese, our director at the nature center, put together this neat little, we call them tree cookies, if anybody wanted to know the term terminology for it. Um, this is burned into the This is I believe is an asht tree. Should know it is um

very symbolic. We have a few of them laying around. So, but it says here uh step up award uh presented to Scott Canobyl uh presented by Park Recreation and Forestry Board and Austin City Council April 6, 2026. So, thank you Scott very much. Scott, we will take some comments from if you if you choose. Also, I want to uh we'll get a picture out front, too. But I just want to articulate how impactful volunteers like you are to our city.

Uh we have very limited city staff. We just are very low population as far as employees. So, we certainly appreciate you and the team that you work with out at Riverland particularly and all of our donors and people that give of their time and talent and money. Uh there it's purposeful when I when I have an opportunity to read folks that have donated uh money to the city for a cause or some situation that I read their names out loud because I truly uh mean that it is very heartening and you should deserve every recognition you get and these folks that do as you do to give of their time and talent and and city or sometimes finances for the city. So, we appreciate everything you do and congratulations on the inaugural stepup award uh from the city of Austin. And I'll certainly we'll take any comments or what you want to say and then we'll get a picture up front.

I know you're never at a loss for words. First of all, it's Canable, not Canobyl. Yes. Just want to tell you that. Dang it. Second of all, I just I apprec I really appreciate the award and it's just and I I had mentioned to Jason I'm I'm old but I remember and you probably do uh famous words from uh John F. Kennedy and I live by those words which is don't ask and we'll paraphrase it. Don't ask what the city can do for you, but what can you do for the city? And that's kind of the way I look at it. Thank you. Thank you.

And I would say my path Scott and my paths cross quite regularly in my day job. And I would say that Scott's care and concern in volunteering for this city goes far beyond the park and wreck and uh he does do looks at other areas of the city and and takes care of those or registers his concerns about those too to help make Austin a better city overall. So thank you Mr. Canaval. Yes. Very very welld deserved. Can you cover up that M on his shirt for God's sake? We have dress code here. Yeah, sure.

Well, that's the lesser of two evils. We'll go with that. Thank you.

All right. Uh moving on to item number four is our consent agenda. Need a motion. So moved. Second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Under public hearing, we have item number five is reviewing a tax statement application from Biglo and Lennon. Uh Craig.

Uh thank you, mayor, members. Uh we discovered we had a little bit of a mixup on this abatement. The application came to the city on February 20th. Uh the building permit was issued February 25th and of course the public hearing is scheduled tonight. Our um practice has been that the um uh approval has to come before the building permit. So this evening, we'd like you to ask for approval of it contingent upon verification that they haven't started construction on the site and that they submit a new building uh permit through the city. Um otherwise the project is in conformance with the city's adopted uh uh housing abatement policy. Estimated value is 400,000 and this is a public hearing. Very

good. Thank you, Craig. Anybody in the public wishing to speak on item number five? Hearing none. Seeing none, council looking for a resolution with those additions. With those additions of So moved. Second. Bri,

Council Member Obala. Hi. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi, Council Member Baskin. I council member Posma I council member Heli I council member at large Austin I resolution passes 70 thank you Bri item number six under bid opening and awards is uh receiving bids for 2026 street construction projects Stephen

yes we opened those bids recently on March 31st 2026 and we received favorable bids for uh a list of street projects those include 8th Street Southeast 7th Avenue Southwest, 8th Avenue Southwest, 26th Street Southwest, that is a mill and overlay project. Uh 9th Avenue Northwest, which is full reconstruction, and then Fifth Street and 7th Street Northwest, which are both full reconstruction. Uh together, all of those projects were bid as one lump sum project with Yulan Brothers being the low bidder at 2,521,7865. And you can see there that is about $300,000 below our engineers estimate. Uh we did receive two bids on the project and we would uh this project will be funded using uh local fund 49, fund 61 and fund 67. There are also assessments to the adjacent property owners on this project and we would recommend awarding the bid to Yulan Brothers.

