City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, we'll call the meeting to order. Please stand if you're able for the pledge of allegiance of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. Good evening and welcome everyone. Um, roll call please. Bri. Mayor King present. Council member Atlarge Austin present. Council member Waller present. Council member Baskin present. Council member Posma. Council member Hely present. Council member Obala.

Council member Fischer present. Mayor King. We have a quorum. Thank you. Looking for item number one. Motion for adoption of the agenda. So moved. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number two. Is there a motion approving our amendments from March 2, 2026? So moved. Second. All in favor? I

opposed. Motion carries. Also, uh on March 2nd, we did a closed meeting and I need to read these uh this statement from our scribe. The city council held a closed meeting on March 2, 2026 for the purpose of evaluating the performance of city administer Craig Clark. All members of the council were present. Craig Clark was not present. The city attorney Craig Byum was present. The council discussed both the strengths and accomplishments of Mr. Clark and opportunities for growth or improvement. No action by the council is expected at this time. Mayor pulled items. Oh, that's right. On the agenda too, we're pulling off 13, item 13 and 16. So with that, looking for maybe a read of the agenda with those.

So I move to adopt the agenda with item 13 and 16 removed. Thank you. Is there a second? All in favor? I I opposed. Very good. Uh uh item number three is a motion for the consent agenda. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. That motion carries.

Uh moving on to item number four, a series of street improvements for public hearings. Item number four is public hearing on street improvements on 8th Street Southeast, 8th Avenue Southeast to 15th A Southeast. The project number is 25104. The amount to be assessed is1,275,000 at 5.37357% for 15 years. Stephen, first I'd just like to give you some general information about how we got here today. Um, going back to anformational meeting that we had on March 11th with uh all these property owners. As noted in your memo, we sent out [cough] 141 notices of street assessments. And since then, at thatformational meeting, we had about five properties represented at theformational meeting. That was followed up by our hearing on improvements that we had here at a council meeting on February 17th. And again, we had about five property owners represented at that meeting. Uh now as we move tonight to the assessment hearings uh s in the last couple weeks as the mailers and all the information has been sent out we've had a Andy has fielded five or so questions about assessments just general questions about uh the costs how we determine them assessment options all of those things. Um, and then in the backup material that we gave you, we also sent out information to all the property owners, which is our our frequently asked questions. So that goes through steps them through a lot of different questions that we've gotten over the years. We tried to summarize those into kind of a one-pager, two-sided one-pager of frequently asked questions to try to help uh with those things. And then also a key part of tonight's meeting and discussion is our assessment payment options. So, I just want to run through those quickly for the public. Um, folks will receive their final

assessment amount in the fall and at that time th this will happen in late August, early September. They will receive their actual bill for their assessment that we review tonight or adopt tonight. And so, when they receive that bill in the fall, they'll have four different options. Option number one is they could pay the full amount by October 31st, 2026 without interest. Option number two is they could pay at least 50% of the amount and the remainder would go on their taxes. When it goes on their taxes, it's spread out over 15 years at 5.357% interest. Option number three is they could do nothing when they received that bill in the fall and the entire amount would automatically go on their taxes. Again, it would be spread out over 15 years at 5.357% interest. And then the fourth option, those options where it is uh spread out on their taxes, they would first see that on their taxes in 2027 during their first tax statement. And then the fourth option is if they meet certain age and income guidelines, they could have it deferred on their taxes until such time as the property sold or they chose to pay it off at some later date. But there's there are age and income requirements that go along with that. If someone wants more information about option number four, they could reach out to us here at the city. We'd connect them with our finance department to go through the necessary and provide the necessary forms. So those are some just some general statements that kind of apply to all of these items, these next few street project items that are on the agenda. So the first one as you've mentioned there, mayor is 8th Street North, 8th Street Southeast. Um with this project, the unique one unique part about the project is that we are replacing 100% of the sidewalk on this

one. If you remember back a couple years ago, we developed a policy where if over 50% of the sidewalk was determined to be deficient, it would then trigger it to bump up to 100% of the sidewalk being removed. So on this project, homeowners could expect, you know, there's always a range of assessments based on their amount of frontage. Our assessments are based on frontage length, so they vary a little bit, but many of the homes in these neighborhoods have the same amount of frontage. So they could expect on 8th Street Southeast a street assessment in the range of $6 to $7,000. And then when we add in the sidewalk, it would about double that. Um so folks that have uh no sidewalk in front of their house could see that $6 to $7,000 assessment. Folks with sidewalk would jump to about 10 to 12,000 for their assessments. Um, with that, we've already done the presentation on this project at previous meetings, but I'll answer any questions that you or the public may have about about those previous presentations. But now, I turn it back to the council with any questions.

Thank you, Stephen. Council, any questions, Mr. Lane? Specific to uh item number four, 8th Street. Is there anybody in the public wishing to speak on this matter? Stephen, anything further on that from you? Nope. Okay. Looking for a uh motion I guess or a resol a resolution declaring the cost for 4 D. First before we go to that um just touching on item B. We have not received any written objections on this project. Very good. Thank you. Uh now looking for a resolution for 4D declaring the cost.

So moved. Second. Bri. [sighs] Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0.

Thank you. Bri number five is also under public hearing. A public hearing on street improvements on 7th AB Southwest 24th Street Southwest to 8th Avenue Southwest. Then 8th Avenue Southwest from 27th Street Southwest to 7th Avenue Southwest and 26th Street Southwest from 5th Avenue Southwest to 8th Avenue Southwest. Project number 26101. The amount to be assessed is $130,000 at 5.357% for 15 years. Stephen, Mayor King, oh the second resol resolution E. Sorry, back up. Under 4E, resolution adopting the assessment rule. Thank you. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Hely.

