City Council - Regular Meeting

So, city city city council agenda for February the 17th. Um, it's 5:30 in the council chambers. The first item is a invocation. We call upon Dale Hexom of Good Sheeperd Church. And we will follow that with the pledge of allegiance. If you care to stand, let us pray. Dearly Father, we thank you for this day that you have made. We rejoice and are glad in it. Lord, we thank you for the blessing it is to live in this country, a country with freedom and rights and privileges. Forgive us when we take those freedoms and rights for granted. And forgive us when we use those freedoms and rights only for our own good and not for the good of our neighbor. Lord, tonight we pray for our leaders, leaders at the national level, leaders at the state level, and leaders of our city who are meeting here this evening. We pray that their discussions and their decisions would be pleasing in your sight and that the the plans that they make would be for the benefit of this community and its people. Lord, we pray that you would bless this city and that we would be a blessing to others. And we thank and we ask all this in the name of our savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all and justice for all.

We'll call this meeting to order. Um, we have no virtual attendees, I think. Not yet. So, um, roll call, please. Here. Fish absent, unless we can here. Here, here indicate. [clears throat] All right. The first item on the agenda is the open forum. It's a time to address items of city business that are not on this evening's agenda. Would anybody care to um speak?

You state your name and the city in which you live. I'm here. I'm here. Welcome. My name is Jonathan David Cordamone of Fergus Falls. If you like my address, no, we just need to know you're from Fergus Falls.

All right. Member of the community of Fergus Falls. I am here first to say this is easy. This is easy. Like, it's really easy to be a to be a part of this community. Really is. It's safe. It's clean. It's happy. And I appreciate you. And I commend some of you that volunteer in some ways their time. There's plenty of people in here that do. Thank you. Yep.

All right. I'm here today to petition you, the council, and your honor, to motion for summary judgement of the testator, Jonathan D. Cornone. This on the results of a litmus test and the merit of those results. Do you follow? [snorts] An application for a corrected title by deputy 11 has been filed and as witness by an expert of professional status. If tax reform is your preference, I can assist you in that due process. I am here to grow the tax base and contribute to the tax base. And I suggest for the peutimary case differentiation of the estate property by conditional sale. You understand the difference after applicable city, county, state and royalties shall be returned by the magistrate. Your honor, I will say I will not step in your place. And I will say I will not step in your place. Nothing is free. Not even you. You understand some of your decisions? Who you've been kissing? And I liked it. I liked it. Your hair looks better up, Fergus Falls. Your hair looks better up. Thank you to my friend, Miss G. Any questions?

No. All right, I'm going to ignore that part. Okay. Thank you, Mr. T the voice is beautiful. It was so beautiful. It was majestic. Like this story. I'm going to take my time. All of you to give Cap the evidence. Of this case. Thank you. No,

you're a military officer. You're a military officer. Y Thank you for informing me of the application. If you could I came here for I came here for a military a military judgment, but since I'm not getting that, I'm just taking my time. It's World Cup 2026, baby. Hey, I think your time is up. Thank you very much for your comments and we'll catch you later. To all of you that promote the city of Fergus Falls, especially your phone. Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you, Jonathan. You need any more evidence? I got right. The next item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Um, any new items must be stated and approved by unanimous vote. Would somebody care to make that motion? I'll offer that. I'll second. Thank you, Laurel. Laura, and thank you, Laurel. Your honor, do it again. I would like to make um for the record on the military. Do not approach. You do not approach the council. Military evidence. Yeah.

And we have a motion and a second, Mark. So, um we have to see if for discussion. I would like to uh request under new business that the council be able to uh individual council members be able to add or assist the future agendas.

Matter of discussion today I think we'd be better off having that on the committee of the whole on Wednesday. Thank you. Thank you. And with that, all those in favor say I. I. I.

All those against same sign. Hearing none. The agenda is approved. The next item on the agenda is the public hearings for um preliminary costs on public improvements 5966, 5964, and 5967. Um I think uh more engineering are going to present these and they're going to go through um these u collectively at the same time and then it'll come back to council to basically you know vote on on them. But um Kyle has turned the podium around so that he can address those people in the audience rather than having his back to to them as this is about you as much as it's about us. So with that um Kyle will uh cover cover that. So the public

All right. Thank you. Yeah.

Okay. So just kind of the the legal process here is um we have a public hearing and improvement hearing tonight. Uh we do have three projects that we're going to talk about and and we do we are going to do separate hearings for each one of those processes. So, we are going to go through each one. We'll talk about the Cavor project first. We'll talk about the Cleveland project second. And we'll talk about the Douglas project third. Uh so, I'll go through a a short presentation of of the improvements and what we're looking at doing. And then we'll give you an opportunity to come up and address the council or talk about or ask any questions if you would like to do that. So, um we'll go ahead and get started. So on cavor uh on the screen we'll have some information for you. So uh here on a project on cavore we're going to be doing uh the section of cavore from Union Avenue uh to Cascade Street and then on Mill and Court Street from Cavor down to Lincoln Avenue. the projects themselves. What we're going to be doing is we just have a cutout here of the actual plans. Uh if you look at this uh this section, we'll be able to see what we're doing here, but essentially it will be the same throughout the entire project, but essentially we we will be replacing everything uh from building to building or right ofway to right ofway. Uh so what that means is uh the uh utility is underneath the street. So the water man, sanitary sewer and storm sewer will be replaced with new pipes that will include uh also services uh up to each additional building uh or to the right of way with the services. So the water and sanitary services will be replaced new as well.