Very good. Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions on this item? Then we're looking for a resolution awarding the bid to Yulan Brothers. So moved. Second brief. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. Hi. Council member Postma. Hi. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 70.

Thank you. Bri with seven tabled. Moving on to item number eight. It's resolution approving the Austin Bruins contract. Jason. All right. Thank you, Honorable Mayor and Council. Um, at the March 16th meeting, as you know, uh, at the work session, staff presented council with a draft 5-year lease agreement with the Austin Bruins for the use of Riverside Arena. Uh, city staff had been working with representatives from the Bruins for several months to develop this new agreement. The current agreement is set to terminate on May 17, 2026. I would like to thank members of Austin City Council. I'd like to thank the mayor and thank staff, um, Mr. Clark, uh, Steven Lang. Also, I appreciate your involvement in the process. And then of course the Austin Bruins ownership and representatives for participating in these meaningful meaningful meaningful sorry um conversations that um proved to be productive and led the way to get this agreement moved forward. So uh throughout these conversations one um common conversation that we had was that we all agree that the uh Austin Bruins are a valuable asset to our community. They um the organization provides positive and fun recreation outlets for all ages and great entertainment uh as well. And they also support local businesses, restaurants, um businesses, hotels, everything. You know, it's it's just a great organization to have in our in our community. Um the information in your packet tonight uh was also included at the work session at the last meeting and there have been no updates since that meeting. I thought I would just kind of point out a few things, highlight a few

things from the contract. Um, the term was increased from a three-year lease agreement to a 5-year lease agreement. This was originally requested by the Bruins, but agreed upon by all parties. We think it's a great idea. Uh, rent, the city agreed to provide a 25% lease reduction, which is about $75,000 reduction over 5year period. In turn, the Bruins commit to reinvesting not less than $110,000 in capital improvements at Riverside Arena. So, if you do the math, that shows a net towards the city of 35,000s that could be looked into as um kind of a a partial contribution to what some of the city matches might be for future improvements. Um in addition, the lease rate has an annual rental fee increase of 5%. that's based mostly on utilities costs going up and and the the historical data that we could get with about the um the average cost of utilities over the last 5-year period. Um a few other things, the city and the Bruins have agreed to alternate responsibility of the cost to re replace the ice once every three years. So, in 2020, let's see, it was it was replaced in 2024 at the cost of the Bruins. Uh, even prior to this agreement, the Bruins paid for that. 2027 would be the cost of the U city of Austin to remove the ice and put it back in. And then 2030 would be the Austin Bruins once again. And then at that time, that would be the last time within this 5-year lease. Um, we estimate the cost and it's a good estimation to be about $23,000 when all things are said and done. Um, so that uh also is helpful to the city. The hourly rental rate for all ice times outside the game blocks for the lease

agreement was increased by 5%. Um, this adjustment aligns with the recent uh ice rental increase that we um implemented for all other user groups in the arena as well. Um, the Bruins shall provide public service announcements and video board messaging during games reminding fans to clean up after themselves prior to the conclusion of each game. um they've already implemented this and I will say that I uh I was at a game a month ago or so and saw this happen u multiple times through the game or announcers actually the the game announcer sitting right over there um and and so I followed up with staff and they do see they feel a difference in uh the garbage left in the stands after games u by those announcements. So we appreciate that. And then lastly, the Bruins shall provide at its sole expense a minimum of one licensed security guard and four additional uniformed security p personnel for each Bruins home game. Um, all required security personnel must be on site no later than 1 hour prior to the scheduled game time and remain on site until at least 30 minutes after the um conclusion of each game or the activity. Um, this was already in the contract. I think it was rewarded just a little bit. Um, but that's nothing uh really that new. Um, so in your packet is the Austin Bruins lease agreement with the the very last page would be a um basically a footprint of the arena and it shows the different areas and and and some of the areas that the Bruins utilize. Tonight, staff's recommendation is that council approve the approve and execute the 2026 to 2031 Austin Bruins lease agreement for the use of Riverside

Arena. The agreement would be effective June 1st, 2026. And I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Very good. Thank you, Jason. Appreciate the work on what you've done with this contract council. Any questions, Mr. Cih?