I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Very good. Now back to five uh uh public or public hearing and item number five on that street improvement I read. So Stephen,

yep. The area you described is located in the southwest. This is a mill and overlay project. So we have different assessment rates for a mill and overlay versus a full street reconstruction and the the lot frontages vary substantially in this neighborhood. So assessments for these folks range from $1,200 to $2,000 again depending on frontage. Um so with that again we presented the presentation at a previous meeting but I'd open it up for any questions. Any written assess uh objections to this? Stephen, we have not received any written objections. Council, any questions or comments on this project? No.

Public? Any of the public here wishing to speak on this matter? Item number five, this project hearing. None. Seeing none, looking for resolution declaring the cost. So moved. Second. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. I council member Waller. Hi, Council Member Baskin. I council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you, Bri. Uh, and on to 5E, the resolution adopting assessment role. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Hely. I.

Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Item number six is a public hearing on street improvements on 9inth AB Northwest from 11th Street Northwest to 14th Street Northwest. Project number 26102. The amount to be assessed is $825,000 at 5.357% for 15 years. Stephen.

Yeah. This is another project where the sidewalk the condition of the sidewalk was greater than 50% so it triggered full removal. So again, a little bit of uniqueness on this project. So street assessments in this neighborhood, the the portion of the street range from $3500 to $4,500. When you add in sidewalk for those residents, that was another $2,000 to $2,500. So the majority of the properties uh were in that range of $5,000 to $7,000 for their street assessments. I will jump ahead to note that we did receive one objection in this neighborhood and I'll I would like to go ahead and read that for the for the record. The objection was received from Jeremy Carolyn. It's regarding the property located at 101 11th Street Northwest, Austin, Minnesota. Uh the objection indicates I am submitting this letter as a formal objection to the special assessment for the work associated with the property at 101 11th Street Northwest Austin, Minnesota. I believe the assessment amount exceeds the benefit to the property and requests that the city review and reconsider the amount being assessed. Please include this letter as my formal objection in the assessment record. So, that has been filed accordingly with the city clerk. Um, just for council information, I mentioned the majority of the homes in this neighborhood have an assessment between $5 to $7,000. Uh, this property in question is a corner lot, so it has a [cough and clears throat] long a larger street frontage and therefore the street assessment is more and also the sidewalk being replaced is more. So, their assessment is just over $10,000. Um,

our assistant engineer has had uh a few different conversations with the objector. Uh, those conversations mainly focused on the sidewalk and whether [cough] we were taking [clears throat] out more or less. Um, in the case of this property, there was uh 60% of the sidewalk was identified as non non uh compliant. So that it it it in itself was above our 50% threshold when you just looked at this property alone. So we feel it it falls right in with our policy and wanted to make council aware of those conversations that have occurred. And in situations like this, uh, Stephen, the the protocol that staff recommends is to approve the project and then the homeowner would have the right to file within district court there to get some resolution.

That is correct. So, council has the option to also cancel the project based on this or do a carveout for this individual or like Mr. Lang suggests is is uh allow the homeowner to file in district court and have that day in court and we move on with the rest of the project. So we're looking for and that's the only written objection we had. That is correct. Unless there is anyone anybody from the public wishing to speak on this project. Hi um sorry please step to the microphone please and give us your name and address if you could.

Hi um this is my first time here. My name is I sorry I am from 14039th Avenue Northwest. I will als I didn't know I could do an awitten objection but I would like to object to uh just the cost of living right now is high. I'm living paycheck to paycheck as paying student loans as well as going to school. Um even though I work several hours a week is still not enough. Uh my insurance went up, my car insurance went up. It's just been really hard for me to work um do pay to pay. Like I said, I've been paying I've been living paycheck to paycheck. I It's been really bad for me that I even go to eat to my mom's house because I cannot afford groceries. So, adding this I know it's not a lot, but adding this I could potentially lose my house or I it's just what ifs. But yeah.

And your name again and address? Uh my name is Evelet Lopez Gonzalez. My address is 1403 9th Avenue Northwest. And you're the homeowner there, Evelyn? Yes.

Awesome. Thank you. I I appreciate the situation you find yourself in and and can only say that this is you're not probably alone. Um but it we do need to function as a city and these projects do kind of impact the the homeowners certainly at a percentage a lot less than the city. It's what about 25% of the property goes to this goes to the homeowner and 75 65% goes to the city. Mr. Lang, you want to explain any more that about written objection though? She didn't file. Is there still time for her also to file and then go to district court? Um, I'll let Mr. Byum comment on that.

