City Council - Regular Meeting

It is 7.30. I will call the regular city council meeting for August 3rd, 2026 to order. We do have a quorum. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

All individuals are asked to either silence or turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that may disrupt the meeting. Approval of the agenda. Before we do that, we need to amend the agenda tonight. Under new business, we have to add item 9J, resolution 2036-35A, appointing election judges for all 2026 elections. Approve the agenda as posted and amended in accordance with the open meeting line. Herein place all agenda items on the table for discussion. What is the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion to approve.

Second. Motion by Council Member Glaze, second by Mayor Zilka. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Carries. Approval of minutes. Special work session meeting of July 20th, 2026, the regular meeting of July 20th, 2026, and the closed meeting of July 20th, 2026. Approve. What is the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion to approve. Second.

Motion by Council Member Goshek, second by Council Member Liljegren. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Carries. Approval of bills. Electronic checks 4378 through 4404 and checks 114728 through 114788 with void checks 114728 and 114730 totaling $715,999.84. Approve. What is the wish of the council? I'll make a motion to approve the bill. Second. Motion by Council Member Glaze, second by Mayor Zilka.

Any discussion? Mr. Council President, if I may, you know, we've been talking about beautification, and on one of the bills I noticed that we paid a gentleman for mowing lawns. I'd just like to thank Bryce for sending out letters and getting that taken care of. I'd just like to make that official.

Okay. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Carries. Awards, donations, presentations and proclamations. We have none tonight, so we'll move on to the consent agenda. On the consent agenda, we have The 2025 audited financial statement, receive. 2025 report to members of governance, receive. Airport commission meeting minutes, July 26th, 2026, receive. Application for exempt permit operation recon raffle, September 19th through 20th, 2026, approve. Economic Development Authority Minutes, July 27th, 2026, receive. Heritage Preservation Commission Minutes, July 6th, 2026, receive. Street Parking Signs, First Street Southeast, receive. Premise permit application, Minnesota Fishing Museum, Little Falls Market, approve. Purchase of 2004 Pierce Ladder Truck Fire, ratify and confirm. Temporary alleyway closing, Johnny C's and Lindy Scoop, September 11th through September 13th, 2026, approve. What is the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Second.

Motion by Mayor Zilka, second by Council Member Lundberg. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Carries. Public hearings and lettings. We have one, 2026 Street Pavement Marking Project. Sir Linesalot Streets, award.

Thank you. For that, the 2026 Street Pavement Marking Project, The city requests quotes for repainting some of the state-aid streets that have pavement markings are worn. These streets include Riverwood Drive, Riverview Drive, 6th Street Northeast, 6th Street Southeast, 16th Street Northeast, Lemire Street, Marianne Avenue, portions of 18th Street Northeast, and portions of 13th Avenue Northeast. portions of 8th Street Southwest, and portions of 6th Street Southwest. This work is to be included directional arrows, hashtag crossing, yellow center lines, and the white fog lines. Staff requested quotes from Sir Lines-A-Lot from Edina and Linescaping, or Linescape Lines Striping out of Pillager. The loan quote received was from Sir Lines-A-Lot, Edina, at a total cost of $16,987.05. Our engineers did estimate this cost at $33,153.45. The action to the council is to award the loan quotation of $16,987.05. This aligns a lot for Medina for the 2026 street pavement project. And that is charged to the improvement fund, and it is budgeted.

What's the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion to approve. Second.

Motion by Council Member Meyer, second by Council Member Liljegren. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Carries. Old business. We have resolution 2025-60B, 2026 fee schedule, special use vehicle permit fee, adopt. We'll go back to you, Sony, and Kyle.

Thank you, Council President. So as we discussed in a special work session, staff is requesting that the special use vehicle permit fee be set to $30 annually with a mid-year reduction to $15 starting July 1st. Permits are valid from January 1 to December 31st with the caveat of permits issued this year will be good through next year as this is our first year instituting this fee and permit.

What is the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2025-60B.

I'll second that.