No questions, but a comment um or just a couple comments here. Number one, I think Jason, thank you very much. just really really good work putting this together. I I love the spirit of collaboration and partnership and know that between you and Stephen and Craig and a number of other folks that there was a lot of you know at staff a lot of time spent looking at all the details and making sure that we get something that is good for taxpayers, something that's good for the Bruins and something that's good frankly for the overall Austin hockey community. So thank you very much and I think really good leadership. You know, I think Brian from the Bruins, you know, I certainly think this is a wonderful deal for all involved and appreciate your partnership. You know, the Bruins have been in town for 15 years at this point and we want to make sure that they're in town for another 15 plus years because they are a wonderful community asset. And you know, as I think about what we put together here, I think this is a great example of public private partnership creating a sum that is larger than the addition of the parts. And you know, when you think about the fact that it's a net benefit to taxpayers, you know, the Bruins have been very clear that they are willing to invest in the community, that they're willing to invest in the arena, and I think the what you worked out where they're putting in even more than what the rent reduction is certainly shows that and should be commended to it. I think it's going to help us to advance Riverside Arena. And I think it was really good for us to be able to probably spell out some of those things that maybe were understood or misunderstood and now that we've got them in writing in terms of who's doing what when it drives clarity and I think that's going to help communication and partnership. So just overall really strong work. I'm very much in favor of this and I think it's a great public private example and thank you everybody for the work.

Good. Thank you Jason. I just want to add that the contract was reviewed and approved by the parks, recreation, and forestry board before it came to us. Perfect. Okay.

I'll add that um you know, agree with everything Jason said. I know there was a lot of folks working hard on this over the last few months. Everybody came to the table with, you know, good ideas, very open, honest dialogue. Um and and and I hope fans really um don't take that we have the Bruins for granted because unfortunately at the end of every season there's a story of a couple of teams who are moving to different cities and so the fact that we know that the Bruins are here for 5 years. They are in our community that represent the city well. Um I'd say the best way you could uh celebrate this is by go buying tickets and cheer them on because they just won the Central Division and they're going for the Robertson Cup again. So congrats, man. Thanks, Posty. Greg,

yeah, I was wondering if same thing with Mr. Potzma here, if the contract does require Central Division Championship or not. Hidden there somewhere. We got in the fine print. Good. Right on. All right. Thank you. All looking for a resolution approving the Bruins contract. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi, Council Member Waller. Hi, Council Member Baskin. Hi, Council Member Postma. I, Council Member Heli. I, Council Member at large Austin. I, Resolution passes 70.

Thank you, Bri. Item number nine is resolution approving the budget adjustment number two for uh, 2026 operating budget. Emily,

good evening, Mayor, Council. Tonight, staff asks for approval of resolution for budget adjustment number two for the 2026 budget. Included in this resolution are two items. The first one is electrical reciprocals for the amount of $1,675 uh to be taken from the contingency fund. This was approved during the January 5th, 2026 council meeting. The second item is the Yulan Brothers base bid with quartz west sidewalks and vinyl coated fencing in the amount of 30,000 from the building fund which was approved March 16th 2026 and we ask that you approve these adjustments.

Thank you Emily. Council any questions? Otherwise looking for resolution. So moved. Second. All in favor? I'm sorry it's a resolution. Sorry, Bri. Council member Obala, I. Council member Fischer, I. Council member Waller, I. Council member Baskin, I know. Hi, Council Member Posma. Hi. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. Hi. Resolution passes 70. Thank you, Bri. Item number 10 is a resolution approving the design services with WHKS for the 2026 sanitary sewer lining project. Stephen,

yes. WHKS has been uh assisting us for multiple years with our sanitary sewer system and we've identified different projects throughout the years that uh need to be implemented. This all goes back to when they completed uh an evaluation of our system where we had identified about $15 million worth of improvements in our system. So, we're continuing to work away, work toward that. And it again, it also really ties back into our INI program, eliminating groundwater infiltration into our sanitary sewer system. So, before you tonight is a proposal from WHKS in the amount of $ 38,300 to develop plans and specifications to line the sanitary sewer trunk main that is in the southwest part of town. It runs down 9inth Street Southwest, little section on 4th Avenue Southwest, and then south on 12th Street Southwest down by the fairgrounds. Um, uh, with that, we would recommend, uh, council approval for this contract to develop plans and specifications, put that out for bids. This is all part and identified in our 2026 CIP.

Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions on this item? Looking for resolution approving design services. So move. Second. Three, please. Council member Obala. Hi. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. Hi. Council member Postma. I. Council member Hely. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 70. Thank you. Item number 11 is approving an airport entitlement funding transfer from Wadina. Stephen.

Yes. The next two items are both very similar where we receive $150,000 each year in entitlement funds to you to use toward airport improvements. When we built our tea hangers, we borrowed money from other communities and then we kind of borrowed ahead essentially to give us the funds necessary to build the tea hangers. Now we are in the process of paying those funds back. So before you tonight are two entitlement transfers. One is for Wadina in the amount of $150,000. The second one is for the city of Gleno where we are actually borrowing them money that they will pay us back in the future. So that's a little breakdown on the next two items and I'd open it up for any questions on either one of those if you have any. Good.

Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions? Item number 11 looking for resolution. It's all moved. Second, Bri, please. Council member Obala, I. Council member Fischer, I. Council member Waller, I. Council member Baskin, I. Council member Posma, I. Council member Hely, I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 70.

Thank you. Item number 12 is resolution approving the airport entitlement funding transfer from Glen Co. Stevens. Anything further? Just different. Just the dollar amount is different on this one. Um, we owed them $2,280 from a previous transfer and then we are advancing them $75,000 which we will get back in the future. Okay, very good. Council, any questions on this item? Otherwise, look at the resolution. So move. Second. Roll call, please. Bri. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi, Council Member Baskin. I council member Posma. I council member Hely. I council member at large Austin.

I resolution passes 70. Thank you number 13 is resolution approving the change order number 11 for the wastewater treatment plant project. Stephen,

we reviewed this at the council work session. All of the information in your packet is the same as what was presented at the last work session. Uh these are change orders that we review with council on a quarterly basis. Uh jumping down to the charts for these projects, we have um a list of work change directives that total a cost to the domestic budget of $62,943 and a cost to the industrial budget of $57,649. When we look at all of our change orders to date over the course of the three-year project so far, we have um total of about 3,722,23.72 in change orders on the project. And that represents about a 3.72% um cost increase to the overall project budget. So unless there are any questions, well, we would recommend um approving this change order number 11. and I'd be open to answer any questions that you might have.

Very good. Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions on item number 13? Stephen, number change directive 113. Did that just get pushed to the next change order? Because I see that is correct. Okay. Thank you. All right. Looking for resolution approving the change order. So move. Second. Three. Council member Obala. I. Council member Fischer. Hi, Council Member Waller. I council member Baskin. I council member Postma. I council member Hely. I, Council Member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 70.

Thank you, Bri. The addition to our agenda is item number 14, a resolution approving a Mandot cooperative construction agreement. Mindat has been working on plans and specs for the sound wall that is planned to be located here in Austin on the south side of I90 just east of Fourth Street going to the Cedar River. In addition to that, they have also been working on the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Cedar River uh just north of I90 near Wildwood Park. So before you tonight is a cooperative agreement where the city of Austin would enter into this agreement with Mindot whereas we would pay for um associated costs. The costs that are identified in this agreement are all related to the soundwall. Um, if if you remember back, the city of Austin applied for and was successful in receiving a grant through the Greater Minnesota Standalone Noise Barrier Program. That grant identified that the local entity would be responsible for 10% of the soundwall construction cost and MINDOT would cover 90%. In previous meetings uh with the residents that are that benefit from the soundwall um council moved to fund of the 10% local portion council moved to fund 5% using tax levy dollars and 5% through assessments. We have not started that assessment process yet because we need to finalize the actual con the cost before we can start that assessment process. We'll be able to do that after the project is bid here in the near future. So we are kind of um advancing this agreement ahead of those assessment costs. When we when we