I guess maybe you before we get to that, I guess I would put out a couple things for you. One is and you know, I think Stephen and Mr. by room can provide. There are options because I think there's a realization that with assessments that not everybody has 6,000 8,000 whatever the assessments are it's a chunk of change to h to write a check for and so there is flexibility and options in terms of hey putting it on future income taxes and things like that. I'll let somebody give you the actual technical um pieces of it, but it there is a scenario where you don't have to pay everything upfront because I think the reality is that most people in the community probably don't have the ability to do that. So, we should probably make sure she understands that. And then two is just I think from a broader view. I mean, assessments are tough. I know we've looked over the years at is there a better way to do it? And I don't know that there is because at some point the projects have to be paid for. And we've looked at, okay, if we got rid of street assessments in general, we would still have to pay for the projects. Everybody's property taxes on an every single year basis would go up, you know, pretty dramatically, like millions and millions of dollars in totality. And so where I've always I I hate assessments. I hate when we get assessments on our house. What's at least made me feel a little bit better is there's a certain fairness that this is how we've done it for 70 plus years. And so it's like it sucks for the one out of every, you know, 50 years that the street gets worked on. Um, if you happen to be owning a home on the street at that point, but there's at least a level of consistency to it. Um, but I think understanding that there is a broad range of options with it, I think is we should probably make sure that we're very clear on here's the things that it doesn't require you to write a check tomorrow for the project. And Stephen, you could probably better explain it than me. And just touch on that quickly. So, uh, you're correct. There are payment options and we spread this cost out over

15 years on one's taxes. So they would pay a portion of that assessment each year as those taxes come due. Y which would be added to the mortgage. It'd be added to your taxes which would be added onto your mortgage. Yes. Thank you. But if uh I don't I think it's the the written portion has been expired. So you couldn't do a written assessment. But I I think as Mr. or council member Baskin u you know eloquently said there's there's less pain if you do pay for it over 15 years might not even notice it but you'll certainly notice your brand new street in front of your house. Well, thank you for your time.

Thank you, Evelyn. Any [clears throat] anybody else wishing to speak on this uh project? All right. And uh with noting the the uh written objection, council looking for a resolution declaring the cost. So moved. Is there a second? Second re. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0.

Thank you. in uh 6E resolution adopting the assessment role. It's all moved. Second. Bri. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0.

Thank you. Degree item number seven is a public hearing on street improvements on Fifth Street Northwest from 12th AB Northwest to 15th A Northwest and 7th Street Northwest from 13th Avenue Northwest to 15th Avenue Northwest. Project number 26103 the amount to be assessed as 1,100,000 at 5.357% 15 years. Mr. Lang,

on this project the street portion of the assessments to property owners range from 3,000 to 6,500. If one has sidewalk as part of the project, it could be up to 8,500. So that is kind of the range for street assessments. Um but again, sidewalk on this project is does not reach the 50% threshold. So we're only taking out the bad sidewalk based on the project. Uh we did not receive any written objections to date on this project. Very good. Thank you. Any public wishing to speak on this project? Council, any questions or comments on the project? Looking for a resolution 7D declaring the cost. So moved.

Second. Three. Council member Hely. Hi. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. [clears throat] Council member Baskin. Hi. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 50. Thank you. Bri 7E is a resolution adopting the assessment role. We need a resolution. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I.

Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Uh the last of the street improvements is item number eight, public hearing on street improvements on 14th Street Northwest from 8th Avenue Northwest to 15th Avenue Northwest project 26104. The amount to be assessed is $300,000 at 5.357% for 15 years. Stephen,

this again is a mill and overlay project. So our rates for those are substantially less than our street reconstruction. Uh but in this case, this is unique project where we have two very large uh frontages with property owners there with the apartments and also the college. So they take up a majority of the assessments on this project. The apartment assessments are $37,000 range and the college assessment is 27,000. Um and the difference between those two again is sidewalk. There is a larger majority of sidewalk to be removed on the col on the apartment side. That is why their assessment is approximately $10,000 more. So, um, with that, I we have not received any written objections on this project and I'd open it up to any questions.

Thank you, Mr. Lang. Council, any questions? Public? Anybody wishing to speak on item number eight? Hearing none, seeing none, looking for a resolution declaring the cost 8 D. So moved. [clears throat] Second. Bri. Council member Hely. I council member Fischer I council member Waller I council member Baskin I council member at large Austin I resolution passes 5-0 thank you Bri and 8E resolution adopting the assessment role. So moved second Bri. Council member Hely I.

Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin I. Council member Large Austin I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Bri on to pickle ball under bid opening and award. Item number nine is receiving bids for pickle ball courts. Jason.

Thank you honorable mayor and councel. At the March 2nd city council work session. Staff presented information regarding the February 24th public bid opening for the construction of pickle ball courts at Rotary Centennial Park. After discussion, council asked staff to present the bid award at tonight's meeting to include the construction of eight courts and to also consider potential cost savings by removing certain court amenities if necessary. Council also requested staff seek a recommendation from the park, recreation, and forestry board. Uh quick overview. Um staff feels it's important to point important to point out that there are cost savings associated with including the construction of the ADA accessible sidewalk within the scope of the project scheduled for this summer. Other court amenities such as shade, benches and tables, drinking fountains and lighting uh could be considered phase two of the project and can be completed as funding is secured uh or out in 2027. Uh there is a detailed breakdown of court related expenses provided in your council packet. Uh the revised budget I wanted to share with you um that the Austin Area Pickle Ball Association since the last meeting they met with a board their board and they have approved an additional $10,000 uh in cash uh contribution to the project for a total of $110,000. Um, so the project funding, the revised funding available is City of Austin from the building fund, $150,000, grant from the Hormeell Foundation, $250,000, and Austin Minnesota Area Pickle Ball Association, $110,000 for a total project cost of $510,000. [clears throat and snorts]

So the park recreation and forestry board met and the board voted unanimously to recommend to city council to award the bid for the construction of eight courts and consider postponing other amenities as necessary to ensure the completion of the project. There was further discussion at the park board um and feedback that asked staff to explore reallocating existing funds from the 2026 capital improvement plan budget to support other court related amenities to ensure project completion. So staff would like to propose using the following funding sources to cover the additional $80,000. So, the ADA walkways, the walkway, um right now we have in the capital improvement plan for 2026 approved budget, um we would like to reallocate those funds for the install of the West ADA sidewalk for $15,866. One of the reasons I mentioned earlier there's cost savings associated with doing this now [clears throat] because the contractor is going to have the right equipment there and there is uh the the grading is is um it's important to know that the the grading is uh I don't know what [snorts] the word I'm looking for but it it there's a elevation from the courts to the restroom so we have to be careful with the grading. there's going to be some fill dirt in and then some cut at the court side. So, we feel like there's substantial cost savings to the city to do that along with the project. Um the other one is the current capital improvement plan has a miscellaneous roads and trails uh fund. Um part a portion of that fund we would like to to reallocate to the parking lot materials for the court for $15,000.