Motion by Council Member Glaze, seconded by Council Member Lundberg. Any discussion? Hearing none, resolution call. Roll, please.

Lundberg. Yes. Liljegren.

Yes.

Meyer.

Yes.

Zilka.

Yes.

Canafla.

Yes.

Glaze.

Yes.

Hanson. No. Goshek.

Yes. Carey's. New business. First item is Policy 69, Rules of Conduct and Order, City Council Meetings, Update, Adopt. Alex.

Thank you, Council President. Before you, we have Policy 69, Rules of Conduct. We're just looking to update that so that we can be more current with the updated laws, best practices, and some legal guidances. The big parts of this is to update the standards with public participation, meeting decorum procedure and orderly conduct within city council meetings. So again, just kind of making sure that we're keeping up with what we need to and we're being clear and concise about the expectations during meetings.

What is the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion, policy 69. I'll second.

Motion by council member Ludgren, second by council member Gosiek. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Carries. Next item, Ordinance Number 64, Seventh Series, Amend City Code Chapter 10, Section 10.14, Disorderly Conduct. Introduce Alex.

Thank you, Council President. So along with that policy, we wanted to also update our code that also covers similar items with the disorderly conduct, specifically section 10.14. So again, this one updates and elaborates on decorum, what is expected, updating with some legal items and some general wording. So we're just looking to introduce the ordinance for that code update.

Do I have a motion to introduce? So moved. OK. Ordinance number 64A, 7th series, summary publication of ordinance number 64. Introduce. Alex.

Thank you, Council President. So this one is just that summary publication for the introduction of that ordinance.

What is the wish of the council? Do I have a motion to introduce? So moved. Motion to introduce by Glaze. Moving on, ordinance number 65, seventh series, authorized sale of property. Jessie L. Peterson, introduce. Alex.

All right, thank you, Council President. So we have a... Ordinance for a purchase agreement. This particular parcel is located next door on our lift station just down the road. This was brought to council for discussion a few months back. The property owner next door just wants to expand out their lot a little bit. Council gave the green thumb to get all of that through. So we're looking to introduce the ordinance for sale of that property. The dollar amount will be $6,349.50.

Do I have a motion to introduce? I'll introduce. Motion by Council Member Goshek. Ordinance number 66, seventh series, authorized sale of property. Sean McClure, introduce. Alex.

Thank you. So we've got another parcel of land as discussed with council recently. Since 371 was moved and now next to Haven Road, the city had acquired additional land that we really aren't using. Uh, council directed us to ask the, uh, adjoining adjoining parcels if they would like to extend out their property. So this is one of those properties. The land sale would be $1,093 and 20 cents. So we're looking to introduce the ordinance for that.

Do I have a motion to introduce? So moved motion by mayor Zuka. Okay. ORDINANCE NUMBER 67, 7th SERIES, AUTHORIZED SALE OF PROPERTY, DALE RECKSTEAD. INTRODUCE, ALEX.

AND JUST LIKE THE LAST ONE, SAME THING WITH A SMALL PARCEL OF LAND THAT WAS FROM 371 MOVING. THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL IS SMALLER WITH THE SALE PRICE OF $255.24.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE? SO MOVED. MOTION BY MAYOR ZILKA. Okay, moving on. Resolution 2026-44, committing to certain financial obligations of the sewer utility in connection with federal and state funding for the wastewater treatment facility improvement project. adopt Sony.

Thank you. Council president for resolution 2026 dash 44 as discussed in the special work session. We were asking that council agrees to set the sewer utility rate adjustments to 2.5% for the next five years and allow the city to use cash reserves of $170,000 in 2027 to provide positive cash flows for our sewer fund. in conjunction with receiving a large Minnesota Public Facilities Authority loan for our phase two of the wastewater project. The request is that the council approve or adopt the resolution.

What is the wish of the council?

I'll move to adopt Resolution 2026-44. Second.

Motion by Councilmember Lundberg, second by Councilmember Glaze. Any discussion?

Yes, Council President. How many phases of this wastewater project do we have?

I believe it's only two.