spoke about this project back in 2023, the estimates that we were receiving from Mindot was was that the local cost the overall project cost would be about a million and 10% of that or $100,000 would be our our local cost to split up. Since that time, using Mandot's best estimates, the cost has nearly doubled. So now our local 10% cost is around $200,000. Again 50% of that for our plan was that 50% would be funded through tax levy. The other 50% would be funded through assessments. So want to make sure that you're aware of that the current costs are running about 50% higher than we had spoke of 3 years ago. Um so that means increased local costs to both the city and our tax levy and also the local residents that are that receive the benefit from this um soundwall. Uh a little more note on that is that back in 202 when this project was approved and then in 2024 there was $50,000 set aside in that levy for what we estimated at that time to be our city contribution. We will now need to set aside another $50,000 or 51,000 and some odd change to meet our local contribution. And we will begin the assessment process for the property owners which will also receive assessment notices that are 50% or that are double what they had initially anticipated years ago. So that's kind of the the money side of it. What this agreement entails, it it deals with uh ongoing maintenance of both the sound wall and the pedestrian bridge. We would be responsible for minor maintenance on

the pedestrian bridge, very similar to what we do now with our trails, sweeping, snow removal, those sorts of minor maintenance items on the bridge portion. For the soundwall, we would be responsible for any maintenance on the residential side of the soundwall. So, if there happens to be graffiti that occurs on the soundwall, we would be responsible to remove that. If there's any brush or debris on the residential side, we again would be responsible to remove that. Because this is the backyard of many residential properties, I don't anticipate graffiti occurring in this area. So, I think that's a a low issue. Um there may be some brush, but again it's the backyard of of these folks. I anticipate they'll be mowing right up to it, things like that. So um those those maintenance items are pretty general, pretty standard for us. Uh the main thing really for council to consider tonight are those costs, how they are higher. Um this was rushed to us late last week. Um so it was late to the council agenda. I have not touched base with Mandot, but I believe this is there's it's time sensitive for review and approval of this because MDOT wants to ensure before they open bids that they have all the costs accounted for on a project like this. So, with that, I turn it back to council for any uh questions that you might have about this project. So, I already felt very strongly about the soundwall and didn't think that I could have any more intense feelings about it, but now to hear that we're on the hook for another uh big chunk of money, I am Yep. got even more intense feelings. Do we have any options, Stephen, or are we bound by the action that council took in 2023? Mindot

moved down a path based on that council action. They, you know, dollars were spent to get to where we're at today based on the action that was taken years ago. Um, I don't believe that precludes you from changing that decision, but it may have impacts on our relationship with Mandot if we backtrack on what we agreed to in the past. So, there's just that that that that point I would say. Yeah. We don't want to be a jerk to Mindot is what you're saying. Okay.

Yeah. I mean, I mean, obviously, we litigated this quite a bit a couple years ago. You know, I I'm not wild about it being more expensive. That being said, I mean, I do feel bound that we gave our word to Mindad. I think we gave our word to the residents that we would split the costs 50/50. You know, just like, you know, it cost us a little bit more. It's certainly going to cost them more from an assessment standpoint. You I still go back to it was it was necessary and it's something that I think will help protect and enhance property values. And so I have no issue continuing to approve it. Obviously would love if it wasn't as much, but kind of feel like we gave our word.

I wasn't a huge fan of it, but it passed and I made peace with that and I'm I'm hoping that the residents will appreciate it. Um, but my concern is are they aware of the cost doubling because for a lot of folks that might be tough? They are not. They are not because this is new information to all of us. Okay. And there's 11 of them assessed. Correct.