We will put all new sidewalk, curb and gutter and asphalt street uh on the project. So uh everything again will be will be brand new uh as well as driveways uh in these areas. So uh essentially everything new and new. The if you look at that drawing the one thing we are doing with Kavor is Kavor today is a very wide street. So we don't need it to be that wide. We are going to narrow that down uh a little bit which will still provide parking as well as driving lanes on the road. Uh so that hatched area uh if you look on this plan here, this the hatched area in between the sidewalk in the street will be a boulevard. It will be uh typically like any other boulevard in town with with grass uh there. So there will be a little bit of extra space in between the the curb and gutter and the sidewalk where today it's just sidewalk right to curb and gutter. Okay. Give you a little bit of information on the schedule. Uh week and a half ago, we had a uh open house uh here at the council chambers where we invited everyone in to come in and just look at the project and see what was going on. Uh had a few people attend that. and then the public hearing tonight. Our plans and specifications are uh have been sent into uh state aid for approval. This is a state aid road so we have to get approval from them and then looking to bid this project in March and April. construction then starting around May June substantial completion uh October November time frame and then the final lift of asphalt on next summer. So uh what that means is

we'll leave that final lift of asphalt off. Typically we like to do that so if there's any settlement or anything when we do that final lift a year later after we get a freeze thaw cycle we get a much better product. Um during construction, uh just so everyone knows, uh we will have access on the street during construction. It will be gravel or dirt. The contractor will be required to maintain that access. So, uh people can get through and drive on and get to the businesses. Uh there will be times as they're digging right in front of maybe a driveway or a business where uh we won't have access for an hour or two, but we'll try and uh keep communication uh with all of you throughout that process so you know exactly what's happening and when. Okay. Go through the cost of the project. So total project cost is just over $3.1 million to have everything completed. And when we break this down, it's broken down into streets uh just about 1.7 million, storm at 4544,000, the sanitary sewer 451,000, and water main just under 520,000. Now, what that means is uh and and one of the reasons we're here tonight is because city policy is we assess a portion of the street uh that that uh is on the project. So, uh in this scenario, uh the special assessment uh of the street is about $530,000. So, that is the part that's being assessed to the uh benefited areas within the project area. the remainder of that gets paid through funds through the city or bonds through the city.

So assessments uh the city has a policy that they utilize to go through assessments uh because this is a commercial area. The city covers the center 17 ft of the project. That's the portion that they pay of the street and then the remainder of that street width is uh paid through special assessments. Uh when we look at special assessments, uh we look at the abunded area to the project and that's how we we determine which uh residents or businesses are being assessed. And that uh and then we look at your front footage, essentially the width of your lot or the length of your lot to see what uh that uh front footage is to be assessed towards the project. So we went through the project area uh went through all the front footages and we come up withund about $170 a front foot. So then that's uh calculated to your front footage is what your total uh estimate or total assessment would be. Okay. So that's um what we'll go through. We'll turn the mic around and give you an opportunity if anybody wants to come up uh talk about the project or have any questions or comments.

So, we'll open the public hearing on Kabore. If anybody in the audience this evening wishes to ask a question specifically on Kavore, um come up to the mic, state your name and address, and uh Kyle will do his best to answer the question. [snorts]

I see nobody's excited to come up tonight. So, we will close the public hearing and move on to uh Cleveland. All right. Moving on to the next one. So information will be very very similar. Uh we'll run through that. Um so as you can see here the project constraints for for Cleveland Avenue are going to be um let me get to the right page from Calvin Street to Union Street. And again, uh, the project essentially is the same as what we just talked about with Cavore. Uh, again, infrastructure being replaced, all of the utilities underground, sanitary sewer, water, main, storm sewer will be replaced. Uh, as well as then when we put the street back again, all new curb, gutter, and asphalt uh, being replaced. Uh in this area we will be putting additional sidewalk on the east side of the

west side of the road.

So this is an area today where on the west side of the road there is not continuous sidewalk through the project. So we will uh try to have a contiguous sidewalk through the project. So we are looking at uh installing new sidewalk on the west side uh through those uh three blocks of work. and as well as uh driveway aprons and driveways that would be disturbed by the project. So um all new uh work there. Okay. Again on the schedule uh for Cleveland. So again a week and a half ago we had a open house where people were here to uh go through uh the project and ask questions. Tonight is the improvement hearing. Again this is a state aid road as well. So we have uh we have approval and and plans into state aid for their approval. looking to bid here shortly, March and April. And then the assessment hearing, April, May, and again, construction starting around the end of May into the early part of June with substantial completion uh August and September. Again, the go the goal on this one is to get it done before have the completion date done before school starts because we are right up against the school property on this project. and then again having the final lift core next summer. Total project cost uh just under $3 million. Uh the road cost at 1.3, storm sewer 532,000, sanitary sewer 490,000 and water man at 647,000

and then going back up. So, this this road is going to be a heavier road, a 9-tonon road. Um, but because it's a a residential area, uh you will only be assessed per a five ton road. That's the way the assessment policy is. So, uh that comes out to about $46,000 that will be assessed to the adjacent property. Again, this is a residential area. So, this uh is a little bit different than a commercial area. So, in this area, the city will cover the center 9 ft of the road and then the remainder of the road width will be assessed to the residents. Again, the the footage uh will be looked at a budding footage and uh again, if you're if you if you are on a quarter lot, they will look at the the short side or the long side. Um if the if you're on a corner lot where where both is being done, you would be assessed the long side of the of the lot. uh this estimated linear foot on this portion of the project would be $135 a foot. So again, that would be the portion that would be assessed per again up to comments.

Your honor, real quickly, Kyle, just want to for clarification sake, at the top of your presentation, you you mentioned the boundaries being Kelvin to Union. That's actually for the Douglas project. Oh, I'm sorry. So on Cleveland, it's Franklin defer just so the Franklin defer clarification. Thank you. Yep. So that we'll open the public hearing. If anybody in the audience wishes to speak, uh please come to the podium, state your name and uh residency and we'll do our best to answer the question.

