City Council - Regular Meeting

Afternoon. It is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 3rd, 20126. We will call the city council meeting of the city of New to order. The first item of business is the consent agenda. Councilors, what are your wishes? So move. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. I. That motion does carry. Second item is item 2.1, a public hearing on the proposed 2026 surface reconstruction project. Mr. Stoddeim.

All right. Thank you, Madam President. City councilors, uh, the city council has previously scheduled a public hearing on the proposed 2026 surface reconstruction project. City staff prepared and mailed uh hearing notices to the 35 affected uh parcels being um adjacent to the proposed projects. We have two project locations uh for consideration today as part of this project and those include Jonathan Drive from Summit Avenue to the south leg of Macintosh Drive and Cottonwood Street from Broadway to Bridge Street. Uh hearing notices were prepared, mailed. Um, these projects were included in the 2026 capital improvement uh plan which was reviewed and adopted at your November 25th November 6, 2025 meeting. Um, it would be staff's recommendation today to open up the public hearing for public comments on these two locations. Uh, staff has not received any written or oral objections to the proposed projects to date.

Wonderful. Thank you. At this time, we will open the public hearing. If you have a question or would like to be heard, please come up to the microphone and state your name and your address for the record. Again, these are um for the two projects uh Jonathan Drive from Summit Avenue to the south leg of Macintosh Drive and Cottonwood Street from Broadway to Bridge Street. Good afternoon. I'm AnnAise Johnson. I live at two Jonathan Drive. Thank you for the opportunity. I just am wondering what the timing of the road construction on Jonathan will be and also um if you have calculated any potential assessments for the residents on that street. Thank you.

Yep. All right. U Miss Johnson, uh the proposed project timeline would be generally the street department performs these projects after the 4th of July. um kind of late July into early August is when the anticipated start would be. Uh city staff from the street department would contact you prior to the project commencing. Probably give you about a week's notice or so. As far as the proposed assessment amounts, uh the assessments for the surface reconstruction projects are conducted on a per bar parcel basis excluding those um corner lots. There's two corner lots on Jonathan that have two frontages. They would receive two assessments for the project, but your parcel is looking at an assessment amount of $2,140 and that will be payable over a 10-year period.

Thank you. You're welcome. Is there anyone else that would like to be heard? Without anyone else, I'll offer the resolution and close the public hearing ordering in the 2026 surface reconstruction project and authorize the city engineer to prepare the project plans and specifications and authorize the street department to construct the project. Second. Thank you. We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. Councelor Christian, yes. Councelor Warma, yes. Councelor Mack, yes. And President Becker, yes. That motion does carry. Item 2.2 Two is a public hearing on the proposed 2026 utility street and alley improvement projects. Again, Mr. Stoddeim.

All right. Thank you, Madam President. City councilors. Uh the second and final public hearing that we've scheduled tonight includes the 2026 utility street and alley improvement project. Uh this project consists of eight unique project locations throughout the city. Uh, first one would be State Street from 12th North to 16th North, Oakwood Avenue from Hazlewood to Hollywood. Alley blocks 15, excuse me, alley blocks 54, 55, 56, 57 south of Center Street, alley block 182 north of Center Street, and then finally, we have a miscellaneous concrete sidewalk and pedestrian improvement section of the project. Uh this year as well, hearing notices were prepared by city staff and mailed to those affected by the proposed projects. It would be staff's recommendation to open the public hearing and go through the project locations one by one for those wishing to be heard today. Again, uh notices were mailed out and we have not received any written or oral objections to this project as well.

Thank you, Mr. Stoddeim. At this time, we will open the public hearing for these proposed projects. If you would like to be heard or have a question, please come to the microphone and state your name and your address for the record. Gordon Batsoff, 1110 North Minnesota Street. I own the properties at 1400 North State and 61814 North. and I'm concerned uh what what the assessment is to my corner lot and the property on the back half of the same lot which is a separate property. Um when 14th North was reconstructed a few years ago, I paid paid one share for each of those properties and there were other people who had the same footage who only paid one share because it was one property. and I want to I'm concerned that I'm going to get double build because I have two properties with one corner lot.

