City Council - Regular Meeting

There's no particulates in here. Smells of ammonia. Okay. Well, good afternoon.

It is 4.30 on Tuesday, July 7th, 2026. We will call the City Council meeting of the City of New Ulm to order. But before we do that, Chris has a question for our City Attorney, Mia.

Mia, we do not have, or we only have three councillors here today, and we have two public hearings and assessment meetings.

resolutions that need four-fifths vote can we still conduct the public hearing portion of that today or do we have to pull the items and wait until um our first meeting in august you said that there's only three council members present and you need four-fifths vote yeah i think you have to pull the items um let me quick double check with attorney scott and i will get back to you for sure okay

Okay, so should we wait? We'll just go through and then skip the public hearing portions and then when she comes back on.

Okay, so we'll jump down to 2.3 then. Consent agenda first. Well, at this time, the first item of business is the consent agenda. Counselors, what are your wishes? So moved.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. So we will move down to 2.3 then. which is, sorry, my computer's slow, a public hearing for noise variance for the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce Crazy Days.

I'll offer a motion to conduct a public hearing here and pass upon objections, whether presented orally or in written related to noise variance. This is a public hearing. If there's anybody in the audience who wishes to be heard. Well, I'm not hearing anybody come forward for the public hearing, so I'm gonna motion to close the public hearing and offer the resolution For the public hearing, closing, authorizing the request from the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce for a noise variance to permit amplified sound music during crazy days on Minnesota Street between First North and Center Streets for the following Friday, July 24th, 2026 from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, July 25th, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. David?

Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any additional discussion? Those in favor, or wait one second, sorry, Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councillor Christian. Yes. Councillor Mack. Yes. And Councillor Warnke.

Yes. That motion does carry. Our city attorney's back on. Mia, do you have an answer?

I do, yes. Thank you for your patience. I just wanted to double check. So there's no super majority vote required for those special assessment hearings, so you guys are good to proceed with the amount of people that you have present.

Cool, perfect. Thank you so much.

Yeah, of course.

Okay, so we'll move back to 2.1, item number 2.1, the 2025 Surface Reconstruction Project Final Assessment Public Hearing.

All right, thank you, Mr. Vice Chair and council members. Council has scheduled two public hearings tonight, both in which reference the 2025 construction projects. The first one scheduled is the 2025 surface reconstruction project. That project was conducted by the city street department, included roadway segments on 23rd North Street, 11th South Street, 5th North Street, 15th South Street and Summit Avenue. Special assessment amounts were calculated according to the methodology outlined in the report from myself regarding the 2025 CIP, which was received and adopted by the council on November 19th of 2024. It is believed that the methodology utilized to calculate the assessments provides an amount approximate to the market value increase, and therefore is an approximate market analysis. The amount recommended to be specially assessed for the 2025 surface reconstruction project is one hundred forty three thousand one hundred seventy three dollars Approximately thirty two and a half percent of the final project cost The methodology and amounts and assessment roles are in your packet for consideration This is a public hearing and my recommendation would be going through project location by project location for those wishing to be heard today. I Be happy to answer any questions that come up during the hearing or any questions that council may have at this time.

Yes, the city engineer Stotheim stated, please come to the mic and state your name and address if you'd like to be heard. But we'll start with number one, 23rd North Street from North Broadway to Terrace Drive. Number two, 11th South Street from Payne Street to Jefferson Street. Number three, Fifth North Street from Broadway to German Street. Number four, 15th Salt Street from State Street to Jefferson Street, or Washington Street, sorry. And last on this, Summit Avenue from State Park Road to Gulf Drive. Sure. Yep, go to the microphone.

Tom Totland, 1313 Summit Avenue. I was just trying to figure out the total, that $2,140 for me to pay for the little segment, and it doesn't run my whole, what do you call it, property from where it starts, you know, from... where Larry Reinhart's place is to mine. I'm right directly across from Flandreau where it goes down and then got the golf course. So that's where I'm, to me, I thought $2,140 was a little over. And that's why I wanted to come in and talk. Because I've got picture here that shows where the county one that they did the year before where that stopped and where the next year when the city did theirs to go into the golf course on down and it shows you know on the picture that it's like halfway through my property line in the middle so that's where I'm trying to come up figure out is if it would have went from Larry's property line which would be to the northwest, how the road fits, and then go down to the golf course. Then I could see it runs the whole property, but this only goes half. Would it be twice that amount if it would have ran from where Larry's and my property line is by the electrical boxes? straight across from Flandreau entrance, would it have been double that amount? You know what I'm saying? Yep. Mr. Totland?

