City Council - Regular Meeting

It's 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. We will call the city council meeting of the city of New to order. At this time, our first item of business is the consent agenda. Councilors, what are your wishes? I'll move. Second. We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. That motion carries. Item 2.1 for licenses and permits a raffles gambling permit for Sue Trails Ducks Unlimited number 0020. I'll approve the issuance of a lawful gambling permit for Sue Trails Ducks Unlimited number 0020 to conduct raffles gambling at the New Alm Armory 2100 Palmer Avenue Minnesota on Friday January 30th 2026. Second

motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. That motion does carry. [snorts] Item 3.1 is ordinance number 2025-TBD, first consideration zoning section 4.11. Mr. Nisley, good afternoon.

All right. Good evening, councilors. Uh, council president, counselors, John Nisley, planner with the city of NewM. Um so this zoning amendment uh would be to section 4.1C and that's the residential zoning district standards and it would established a 13th standard um in the additional requirements table um that would be applicable on the R3 medium density residence district. Um so the situation is is that in the medium density residence district we have four lots that are 8,250 ft. So, there are regular grid lots that you'd find um in in the uh traditional new neighborhoods, but the way our zoning standards are currently set up is those wouldn't be developable with the standards that are set in the R3 zoning district. So, this new provision um that we're um proposing would allow for those grid lots in the R3 district that were recorded uh prior to October 1st, 1968 that do not meet the minimum zoning standards to allow those uh lots to have the RT2 traditional uh single and two family residence district standards apply. So, if someone wanted to build a single family house on one of those grid lots in the R3, they would follow the RT2 standards. um and make it more developable. Um and that would conclude the staff report.

Thank you, Mr. Nisley. John, is it possible to put the slides up so the rest of the council knows which lots we're talking about for the city? I mean, one second. We we were discussing this in our zoning meeting um and how to handle um the situation cuz a developer wanted to develop a corner lot and then do a lot split.

Just give me one second rather than try to do a couple easement, you know, variances with it. We'd probably get it again if the other three lots were going to get developed. So, we wanted to clean it up. Was it only the four lots in that one? Because the other map shows a few more red spots. Um, we can go through that clarification. Yeah, I just wanted to bring it up on the screen to

I'm just going to pull up uh the maps Councelor Mack is referencing um and uh President Bker. So this this map is maybe the one uh council beter is referencing. These are actually showing all the R3 zoning districts within the city of New. Not all of those areas have uh old grid lots located in them. The four that we're talking about um of which this would apply are all down in the south end of Newm right down in this red area. um and are located between 15 South and 17 South um and between Valley and Minnesota Street. So, what councelor Mack was referencing is we had uh a request from a property owner for a variance to develop this corner lot of 16th and uh 16th South and South German um to put up two single family homes. Um well, in order to do that, he would have needed a whole slew of variances. Um and the planning commission thought rather than grant all of these variances, why don't we go back and do an amendment to the zoning ordinance knowing that these uh we still have these other uh four lots in that zoning district um that could be developed in the future. Let's go back and amend the zoning ordinance so those other lots could be developed when their time comes as well. That's how we came to this amendment.

And that's correct. Those are the these are the only four 50x 165s in the R3. R3. Yep. All right. Gotcha. President and councelor Zid had a quick question also for Mr. Nisley. Uh the lot there at 15th South and German um backs up against to the uh recreational trail and so does the one on 16th. [snorts] Um with that and it's a very steep slope in there. Um, we've got the 15th right ofway, you know, crosses the trail. Is there a possibility that there would be two residences possibly on that lot? The odds would be very low um that there would be two residences um on that lot. You're referencing this one right here.

Yes. Yes. Um it's first of all, it's it's tough access and it's an undeveloped street um that is likely never going to be developed um through that area. So really the only access to that lot would be uh from South German which would allow you to build one home on that on that lot.

Yeah, cuz I bicycle that trail quite a bit and um there's certainly some traffic there in that section with those sheds or those uh storage units. So thank you for that answer. Well, I don't have any other questions, so I'll make a motion to conduct the first consideration of ordinance number 2025-TBD amending section 4.11 of appendix A of the city code of the city of New Alm relative to zoning in said city. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I.

That motion does carry. Item 4.1 under new business updating purchasing policy and increase minimum purchase order amount.

Uh president and councilors, this is I have been going through and reviewing all of the policies that we have and trying to figure out which policies we still need, but um this is one of the first that I've updated. Um and per the requests from several department heads, we're looking to increase that purchase order requirement. Right now, anything um over at 2500 or more needs the purchase order. We're asking to raise that to to 5,000. The 2500 was put in place in 2015 and of course since then inflation has been crazy. Um so some of the things that didn't used to require POS are now requiring them to do POS and it's just taking more staff time. So as part of the update to the policy um we're asking to change that limit to 5,000. Nothing else really changed within the policy. I just made some formatting changes, some grammatical changes, and made sure everything um was still up to date and in line with state statute.