Um I have I have a question. So as you mentioned the resident are not aware. So is there a way we table this or or is there a timing until you talk to the resident and then when we approve it we just approve at once because maybe we get a push back from them. Um just a question for clarity.

Yeah. Yeah. there is a risk that you know anytime we have assessments there could be push back on those assessments. I think we talked about that even back when we did this originally we did some querying of the neighborhood. It wasn't unanimous even at that time but for the greater good that decision was made. Um I I do not know what if if council chooses to table this tonight to the to two weeks down the road. I I don't know what that does to MDOT's schedule. I'm sorry. I don't have that answer. Okay. I just think we locked in. We locked in in 2023. I'd hate to go back on it now. I kind of feel that way, too. I just

in favor of it, but here we are today. So, it's it's kind of a done deal. To approve it and move on. Yep. Okay. Looking for a motion on item number for was item 14 for approving the MDOT cooperative construction agreement. So moved. Second. Bri,

Council Member Obala. Hi, Council Member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. Hi. Council member Postma. Hi. Council member Hely. Nay. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 61. Thank you, Bri. Moving on to citizens addressing the council. Um looking for any citizens in the audience that are looking to speak to council. No, after you m you are sure. Absolutely. Brian, welcome. If you could, for the record, please, Brian, name and address.

Uh Brian Schultz, 1501 17th Avenue Southwest here in Austin. Uh I'm the president of business operations for the Austin Bruins, and I uh was here tonight obviously to to hear any questions, comments, and discussion about the uh new lease. I would just simply like to uh pass on our our uh profound uh respect and thanks to the great work that uh we we had and the the great communication that we had with uh park and rec director uh Jason Sehon. Um members of the council here today. I know we met at length uh members of the community that we've talked about. Uh extremely excited to be in Austin for another 5 years. Um and uh as as Mr. Baskin said, "We are uh we expect to be here for hopefully many generations to come and this is the first step in that uh to provide a a better facility and a better opportunity for all end users of Riverside. So, thank you very much. Appreciate it,

Brian. Thank you. You Thank you. All right, Miss Ryther. And we are going to uh I guess incorporate our two minute. We're going to give folks two minutes now. Address, please. DJ Highway 218. Are you in the city of Austin? Do you have a council member representative?

And and that was something I wanted to address today. Um I am a fifth generation wife of a a family farm here in Austin. I do live in Lancing Township. I did receive a letter from the city administration um representing the council as a whole. I was a little bit disappointed with that. I'm I'm a very outspoken advocate for community relations, responsibilities, keeping a safe community. I interrupt. We will give you we'll give you two minutes. So, it's I I appreciate that. Thanks for the extra 30 seconds.

I just wanted to follow up with uh where we were at with cleaning up the graffiti. I was hoping Holly would be here this evening. Um I have family that lives in Austin. my h my my my my husband's family was next door neighbors to the Hormone family for many many years and I just I feel incredibly disrespected to have received that letter. I feel it was slighted. I don't know if that is the stance of the entire city council board, but it's important that we have a community of integrity. It really is. Um, I know that people are asking for raises at a time when our city is really struggling. Um, I don't know that that's appropriate. Aside from that, I'm glad to see the Bruins commit to another five years. I've been privileged to serve not only the Bruins, but the uh opponents, which I'm very thankful for. thankful for all the work of parks and wreck. They do an amazing job. Our community has an excellent trails program. And also I am going to be hosting a my first goober national event. I am walking welcoming Gubber National candidates Rest Estrada and Joe Liberty Concaid down for our community to get to know some more of the the candidates that are running for office. Um, and I'm of course want the I want all parties to participate. We all live in the same community together. It's important that we all work together. Um, and I just going forward, should I not waste my time coming here, I really felt like I was I appreciate you letting me speak. I question if I would be allowed to speak.

And I've spoken in front of council since 2012 on very important issues, including issues that now we have cannabis businesses that are going to make a lot of money for our community and uh benefit a lot of people too. And uh I've been a very strong advocate on that as well. But um I just would I guess you can't answer that. Should I not come in?

