City Council - Regular Meeting
About this meeting
- Government Body
- City Council
- Meeting Type
- City Council
- Location
- St. Peter, MN
- Meeting Date
- March 16, 2026
Video will appear here as soon as St. Peter City Council posts it — usually within a day of the meeting
Monday, March 16, 2026
5 items on the agenda.
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Start free trialNew City Hall Street Name
For your information and discussion. The Scholarship America building and parking lot is currently accessed via a private road named 'Scholarship Way' (900 ft long). To better align with other City street names, establish and develop a correct mailing address and location for each City Hall Department, and potentially extend the street for future public use, development and help with emergency services routes, it is advantageous that the City approve a new street name. Scholarship Way (private road) is currently a paved road with curb and gutter, underground utilities, and a new sidewalk. Staff worked with historian Bob Sandeen of the Nicollet County Historical Society to produce a list of historical name options and Staff provided non-historical name options to consider for the Planning & Zoning Commission to consider. A list of 18 potential names was given to the Planning & Zoning Commission, who provided feedback and additional suggestions. The Commission was not keen on the historic names so those names were removed from the list and some of their suggestions were added. Staff created a survey with 16 potential names based off the Planning & Zoning Commission's recommendations. The survey was distributed to City Hall staff as well as Police Department staff who were asked to choose their top choice. Only names with 2 or more votes included in final results. We may temporarily use an unusual sign to help reduce confusion at the start of the move. The discussion on whether the street may run across the entirety of the property is probably best left for another time. Our goal for your meeting is to provide some background and opportunity for questions and discussion to put the Council in a position to make a final decision on a name in late March/early April before City offices move to the new City Hall in May/June.
Unforeseen Circumstance (Business Assistance) Micro Loan Program
None needed. For Council review and discussion only. Based on City Council discussion and request and after recently visiting several local food and drink establishments, it was discovered that some businesses are experiencing a loss of business revenue, which could be attributed to the increased federal agency presence during the December 2025-February 2026 timeframe. A number of businesses report a significant drop in revenue due to lower customer traffic year over year. As a result of the situation, many businesses have seen significant reductions in cash flow which threaten their ability to meet their immediate needs. To assist local businesses, the Community Development Department prepared an outline of an emergency loan program to assist businesses through the immediate situation. Attached is a draft of guidelines for what the 'Unforeseen Circumstances Micro Loan Program' along with the application. The program has been designed very similarly to the Construction Mitigation Micro Loan Program that was implemented in 2009 while Highway 169 was closed for reconstruction, and the COVID-19 Hospitality Micro Loan program in 2020/2021. Under the developed guidelines, Saint Peter businesses would be eligible for loans of up to $10,000 which would be offered at 0% interest. Similar to the 2009 program, the repayment of the loan would be deferred. City staff proposes a maximum of six (6) month deferral before the first monthly payment is due. When repayment begins, the loan would be repaid at a rate of $100-$200 per month regardless of the loan amount. It is estimated that up to ten (10) businesses may take advantage of the loan, for a maximum of $100,000 being encumbered. The following business types are eligible to apply for the loan: cocktail lounges, fitness/health clubs, restaurants, hotels/motels, clubs/lodges, studios/galleries, retail sales, daycare/childcare centers, cultural services, public assemblies, salons/spas/barbers. Additionally, knowing how advantageous this loan is with 0% interest, to qualify for this micro loan, businesses must establish that they are indeed being affected by an atypical unforeseen circumstance when submitting the application. The legitimacy of this reasoning will be determined by the EDA. Our goal for your meeting is to bring you up to speed on the work so far based on your initial request and direction. The EDA has reviewed this, and staff believes they are likely to review the entirety of the program at an upcoming meeting where they could make a recommendation to the Council. Ultimately the approval and start of the program would be determined by the Council.