Sure. My name is Dean Lee. I live here in Fergus. Just got a couple questions. The sidewalk, will it go from Cleveland all the way to F on that west side? Correct. Yep. So it currently goes up to uh did you want to come to the the mic just to speak? Yeah. Other p people at home can't hear you. So yes, currently the sidewalk goes to Beach Avenue and then the plan is to continue that on from Beach all the way to Fur. What is the standard space from the street to the beginning of the sidewalk and then the back of the sidewalk?

Can you state that question again? What is the dis the distance the standard distance from the curb to where the sidewalk will begin to where the back side of the sidewalk will end? Yeah. So with this project um there are two different sections that are going in with that sidewalk. Um the existing section I believe is about 8 feet from the back of curb to the face of the walk and from beach to fur the sidewalk is actually abudding the back of curb. Okay. Will you remove or relocate power poles that are directly on the way? Correct. That would be the plan. Yep. Okay, that's all I need. Thank you. Thank you. Any other further comments or questions?

Can I bring a comment from this side? I think it comes back to the council, doesn't it? Yeah, it'll come back to the council for comments. Smooth that and move on to the uh Douglas project. All right. Uh Douglas project. Now we're doing the project on Douglas from Calvin to you. Mhm.

All right. Uh so that will be uh where we're where we'll be doing the work. Again, uh same type of improvements that we've talked about on the previous two projects. All the underground utilities will be replaced. All of the uh sidewalk, driveways, and all curb and gutter and asphalt will be replaced. Again, SK schedule is similar. Uh open house uh last week and a half ago, public improvement hearing tonight. uh finalizing PR plans here in February. This road is not a state aid road. So we will not be getting approval from them. Uh looking to open bids in March, April with the assessment hearing in April and May and again construction starting in May with substantial completion in August and September and then we will put the final lift the following year. Total project cost uh on Douglas is uh 2,225,000 900,000 of which is streets 376 storm sewer [clears throat] 386,000 sanitary sewer and 560,000 on water main and the portion that will be assessed is about 451,000 and again uh assessments this is a residential area so same as the previous project city will cover the uh center 9 ft. Uh the remaining will be assessed and again assessed on front footage and the assessment per front foot based on the cost and the footage on the project is $188 a front. So again we will open up to public comment. K, did you just wanted to say why we're doing Douglas now? Because

it's kind of so we don't destroy it when we do kind of union. Yeah. So, just so everyone's aware, um, a few things on the CIP, one of the projects that we have, um, upcoming would be from on Union Avenue from essentially the three-way stop to just beyond Douglas. And so part of the reason we are prioritizing Douglas Avenue right now is so that the construction traffic that ultimately has to travel on Union doesn't drive over a brand new street. And so we've decided to move this one forward so that we can have it completed before we continue with those improvements. Thank you.

So if anybody in the audience wishes to speak on this project, please come forward and state your name and we'll do our best to answer the question. Hi, my name is Cindy Johnson. Um, I live on a corner of Douglas and Oak wondering, okay, my Douglas side is the short side, but the oak side is the long and it's really long. And I'm just wondering, I mean, our taxes are already so stinking high. I'm already thinking I'm going to have to move. This is like becoming almost the clincher as such. And so that being said, what are you talking about when they say it'll be put on it can be put onto your tax your you know property tax? What kind of a percentage are we paying more? So I know okay how much is my property tax going to be going up

right? So if you whatever your total assessment is um there will be a time frame when you can pay the total assessment. Can we talk to them cuz we know this. Can we talk to them? [laughter] So there there will be a time frame uh where you could pay your total assessment in full. If you don't pay your total assessment in full, then it goes on your uh taxes. And it doesn't go on taxes. We bill annually.

Okay. We bill annually, but we we we spread that out over 15 years and then we charge whatever the bond rate is plus a percentage. So we're estimating today around 7%. Uh is the calculation we've been using. Uh that would be assessed annually.

Okay. And then my other qu my other question is okay right now we don't have sidewalks. My husband was very proud of the fact that we had no sidewalks and he used to be building inspector for city and I'm wondering are you guys going to put sidewalks there because that's another issue that I don't like. I don't want sidewalks because it means having to shovel and I mean I'm getting older. I already have to Yeah. So I'm just like wondering.

Sure. Yeah. So, to answer the question, um, currently you're right, there are portions of sidewalk on Douglas Avenue. It's kind of hit or miss throughout the whole area. The intent with this project would be to put sidewalk on the south side to make connectivity between that entire area to get to the school um, just down Union. So, the plan is to install one continuous walk on the south side. On the south side. Okay. Correct. That's fine. [laughter] But no, but what about Okay, so the south but I would be paying for the Douglas amount for my crop. I wouldn't have to worry about my this side at this time. That is correct. Yeah. Y your corner abutment,

right? Yep. Yeah. And we're not doing any work down the side road, so it's just the Okay. Thank you. the road. Any other questions? If not, we will close the public hearing and uh bring it back to the council. Um the council have any questions of Kyle? Are you going to take each uh one at a time? I don't have any questions on Kavar. Any anybody on questions on Kavore? Going once, going twice. Yes, [clears throat]

Mark. Why is it being narrowed? The reason it's being narrowed is it really doesn't have to be that wide. And so when you look at the cost of what it is today versus what it really needs to be. I mean, we have we have we need the driving lanes, right? We want parking on either side of the street. We were able to narrow narrow it down and still be able to pro provide that. Here's where I'm going, Kyle. [cough] Rather than parallel, how about diagonal parking? Would that street handle that on one side? That's an interesting idea. And instead of both sides, correct?

And narrow it further? No, don't narrow it and just allow uh diagonal parking on one side for additional parking.

So, I can address that. Theoretically, yes. Um, when it comes to diagonal parking, the thing you got to take into account in this whole stretch, there's a lot of driveway access. Um, when it comes to fire hydrants, driveway access, stop signs, stuff like that, there's a lot of setbacks when it comes to state aid requirements for how close you can be with diagonal parking. And so, by the time you could fit some in there, um, but I don't think you'd quite see the benefit or ultimately I think you would lose parking if you were to try and go there. Um, I can certainly get an exhibit put together to show you what something like that would look like. Um, but it would be difficult to fit a substantial amount of diagonal parking on that stretch.