Madam President, city councilors, um the assessments are based on the actual frontage. Um so being that you only have one parcel with the frontage on State Street, that would be the only parcel being proposed to be assessed. uh city council policy that dates back to the 90s on the assessments is uh um residential reconstructions are based on a per parcel basis for for assessments. Um so regardless of frontage um I think that you know can't speak for the council at that time but the methodology there was that um being that it's a residential uh segment that um the assessments are levied on a per parcel basis as opposed to frontage being that you know a residents will be use those roadway frontages the you know in the same regard. So the council at that time elected to go with the per parcel basis and that's been the policy for assessments since the 90s. Um the assessment mode being proposed uh on State Street uh for a residential uh segment or residential parcel is $4,750 on the USA project.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hi, Ruth Anne Webster, 812 South German. Um, on our alley, two I've got two questions. Number one is what can we expect uh for an assessment? And number two, we've got some old um lilac bushes on the back and I'm wondering um how we should figure out how to uh you know, trim those back so that the work can be done.

All right. Hi, Miss Webster. Uh, as far as the lilocks are concerned, I did not see any notes within the project plans that staff has been working on that those would be affected. But, um, I can make a note here and have staff just touch base with you to see if they need to be trimmed or anything like that prior to project commencing. Um, and then as far as assessment amounts, have to get to the right spreadsheet here, so my apologies. So, the assessments are being proposed at $65 per lineal foot.

All right. I can I can do the math. Okay. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you all for coming and for being involved. Would anyone else care to be heard?

Hello, my name is Jeremy Lang. I live at 1605 Oakwood Avenue. I was just curious what the assessment cost may be and like the timeline. Hi, Mr. Lang. Um, the assessment amount again is at 44,750 is being proposed for a residential reconstruct. project timeline um for the project. If the council orders in the improvements tonight, uh we would probably open bids uh early, probably middle of next month. Okay.

Um at that time, then we would get a contractor on board, execute the contracts, and um it's really up to the contractors what their schedule will be. So, my best answer right now is sometime in June or July uh with a possible start. Uh contractor would be able to provide more information. So, um, provided, uh, improvements get ordered in tonight, um, I would recommend reaching out to my office in May and I can give a better idea of, um, what the contractor shared for project schedule. Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you. Being I don't see anybody else wants to come up to the mic, I'm going to offer the resolution, close the public hearing ordering in the 2026 utility street and alley improvement project and authorize the city manager to prepare the project plans and specs. Second. Thank you. We do have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. Councelor Christian, yes. Councelor Warma, yes. Councelor Mack, yes. President Becker, yes. That motion does carry. Item 3.1 is a raffles gambling permit for Sue Trails Ducks Unlimited number 0020.

I'll up for a motion to approve the issuance of lawful gambling permit for Sue Trails Ducks Unlimited 0020 to conduct raffles gambling at New Legion 13 South Minnesota Street New Saturday March 21st 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I I. That motion does carry. Item 3.2 is a BNL bar liquor license extension for Baggin in the street event.

All right. Couple of questions. I mean, this one comes up a lot. The problems. We're all aware of the issues. Uh Mr. Stoddeim had given us a report a while back at a work session on the issues with uh Am I correct? We're one of the only cities that closes alley rightaways. I can't speak to that uh necessarily if we're one that closes alleys or not for public events, but

Joe, we had a work session on this and can you give is there any I thought we might have an update of of uh potential options that uh you were going to work out with the city attorney on how we should recommend procedure for the future.

Yes. So, the draft rightway event policy that was presented uh late last year at a work session. Uh we've kind of consulted with the city attorney and working on some revisions that'll be brought back at future work session. Um manager Dalton, I'm not sure if we're doing that in February or March, but kind of in the first quarter of uh this year is what we were anticipating to get further guidance and direction from council on how you want us to proceed with uh with the policy. It'll probably come in we'll probably do it in March. Um February we have another topic that's slightly more pressing than than that one. And this is a more than just the alleyway itself. This is ParkPlace city parking lot. This is a lot of area that the police monitor. And we haven't had issues with Chief Borard. He has never stated one complaint from a problem that's come of this.