Um the other is playground improvements. A portion of that fund uh 19,134 dollar staff proposes reallocating towards the pickle ball courts. And then staff is also uh proposing to utilize city building fund in the amount of $30,000 to finalize the project costs. So I've included in your packet a contractor recommendation letter from Larsson Engineering. uh bid the bid tapulation results are also there. The court design and a court layout layout of an uh aerial view is also in there. Uh I propose the recommendations in three uh three options here or three steps I should say. Number one, staff recommends the bid be awarded to low bidder Yulan Brothers Inc. for the total contract amount of $57,555. The breakdown is included in your packet. Number two, staff recommends city council approve a budget amendment in the amount of $30,000 from the building fund to fund project related expenses. And lastly, number three, staff recommends city council approve reallocation of 2026 budgeted capital improvement plan funds in the amount of $50,000 to cover the remaining project related expenses. and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you, Jason. Council, any questions?

No question, but I mean just a comment that I think this is a really good example of local government in action and working really, [snorts] really well. You know, you think about, you know, passionate group of residents, you know, a couple years ago who wanted to see a change in their community, you know, come together, make their voice heard, you know, build awareness and support of why it was important. you know, that then translates into, okay, let's as a local government figure out options for how we support that. And I think it's been a great partnership of not just a voice of, hey, we want to do this, but it's a here's [cough and clears throat] our financial, here's our time, blood, sweat, and energy in order to make it happen, you know, the city overall taxpayers that will benefit, you know, the generous support of the Horell Foundation, you know, this partnership to do something that is truly going to improve our community. And then even, you know, when we get to kind of the final stages here and we've got to figure it out. I think a really nice job, Jason, you and the park board of saying, "All right, like we've got a budget, but let's figure out how we shift some things and prioritize so that we can do it right." So, I'm incredibly excited to vote in favor of this. I'm really excited to see these things in action. Um, thank you everybody for your passion, for your patience, and I think that this is a classic example of how we do should do things as a community and would love to see even more moving forward. So, thank you. Good work.

So, I have a question. Uh, Mr. an if if we approve the three steps that you're outlining today and then the um pickle ball club uh continues on their streak of incredible fundraising and bring forward more funds or if some other grant funds come into the project. Are we committed to this or is this like sort of a worst case scenario? The city funds are going to plug these holes and if other funds come forward then like for instance the 30,000 to coming from the building fund could could that get um shifted back in uh if more funds are raised? So, I guess one way to answer that question is we did did build in a small contingency just short of $10,000. Um, and then there are uh a few of the other items the con construction [clears throat] inspection uh and the construction testing. We are working with the engineering firm to uh entertain uh a different contract with a different firm which would reduce the costs. Uh we just need to make sure that they are responsive and and capable. So there are I I suppose at the end of the project there could be some funding left that could could be a reduced amount pulled from the building fund. I think we should move forward assuming that those other capital improvement plan allocations are gone in for this project. And I would not I I would recommend the Amappa, the local pickleball club. I mean, talk about a local group doing such a fantastic job in their fundraising efforts. Um, and they're still going full steam. My recommendation is to try to utilize those funds for the shade, for the hydration station, for the benches, for things like that. Uh, and then use the

other for the actual court amenities, [clears throat] which sort of was, I think, the direction of council at the work session as well. So, we're going to use the city money to build the eight courts to a high level of quality and a couple of other really important things. And then if there are additional funds, they'll go into the the nicer to haves. Yes. Correct. Okay. Thank you. And Jason, all things go perfectly, whether pickle ballers going to be pickle balling this summer or fall yet or no.

I'd like to see you all out there on the courts hopefully by end of September, I think, is what the the timeline is, depending on what type of summer we have. So, thank you. They're they're marking their calendars. [laughter] It was a little hard after the snow to imagine. All right. Well, thank you, Jason, and thanks to the pickle ball. Keep continue to raise that money. Um, and as council member Baskin said, we do appreciate the Hormel Foundation's grant. Uh, so with that, looking for resolution for number nine, awarding the bid. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Hely. I council member Fischer. I council member Waller.

I council member Baskin. I council member at large Austin. I resolution passes 5. Thank you. Prem number 10 is something we've spoken about a few meetings ago. Request approval for the SPA [clears throat] ordinance. Tom, you have anything else to add? Nothing more. Council, any other questions? Otherwise, looking for a motion 10A, preparation of the ordinance. So moved. Second. All in favor? I I opposed. Motion carries on uh 10B for the adoption of the ordinance. So moved. Second. Three. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi.

Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Ordinance passes 50. Thank you, Bri. Item number 11 is requesting approval for an amendment to the sidewalk cafe ordinance. Bri, the clerk's office just did updating to our city code 6.59. We clarified the types of license holders that would be eligible for a sidewalk cafe license. Um, it's because the city no longer issues food licenses. So, this section will be removed. And then we added additional language to include micro distilleries. So, we're requesting approval of the amendment to this ordinance. Thank you, Bri Council. Any questions on this matter?