Totland? Totland. Totland. Thank you for the question, Mr. Vice President, State Councilors. The way the assessments are assessed are on a per parcel basis for the surface reconstruction project. So the short answer to your question is no. It would have been the same amount regardless of the frontage you had. So in calculating the assessments for this project, we typically use a 50 foot lot, which would be normal size lot in the grid system of New Ulm. We measured the frontage that received the improvement on your parcel at 56 feet So staff deemed that it was appropriate to assign benefit of this part project to your parcel Which is consistent with the city's assessment policy within the 2025 capital improvement report So instead of based on frontages the city assess on a per parcel basis Regardless of their frontage you have a hundred feet of frontage Your assessment would be the same of a lot that has 60 feet of frontage because it's on that per parcel basis.

So I should be lucky that it wasn't 10 feet. I'd still be charged the same amount.

Well, there would have been a point in there where we would have deemed there wasn't a benefit applied to it. But being that it was over half of your frontage, we felt that it was appropriate to assign the benefit of the assessment.

So I'm stuck with that one.

Well, unless council feels otherwise.

You know what I mean? I'm very familiar with that, though. Our past practice is what we've done with the 50-foot in the old grid section for everybody benefiting from it. I mean, I know you would not be in here if $2,100, one parcel at 160 feet wide, you'd be very happy. You kind of see what I'm saying?

I know what I'm saying, yeah. But I didn't understand how that came up. So that's what I was looking and seeing if there was a chance of, all right, only half of it will knock half off and, you know.

MR. VICE PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCILORS, SO THE OTHER PORTION THAT WAS DONE BY BROWN COUNTY, THE COUNTY DOESN'T ASSESS FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. THAT WAS A BROWN COUNTY PROJECT BECAUSE THE STATE PARK ROAD IS CASADA 26.

THAT'S WHAT I GATHERED WHEN YOU AND I WERE TALKING LAST WEEK.

SO AT SOME FUTURE TIME, IF THE CITY WERE TO EVER DO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COUNTY SEGMENT, I FIND IT UNLIKELY. YOU KNOW, DEPENDING WHAT THE SCOPE IS AT THAT TIME, THAT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROJECT, DIFFERENT METHODOLOGY. would have to take into account this project and for anything in the future. So as far as I'm concerned, we probably shouldn't be touching any of your frontage anytime in the close future here.

Okay.

So we're... You got it explained to you? I mean, understand the methodology?

The letters will go out after this hearing, probably tomorrow or later next week, I think, and then, yeah, you'll be able to pay the finance office.

That's where the 30 days comes in after the letter goes out?

Yep.

Okay, all right. Yeah, the letters will have all sets of instructions, and you can certainly call me if you have further questions after that.

You'll more than likely have until the end of October to pay here before it's sent to the county.

Okay, and again, it's still a 30-day after the letter?

I think so, but I think we'll probably have more time allowed just because we're a little ahead of schedule.

Because our finance staff won't certify that to the county probably until mid to late October.

Late October, mid-November.

Yeah, so you'll have a little longer window to make some payments if you choose to do so.

Okay. All right. Thanks. Thank you, sir.

Thank you for the question. That was the last one. Anybody else wants to come to the mic? I'll offer the resolution, close the public hearing, and adopting the final assessment rules for the 2025 surface reconstruction project, payable over a 10-year period, along with a 5% civil interest charge on the unpaid balance.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councillor Christian. Yes. Councillor Mack. Yes. And Councillor Wormka.

Yes. That motion does carry. Moving on to 2.3. Public hearing for, oh, nope, I'm sorry. Moved up a click. 2.2, 2025 Utility Street and Alley Improvement Project Final Assessment Public Hearing.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, City Councilors. Same process, but this is for the 2025 Utility Street and Alley Improvement Project. Those project locations included Bridge Street, Lakeside Village addition, those were the initial roadway improvements for the public improvements that were left remaining as part of that development from 2005. Alley block 59 and 60, south of Center Street, and then miscellaneous concrete sidewalks and ADA improvements. Again, this project was assessed per the methodology within the 2025 capital improvement report. Hearing notices have been sent to those property owners receiving benefits. A total amount recommended to be specially assessed is about $1.4 million, or 47% of the estimated final project cost of $2.98 million. Again, the methodology, final assessments, and the notices are included in your packet for your consideration. Once again, I would recommend that we go through the project locations on each basis, answer any questions the public may have, and I'd be happy to answer any questions from the council as well.