I don't have any issue with it. I'll motion to accept the updated purchasing policy and increase the minimum purchase order equip requirement to $5,000 effective December 3rd, 2025. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. That motion does carry. Item 4.2, League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Liability Coverage. [snorts]

President, counselors, I think this is one of our annual uh activities [snorts] here. So, I'd like to offer the resolution authorizing to not wave the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by Minnesota statutes 466.04, 04 accepting liability coverage limits of $1,500,000 from the LMCIT effective January 1, 2026 and authorize the city manager to execute the waiver for and on behalf of the city of New. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. Councelor Christian, yes. Councelor Warma, yes. Councelor Schmidz, yes. Councelor Mack,

yes. President Becker. Yes, that motion does carry. Item 4.3, designation of 2026 election polling places. I'll say there's no changes to the previous Yep. So, I'll offer the resolution designating the 2026 election polling places to Redeemer Lutheran Church for Ward One, New Community Center for W 2, Christ of King Lutheran Church for Ward Three, and Our Savior's Lutheran Church for Ward 4. 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 Schmidz, yes. Councelor Mack, yes. President Becker,

yes. Motion carries. Item 4.4, attendance at the 2026 NLC Congressional City Conference. President and counselors, I'd like to make a motion to approve city manager to attend the annual 2026 National League of Cities uh con congressional city conference in Washington DC from March 16 to 18, 2026. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. That motion also carries. Item 4.5, Joint Powers Assessment Agreement with Brown County. [snorts]

Council President, counselors, this is a joint power assessment agreement um update. This will be a three-year contract for the county to um provide services um to assessment services for the city. Um so this is just an updated contract. It'll be 116 a little over 116,000 um for 2026, 120,000 for 2027, and about 124,000 for 2028. Fine with these numbers. Yeah, I [snorts] can actually take $300 out of the budget if I want to. I overestimated. [laughter]

Sign us up. [snorts] I'll make a motion to approve the joint powers assessment agreement between the city of New Alm and Brown County Assessor's Office to provide assessment services to the city of NewM for the cost of 116,67 in 2026 $120,16 during 2027 $123,6 or $79 during 2028 and authorize the city manager to sign the agreement on behalf of the city. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I I. That motion does carry. Item 4.6 is the career expo fee request to Mr. Schugle.

Thank you, Council President Becker, City Council. This is a request from the Career Expo Committee to wave the fees at the Civic Center for the 2026 Career Expo. This is the third straight year this request is coming before you. Uh this request does mirror uh the the exact request from last year where they did use the north and south arena. It used to just be the south arena. Um with this with this event is for eighth and 10th graders. Not only the new almaria schools come to this event, but area regional schools uh attend this as well. Um the committee has provided a letter in your packet and has overall have had a great experience using the civic center for this event. So, uh, if authorized, this would wave our 2026 fees, uh, at the Civic Center for this event.

Happy to answer any questions. Thank you. I mean, in the past, it's been a fantastic program. I did notice the board commission recommendation, but it was at the park and rec meeting, right? And again, they voted unanimously. The program works. So, that was a staff error that did not include that in there. Yes. at the at the November Park and Rec Commission meeting, they unanimously approved or recommended that. So, if there's no questions, I'm going to offer the resolution to approve the Career Expo Committee request to wave the rental fee and and all associated fees to hold the Career Expo at the New Home Civic Center South and North Arenas on Wednesday on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? President and counselors, my only additional discussion would be is that I uh sincerely um imagine and hope that the city is listed as a sponsor, co-sponsor of this wonderful event for our youth. Thank you. I'm sure Mr. Schugle has that noted. Yes. Any additional discussion? Director Jorgensson, please call the role. Councelor Christensen, yes. Councelor Warma, yes. Councelor Schmidz, yes. Councelor Mack, yes. President Ber, yes. Motion carries. Item 4.7 is park and recreation donations.

Council President Ber, city councilors, I'll read these uh numerous donations into the record and also note that this also did go to the November park and art commission meeting. So, sorry for our department's air on that as well. Uh but the unanimously recommended approval or acceptance of these fees. Uh, these fees are for the Pollinator Park, Marshia Hver Halverson and Ken Lombrech honoring Diana Lombre for $250. German Park Paverstone, Elena Johnson honoring Michael and Carol Goblish for $200. German Park Paverstone Kathy Calls honoring Roger Maryanne and Kathy Calls for $200. Pollinator Park, Mariellean Domire honoring Robert Butch Domeire for two $250. Riverside ELC, Marie Ellen Domire honoring Robert Butch Domer for $100. A memorial bench at German Park from Stacy Casper and Michelle Martin honoring Connie Bezmer for $1,750. Memorial tree at North Park from Don Barstead honoring Doug Grahams for $181. A memorial tree at the Civic Center from Tim MCO honoring Tom MCO for $290. and a memorial tree at Lincoln Park from Marge Miller honoring DJ Lepela for $236. Marge Miller also uh providing a donation to the parks for $92. A German Park bench from the Lions Club for $379. A Herman Run sponsorship from Square Construction for $150. Uh Miller Park backs stop work uh New Baseball Association, $5,000. And then the German park, another German park paper stone from Lisa Bezmer honoring Dr. Ashley Sweargan for $200. And that total is $9,278.

Wow, good month of donations there. And I'll take this cuz Joey likes to read them into the record. So I'll offer the resolution to accept the donations offered to the city of NewM through the park and recck department for the identified purpose as Joey Schugle stated. 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 Schmidz, yes. Councelor Mack, yes. President Becker, yes. Motion carries. Last item of business today is 5.1 report of claims paid. I'll for a motion to accept the list of claims for 2,541,710.54. Second.

We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor signal by saying I. I. That motion does carry. With no additional business, this meeting is adjourned. Budget session follow.