No. I think great update modernizing it. Good work. Thank you. Looking for a motion for 11A, preparation of the ordinance. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. The motion carries. Item 11B for the need an ordinance for the adoption of the ordinance. So moved. Second. Bri. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Ordinance passes 5-0.

Thank me number 12 is a uh is requesting approval for an amendment for the to the ordinance on standards for regulations [clears throat and snorts] relating to sewer use and se and service charges. Stephen. Yes. This has to do with our ordinance related to fines. And our current language says up to $1,000 and in order to meet MPCA uh requirements, they recommend that it say a minimum of $1,000. So just a minor word change there, making a thou changing a,000 from a maximum to now a minimum. We'd request approval.

Stephen, on this one, and apologize about not asking earlier, is this something do we issue a lot of these fines? Like do we see this as substantially increasing the amount of money that we're bringing in from people in the community or is it more of a technical update? More technical. Okay. Do we get a lot of do we issue a lot of these fines? In the past we have not. No. Okay. This this is language that has been in our ordinance for decades. Um and it's just a matter of of getting it up to date with the current requirements. And no, it is not something that has been strongly utilized in the past. Okay. $1,000 doesn't go quite as far as in 1975. So, okay. Good.

All right. Very [clears throat] good. Anything further from Mr. Lang on this matter? Looking for a motion for the preparation of the ordinance. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. The motion carries and 12B, the adoption of the ordinance. So moved. Second. Agree. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Ordinance passes 5-0.

Thank you. Having removed item number 13, we're on to 14 is a resolution approving a joint resolution for annexation of a property owned by Jerry Fenberg into the city of Austin from Austin Township. Holly. We received a petition for annexation uh from Mr. Fenberg on behalf of his business CCI Granite. The property is located at 1407 Tenth Drive Southeast. Uh the property is about 1 [snorts] 1.1 acres in Austin Township. Uh the petitioner wishes to expand his existing business and therefore requires a city sewer connection. Um couple of the high points the um the taxes will be staggered uh until fully transferred to the city after six years. The area proposed to be annexed would be zoned I1 light industrial. The zoning designate designation is consistent with the current use of the property surrounding area and future development. Um once annexed to the city, the sewer connection fees shall be paid by the petitioners. Um I will be heading over to Austin Township for them to review the same resolution. Um once both jurisdictions approve the resolution um I'll put together a packet for the state municipal boundary adjustment. If the resolution satisfactory it will be approved by a municipal law judge and at that time the property would be annexed officially into the city.

Uh Mr. Fenberg is here if the council has any questions for you. Very good. All right. Council, any questions on this matter? [clears throat] I'd just like to say it's very heartening to see a local business owner expand his business doubling its size. Uh Jerry, congratulations on the business doing well and we appreciate your investment to Austin and continue uh hope you have a very excellent build and welcome to the city as far as sewer and maybe water. Sewer for sure. Water's a question mark, right? Okay. Anybody else have anything on this joint uh resolution? Move to approve. Second Bri. Council member Hely I. Council member Fischer. Hi.

Council member Waller. Hi. Council [clears throat] member Baskin. Hi. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0. Very good. Thank you, Bri. Uh item number 15 is a resolution approving a budget adjustment to the general fund for 2026. Craig. Thank you, Mayor, members. Uh annually we uh bring forward uh budget adjustments that are carry forwards. Uh we've listed those for you this evening. asked your uh approval to approve the budget adjustments from 2025 carrying that forward to 2026 budget. Be happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Craig. Council, any questions? Look for resolution. So moved. Second. Bri,

council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. Hi. Council member at large Austin I. Resolution passes 5-0. Uh thank you Bri. And seeing we removed item number 16 on to 17 um is a motion approving a revised earn sick and safe time leave policy. Trish.

Good evening mayor me mayor and city council members. U before you tonight is a proposed revision to our earned sick and safe policy. Um the um items to be updated include a combination of uh things required by statute that they've been approved in 2025 that just needed to have our our policy tweaked a little bit. Um and then some other items uh specific to the city of Austin are increasing the insurance deductible ability to cash out sickly for that increased that to $1,000 annually. um maximum acrual amounts um for employees hired on or after January 1, 2026 um and a change to a payout upon retirement um and it's staggered for um the date of hire for employees. Uh we've also discussed this um these revisions um to the policy as part of our labor negotiations. Uh the uh policy before you tonight would be retroactive to January 1, 2026 and would be um mainly for the uh non uh union non-bargaining unit employees that will be covered under that. Uh if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you, Trish. Council, any questions? Miss Whiteitman and looking for a motion. So moved. Second. All in favor? I oppose. That motion carries. Item number 18 is approving the hire of a temporary full-time firefighter. Chief McCoy,

uh, mayor, council, um, before you tonight's, uh, ask to hire a temporary uh, full-time firefighter. Um, since last fall, we've been operating one member short, and in January, we lost a second member um, that's due out for medical. um our seven of the nine personnel have been moving around shifts and working uh overtime to cover uh those two positions that aren't um on on shift currently. Um so if we were able to hire a temporary part-time fire or full-time firefighter um from our part-time ranks to help fill one of those two positions, it would uh alleviate some of that overtime and the stress being put on the firefighters moving shifts and doing that overtime. Um, we did meet with the commission on March 6. They did approve it. Um, and now we're asking for the council to approve it. Very

good. Thank you, Chief. Council, any questions on this matter? No. I mean, I think this is a obviously our firefighters do incredible work for the community and I mean, it's a stressful enough job anyway. Um, I think if we can relieve some of the burden in this direction, it's a it's a good way. So, I'm very supportive of it. That sounds like a motion. Yes. I would move to approve. There we go. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Very good. On to item number 19 is approving uh an offsale liquor license transfer to Austin South Highway Liquor LLC. Bri,

so we had a request for a liquor license transfer. Um this was previously held by Austin Highway Liquor LLC. Um we've received all the certified documents that are required for the license transfer. So we are just recommending approval. Very good. Council, any questions on item number 19? Move to approve. Second. Uh Bri, Council Member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. Hi. Council member Waller. Hi. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin. I. Resolution passes 5-0.