And until we have some type of an event agreement, which I'll have my own thoughts on when we revisit, um I think that we need to continue to just do these on a one-off basis as we have been in the past until we have something uh a little bit more um encompassing in place. I mean, could we ask Mr. Comm to maybe monitor it or have a, you know, uh, some sort of security measures or that people aren't so we don't get the calls for the other constituents? You know, I know with this being trying to be reasonable, right? I know that this being it's not a BNL event. This is a chamber of commerce event that there is more

people, spectators. there's a lot more volunteers that are out there present and amongst the community. I mean, it's a well-received event. So, I don't want to stop that. Well, and I agree with uh council chair or president that until we have something in place to base our decision or rec recommendations on, we're we're on uneven ground, if you will. Uh want to be consistent going forward. So, at this point, I don't think we can fall back on the whatifs, but basically what is and like councilman um Wormka said, there haven't been issues reported by Chief Borard at this time. So going on that information I would support.

Thank you mayor. I be being what this one is is like uh I don't go wrong cadet with the chamber or whatnot. I'll go along this time but I do look for that in the future with our alley closing and whatnot. Mhm. Well, I won't I won't bucket this round, but

yeah, I'm okay with it, you know, and trying to be consistent. And so with that, I'll offer the resolution to authorize the extension of the B&L bar liquor license into closed alley area on the requested dates, time, and the alley between Center Street and First North. First North and Broadway Park Place City Parking lot across from City Hall. Saturday, February 28th, 2026, beginning 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. for begging in the street events subject to conditions. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. Councelor Christian, yes. Councelor Wormka, yes. Councelor Mack, yes. President Ber,

yes. That motion does carry. Moving on to new business. Item 4.1 is a deer control program summary. Council President, counselors, um this or last year 2025, um we saw an increase in in deers uh or deers taken. Let's go that right. Um so we we're up about seven deer um close to where we were in 2022. Um but still below where I'd like us to be around that little bit above 60 um where we were back in 2018, 2019. So um this year or for 2026. We're going to do the um what is it? Double earn a buck. I think that's what it's called. Earn a buck program for 2026. Um which should help out. Um but we do fill all our stands every single year. Um they do move the stands if they're not seeing deer in certain areas to other ones where people are reporting deer. Um so Dusty and his assistant um are very good about moving everyone around to make sure those deer stands are being used. So, um I would continue doing the the deer hunt cuz the population will get out of control.

Oh, absolutely. So, motion to accept the 2025 uh summary and we authorize the 2026 special archery deer control program. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. I. That motion does carry. Item 4.2 is an appointment to the Sister Cities Commission. I'll approve the appointment of Tamara FTH to the Sister Cities Commission for a three-year term ending December 31st, 2028. Second. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I.

I. That motion carries. Thank you and welcome Tamara. Item 4.3 is a bombag rubber tire roller equipment repair. Hello, Mr. Hoffman. I think you have some information for us.

Hello, Madam President. City Councilman, Jeff Hoffman, public works superintendent. Um, our 2022 rubber tire roller, uh, hydraulic pump went out on it and or hydraulic motor went out on it and it contaminated the whole hydraulic system. So, we took it up to RMS Road Machinery Supplies and they checked it over and we're working with Bulmag. They would replace, they would warranty because it's out of warranty. It's it's a 2022 and there's only $300 on it. That's the bugger about it that but um they would warranty the pump itself that went out. But there's another pump in there, a travel pump and another hydraulic motor. If those are contaminated bad enough where they did some scoring on the pistons and stuff in the pumps, those pumps would have to be replaced. And the total bill to clean everything and to replace those two pumps would be 63,124.98. If those pumps just can get cleaned and uh they can clean the system, it would be somewhere in the $40,000 range.