And you're talking the the north side or the south side? Either side. You would fit more on the north because you only have a h handle there. But the thing you got to take into account on that side is stop signs again. Then you have the driveways that you have to stay back from, fire hydrants that are on that side, stuff like that. So you we just have to take into account because it is a state aid road, we do have to be very specific with our parking on that street. I appreciate that, but I'd like to see uh a quick scratch quick sketch. You I have a follow-up question if that's okay. So if we're going to boulevards here, has it been communicated or has there been feedback from these business owners that have had no lawn care to do that they're getting grass?

The only communication we've had is just with at the public hearing. Okay. Whose responsibility would it be to mow the grass? I mean, this is going to be a bunch of businesses that aren't doing lawn care that now aren't getting lawn care out of this deal, right? Great point.

Any other questions on Kabal? It'll still run north and south or east and west. No, I'm just kidding.

Um, with that, um, we need a resolution to approve the plans and specifications and authorizing the bids for PI 5966. Would somebody care to make that? I'll offer that. Thank you, Scott. Would somebody care to second it? Thank you, Al. Um, roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

The resolution is approved. The next item obviously is a resolution for the plans and specification authorizing for bid 5964, which is Cleveland Avenue. So, any any questions on Cleveland? And then we'll call for the resolution. [clears throat] questions or comments?

Yep. I've got a comment or question. I guess at the public hearing, we talked a little bit about the sidewalk situation on Cleveland. And I went up to take another look at that after our conversation. And uh as I understood, as you described for me, the plan is to have the the current plan is to have the sidewalk essentially right at the curb running for those three blocks on the west side of Cleveland Avenue. And the rationale is especially because of the grade of some of the homes there, there's some steep grades and whatnot. And to try and accommodate for that with the way the driveways would come in and whatnot, setting the sidewalk back from the street was going to create some real issues, especially for some specific homes in the driveways. It seems to me though that those issues are specifically between Beach and Cherry. And I can see where it would really be an advantage to have the sidewalk on that block right up against the street. And it would be really expensive and really disruptive to back it away on that block. But further north, the next two blocks, I don't believe it would be an issue going back,

you know, back like it typically is with a boulevard. And I think that uh there would be some advantage to revising or at least having an alternate in the plan to have the sidewalk back with a boulevard on those two blocks to the north. And the and my rationale for that and as we discussed at the open hearing was that typically what we find with with sidewalks that are right against the road, you'll see it all the way around Lake Alice in many cases. In the winter time, the sidewalks are basically useless. They get buried with snow. people park on them summer and winter and so unless there's a really good curb um having the sidewalk right against the road I would say is not an advantage but uh due to the complexity of that one block I can see where you know we probably have to live with it there

any other comments just a comment on the 1200 block of Cleveland 1209 to be specifically um because I used to mow that hill when I was a kid and that hill kind of comes right down to the to the curb. I mean, it's drastic right there. What are you going to do on the back side of that on the west side of that? Are you just going to cut it back and angle it? So, this is the block I was talking about. That is the intent and that's why on that block we're looking at pulling it right to the back of curb to give us the most grade so we can really smooth out the yard so it isn't hopefully quite as drastic as that. It's the one I'm thinking of getting basically gentlemen. It's good. The people going to come straight down

and um I wish you had done it 50 years ago when I was mowing that. So, thank you. Um the other thing I would want to ask you is that down over on Cleveland more towards Franklin that street I believe widens on the side of the hill there where they have the soccer field. Is that still going to be a little wider down there? You're not going to narrow that, are you? Correct. So, okay. Yeah. Kids getting on the cars. Yeah. I need question.

Kind of along the same lines there. Um, are we looking at any traffic control like warning signals for crosswalks for Cleveland or anything for school access or is that something that we've talked with the school kind of like Adams has on Union? Is that being looked at? And then my other follow-up question is is some feedback I've gotten from people that have experienced projects in the past where the yards have had to be affected or gotten retaining walls out of projects that we've done have not necessarily felt as well communicated with as maybe do they get some other contact on top of a letter so they know that there's some things happening with retaining wall. I think that's an important PR thing that we should be doing if we're dealing with changes to people's yards and adding retaining walls. Um, I'll address the first one. We have not looked into uh safety measures beyond and above putting sidewalk in, which in and of itself is is a very good safety measure, especially in this area since there is not the current sidewalk. Um, certainly something we can look into. Um, but we have not to date. Um, to address the second part, um, we can look into options for areas. Our plan right now is not to put any retaining walls in. There are retaining walls on the project. um they are on private property and so our intent is not to disturb those um but if we find an area where that is a potential issue we can certainly figure out how to reach out to them and and discuss that you

just one more question I Franklin there where that road widens yes what is the difference on that how much wider is it than the norm than if I recall it's about 5 to six feet okay somewhere [laughter] in that range so they had redone that back in like 2003 don't quote me on that year but they had it narrow and then they widen it out to a 40ft wide road. Again, that's your standard 12T lanes, 8ft parkings. We are planning to match that and bring it the rest of the way down. Would it be advantageous to make that wider down there? Cuz it gets a little busy. Yeah. Something to consider.

Yeah. Any any other questions regarding Cleveland? I think there's validity to what uh council member Kramer just said when kids are getting I mean when soccer practice and all these things are going on on that road and doors are open and kids don't necessarily like staying right next to mom and dad right next to the car door. I I mean I I think there's validity to looking at that. We can do that. Just for what it's worth. The part that's wide goes as far as Franklin and narrows south of that. And the project scope is only from Franklin North. And so to add any additional widening of the road to the south is beyond the scope of this project as it's currently laid out.