Thank you, Bri. Item number 20 is accepting donations of the city of Austin and it's resolution. The three uh gifts are a $200 gift from the Austin Parttime Fire Fighter Relief Association for wait room and $1,572.40 from Ble Schindler for benches and $1,500 from the Austin Eagles Club for the Nature Center cameras. We thank all those people and entities to help support our causes. Looking for a resolution approving those donations. So moved. Second Bri. Council member Hely. I. Council member Fischer. I. Council member Waller. I. Council member Baskin. I. Council member at large Austin.

I. Resolution passes 5-0. Thank you. Item number 21 is a motion granting the planning and zoning department the power to contract removal of junk and or legally stored vehicles at the following locations. 21A. the address 703 Fifth Street Northwest and 703 Fifth Street. Oh, that's the name of the LLC, not a name. It's 703 Fifth Street LLC property. Need a motion. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Item number 21B. The address is 1058th Street Northwest, the Fink property. So moved. Second. All in favor?

Opposed? Motion carries. 21C. The address 1306 11th Street Northwest, the Hastings property. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. 21D, address 7076 AB Southwest, the Batakari property. Need a motion. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. 21E the address 1112 First AB Northwest Adornic property. So moved. Second. All in favor?

Opposed? Motion carries. On to citizens addressing the council. Any citizens in the chambers wishing to speak with council uh with council items that weren't on the agenda. Well, Bob, welcome.

Bob [clears throat] Rosel representing the Austin Minnesota Area Pickle Ball Association. On behalf of the association, we just want to thank you all. Uh your cooperation, your guidance, uh your help [snorts] in getting this through um has not gone unnoticed uh by many of the people who play pickle ball in Austin and even the surrounding area. I want to make a special thank you to Jason and to the Austin Park and Recreation Board. You've been great. And I also want to ask Jason Baskin, did you try the uh pickle ball pasta? I if I had room in my suitcase, I would have brought some for you. Looks like regular pasta. I wondered what they do with those old used balls. Maybe [laughter] that's it. Anyway, now I'm glad I didn't. Thank you so much. We really appreciate this.

Thank you, Bob, for all your efforts and your association's efforts. And this is something, you know, city of Austin has certainly a lot of needs in all departments and particularly park and wreck. You know, this is an amenity that the city of Austin have presently. So, to add that on, it's a big deal. I know it's a it's taken over the world. So, we're happy to get eight courts for you here very soon. Hopefully by September, October. Thank you. Um Craig, anything?

Uh yes, mayor, members, I want to thank Senator Dornick. He uh helped get a hearing for us on Senate File 3689 that provides $28.4 million for a public safety building that would be provided through the extension of our local option sales tax. Uh this building would provide a home, new home for Austin Police Department. Uh so appreciate having that hearing in the Senate Tax Committee. Senator Chair and Senator Rest uh was very complimentary of Austin and wellreceived and uh bill was laid over [clears throat] for possible inclusion in the tax bill. So that's probably as best as we could hope for given the process in St. Paul. Uh other than that, Mr. Lang has an item of note.

Just like to touch quickly on our snow removal efforts over the last couple days. Um, first I'd like to thank, you know, our our street department folks as well as our sewer department and park and wreck. Everyone teamed up together to to work on this over the last couple days. And we, as you know, we did put a snow emergency into effect due to the volume of snow that was anticipated. Um, that will continue to be effective through 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Uh crews have worked uh Sunday from 6:00 am to 6 pm working during the storm. Uh this morning they were in at 1:00 a.m. starting to do downtown pickup and wind rowing of snow. Also back in residential areas plowing the legal side for plowing throughout the day today. Sanding uh those slippery areas that were too many to count. Maybe the whole city. Um and then tomorrow morning we'll be having another early start. We'll be starting at 4:00 a.m. We'll we'll finish picking up the wind rows in the downtown area that we didn't finish today and we'll get back into those. Um sanding our mains and secondaries and working in residentials, cleaning up throughout the day on Tuesday. Um in the office, we've fielded anywhere from 12 to 15 calls on the event. And so I think it that's that's more than we fielded in the past, but yet for a large event like this that impacts 27,000 people to get 12 to 15 calls is is very manageable. And of those calls, it was a wide variety of things from, you know, the plow just filled in my driveway to intersections that are getting piled a little bit too high, having some difficulty seeing to just general slippery roads and conditions of things with alleys and and everything that we have throughout the community. So, overall, um, like to again say thanks to our crews that were out there doing that work, long hours,

coming in early and and all of that. That's that's appreciated. So, uh, that's just a quick update on the snow event and where we're at with our snow emergency. Thank you, Stephen. Thank the crews for us for sure. Thank you. Uh, council Paul, anything? Nothing, your honor. Laura,

uh, I would echo my thanks to all the city employees who who do extra when we have a big snow emergency. And that includes, of course, our law enforcement and firefighters. Emergencies still happen even when conditions are terrible. So, thank you also to residents who did in fact just stay home and uh make everything easier. I also want to say I saw a lot of um Facebook communications both from law enforcement and from um regarding the snow emergency, so I feel like we're doing a good job of trying to get the message out. I know in addition to Facebook, it's going out to major media channels and so forth. So, I appreciate that. Um, I also want to mention that on Saturday, um, right before everything went crazy, [clears throat] um, the the library held a Comic-Con and, uh, my family was able to go and, uh, have my 8-year-old has not stopped talking about it. So, great event. Uh, not surprised, but, uh, just want to call out how well the the library does with programming for our community. So, great job, Julie.