You know, it's it's interesting. I've heard some at least one council member say that should we reward it? Does it should it say resident or property owner to speak? I don't know. You've sat through meetings. You're you work in the community. Not too crazy have opposed to that. I mean, you come, you participate. You have a voice, but it is uh also important to note that I wouldn't walk up to Minneapolis and expect them to hear me out on some issues wherever that city is. So,

no, I understand a little different because yeah, townships, but we just there there is a lot going on and and we do want to give you a chance to speak, but uh two minutes I think is fair. All the other entities, the county board and the school use the same time limit. So, I just would caution you just be sure it's somewhat um important to the city. I think they had some graffiti issues. So, certainly that's important to us. Absolutely. I I feel like all the issues I bring are important and I'll continue to come when it's appropriate. It's it's worded as member of the public to address. So, it's whether it's resident or property owner, it could be different, splitting hairs, but you sit through the meeting. So, I'm going to give you two minutes.

And I appreciate that. And I I am a uh we own properties within city limits. I'm not sure if anybody here is aware of that. I'm probably related to 20% of Austin. God bless you guys. I just again claim God over the city of Austin. It's important we maintain a civil structure. God bless you all and thank you for again the time.

DJ, to your point of the the letter that our administrator sent, it was more to the point of in order to get something that you were looking to get something on the agenda. In order to get something on the agenda, you just work with your your council member and then they would propose that you put it on the agenda that way. So, because you don't have a council member, it's difficult for you to put something on the agenda other than coming up here. So was that exclusively suggestive for specifically agenda because the way I interpreted it was I'm not welcome to speak here. I think we'll give you two minutes. It's we just can't give you a lot of time. We need two minutes to get your point across. So I appreciate but it was more for the how do you get something on the agenda letter and I appreciate that too. God bless your night everybody. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Uh Bri, you're going to do the uh closing up this one and we can take a fivem minute break. Look after we adjourn. Or Stephen we got some things here yet. Yeah, we got things yet to do. Um, reports and recommendations. I know Stephen has something. Uh, yeah, just Mr. Lang. Okay, Stephen.

So, construction season is here. We're starting to see orange barrels along the interstate that started to show up. So, I wanted to just talk about that a little bit. This is probably about a month earlier than we normally see construction in our community. So, uh, the Oakland Avenue project is planned to start this week. They will be we will be closing down a section of Oakland Avenue from 1st Street Northwest to just past 2nd Street Northwest. So near Taco John's. That'll be closing down this week. And then the remainder uh going up to 4 Street will be closed on Monday, April 13th. So, the first stretch um of phase 1 of 2026 is going to is beginning and that will be from again 1st Street Northwest to 4th Street Northwest on Oakland Avenue West. We will then um about it'll it'll take about a month to really get going there in that first three blocks. Then we will leaprog down to the kind of phase two which is from Fourth Street to A Street. And then finally um beginning probably in early July, we'll be working down 8th Street to 12th Street. So there'll be a great deal of work going on as we work through that project working from First Street Northwest and finishing up at 12th Street Northwest down by uh the Wescott Wescott Athletic Field. Um in addition to that, Mindot is starting work on the bridges in through Austin. So 21st Street Northeast over by the airport. That work is planned to start staging next week, the week of April 13th. The bridge demo is planned through the weekend, beginning Friday night, April 17th, and carrying through Sunday, April 19th. They will then uh begin work and and leaprog over to the 14th Street 218 North Bridge. the week of April 20th, they'll begin staging, setting up the detours, and demolition of the 14th

Street Bridge is planned for the weekend of April 24th through Sunday, April 26th. Um, and finally, the Cedar River Bridge over I90 that has a couple ramps closed with it right now. The plan for that bridge is to be open right before Memorial weekend, so right around the end of May. So when that bridge opens, traffic will get restored to westbound. Traffic will get restored across that bridge and those two ramps will open near the end of May. So a lot of construction getting started earlier than normal in Austin. So want to get that message out to residents and and everyone else that is interested. Also, I want to mention um we have for our street reconstruction program, we have a a text alert uh system that we are using. We there's a QR code available. We will be posting that to Facebook. So, if you want instant updates as things are coming up on whatever project it may be, sign in uh with that QR code and get registered for whatever project you're interested in. And that's a great way for us to get those notices out faster. We put notices out through the text alert, also through our Facebook site, and we have ongoing updates on our website as well. So, we encourage everyone to try to stay connected with the projects as they as they continue throughout the summer of 2026.