With that, would somebody care to make the resolution to approve the Sorry, Al. Thank you, Al. I'll second. Thank you, Scott. Um, roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The resolution is approved. The next item is a resolution regarding the specs advertising for project PI5967 Douglas Avenue. The council have any questions of Kyle [clears throat] for this particular one. I have one. Why is this one so much higher per square foot? There's no state aid.

Is that what what it comes down to? That is well let's I'll I'll let Josiah give you the technical answer. Okay. So uh yes you are correct. This one is higher per square foot. So the big thing with that is right the assessment policy is for residential street. City covers center 9 ft. Beyond that the resident covers the remaining portion of that roadway. Now in this case we got a geotechnical engineer to come in do soil borings and they determined that a 5 ton section is thicker than what we would normally do. And so what that means is we have about 2 in of pavement more on that street section than we would normally do. So that drives that price up. Any any other questions?

Yes, your honor. Thank you. Uh this might help uh this might be directed to Bill. Uh these three projects are moving ahead. Uh when is the bonding placed? That being 26 or 27? [clears throat]

So after we um get bids in, decide if you accept those bids and that's when you'd move forward with the project. So at that time we [clears throat] get bids in bids in we'll have to put a financing package together um to look at you know going out for bonding. We've shared all that is, you know, we looked at the CIP plan and how much would be bonded. But again, then we would put together a bond issue that encompasses all three of these projects. Um, you'll also we probably want to address um the alternate for the alleys too here tonight because we want to add that in the bid, right? Correct.

Um because then we want to put that in as well too, the alleys up here. So it can go with Kavor as an alternate and then that comes back to you as a council. So, we put that package together and we would issue bonds this summer now or you know as soon as we have a project rolling then we can issue bonds and then of course those first levies come on one year later for the 2027 budget.

Where I'm going with this is the later we bond the better it is going to be. you know, if interest rates fall another half a point, 3/4 of a point or a point, as we move into fall of 26, winter of 26, it's going to be a much better rate in my crystal ball looking out 12 months. So, with that being case, uh, the bonding concerns that we have for the people who put this on, if you will, their assessment, uh, that 7% could be considerably less. So, the 7% that Kyle mentioned tonight, that's the highest the rate can be. I understand.

Um, but I want to point that out so that everyone knows that as well. 7% we set that at this preliminary cost hearing as the highest. Now, at the final cost hearing when the bids are in, bring that to you. Then we would set that interest rate and that would be set at that time. I expect it to be less. Um, you know, hopefully it's somewhere in five something instead of seven. Um, we'll see when we get there, but then we would work with our bonding people and say, what are 15-year geo bond rates right now? And then we set 2% above that rate to cover administering the assessment project. So, we would set that at that time. And once it's set, then that is set and levied at that time. Now, we would want to work with our bond consultants, you know, because we don't have a crystal ball. Yeah, we think they may come down too much, but we'll want to make a good choice on that when we get the bids in and see where we're at. So,

I'm a certified interest rate. That's good because I'm not. [laughter] Yeah. I mean, we don't have to make that decision tonight. I'm just trying to figure out how far we can push the bonding on these projects. Yep. you have the if we are comfortable. We'll deal with that later, but you do have the ability to push it if you decide to as a council. Um, but we we'll just we'll make a smart decision about that. So, this will all come back when we get the bids. I understand. Thank you. [clears throat] Would somebody care to make the resolution regarding Douglas Avenue? Somebody Thank you, Laura. Would somebody care to second it? I think it is in Ward 4.

Second. Thank you, Laurel. And your honor, for my comment, I will not support this thinking we should push it to the next year. Thank you. Roll call. Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes.

Yes. The resolution is approved. [snorts] Uh we are there are no bits to award this evening. There are no petitions and communications uh on the consent agenda. There is a motion approving the minutes from February 2nd 26 city council meeting and the February 11th 26 committee of the whole. A motion approving licenses. A motion directing the city attorney to amend city code chapter 32 boards and commissions. Resolution approving an increase in service benefits for retired paid on call fire firefighters. A resolution directing the mayor and city administrator to sign quick claim deed to facilitate sale of property at 702 East Beach Avenue. A resolution directing the city attorney to amend city code 121.17 to comply with state laws regarding lowd dose hemp. a resolution directing staff to submit a grant application to the state historic preservation office for up to $30,000 to support public education outreach and preparation of a draft nomination for a potential Fergus Falls commercial historic district. A resolution approving the purchase of a replacement security light system. A resolution approving the space lease agreement with the new owner of the country in and suites at 921 Western Avenue. and a resolution approving the election elected officials remote attendance policy. Would somebody care to make that resolution, please?

I can offer that. Thank you, Laurel. Would somebody care to second it? I'll second that. Thank you, Laura. Roll call, please. Cody, yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes.

Yes. The resolution is approved and we move on to ordinance and resolutions. The first item on the agenda is a resolution approving the 2026 rates for the Pebble Lake Golf Course. And I see we have Kevin and Lance in the audience tonight. So maybe one of those would care to speak to it. Greetings, council, city staff, Mayor Hicks. It's uh always good to come and talk to you guys this time of year. Um I sent out our 2026 proposed membership fees, season pass rates, and also our daily rates. If you all had a chance to look at those, um a couple comments, we've uh decided to do a normal increase on our season passholders for golf of 5%. uh the carts and uh driving range stuff like that. We've decided to freeze as well as our daily rates. We've also decided to freeze those for 2026 feeling that we are already competitive uh with competitive uh the our competition around the area. Our other golf courses were pretty much in the middle of the road, maybe uh a little higher than some and definitely lower than others. So, not a real big increase this year. I think uh um it's a great value for what we have to offer at Pebble Lake uh for golf, the restaurant, and all of our amenities that go along with the golf course, practice facilities, and uh um stuff like that. So, any questions on those at all, um feel free to ask. Um I'd also like to talk a little bit about the highlights from the 2025 golf season. I think uh there's a lot of value in you guys as well as the community knowing