Thank you, Laura. Jeff. Uh, yeah. I just want to echo my thanks to city staff, uh, everyone involved in the snow cleanup. Uh, big blizzard over the weekend, so they did a great job so far. So, thank you, Stephen, and your everyone involved. Thank you, Jeff. Jason,

yeah, I I would echo the thanks and I think it's been very well said already. You know, I know that, you know, it's easy as a resident to sit there and go, is my street plowed? That's kind of a core expectation, right? But it's the for the person who gets up at 12:45 in the morning and is exhausted all weekend. For the, you know, people that are, you know, doing extra that are, you know, moving around, family activities and things like that, it's a lot more than just a, hey, I'm going to show up and turn the plow on or, you know, do my job and, you know, make sure we can get emergency vehicles around. And so, know that we very much appreciate it. Um, and I know that our residents do as well. So, thank you guys. Thanks, Jason. Becky, nothing your honor.

Very good. The only thing I'd like to add is we in the consent agenda approve Pam Grub's appointment to the culture and arts commission and uh just you know hate to let these things kind of go by as just as a consent. The there's a lot of folks that serve on commissions and boards that need recognitions and we have we have a lot we do have a lot. We ask a lot of our citizens to step up and volunteer. Had the opportunity to sit with the fire civil service last week uh to approve that temporary uh position. Also the police civil service has been very very busy with hires. But these are these are citizens that sit in these boards and they're very thoughtful and uh in fact I can I can now say that one of our police civil service commission will have to resign because she was appointed a judge in district court over in Freeborn. So that's the kind of folks that serve on our commissions is very thoughtful people that really weed through and uh get all the details. So I appreciate all those folks and welcome Pam Grub Grubs to the uh to the culture and arts commission. With that looking for a motion to adjourn to April 6, 2026. Can I see

citizens address of the council? Oh, we had that didn't offer it up after the other gentleman spoke. [clears throat] Scott Silverberg,

2408 16th Avenue Southwest. um want to address one last meeting I was here and we kind of had a a not really we had a discussion but we did afterwards about taxes in Austin and how I said it's an older community and Councilman Heli said well you know our our studies show or whatever that we have a younger community and I agreed that that's a great thing that we do have a younger community in Austin and I guess I misspoke in trying to make it sound like we've got all these retirees here and nobody else. What I was trying to get across is that it's great to have the younger people, but a majority of the people in Austin are older and nearing retirement or in retirement. They own homes, they own businesses, some of them where the younger people, there's not those kind of jobs that allow them to buy a home to become, you know, a taxpayer, add to the tax dollars that the city can get. Therefore, I think that we're we're falling a little short on how we can get more people to be able to own their homes and stay in their homes as long as they could. So, and and my explanation there was that our taxes continue to rise and for a lot of these people that are either nearing retirement or retired are going to be kind of on a fixed income. Therefore, as the taxes continue to increase the way they have been, as I stated last time, it was like on average every 10 years your taxes are going to double. And if you look at somebody that's nearing retirement or retired in those 10-year period when they're on a fixed income, how are they going to be able to absorb that and stay in their homes? So that that's my concern why I talk about our tax dollars and how they're being

spent because everybody, you hear this all the time when you're growing up. Live within your means. And I know you guys have to struggle with a lot of issues of where do monies go? How do we get the monies to pay for these things? My my biggest concern with what's happened with our city is that tax dollars have been spent on properties, some which are nonprofit properties which we purchased and we pay to buy them. we pay to level the properties in some instances or we take properties off the tax roles that were given to a nonprofit so it doesn't return any money into the tax base and it's like what is the return on the investment I mean we can you know the church on Fourth Street you know 275,000 I don't know what it costs to level that property and there it sits a property with no tax being collected on it we had the Plunket property given to KSMQ. We tore it down, allowed them to build on it. Supposed to be part of the revitalization of downtown Austin. I don't know what it really revitalized. It's a nice building, but there's no tax dollars there either because they're a nonprofit. And then we had another nonprofit take over the TV6 property, which the city bought, which was being taxed, and it's given to SIM CAC to build on there. Then we have the Salvation Army. No taxes on that, of course, because it's a nonprofit. And there that building sits. And then we had the Herald property purchased, tore down at city's expense, too. Nothing there. Tax dollars gone that was being paid on the building that exists. And then we had the, you know, going back away, the Sinclair station down there on Oakland Avenue, purchased, tore down, no tax dollars coming back into the city coffers. Well, we're spending all these