Thank you, Stephen. Appreciate the update. Greg, do you want to anything else? Uh, the uh House Tax Committee is uh having a hearing on our local sales tax option for the law enforcement center. That'll be held on the 16th. Uh, and then our CGMC had a board meeting on our housing uh provisions that are concern at the legislature that take away some of our local control. had a rather robust debate with the board on that today. Um they uh move forward with supporting a fallback position on what we'd find is tolerable. Um but the housing issue continues to be at the forefront in the closing days uh of the session as it moves forward. Good. Thank you. Uh on to council. Becky, anything?

Nothing. Jason? No. I think the only thing to um Stephen, is it any truth that we're going to have a helicopter program that we're adding that people can get from one side of the town to the other or is that something that we've got for next year? That is accurate.

Okay, fantastic. Good. I like it. Um no, I seriously thank you for the work that you and all the staff does. I know that this is construction season is a pain anyway. You add in the state and the federal dollars that have come in that have really concentrated everything together certainly is a pain. And I think all of us that drive around know it's a pain. Um I think what's comforting for me is the fact that we don't have to deal with it for another 70 years hopefully because most of the stuff is 70 years. So short-term pain for for long-term benefit. Um and then just the other piece is speaking of the legislature. Just a quick thank you to Representative Mueller and Senator Dornick. I know they stay very in contact with us as you know any of our local representatives do, but we certainly appreciate that they continue to take the time to hear our concerns and try to make sure that the voice of Austin and our surrounding communities are best heard at the um at the state legislature whether they're always listened to is probably a different story, but that's okay. So,

thank you, Jason. Thank I have nothing.

Uh nothing, your honor. I want to say congratulations to Patty Hamilton, uh the administrative assistant for parks, recreation, and forestry. She uh retired uh last year and and we wish her well and she will be missed. Uh I also want to highlight um that the uh parks department has been busy this winter um refitting all of our flower watering wagons with a water recapture feature. So, they're going to be able to recapture a lot of the water that's um draining out of the pots, which means that um sidewalks are cleaner and drier. Um but it also um means less of that fertilizer getting into our um storm water um sewer, which is good for the environment. Um and they'll have to go back and refill their water trucks less often because they're recapturing the water as they go. So, um, staying busy in the in the winter months. There's always something to do with parks. Um, now is the time to apply if you want to work for the park system over the summer. It's also the time to sign up for parks programming. Uh, I was just looking at the website. There are 196 youth opportunities um of parks programming of various sorts from um, uh, swimming lessons to nature center um, day camp and those kinds of things. Um and then finally, uh 4th Avenue Fest is set for Wednesday, June 3rd. It's our um arts, culture, and healthy living, uh summer kickoff that, uh we hold at Horus Austin Park. There'll be open swim. The library will be there. There'll be um uh lots of fun family activities to do and food trucks. So mark your calendar.

Thank you. Thanks, Laura Obala. um for more event um um Austin Human Rights Commission. Um last meeting uh we discussed the we heard the date for test of nation uh that will be hosting by parenting resource center. As of now the date is May 16 uh from 11 to 1:00 p.m. at Burnshelf. This is one of the great event that uh unite all the communities that um we celebrate the diversity we have in town. Come out on that day will be shiny or rainy. So we will all will join the test nation. Thanks Paul. Nothing here. Very good. All right. Uh looking for a motion to adjourn to our April 20th, 2026 meeting. So moved. Second.

All in favor? I opposed. We are adjourned and Bri will give you a shot to take a fiveminute break while she rewinds the tape and we'll start our work session.