who's using the golf course. You know, golf course is measured a number of rounds played and uh this past season uh was no exception. We had 25,384 uh players that came through Pebble A Golf Course. uh compared to 27,988 last year in 2020 or the previous year 2024 and 28,000 back in 2023. Um our guest rounds, which is a uh a player that comes out to our golf course and pays for golf. Um those rounds were down uh a little bit this past season. I think uh since co golf was on the rise and got we got along with everybody else got very busy and I think there's a little bit of a plateau that's uh that's starting to get there uh year after year now. So uh we're coming up with some strategies coming into 2026 on how to capitalize on the 20 plus thousand people that come and play our golf course. And uh we're still still working on that and we'll get those uh implemented for this season. Uh we saw uh just over 9,000 people come and use our driving range and hit uh range balls, practice putting, short game, stuff like that. Um the season uh this last season we had 286 season passholders, which is a paid household. In uh 2025, 296 uh in the previous season in 2024. I had 107 kids in my kids camp last summer and 11 folks that took advantage of the community education group lessons. Uh the golf course opened April 15th and closed on October 18th last season. We're open for 186 days in 2025 compared to 184 days previous year in 2024. We hosted 39 golf events uh the past season. Two events were cancelled due to inclement weather. They were not rescheduled but are

rescheduled to this season in 2026. So, from my standpoint, uh, we've been very consistent the past five seasons, uh, playing, uh, allowing golf to be played deep into October, which is a a huge benefit in Minnesota, the Midwest. Um, but we're consistently over that 20 plus thousand mark of number of players per year. So, I feel that, uh, we're we're in a good spot for being a public rural golf course. you know, we don't have a huge budget, but uh we offer a lot and I think it's just a a fantastic uh amenity for the city.

Would somebody care to make the resolution? Then we can ask any questions of Kevin. I make the motion. Thank you, Mark. I'll second it. Thank you, Laurel. Does anybody have any questions of uh Kevin? I have one. When you say 25, 384 players and 25, how do you know how many unique people that is or is that all unique people or do you track it in any way that you know how how many are unique individuals and it might be really hard to do?

There's a breakdown, you know, as far as guest players, there's a little over 4,000 guest players, which people that actually pay to play golf. The 25,384 players is total. That's the number of players, which is uh members play multiple rounds, of course. and uh includes tournament rounds and uh promotional rounds that I give out to organizations with silent auctions and stuff like that. Any other questions, Kevin? Kevin is around nine holes or 18 18. So when you count that and I would golf nine there, that's also included round. Okay,

whether you play nine or 18. So that's total rounds. I played golf. Yeah. And even if I log in and you get blew out, you you golf three round or three three holes. Is it still around? Uh it has to be more than more than five, but the system only counts 9 and 18. Okay. Thank you, Mike. Yeah, your honor. Just a quick question. I think the 25,000 was intriguing. I'd never heard that number before, so I appreciated that. What does that put you at as capacity? You know, can this thing handle 30,000, 40,000, 50,000? Are you running at a 80% full most of the time or what does that 25,000 mean to the course?

The 25,000 to the course I would say is I would say it's probably a 60%. You know, we have a lot of room. One of the things that we're implementing this coming season in 2026 is dynamic pricing. Which means that if you're a non-p passholder and you're going to pay to play golf, our high impact time is mornings. Let's say Friday, Saturday, Sunday. For weekends, for example, our busiest times are right away in the morning till about 1:00 and then it's very quiet. People go to the lakes, you know, so that we have a lot of traffic right away. So, we want to take advantage of that traffic at our premium rate. And this is this is a new format that started a couple years ago nationwide. So, from 1:00 to 4:00, let's say it'll go from $85 for 18 holes in a cart down to 60 and after 5:00 till we close it'll go down to to uh 40. So, it's going to open the door for a lot of people that will say, you know what, I can get this. It's still weekend, you know, the I have time and but it's it's going to be a greater value and hopefully that's going to push more bodies to the the golf course later in the day while we're quiet and

and that'll push more of what you call your your uniques, your ones that come out and play the one time or two times. It's not so much your your other members, which will drive your revenue up, which will help everything that you've got. Good. I'm very confident that if we get somebody to come out and play once or twice, we'll they'll be hooked on the vibe that's out there for sure. So, hello. When you talk about that, when this came out in the packet last week, I did get contacted by someone that said they found it hard to get premier times because a lot of times they check multiple days and kind of were told, well, a lot of that's booked with members and things like that. Is there anything where if you've got, you know, do members get so many of those premier times or can they really golf whenever or do you ever look at so there's more availability for being a public course?

Uh, there's there's availability. We we try to be as uh flexible as we can. And of course, you don't know how many people you'll have day in and day out, but especially the weekends is really hard because everybody wants that Saturday morning. Get their round in. They're good for the weekend. They'll go to the lake, they'll mow their grass, whatever. But we're we're going to work on trying to spread that out and make it more opportunistic for more people to play in the morning and stuff like that. We've got some strategies and we're changing a lot of stuff this this season. So, yeah,

because that I I've equally had the same comment to me is that like it's, you know, the members take up all the best spots and the public, you know, gets the leftovers and kind of that was, you know, obviously wasn't positive feedback. Yeah, we we put a new uh a point of sale system in two years ago and it's very uh easy to spread that out. the old system it was very hard to get those right good times but the system is helping with that so so how far can a member book tea times then uh typically it's seven days right so basically but yeah so people have got opportunity then to kind of get in

yeah we've increased the the way you can make a tea time also so you can book online call stop in or uh email right any other questions Kevin would you bring uh the council still up to date on the new range ball machine. Uh if you're prepared.