I was under the impression that this was like the Cadillac of wastewater treatment facilities and it was all said and done, but maybe I was mistaken.

I was not here for phase one, so I can't help it.

I get that, but this just seems to be like...

an ongoing deal i guess like it's a money pit isn't it as i understand it um phase one was some needed updates and they wanted some time after phase one to see how it worked and any things that needed to be adjusted for phase two so it could be further honed in and also space out that cost any other discussion hearing none resolution call roll please

Yes.

Meyer?

Yeah.

Zilka?

Yes.

Canafla? Yes. Glaze? Yes. Hanson? Yes. Goshek?

Yes.

Lundberg? Yes.

Carries. Next item, resolution 2026-45, declare certain property excess property and calling for the sale disposal thereof. Sony?

Thank you, Council President. Regarding Resolution 2026-45, staff is requesting that the 1997 American LaFrance 75-foot ladder truck be declared surplus. A replacement ladder truck was purchased last month, and staff is requesting Council adopt Resolution 2026-45.

What is the wish of the Council?

I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 2026-45. Second.

Motion by Council Member Hanson, second by Council Member Goshek. Any discussion? Hearing none, resolution call. Roll, please.

Meyer.

Yes.

Zilka.

Yes.

Canafla.

Yes.

Glaze. Yes. Hanson.

Yes.

Goshek.

Yes.

Lundberg. Yes. Lildren.

Yes.

Carries. Next item, summary of closed City Council meeting of July 20th, 2026. City Administrator Performance Evaluation Affirmed. I'll turn that over to you, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. On July 20th, 2026, the City Council held a closed meeting to evaluate the performance of Alex Smith. In accordance with the governing law, the City is required to summarize the conclusions of the evaluation of the performance of Alex Smith reached by the City Council at the June 16th closed meeting. Miss Smith did not request that such meeting be open to the public. As a result, the evaluation of Alex Smith's performance took place in a closed meeting as provided by the Minnesota Open Meeting Law. As Mayor of the City of Little Falls, I will now provide a summary of the conclusions reached by the City Council from the July 20th closed meeting regarding the performance evaluation of Alex Smith. Alex has met and exceeded expectations as city administrator in key areas including communication, leadership, and vision, problem solving, and decision making, council relations, and transparency, and accountability. The City Council encourages Alex to continue pursuing growth and development within Little Falls. We sincerely appreciate her dedication and service to the city and look forward to continuing a productive working relationship focused on ongoing improvement of the Little Falls community. Thank you, Alex.

And thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. I appreciate working here. It's been quite an adventure so far and lots to come.

Good luck. Thank you. Next item, resolution 2026-35A, resolution appointing election judges, 2026 elections. And I'll turn it over to Alex.

Thank you, Council President. So with this, we're just looking to adopt a resolution adding seven additional election judges for our upcoming primary. This will also be good for the general election later this year. We want to make sure that all of our three precincts are staffed appropriately for those levels.

What is the wish of the council?

I'll make a motion to adopt. Approve. Second.

Motion by Council Member Meyer, second by Council Member Hanson. Any discussion? Hearing none, resolution call. Roll, please.

Zilka?

Yes.

Canafla? Yes. Glaze? Yes. Hanson? Yes. Goshek? Yes. Lundberg? Yes. Lildgren? Yes. Meyer?

Yes. carries. Do we have any announcements?

I have a question about what we were discussing earlier about the pickleball courts. What are we going to do now?

That's been turned over to staff. They will discuss that, get more information on that. contact the Pickleball people and then bring that information and invite the Pickleball people to come to a special session and discuss it at that time. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So at this time, we're going to be moving into a closed meeting, and the agenda item is a closed meeting for labor negotiation strategy under Minnesota Statute 13D.03. This portion of the meeting will be closed under such statute. I will now entertain a motion to close this portion of the meeting.

I'll move to close this portion of the meeting.

I'll second. Time closed is at 7.49. The City Council will now go into closed session here in the City Council Chambers. Only the City Council and designated officials may attend the closed session. So at this time, I have to ask all our visitors to leave.

I didn't know who she was. I know him.