But they're not going to guarantee 100% that they're going to get all the metal out. So, it's uh I just wanted a direction which way to go. I did price out a new bow roller and it comes in at 989 and they would give us around 9,000 for the damaged roller that's um broken down right now. Yeah. But it's Yeah, it's a tough one to call and I'm not going to guarantee that they're going to get all the metal out. That's the problem

in my mind. Are we just better off get a new machine? I know how that goes with equipment like well the cost is now we found this now we're at 70,000 another 20 and a brand new machine right just with another warranty right you know so that would be my recommendation but it and I'm still working with the salesman I talked to him again today and he said he's working hard to get a better price if we would go that route so Jeeoff how what kind of warranty is on a new machine one year one on your everything.

So, if we go spend say 60 grand on our 2022 unit, do we have a warranty with it or anything? No, they wouldn't really give us much of a warranty cuz they can't guarantee they're going to get all the metal out,

but they said they can be anywhere from 95%. you know, they're confident they can get most of it out. But these rollers, I have it on a 20-year cycle cuz, like I say, we only put about $100 on a year. So, it, you know, it lasts a long time. We use it for reconstruct, seal coat, and our gravel road maintenance is what we basically use it for in the summer and that's about it. And so, it's kind of on a 20-year cycle, and that's the way they've been lasting. But this one kind of caught up with us and but there's a contractor in town that has the same roller and they have not had any problems with it. So we're just one of the unlucky ones.

This is a piece of equipment that sits in our 601 fund. So it's not in a budgeted fund. It's not a fund that directly gets tax levy dollars either. So this doesn't affect the tax levy, right? Um and it's actually a fund that is quite healthy and we try to keep it healthy so that when these things happen or when we need to make the big equipment purchases um that money is there um what happens is all the departments pay into this fund every year um based on the equipment that they do have. So that's where the money that comes from to help with that. So indirectly it affects the tax levy but not Yeah. I mean, if we can get a new new unit for 878 $88,000, I mean, we're talking 20 grand difference really

with warranty and not compromised. Well, could we have you come back next meeting in two weeks and see if you have some more solid numbers? Yeah, I can. But it just Yeah, if that's the route we want to go because if they got to if we were going to go out and fix it, I'd like to get working on it now because we need it. Uh middle of May is when we start. Mhm. we're going to need it and it's going to take a while to fix if that's the route we're going to go. Do they have a machine available if say if we were going to buy a machine? He was checking into that. I talked to him today like I said and he was checking into it and he would think he thought they would possibly have one by May for sure.

My question is were you given any information about how this could have happened? Like did something get in there that caused the motor to go out? Was there a safety issue? Like was somebody operating it and it just stopped on them? Like how do like they give you no information of what would cause this to go out after 3 years when it looks like it's on a 20-year?

Yeah. No, it we our the guy that operated, he noticed it was making a growling noise in the back when we were seal coating and then we checked it out a little further. Had our mechanics check it out and then we took it up to RMS and they checked it out and this is what they found. And it's he said the one of the hydraulic pumps motors on the right side went out and and they didn't have an answer of why it went out and it just happened. Okay. Stuff happens.

All right. Well, you know, we have these equipment funds for a reason. I'm sure that we have healthy balances in there cuz Nicole always does a good job with that. So, um yeah, I would just I would rather look at just getting it replaced. Um, but can you remind me we had some conversation. What are kind of the wishes of the council here? I'm leaning more towards Yeah. Tell that salesman to sharpen his pencil. Yeah. Yeah. Come back in two weeks with Okay. I'll see what I can do. I agree. We're leaning towards just a full replacement. So, okay. All right. Thank you. All right. Sounds good. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, so I will still need a motion for this. I'll make a motion to table the repair of the 2022 bombard rubber tired roller for the public works department and till next council session. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second to table any further discussion. Those in favor signal by saying I. I. I. That motion does carry. Our last item of business today is item 5.1 which is our report of claims paid. I'll make a motion to accept the list of claims paid in the amount of $3,56,441.50. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. I. That motion does carry and with no additional business, the meeting today is adjourned. Thank you.