Sure. In years past, uh we've always had a practice facility. Uh you can buy a bucket of balls. So, we'd keep the buckets in the in the pro shop behind the counter. The balls were be inside the building. We'd hand out buckets as they're paid for. Um we have a tournament. Uh it's a member guest event. uh where members can invite a guest. It's a two-day event and all the proceeds from that event go right back into the golf course. This group donated the machine. The machine costs just under 10 grand. And uh it sits outside. It's like a big pop machine, like a vending machine. You can use your debit. This machine you can use your debit card and or get a a pass from the pro shop or use a token and you can buy balls all the way till dark. You know, before we used to close at five o'clock because need so much time to get the rain the balls picked up during the day for the next day. So, this machine will make it a lot more um um easy to use. I'll make it longer uh in the day, more time during the day to use it and uh it'll be way more efficient for me and the staff to to keep the range maintenance up to date and uh on a daily basis. So, uh it's a good deal. It was donated. you know, the member gas committee, we thank them very much for that. That's a big piece of uh uh the pro shop business and generates some uh decent money with that. No more questions. Roll call, please.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The resolution is approved. The next Thank you, Kevin. Thanks for your work. Uh the next item on the agenda is resolution accepting a $10,000 donation from the Carnegie Corporation of New York in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. And I believe Gail Hetram is going to present that. [snorts]

Your council people, thank you. Yes, we were made aware LA last October that the Carnegie Corporation of New York was going to be um giving out gifts of $10,000 to every library in the country that was an original Carnegie library that was still operating. There was no requirement to be in the original building and so we qualified. Um, originally I think over 1,700 Carnegie libraries were built in the United States by Andrew Carnegie and I believe there might be 1300 libraries um from that funding that are still in operation. So it's a pretty incredible gift and I didn't know if you would like me to read the letter that accompanied that um donation or if you wanted to read it. Um you can.

Okay. All right. Uh, dear Fergus Falls Public Library, it gives me great pleasure to enclose this check from Carnegie Corporation of New York in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Andrew Carnegie wrote that libraries are cradles of democracy. And it has been truly inspiring to hear accounts from across America of how the 1,350 plus surviving Carnegie libraries are serving their communities today. This gift is freely given without conditions or expectations. You can spend it however you choose for the benefit of your library and community in commemoration of the 250th anniversary. The response we have had to our renewed focus on libraries has been overwhelming and overwhelmingly positive. At a time of unprecedented strain on to our social co cohesion, libraries are among the few public institutions which play a genuinely unifying role. Thank you for all the good work you are doing. With best regards, Dame Lewis Richardson, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. So, we're really we're really excited about the possibilities that this contribution gives us. You know, we are um working on some capital improvement projects and we are also working on being involved with the community in a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So, we hope to be able to put this to use in a few ways.

Thank you. Thank you. Would somebody care to make the resolution to I do. Thank you, Laura. And seconded by Mark. Any questions of Gail? Congratulations. With that, roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

The um resolution is approved. The next item is a motion appointing Col Colin Kramer to a 5-year term on the Fergus Falls HA board. Um, Michael, did you want to step up and say anything? Good evening, council mayor. Uh, I don't have too much to add other than uh what's in the packet. Uh Fergus Falls HR board uh consists of five members who serve uh alternating five-year terms. So every year we have an appointment or uh in some cases a reappoint. We have a vacancy on the board right now. Uh I had a chance to visit with Mr. Kramer a couple of weeks ago. We spoke for maybe an hour and a half at the H office. He had some interest in serving. We had a really good conversation and I am hopeful that uh he's appointed uh and has an opportunity to uh to work with us. So,

would somebody care to make that resolution? I do. Thank you, Mark. Would somebody care to second it? I can. Thank you, Laurel. I think it is a motion. So, all those in favor say I. That's a good question. Okay. Sorry. Okay. Do you guys not have term limits? I I just I'm noticing here you have some very dedicated people. 29 years, 21 years. Are [snorts] there no term limits? We historically have not had term limits.

Okay. Um, and so I I know there's been uh I don't know how deep into this conversation we want to dive, but I will just add that I I tend to appreciate folks who are willing to serve uh long limits. And the reason I appreciate that is just uh I think that there's some development of institutional knowledge and and um when we look at something like the HA um and the federal guidelines, the state guidelines, the local guidelines, the time it takes to dig in and understand what we do and how we do it. Um, a fiveyear term seems like a pretty short period of time sometimes. So, I don't have an issue. I was just curious. Yeah, appreciate that. That um all those in favor say I. I. All those against same sign. Abstain.

Thank you. Please note that council member Kramer abstained. Oh, I didn't know that. Is it related to you? So, the motion is changed my mind. [laughter] Thank you. The next item is a uh resolution amending the 2026 fee schedule for kids camp and the daily ice arena rental rates. And uh I think maybe Bill

sounds good. Thank you, your honor. council. Um you have a memo in your packet kind of explaining this out, but um our fees are going up for what we are going to be paying for some of our recreation programs to the school, which would cost us about another $6,000 is what our recreation coordinator has recommended. So when I look at that over the cost of the program, we need to go up $7.8% 8% or moving up about $20 from $230 per two week session to $250 per two week session. Um and then also um the daily rate for the community arena then moving um that from $250 a day. This is for non ice time um non ice use. So dry land use of the arena um for a day rate from 250 go up to 750 and then setting a half day rate at 450 for that. We haven't raised that $250 rate for many many years. We haven't had a lot of larger um events, but we do have some coming. We had inquiries coming in and we met with the group and 250 would not be a reasonable rate to use that arena for a full day. Um, and then we wanted, you know, what should it be for half day rates as well? You know, if you're going to come in the day before and set up and clean up the day after, that's where we came up with the 450. We set that by looking at other um arenas in the um in the region. And as you saw in your memo, um that ranged from $800 to $1,000 a day. So, we arrived at that 750 where we're moving right now within that half day rate. So, not a lot of science behind it, but just looking at what comparable arenas are doing for their dryland rate.