Comp Plan Steering Committee Council Representation
For Council review and discussion. As part of the 2026-2027 Comprehensive Planning process, a Comp Plan Steering Committee must be formed. The City's professional service planners from Bolton & Menk, Inc. (BMI) suggest a group of 8 – 14 members, including at least one (1) member from the City Council. Steering Committee members will be responsible for helping guide land use decisions and shaping community priorities for the next 25 years. It could be that some Steering Committee members may wear multiple hats, such as working at a local agency/institution, providing leadership or volunteering with a community non-profit organization, and/or serving as committee/board members, helping to provide very valuable insight. Besides being on the Steering Committee, there will be plenty of other opportunities for City Council members, Advisory Board members, non-profits, businesses, residents, community groups, agencies, and other key stakeholders to be involved and provide input throughout the Comp Plan process over the next year. Commitment as a Comp Plan Steering Committee member, will be as follows: 1 – 2 hours per month over the next year (reviewing draft materials as the plan progresses), two (2) in-person workshops, and four (4) or more virtual meetings (Microsoft Teams or Zoom). It is likely that most meetings will be held during the normal workday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm). Our goals for your meeting are to update you on the process and solicit your input for a City Council representative. Once that is determined we will contact the other entities and ask for participation. The Committee plays a vital role in the work of the Comp Plan and will ultimately be approved by the Council.
Managed Lawn Ordinance Review
None needed. For City Council review and discussion only. My goal for your meeting is to review the current Ordinance and discuss steps to help ensure our community has additional opportunity to understand the rules and further discuss how enforcement will take place. Also, I want to provide members with additional understanding on the Ordinance so that as you receive input, you have enhanced knowledge of the goals and application of the Ordinance. Members may recall a review of your current Ordinance originally started as a holdover topic from previous goal sessions. As I recall, this issue came up, at least in part, due to the changing nature of how your community views what residential yards should be, what weeds are, and what sustainable development is. Additionally, the observance of No Mow May brought to light new concerns and opportunities on the part of the Council, the community, and staff. A list of items that members suggested for review related to possible ordinance modifications was developed. Those items were: Simplify, what may be considered or viewed as 'maintained space,' grass unlawful to go to seed as opposed to the height restriction in your current Ordinance, 'cultivated' to reference the State list of noxious weeds, boulevards must be maintained at no higher than 12 inches (as discussed) at least 5 feet back from the curb. The current Ordinance provides language on a number of issues including: abutting property owners' responsibility for certain rights of way, a process for enforcement should a property owner fail to meet the standards in the Ordinance, establishes definitions including Managed Natural Lawn area, establishes applicability within residential zoning districts on a number of issues including areas that may be Managed Natural Lawn Area, height allowances and setbacks from property lines. My hope is to focus on Section 54-51. My goal for your discussion is not to examine any changes but rather to provide clarification on what the Ordinance says and its practical application and impact. In addition, I hope to share information related to the enforcement of this Ordinance and how that works.
Family Fresh Mural Update
None needed. For your information and input. About twelve years ago, the City provided assistance for the development and redevelopment of the area surrounding Family Fresh and the Saint Peter Food Co-op. As part of that effort, the Council recommended installing a mural on the 3rd Street façade of the Family Fresh building. At that time, the City committed $2,500 to support an organization interested in facilitating a youth-oriented or community art project, with the expectation that local artists or volunteers would be engaged in creating the mural. The City also offered organizational support as needed and even suggested that the Summer Volunteers in the Park (VIP) program could be a natural partner. We are now in a position to move this project forward through the leadership of an organized group headed by Amanda Malkin. Family Fresh has agreed to participate and will retain the ability to approve the final design while collaborating with both the group and the City. The City's long-term role would include periodic touch-ups or, if necessary, repainting in the future. At this point, the project appears viable and ready to advance. My goal for your discussion is to ensure the Council is aware of its previous and anticipated roles related to this project, and to encourage community involvement—including participation from City programs, support for promotion, and the previously committed $2,500 contribution.