Very good. So once again, if you'd like to be heard, please state your name and address into the microphone, but we'll start with number one, Bridge Street from Cottonwood Street to Tower Road. Number two, Lakeside Village Edition. Sure.

Michael Bevins on Village Lane. I'm kind of confused that I was told that it was supposed to be all the same dollar amounts, but I've pulled up public records and we're all getting paid. We're not charged the same amount. So like I'm paying $19,488.39 and my neighbor's paying $19,173. So my question on here, what does this mean, amount assessed as of a market, Yes, market value. Mine is at 6.2%, and my neighbor is at 5.15%.

All right, Mr. Bevins and city councilors. The roadway improvements in Lakeside Village Edition are assessed on a per parcel basis, splitting the construction costs equally across all parcels receiving benefit. The only exception to that is the amount of seven-inch concrete driveway pavement that is poured for each parcel. As driveway widths are different and may vary slightly, that item for the AREA OF CONCRETE DRIVEWAY IS ASSESSED SEPARATELY FROM THE REST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS. SO WHEN WE FIGURED THE FINAL CONTRACT COST AND CONSTRUCTION COST, WE SUBTRACT OUT ALL OF THE 7-INCH CONCRETE DRIVEWAY PAVEMENT AND THEN go through, determine that total or the cost per parcel, and then each parcel gets added in separately, that seven-inch concrete driveway. So that creates that slight variation between parcels.

And then my other question is, so the main road, Lake Ave., How was that assessed? Because that there is what I was told is thicker pavement due to the gravel pit. Did the gravel pit have to take that portion or was that put onto us living out there on part of our

So the extra bituminous pavement that was placed down on Lake Avenue was picked up. That cost was picked up by the city bond. We removed that extra pavement from the final project cost, which is used to determine the assessed amount per parcel. So that amount was not included. That was subtracted out.

Okay. All right. And then my other question for this is there's... We've only had it been a year, not even. And there's already sidewalks cracking and issues out there. Who do we address those concerns to?

My staff can go out and take a look and review any concrete that's cracked. So I'll make a note of that and have Kyle run out there.

33 Village Lane is one of them that's cracking already.

Thank you. I'll go for a walk over there tomorrow.

And then my other, so then we have 10 years to pay this total, and then is that, do we make it, is it a part of property tax? I'm a brand new homeowner, so I don't know nothing about this, and that's why I'm.

It will be assessed to your property, unless you choose to prepay any or all of it before it is assessed to your taxes. Otherwise, once it's on your taxes, it'll be over 10 years that you would make.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Thank you for the questions. Yeah. Thank you, City Engineer Steinheim. Moving along to number three, Alley Block 59, south of Center Street. Number four, alley block 60 south of Center Street. And last, number five, miscellaneous concrete sidewalk and ADA improvements.

Well, I'm not hearing anybody come forward for any other properties, so I'll offer the resolution, close the public hearing, adopting the final assessment roles for the 2025 utility street and alley improvement projects, payable over a 10-year period, along with a 5% simple interest charge on the unpaid balance. Second.

We do have a motion and a second. Is there any additional discussion?

Director Jorgensen, please call the roll. Yes. Yes.

That motion does carry. Moving back to 2.4. Thank you. Computer is not working well today. That would be the public hearing for the noise variance for the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce spiking in the street.

Okay. Not seeing anybody here for the public hearing for spiking in the streets, so I'll offer the motion. And let me just find my, let's see here. conduct a public hearing here and pass upon objectives, whether presented orally or written, request for noise variance subject to quent public hearing, offer the resolution closing the public hearing, authorizing a request from the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce for a noise variance to permit amplified sound music during spiking in the street on Minnesota Street between 2nd North and Center Streets for the following Friday, July 31st, 2026 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, August 1st, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any additional discussion? Once again, Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christian. Yes. Councilor Mack. Yes. And Councilor Womka.