Then, would somebody care to make the resolution? I will. Thank you, Mark. Would somebody care to second it? Thank you, Al. Any questions of Bill? Thank you, Bill. Thank you. User fees. Roll call, please. Yes. Joel, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. The resolution is approved. The next item is the first reading of ordinance 78 7 series amending chapter 121 cannabis business. I think we just need somebody to introduce that. So I can do that.

Thank you Laurel. So the item is introduced and it will come back again in two weeks. The next item on the agenda is going to throw the council in the city and quandry because it's presentation of claims for 881,58746 and Jim is not here. I will offer to pay the bills. Right. Thank you, Laura. Would somebody care to second that? On behalf of my predecessor, I'll second. Thank you, Mark. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Your honor, um, Bill, when will the budget be available 25 actual to budget? The resolution to pay the bills is is approved. [laughter]

You didn't give me any time to ask a question. So the actual for 2025 um we are in the process of preparing for the audit right now. So we are booking entries and approvals and whatnot getting all the books up to par by um March 30th. So I'll be working on it until then. Um I can certainly provide you with information before then but it will be likely to change until it's audited. But we're we're working through that process right now. So, um, we present that audit report to the city council, the first council meeting in June. Um, we're going to be doing it at a 4:30 work set work session prior to council that day.

Obviously, as a levy committee member, I'd like to see it a little prior to that. Number Yep. And number two, uh, access to the budget. Um, will the with the new system, will levy members be able to look at the budgets online for the various departments? Yeah, actually um we will we can have that capability for all of you council members to do that. We would get you a login to our system. It's called the my viewpoint system where if you wanted to look through your resolution of accounts and you said, "Oh, I wonder what this invoice is. Maybe I want to see that invoice directly." We'll be able to give you access where you could pull that invoice up just like I pull it up and look at it with a view only access. Um we can get that going soon. We just haven't had a time to dig in yet and get there. But that is going to be available for all of you.

As soon as you can get me on, that'd be great. And would that also allow us to look at the actual image of the invoice? Correct. It should. Thank you.

You bet. [clears throat] Thank you, Mark. Um the next item is um under all business was a a recap on the city council retreat. Obviously, the city council had a retreat um at the Big Woodward Event Center on February the 6 and um it was a a good a good um morning's early afternoon session. Well attended. Um the first item on the agenda was uh talking about change orders and um Kyle um explained you know how the the change order process worked and that basically projects were built with a 10% contingency uh for overage. Um the next item on the agenda was Pebble Lake Golf Course Clubhouse. Um there were three options that were uh talked about was in investing in the existing clubhouse. Um partnering with the Pebble Lake Foundation um and potentially looking at selling the course or not offering public golf. Um there was a a discussion held and there was um brought up about the potential of recreational grants through the LCCMR and that was something that was obviously looked upon favorably. Um out of it a subcommittee of Scott Rachel's Al Cra and Mark Leighton uh was formed to work with the golf board and obviously city administration on bringing back to the council recommendations under economic development. uh James Layman, our obviously economic development, gave overview and looked at what were the priorities for the city and discussed redevelopment of a variety of different sites in the regional treatment center, Stanton Avenue and the

former dairy property. Um obviously we we as this evening the other week rather we did submit a grant to try to get some money to do some uh presentation on the regional treatment center um the Stanton Avenue. It was talked about highdensity starter [clears throat] homes for younger families and the former Derry property to have an ideal site for mixed housing and potentially some retail options. Um I think the overall the council would like to see projects moving forward uh starting with SCR solutions and quickrip. Um and equally it was discussed that there are other potential projects in in the works that are not to the stage of public at this point in time. Um council topics that were discussed for further exploration by the council and staff was simplification of ordinances, um awareness of up and cominging construction projects, um promotion of the city, updates on Westridge Mall, visit Fergus Falls, um looking at ordinances pertaining to mailboxes, um following the accident with an ebike, um looking at an ordinance on on restriction on use of ebike, and scooters around town, overnight truck parking and re-evaluation in general of the fee schedule. And one of the things that was equally talked about was um appointing an ad hoc committee regarding the RTC um especially if we get funded with the grant and looking into energy transition grants and uh possibly private development um on Pebble Lake. And we also talked about council compensation um reviewed you know where the city of Fergus Falls sits amongst peer cities and we're pretty much about middle of the road and so no no further action was

taken on that and we also looked at reducing generally boards and commissions and merging some of those together with the goal of ultimately not having longstanding committees that just meet uh but and appointing ad ad hoc committees to to have a task and purpose i.e. like we did with the golf course, you know, appoint three members, you know, do the work, come back with um recommendations to the council, make a decision and then move on. And equally at length, we we talked about the remote attendance policy and that was approved this evening. Um overall, uh it was a it was a a good good participation by everybody that was there and uh I think um you know, city staff as well as council that were there. I think everybody kind of came out of the room feeling feeling good about the whole process. There's some obviously follow-up work um and some of that will come, you know, in front of the council. Some's already come and more will follow with that. Uh that's all I have. Um there is no new business. Um from a miscellaneous announcements um today is the first uh day for Habitat for Humanity. Um and the state tax credits. Um you know, Habitat for Humanity has built a number of homes in Fergus Falls and uh they're looking at uh they got three projects that they're looking to get funding for. go to the Fergus Falls website, but it's a well funded project and and they're hoping to raise $450,000 this year through that. And the beauty of that is that that money actually stays and builds the fund for them to continue building homes in Ottertale County. The next um uh meeting

will be February 25th, the committee of the whole at 7:30 7 o'clock in the morning and March 2nd. We will have a 5:30 city council meeting. And with that, Mike has one question. Your honor, I just want to add uh I want to I want to give a big thank you to our chief, our new chief that was here tonight. Uh I think uh it was vital to have you in the room. I think it's very important for all of us and I personally want to thank you for that uh for being here tonight. Thank you. Thank you. With that we are adjourned.