dollars and I'm wondering where's the return on the investment of those dollars. And you say, well, we're taking them out of the flood plane and I I understand that issue to a degree. Now, the recent thing is that El Pel came up and stood guard and travel be purchased. Now, city can get money from the DNR to help in this flood mitigation. And we're taking these tax dollars of going to be over half a million dollars and we're going to tear down two buildings which are owned which do pay flood insurance and taking them off the tax roles to have what they're tore down. There's no return on that investment to me. And how long before we turn around and tear down the arena? you know, it's in the flood plane. Um, I have I have to say Lauren Heli had commented just because they're old doesn't mean they're historical. I got to look back on the the turpp when it was the turpp. My parents were from St. Paul, Minneapolis. They came to Austin for a New Year's dance. That's where they met. And they came here to live in Austin. for most of their life we have lived in Austin. So people have different connections to these that mean a lot. I mean going back to I mean just the people that have been in Austin. We we've done some things of taking care of uh what I call historic. We've got the Hormal Home, beautiful property. It adds its history to Austin. Got the Paramont Theater adds history Austin. They're not on the National Register of Historic Places that I'm aware of. Maybe the Hormone Home might be, but the Parammont isn't. And then down at Skinner Hill Flood Plane, we've got the Banshill done a wonderful job taking care of that and

preserving that. I mean, and the historic history about that is of the people that have been in Austin and have, you know, performed there. Uh, Abbott and Costello performed them. uh George Burns, Gracie Allen, Philip Soua performed there. Okay, to me that's that's some history. And then you look at El Pel, Johnny Cash, Beach Boys, things like that, performers that have played there that are iconic. And not to mention wedding receptions. My sister had their wedding reception there. other events that were done by El Pel brought in Mexican entertainers for our Spanish community, which was always loaded down there. Instead of tearing these things down, I wish that we had a way to preserve them and add to them to bring more people to town in that regard. They are paying, like I said, the taxes on them. They're paying flood insurance and the city wants to go in and spend, you know, over a half a million dollars to take them out for what? When Holiday Dodge went out, that whole area had to be cleaned up. Now, I hate to say it, but you look at it, looks like crap with all the weeds and stuff growing up, and it's supposed to be wildlife or something there. It doesn't look very appealing. If you drove into town and saw that, it doesn't look very appealing to people. I mean even the arena you can say that's a historic place because I mean when I was growing up just named quite a few saw blue oyster cult there black oak Arkansas Bachman Turner Overdrive Foreigner Nick Gilner Ted Na Eddie Money Rush and the Doobie brothers were going to play there but the Doobie brothers if you didn't know got flooded out one year speaking of floods so they had and this was on their final tour like they always do. So they had one more open date the next weekend and they rescheduled it. What happened? We got

flooded out again. I mean, so so I understand those concerns of the flood issues, but I want to know what are the return on the investments that we get from buying these properties, taking them off the tax role. Where do those t tax dollars come from then? Is it coming from the remainder of the people in Austin because well, we spent those tax dollars and what are we getting for them? We're getting higher taxes because you need more money because you've spent that money acquiring properties that nothing's been done to build on them or whatever to bring in a tax base. And that's my concern about how our taxes continue to go up. I know there's certain things in Austin we need that we need to pay taxes for. All about that. Well, when I feel that some tax dollars are being spent to acquire properties that don't generate any more tax dollars, that's my concern there. And you know, I don't mean to be down here always complaining about this part, but I don't I don't have an explanation that makes me feel good about it. And I and a lot of other people mention this to me, and I I'm really disappointed in some of our city residents that complain to me. I was on the radio for 30 years. So they think I've got some poll to do whatever. And I said, "No, you got to be part of the process and come down, let you people know what they feel, but to get them to show up sometimes is really, you know, I said, you don't have to speak to show up that you're there and, you know, be a part of the process in that sense because like I said, we've lost a lot of information. [snorts] Television being gone. Eric's here from the paper. It's good to see that still surviving. A radio station that I worked at for 30 years of my life. My parents were there for 50 years. And they have no staff. Nobody covers you. Nobody. We have no real understanding of what's going on until maybe it's already done. Then the television station will put something

on. Eric does a great job giving as much information as he can. But I just feel we're underserviced in that regards to know what's going on or to let everybody within the city know. And I know we've discussed this about how to get that information more out to the public so they're more informed. And I guess that's that's all I have to say right now. And I hope when I come here I'm not sounding like a crazy person always complaining. Thank you, Mr. Appreciate your comments. Thank you. looking for a motion to adjourn to April 6, 2026. Oh, Stephen wants to address. So,

forgive me if I'm overstepping, but on on item number nine, council awarded the bid for the pickle ball courts, but there were two other items there that uh Mr. Cihan was asking for regarding budget changes to actually fund that. Do you are you I assume the emotion included those. I assumed it included them as well. I'd be happy to vote on them separately if we need to. I may have missed that. I just wanted to bring that up. Yeah, I'm good with all three of them. Yeah. Yeah. I think we voted it assuming that. Thank you. How the motion was worded, but or who made it? I thought it was you, Jason, but yeah. Three. Who did make the motion? Jason. I think it was Jason.

Yeah. Then I would be happy to be clear that I made the motion encompassing all the requested changes. Council member Waller who was included. Ellie Waller. Ellie Waller. Council member Hely. Seconded by council member Waller. Sure. Okay. Laura, were you including all three options? Yes. Okay. To clarify the motion that we already voted on and approved. It not only awards the bid, but also makes two a budget adjustment and a uh capital improvement plan adjustment as noted in the agenda. Agreed. Clarity now, Stephen. Good. Okay. Hey, better to do it now than have to get back to

I kind of wondered that, too. I think it's clarity enough Mr. Bram. Okay. And we don't need to vote again. For a motion to adjourn to Monday, April 6th. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed. We're adjourned. Took a five-minute break to the work session.