Yes, that motion does carry. Yeah, we did that first. Okay. So we're moving to item number 3.1, which is to rescind the liquor license extension for Crazy Days.

I'll offer the resolution rescinding 209 Pub and Grill and Kaiserhoff K-Bar extension of the liquor license for Crazy Days on Minnesota Street from 1st North to Center Street from Friday, July 24th at 2 p.m. until Sunday, July 26th at 12 p.m. Minnesota Street from 3rd North to 1st North from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 26th. and First North from Minnesota Street to Alley from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. following the Chamber's decision to revise the street closures for Crazy Days event, eliminating the closure on Minnesota Street from First North to Third North Street.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christian?

Yes.

Councilor Mack? Yes. And Councilor Warnke?

Yes, that motion does carry. Moving to 3.2, the temporary on-sale liquor license for Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

I'll offer a motion to approve the issuance of temporary on-sale liquor license for Cathedral of Holy Trinity, Holy Cross, AFC to sell alcohol at church festival located at Brown County Fairgrounds, 1201 North State Street on Sunday, August 30th, 2026, subject to compliance with all city and state requirements. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signals by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. 3.3, a temporary on-sale liquor permit for music for omission.

I'll motion to approve the issuance of a temporary on sale liquor permit for the Music for a Mission to sell alcohol at the TAZ LLC for Thompson Street on Saturday, August 29th, 2026, subject to compliance with all city and state requirements.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. Now moving to 4.1, the preliminary plot of Oak Bluff 11th Edition.

Mr. Knisely. Good evening, Councilors. John Knisely, planner with the City of New Ulm. This is a plat for Oak Bluffs, 11th edition, located at 1444, 1440, and 1438 6th North Street. I believe Stephen will be pulling up a picture here so we can all see it on the screen in just a second of where this is located at. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the preliminary plat with conditions at their June 25th, 2026 meeting. The plat area has a total of 1.62 acres and this area will be platted to convert two lots into three lots. A twin home is planned for the proposed lots two and three and a single family dwelling is proposed for lots one. Here, I think we're getting the picture up. We did have further information that was in the attached reports of the Planning Commission dated June 21, 2026. Steven, if you wouldn't mind just going up a little bit. There we go. So just to give you an idea of what's going on here.

This is 6 North Street.

The Chancery is located right over here. What's happening is they're taking this lot on the corner, splitting that in two, excuse me, splitting that in two, and then taking a little piece from the lot to the north here and adding it to lot number two here. If you look down North Highland Avenue going north, you would see that for the most part, there's twin homes on those corner lots where the numbered streets intersect with North Highland Avenue. So this would be consistent with that type of development. There are four recommended conditions. One, to pay the platting fee of $290, base fee of $230 per lot. Two, to provide an electronic file of the plat in AutoCAD 2016 or newer format. Three, provide appropriate easement areas in addition to those shown on the plot. Main is found in the city's current fee schedule. And then four, lot two will pay the utility connection charge for the new lot of $3,000 for sanitary sewer and then $3,000 for water services. That concludes the staff report.

Well, I'm going to offer a motion to recommend approval with conditions the preliminary plot of Oak Bluff's 11th edition. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Aye. That motion does carry. Moving to 5.1. Again, if my computer will work. Ordinance number 2026-113, second consideration, amending Appendix A of the New Ulm City Code.

I'll motion and conduct the second consideration and adoption of ordinance number 2026-113, amending appendix A to the City of New Ulm Code to rezoning from agricultural open space to R3 medium density resident district. The property legally strived as lot one, block one, well subdivision and direct the finance department to publish the ordinance in the New Ulm Journal.

Second. We do have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion or anything to share about that? Do you know, Mr. Knisley?

The conditions haven't changed and we hadn't received any more comments between the first ordinance reading and today. Likewise.

Well, with that said, those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. All right, 5.2, Ordinance Number 2026-114, Second Consideration Amending Chapter 6, Section 6.01 of the New Ulm City Code.

For motion to conduct a second consider ization adopt the ordinance number 2026 dash 114 amending chapter 6 of the New Ulm City Code regarding ice and snow removal requirements clarifying language to be added to chapter 6 section 6.0 one of the New Ulm City Code regarding snow and ice on public sidewalks second We do have a motion in a second any further discussion Those in favor signal by saying aye aye aye that motion does carry

Moving on to new business. Number 6.1, revisions to the city slash PUC personnel policy manual.

All right. Thank you, counselors. Shawna Boongarden, human resources director. So we had a vote on increasing the percentages for the healthcare savings plan. This does not cost the city any money. This is all employee contributions. So unless anybody has any questions...

In my mind, it's a smart move. Right. That's it. Anything else to report? No. I'm going to motion to adopt the revisions to section 7.9 of the city PUC personnel policy manual regarding the healthcare savings plan for non-unionized full-time city employees effective July 1, 2026.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. So, 6.2, appointment of election judges for the 2026 primary and general elections.

I'll offer a motion to approve appointment of election judges, scheduled election judges, and appoint additional judges as needed, and approve the compensation for election judges for the 2026 primary and general elections at $11.41 per hour, with an additional $1 per hour for head election judges. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Just a question. Do we have enough?

Yes, we do.

All right. Thank you. Good question. Again, those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. And thank you to any of the election judges who are stepping forward for that job. Moving to section 6.3, early retirement of general obligation debt issued in 2018.

Counselors, this continues our habit of paying off the annual debt early, usually about two years early all the time, this will save us about $13,000 in interest. These are some of the loans that still have that low interest rate, so it's not going to save us a ton, but it's something.

Anything else? I know you don't have the answer to our finance director. We'll be able to continue this for the next five years or not?

Paying early?

Yes. That's what I wanted to hear. I'll offer the resolution authorizing the early retirement of the December 1, 2027 through 2028 payments of the general obligation permanent improvement revolving fund bonds series 2018A on December 1, 2026. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Counselor Christian. Yes. Counselor Mack. Yes. And Counselor Warnke.

Yes, that motion does carry. Moving to 6.4. preliminary official statement for the GO bond series 2026.

I'm going to offer a motion to receive and approve the draft of the preliminary offering statement regarding the $2,280,000 general obligation bonds series 2026. Second.

We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. Number 6.5.

vacation petition and set public hearing for august 4th 2026 again mr nisley all right this is uh to receive a petition request on the vacation of 11th north street adjacent to lot 7 block 10 north of center street and also adjacent to lot 1 block 11 north of center street and set a public hearing date on the petition for Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 at 4.30 p.m. The petition was submitted by Rob Baranek, president of RBNU LLC. The street address for the property is 1101 to 1111 North Front Street. The property is legally described as Lot 1, Block 11, north of Center Street. Currently, the property is vacant. The right-of-way is located west of North Front Street and north of 11th North Street. If you can see on the aerial photo, the area highlighted in red is the right-of-way requested to be vacated. There is a building located on the Schaefer property on 11th North Street that's just south of the red box on the map. The vacation would allow the owner to fully develop and use the property for productive commercial purposes. And if you've been by there lately, you can see all the trees have been cleared from that site. Procedures for vacating a public right-of-way are described in section 161 through 165 of the city charter. And this request or this petition request meets all those criteria found in those sections. Prior to a public hearing, the city and the Public Utilities Commission departments and other local communication companies have been notified of the request to determine their future need for this right-of-way. The right-of-way would be split equally between the two property owners, so both between Mr. Berenick and then the Schaefer property to the south. That concludes the staff report.

I'll motion to receive the petition request on the vacation of 11th North Street adjacent to Lot 7, Block 10, North of Center Street and also adjacent to Lot 1, Block 11, North of Center Street and set the public hearing date on the petition for Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 4.30 p.m. Second.

Motion to second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That motion does carry. Last, we have item 7.1, report of claims.

I'll offer a motion to accept the list of claims in the amount of $5,220,683.08. Second. We have a motion and second. Any further discussion?

Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. And that motion does carry. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules to add the addendum item to the agenda. So move. Second. Right. All in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. That does carry. So we'll move right into our addendum item. Slowly but surely. All right. Addendum item. New Ulm Battery Cannon Shoot CGMC Conference.

If there's no questions from anybody, I'm going to authorize the New Ulm Battery to shoot the cannons up to three rounds for the Coalition of Greater Minnesota City Conference at Shellsbury, 1860 Shell Road on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 5 p.m. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Let's show the rest of the state our cool cannons. So those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. And that motion does carry. With no further business, this meeting is ended.